Protective Effect of Camellia sinensis on Methotrexate-Induced Small Intestinal Mucositis in Mice

Background: Green tea has been used as a daily beverage for several years. Anti-inflammatory effect of tea has also been depicted in different papers. Therefore we had set forward this study to examine the potential antiinflammatory activity of green tea in small intestine mucositis experimental models. Aims: Evaluation of antiinflammatory effects of green tea on mice. Materials and Methods: Green tea decoction (20%) was prepared by soaking 20 g of green tea in 100 ml boiled water separately, soaked for 2 minutes and thereafter filtered. Inflammatory activity was induced using methotrexate (2.75 g/kg/24 h sc), and a protecting effect of mucositis condition was investigated by vitamin E and Camellia sinensis decoction. Study Design: An experimental study was approved by an Animal Ethical Commitee. Results: Green tea decoction (20%) has shown significant anti-inflammatory effects (65% and 70%) on methotrexate-induced acute mucositis model. In villous atrophy Green tea decoction (10% and 20%) has shown no protecting action at different intestinal segments. But at intestinal crypt hyperplasia, green tea decoction has shown 65.74%, as compared to mucositis group. An increase of apoptotic bodies were acchieved at MTX group, CS reduced this occurrence. Conclusion: Taken together, our data indicate that green tea (20%) has a potential anti-inflammatory compared vitamin E antioxidant action and corroborates with the current trend of tea being promoted as “health drink”. However more pharmacological and biochemical assays is necessary to elucidate mechanisms.