Gastroprotective activity of Camellia sinensis black tea brew in rats

Abstract

This study examined the gastroprotective potential of a black tea brew (BTB) of Camellia sinensis Linn. O. Kuntze (Theaceae) using Sri Lankan high grown Dust grade No: 1 tea in a rat ethanol-induced gastric lesion model. Three oral doses of BTB (84, 167, or 501 mg/mL) were used in evaluation of the gastroprotective activity. The results showed a strong dose dependent and significant (p < 0.05) gastroprotective activity (in terms of number, length, and area of hemorrhagic lesions). The gastroprotective activity of BTB was superior to that of the reference drug cimetidine. The high dose of BTB (only dose tested) also offered gastroprotection in rat indomethacin- and serotonin-induced gastric lesion models. Intraperitoneal treatment of BTB and oral treatment of BTB following decaffeination suppressed its gastroprotective potential. However, indomethacin pretreatment did not reduce the gastroprotective potential of BTB in the ethanol-induced gastric lesion model. BTB also increased the gastric mucus content (by Alcian blue test), thickness of the gastric mucus layer (by histopathology), pH of the gastric contents, and possibly the gastric mucosal blood flow, and reduced the gastric acid output of the stomach. BTB also had antihistamine (by wheal test) and antioxidant activity (by the DPPH method) and impaired the gastric transit (by charcoal plug test). It is concluded that BTB of C. sinensis possesses strong oral gastroprotective action, which is mediated via multiple mechanisms. The results also justify the claim made by Sri Lankan traditional practitioners that BTB of C. sinensis has gastroprotective action.