近年来,人们十分关注广东凉茶的"泻火"作用.本研究室的系列研究结果表明,广东凉茶可以改善应激负荷大鼠脑内神经递质水平,减轻拘束应激负荷引起的小鼠免疫功能低下,并对拘束负荷诱发小鼠氧化应激性炎症及肝损伤也有明显的改善作用;还可以提高拘束应激负荷小鼠糖耐受能力及加速脂肪能源的利用等活性,以达到改善"上火"时机体的疲劳状态.机制研究结果表明,广东凉茶抗应激作用是调节机体内环境稳定实现的,与减缓拘束负荷小鼠体内RNS及ROS的过度产生,改善清除自由基的链式反应中关键酶SOD和GPX的活性及相关基因的表达,保护小分子抗氧化物质GSH的耗竭相关.化学成分研究结果表明广东凉茶富含Gallic acid,Protocatechuic acid,(+)-Catechin,4-Hydroxybenzoic acid,Caffeic acid,Ellagic acid-4-O-xylopyranoside,Isoquercitrin,Ellagicacid等活性成分,这些化学成分可能通过调节机体内环境稳定,缓解细胞内的氧化应激状态从而达到"泻火"的功效.

In recent years, people are concerned about the "Xiehuo" （purging pathogenic fire） effect of Guangdong Herbal Tea (GHT). The studying results found that GHT not only increased the decreased levels of neurotransmitters in the stressed rats and reduced the immunocompromise in the restraintly stressed mice, but also avoided liver injury and inflammation in the stressed mice. It was also noticed that GHT accelerated the utilization of sugar energy and improved the capability of lipid tolerance in the stressed mice. These results indicated that the effect of GHT on "Xiehuo" may be related to its anti-stress effects. The results of mechanism study showed that GHT had the effects of anti-stress by regulating RNS and ROS generation in the restraint mice cell, and by regulating the activities of the key enzymes and their gene expressions in the free radical chain reaction. Therefore, the anti-stress mechanism of GHT was related to, at least partly to, the protection effect against oxidative stress in the stress-loaded organism. The main compounds of GHT were identified as Gallic acid, Protocatechuic acid, (+)-Catechin, 4-Hydroxybenzoix acid, Caffeic acid, Ellagic acid-4-O-xylopyranoside, Isoquercitrin and Ellagic acid. The results showed that most of these compounds are the active ingredients.

科技部国家"十一五"支撑计划项目(2006BAIO6A20-09):广东凉茶的物质基础及保健品开发，负责人：栗原博。