Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in mice1

Matheus Alves de Lima Mota, José Saul Peixoto Landim, Thiago Sousa Silva Targino, Silvia Fernandes Ribeiro da Silva, Sônia Leite da Silva, Márcio Roberto Pinho Pereira

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of alcoholic extracts of green tea (AE) was evaluated in a cell migration assay with four groups of six Swiss mice receiving 0.07g/Kg or 0.14g/Kg EA (treatment groups), saline (negative control) or 10mg/Kg indomethacin (positive control) by gavage. One hour later 300 µg carrageen an was administered intraperitoneally or subcutaneously. The analgesic effect was evaluated using four groups of six animals receiving 0.07g/Kg or 0.14g/Kg EA, saline or 10mg/Kg indomethacin subcutaneously, followed 30 minutes later by 1% acetic acid. When administered subcutaneously at either dose (0.07g/Kg and 0.14g/Kg), AE inhibited carrageenan-induced cell migration (p<0.05). However, when administered by gavage, only the latter (0.14 g/Kg) was efficient (p<0.05). AE at both doses (0.07g/Kg and 0.14g/Kg) inhibited abdominal contortions (p<0.05), but the effect was not dose-dependent. Green tea was shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and may constitute a natural treatment option in chronic inflammatory disorders.