Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, including details on myalgic encephalomyelitis (me), diagnosis, gradual and sudden onset.

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract ameliorates endotoxin induced sickness behavior and liver damage in rats.

Singal A, Tirkey N, Pilkhwal S, Chopra K

Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.

Immune activation, either by cytokines or endotoxin, elicits a constellation of nonspecific symptoms such as weakness, malaise, listlessness, fatigue, adipsia, anorexia, depression and anxiety collectively termed as sickness behavior. Further, endotoxin administration in animals has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many types of liver disease. Green tea, a common household drink, is rich in antioxidant polyphenols demonstrating inhibitory effects on cytokine production. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of chronic treatment of green tea extract (GTE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior and liver damage in rats. The hypothesis was tested through the analysis of LPS-induced behavioral changes in rats, in plus maze and open field paradigms. Other parameters such as feeding and water consumption, weight loss and organ weight index were also estimated. Liver function tests were conducted to investigate the effect of GTE supplementation on LPS-induced hepatic dysfunction. The results of the study demonstrated that GTE significantly attenuated LPS-induced sickness behavior as well as hepatic damage either by its antioxidant activity or by inhibiting LPS induced cytokine production in rats.

Published 7 February 2006 in Phytother Res, 20(2): 125-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.