Purpose: To investigate the antiglycation and cross-link breaking activities of Sri Lankan low-grown
orthodox Orange Pekoe grade black tea (
C. sinensis
L)
Methods: Five concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 or 100.0 μg/ml) of Black tea brew (BTB) were
made using Sri Lankan low-grown Orange Pekoe (O.P.) grade tea. Antiglycation and advanced
glycation end products (AGEs) cross-link breaking activities of BTB as well as the antiglycation activity
of rutin were determined in vitro on bovine serum albumin/glucose system using fluorescence
spectroscopy.
Results: BTB induced significant (p<0.05) antiglycation activity (IC
50, 19.04 ± 5.18 μg/ml) and AGEs
cross-link breaking activities (IC
50, 82.89 ± 3.44 μg/ml). These effects were dose-dependent. Further,
the antiglycation activity of BTB was comparable to rutin, a well-known antiglycation agent (IC
50, 21.88 ±
2.82 μg/ml).
Conclusion: These results show that Sri Lankan low-grown O.P. grade black tea possesses both
antiglycation and AGEs cross-link breaking activities in vitro and thus provides scientific justification for
the use of black tea in Sri Lankan indigenous medicine for the management of diabetic complications.