Acute Effects of Herbal Tea Dust Extracts on Lung Function

Abstract

The acute effect of herbal tea dust extracts on lung function was studied in 15 of 25 healthy subjects responding to the inhalation of these extracts. Bronchial inhalation challenge was performed with tea extracts (sage, dog rose and gruzyan) and with normal saline solution as a control substance to assess their baseline airway reactivity to an isotonic aerosol. Lung function testing was performed before exposure and at 0, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after the cessation of exposure. The same subjects were also tested by challenge with methacholine. Lung function was measured by recording FVC, FEV1, FEF50, FEF25, SGaw, and Raw. Subjects were skin tested by the skin prick method and serum IgE levels were determined. The findings suggested that neither baseline nonspecific airway reactivity nor specific markers of immediate sensitivity to tea predict airway responses to tea extracts. Further evaluation of immunologic markers may help to explain the onset and progression of airway disease in workers.