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Green tea linked to improved immune response to infections
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PHILADELPHIA — Common green tea supplements may help to increase the microbicidal activity of macrophages and may enhance the innate immune response to infection, according to results of a study presented at the 109th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, held here this week.
Previous findings have indicated that green tea may help to fight infections by inhibiting bacterial growth and anthrax lethal factor and by modulating the production of reactive oxygen species by the immune system. Based on this, Megan Meyer, MD,and colleagues from Loyola College in Baltimore hypothesized that green tea supplements may help to alter the microbicidal activity of macrophages.
To study this, the researchers subjected green tea or green tea-derived polyphenols to a simulated digestion protocol to mimic oral consumption. The researchers then incubated RAW 264.7 cells with concentrations of the resulting extracts for 24 hours. Following this, the researchers studied the cells’ ability to fight Staphylococcus aureus.
The lowest concentration, which equated to one green tea pill daily, was associated with a 32% reduction in the amount of surviving S. aureus compared with control cells. A higher concentration, which equated to two green tea pills daily, was associated with a 38% reduction in the amount of surviving S. aureus compared with control cells.
The researchers said the findings suggest that green tea and its polyphenols mediate this effect “through alteration of the oxidative potential of the cells and through modulation of cytokine synthesis and secretion.” – by Jay Lewis
For more information:
- Meyer M. E-018. Presented at: The 109th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. May 17-21, 2009. Philadelphia.