Inhibitory Effect of Tea Extracts on Histamine Release from Mast Cells

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of hot water extracts of eight kinds of tea on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells were investigated in vitro. All of the extracts tested showed significant inhibitory effects on histamine release from mast cells induced by antigen as well as by compound 48/80.The results of a preliminary study on the active principles in the extracts suggested that phenolic components were responsible for the inhibitory activities of the extracts.