Effect of white tea (Camellia sinensis) leaf extract on cigarette smoke and high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis in Wistar rats

Atherosclerosis is a complex pathological process begins with endothelial dysfunction, one of which is triggered by an inflammatory process due to increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and exposure to cigarette smoke. White tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) shows an anti-inflammatory effect which has not been known for its effect on the atherosclerotic process. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Camellia sinensis leaf extract on IL-6 levels, foam cell count, and the ratio of intima-media thickness of cigarette smoke and high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis in Wistar rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups namely HC (healthy control), NC (negative control), WT100, WT200, and WT400 (treated with white tea leaf extract 100, 200, and 400 mg/kgBW/day, respectively). IL-6 levels were measured by the ELISA method. At 400x microscope magnification, foam cell count and intima-media thickness ratio were seen in aortic tissue. Administration of graded doses of white tea leaf extract in groups WT100, WT200, WT400 significantly reduced IL-6 levels, foam cell count, and intima-media thickness ratio of abdominal aorta compared to the NC group. These results suggest that white tea leaf extract may decrease levels of IL-6, foam cell count, and intima-media thickness ratio in atherosclerosis-induced Wistar rats.