Mast cell stabilizing and anti-anaphylactic activity of aqueous extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis)

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages in the world. In the current study, aqueous extract of green tea (C. sinensis) was evaluated for mast cell stabilizing and anti-anaphylactic activities. Green tea extract (11, 13, 15 mg/ml) significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited compound 48/80-induced rat mesentric mast cell degranulation in a dose dependent manner. Anti-anaphylactic activity of green tea extract was performed in female mice. At a dose of 400, 500, 600 mg/kg BW, green tea extract showed significant reduction in the mortality of mice subjected to anaphylactic shock by compound C48/80. Ketotifen was used for comparison. In addition, IR and UV–Visible spectroscopy analysis of green tea extract revealed the presence of functional groups of bioactive compounds. These results suggest that green tea could be useful in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis.