Abstract:
The Kenyan green ,orthodox, and black tea (Camellia sinensis) aqueous extracts
were subjected to reagent based chemical screening of bioactive constituents, and
their in vivo anti-Plasmodium berghei ANKA effects on parasitemia, % pcv and
serum proteins concentration done using a 105 male swiss mice model to
determine their pharmacological significance. The phytochemical results from the
colorimetric tests of green, orthodox and black teas showed the presence of
alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes and tannins as common metabolites.
Anthraquinones were not detected in green tea unlike orthodox and black teas.
There was significant reduction (p < 0.05) in parastemia levels of p = 2.6 on day 10
after infection compared to the control. The fall in packed cell volume (pcv)
occurred on day 7 after infection of p = 4.17. There was a significant difference in
pcv levels p = 4.8 (p < 0.05) on day 11 between the infected mice given tea and
the infected control. There was a significant reduction p=10.4 (P < 0.01) in serum
protein reduction on day 11 post infection only in the mice given water. Tea
produced significant (p < 0.01) elevation of parasite’s induced hypoproteinemia
(p = 3.38) as compared to infected control mice (p = 10.4).
The role of these bioactive principles is discussed according to their folkloric use in
Kenya and elsewhere in the world. Besides tea is of great importance as far as
other clinical applications are concerned. This qualitative analysis can be used for
comparative evaluation of bioactive constitutes with other population of Camellia
sinensis present in different parts of the world, and can be used for selection of
superior quality of this herb to be used in pharmaceutical industries.
