Effect of Steeped Black Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) var. assamica) on Immunoglobulin Titer and Lymphocyte Proliferation in Responses to Hepatitis B Vaccine in Mice

Effect of steeped black tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) var. assamica) on immunoglobulin titer (IgM and IgG) and lymphocyte proliferation in responses to hepatitis B vaccine inBALB/c mice has been investigated. The study was divided into two stages i.e. the determination of immunoglobulin titer and the test of lymphocytes proliferation. In the first stage mice were divided into 5 groups each consisting of 5 mice. Group I, II and III was given steeped black tea respectively with a dose of 600 mg/kg bw; 1.2 g/kg bw and 2.4 g/kg bw. Group IV was given Stimuno® with a dose of 6.5 mg/kg bw, and group V was given aquadest as negative control. All groups were induced by hepatitis B vaccine on day-0 (after 7 days of acclimatization). Serum was taken on day-14 and 21 for measurement of IgM titer and IgG, respectively. In the second stage, the mice were grouped as in the first stage, then all groups were induced by hepatitis B vaccine at day-0 and day-7. On day-27 lymphocyte was isolated and then tested for the growth and proliferation of lymphocytes. The results of this study showed that the steeped black tea has an effect in increasingIgM and IgG titer of BALB/cmice induced by hepatitis B vaccine, where the most effective dose was 1.2 g/kg bw. Steeped black tea also could increase lymphocytes proliferation in mice BALB/cinduced by hepatitis B vaccine, where the most effective dose was 1.2 g/kg bw.