Antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri tea on healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri, Euphorbiaceae) tea on healthy subjects.


METHODS
Five non-smoking, male healthy volunteers, 20 to 31 years old, were enrolled. Each subject was treated twice, following a randomized crossover fashion regarding the ingestion of P. niruri infusion (5 g/750 mL) (tea group) or 750 mL of water (control group). Fasting venous blood samples were collected prior to and at 1, 2 and 4 h after infusion drinking. Samples were tested for plasmatic gallic acid and ascorbic acid levels, erythrocytic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and intracellular DCFH fluorescence in granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes.


RESULTS
Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were not altered by tea ingestion. Plasma levels of gallic acid were significantly increased at 1, 2 and 4 h after P. niruri ingestion and plasma ascorbic acid at 1 h after P. niruri ingestion.


CONCLUSIONS
Ingestion of P. niruri tea is associated with a slight increase in antioxidant markers in human blood (ascorbic acid and gallic acid), which may contribute to its pharmacological effects.
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Elisângela
E
Colpo
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Carlos D D A
CD
Vilanova
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Romaiana P
RP
Pereira
Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Luis Gustavo B
LG
Reetz
Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Liliane
L
Oliveira
Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Iria L G
IL
Farias
Departamento de Farmácia Industrial, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Aline A
AA
Boligon
Departamento de Farmácia Industrial, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Margareth L
ML
Athayde
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: jbtrocha@pq.cnpq.br.
João Batista T
JB
Rocha
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029803:Phyllanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D005707:Gallic Acid; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Gallic acid; Human; Phyllanthus niruri; Polyphenols