Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ilex guayusa tea preparations: a comparison to Camellia sinensis teas

Food Funct. 2017 Dec 13;8(12):4601-4610. doi: 10.1039/c7fo01067b.

Abstract

Ilex guayusa tea preparations are now commercially available as Runa tea. Little is known regarding the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities of this tea. The I. guayusa teas had a total polyphenolic content between 54.39 and 67.23 mg GAE per g dry mass and peroxyl radical scavenging capacities between 1773.41 and 2019 μmol TE per g dry mass, nearly half of that for the Camellia sinensis teas. The I. guayusa teas afforded 60-80% protection from oxidative stress in the Caco-2 cellular antioxidant assay, comparable to the C. sinensis teas. The anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells of I. guayusa teas was similarly comparable to the C. sinensis teas with nitric oxide production reduced by 10-30%. Major compounds identified by mass spectrometry were the phenolic mono- and dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives. I. guayusa teas are a good source of dietary phenolic compounds with cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Beverages / analysis
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Camellia sinensis / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Ilex guayusa / chemistry*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mice
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • RAW 264.7 Cells

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Phenols
  • Plant Extracts