Abstract/Summary

Epidemiological evidence suggests protective effects of dietary flavonoids against cardiovascular disease. Tea provides a major source of dietary flavonoids in many countries and its polyphenolic components have well-recognised antioxidant properties. However, scavenging of free radicals may not be the sole mechanism by which tea-derived polyphenols exert their protective effects. This study investigates the effects of four major tea-derived catechins and a black tea extract on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by human leukocytes in vitro. Epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin gallate decreased the production of interleukin 1