Title: Review: anti-influenza viral effects of camellia tea

Authors: P.G. Tharindu; I.D.U.H. Piyathilake; E.P.N. Udayakumara

Addresses: Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka ' Faculty of Graduate Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, P.O. Box 02, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka ' Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, P.O. Box 02, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka

Abstract: Influenza virus cause 3-5 million severe medical cases, including nearly 500,000 respiratory deaths globally annually. Even with vaccines and antiviral drugs, it always manages to re-emerge. In traditional medicine, Camellia sinensis tea is used as a remedy and prevention against Influenza. This article researched previous literature rigorously to analyse the anti-influenza viral effects of camellia tea, experimental designs, gaps in previous work and limitations of employed approaches. In literature, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and theaflavin digallate (TF3) in camellia tea had shown prominent anti-viral properties against influenza. Clinical approach, in-vitro and social survey were commonly used approaches while majority were clinical approaches. Surveys were least used. The accuracy of the in-vitro was highest, while social surveys being least accurate. We further noticed that the exact mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology of these compounds as independent or as mixtures in the real human body are not yet fully known.

Keywords: influenza; camellia tea; anti-viral; biochemical; clinical.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAITG.2023.135041

International Journal of Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation, 2023 Vol.3 No.2, pp.95 - 114

Received: 19 Jul 2021
Accepted: 19 Jul 2022
Published online: 28 Nov 2023 *