April 28/Bellville, South Africa/Pharma Business Week -- New investigation results, "The in vitro Effects of Rooibos and Black Tea on Immune Pathways," are detailed in a study published in the Journal of Immunoassay and Immunochemistry. According to recent research from Bellville, South Africa, "The in vitro effects of Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos tea) and Camellia sinensis (Black tea) on biomarkers of specific immune pathways were determined using whole blood culture assays. Stimulated and unstimulated whole blood cultures were incubated with tea extracts."

"Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to screen spent culture medium for Interleukin-6, Interleukin-10 and Interferon gamma as biomarkers for inflammation, humoral immunity, and cell mediated immunity, respectively. Rooibos and Black tea addition to unstimulated whole blood cultures induced higher Interleukin-6, Interleukin-10, and Interferon gamma secretion. Addition of Rooibos tea to stimulated whole blood cultures induced higher Interleukin-6, lower Interleukin-10, and had no effect on Interferon gamma secretion. Black tea addition to stimulated whole blood cultures inhibited Interleukin-6, Interleukin-10, and Interferon gamma production," wrote R. Hendricks and colleagues, University of the Western Cape.

The researchers concluded, "The data indicates that Rooibos and Black tea modulates immune function in vitro."

Hendricks and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Immunoassay and Immunochemistry ("The in vitro Effects of Rooibos and Black Tea on Immune Pathways." Journal of Immunoassay and Immunochemistry, 2010;31(2):169-80).

For additional information, contact R. Hendricks, The University of the Western Cape, Dept. of Medical Bioscience, Bellville, South Africa.

From the May 10, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition