The immunomodulatory effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves extract on immunocompromisedWistar rats infected by Candida albicans

The main objective of this 2018 study was to discover an herbal-based medicine that acts as both an immunomodulator and antifungal agent to treat fungal infections in patients with compromised immune systems. There are components in green tea (Camellia sinensis) that have shown antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential. In this trial, extracts of green tea were given to immunocompromised rats induced with a fungal infection. There were 7 groups in total including a control group. Some rats were treated with green tea extract or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and EGC for 4 days, while others received the same treatments for 7 days. All 35 immunocompromised rats were induced with the fungus Candida albicans. Samples of the tongue tissue were collected and analyzed to calculate levels of interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-8, and human beta-defensin 2 (HBD)-2. HBD-2 is an antimicrobial peptide while interleukins are biomarkers of immune response. Expression of interleukins 17A and 8, and HBD-2 was significantly increased after 7 days of green tea extract consumption. However, the expression of IL-8, IL-17A, and HBD-2 did not produce a significant result after 7 days of EGCG and EGC intake. In conclusion, green tea extract can act as an immunomodulatory agent in immunocompromised patients with a C. albicans infection. [NPID: fungal, infection, fungus, candida, immunity, immune system, herbs, herbal, antioxidant, green tea]

Year: 2018

Reference: Rahayu, R. P., Prasetyo, R. A., Purwanto, D. A., Kresnoadi, U., Iskandar, R., & Rubianto, M. (2018). The immunomodulatory effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves extract on immunocompromised Wistar rats infected by Candida albicans. Veterinary world, 11(6), 765–770. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2018.765-770

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