Protective Effect of Camellia sinensis on Methotrexate-Induced Small Intestinal Mucositis in Mice

Samuel Brito de Almeida, Manuel Carlos Serra Azul Monteiro, Ana Valêska Pinto de Lima, Dalgimar Beserra de Menezes, Sandra Maria Nunes Monteiro

Center of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition Studies of Brazilian Northeast, Medicine Faculty/Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
Department of Nutrition/Health Sciences Center/Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil..
Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine/ Medicine Faculty/Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology/Medicine Faculty/Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
Medicine/Health Sciences Center, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2014.55052                

Abstract

Background: Green tea has been used as a daily beverage for several years. Anti-inflammatory effect of tea has also been depicted in different papers. Therefore we had set forward this study to examine the potential anti- inflammatory activity of green tea in small intestine mucositis experimental models. Aims: Evaluation of anti- inflammatory effects of green tea on mice. Materials and Methods: Green tea decoction (20%) was prepared by soaking 20 g of green tea in 100 ml boiled water separately, soaked for 2 minutes and thereafter filtered. In- flammatory activity was induced using methotrexate (2.75 g/kg/24 h sc), and a protecting effect of mucositis con- dition was investigated by vitamin E and Camellia sinensis decoction. Study Design: An experimental study was approved by an Animal Ethical Commitee. Results: Green tea decoction (20%) has shown significant anti-in- flammatory effects (65% and 70%) on methotrexate-induced acute mucositis model. In villous atrophy Green tea decoction (10% and 20%) has shown no protecting action at different intestinal segments. But at intestinal crypt hyperplasia, green tea decoction has shown 65.74%, as compared to mucositis group. An increase of apoptotic bodies were acchieved at MTX group, CS reduced this occurrence. Conclusion: Taken together, our data indi- cate that green tea (20%) has a potential anti-inflammatory compared vitamin E antioxidant action and cor- roborates with the current trend of tea being promoted as “health drink”. However more pharmacological and biochemical assays is necessary to elucidate mechanisms.

Keywords

Mucositis; Vitamin E; Camellia Sinensis; Morphometry; Mice; Cathechins

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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