ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG/green tea extract] ameliorates chronic fatigue syndrome in mice: Behavioral and Biochemical Evidence – Source: Behavioral Brain Research, Jul 27, 2009

[Note: EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) - a potent antioxidant – is a plant catechin/flavonoid most abundant in green tea.]

Three decades after the coining of the term chronic fatigue syndrome, the diagnosis of this illness is still symptom based and the etiology remains elusive. Chronic fatigue syndrome pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial and the possible involvement of immune system is supported.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of the epigallocatechin gallate in a mouse model of immunologically-induced chronic fatigue.

On 19th day, after lipopolysaccharide/Brucella abortus* administration:

• The mice showed significant increase in immobility period, post swim fatigue and thermal hyperalgesia.

• Behavioral deficits were coupled with enhanced oxidative-nitrosative stress as evident by increased lipid peroxidation, nitrite levels and decreased endogenous antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase) and inflammation (increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and tissue growth factor-beta).

Chronic treatment with epigallocatechin gallate restored these behavioral and biochemical alterations in mice.

The present study points toward the beneficial effect of epigallocatechin gallate in the amelioration of chronic fatigue syndrome and thus may provide a new, effective and powerful strategy to treat chronic fatigue syndrome.

Source: Behavioural Brain Research, Jul 27, 2009. PMID: 19643148, by Sachdeva AK, Kuhad A, Tiwari V, Chopra K. Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. [E-mail: dr_chopra_k@yahoo.com]

* Note: Brucella abortus is a bacterium that causes brucellosis (a disease with flu-like symptoms & fatigue as in ME/CFS) in livestock & other animals. Can be passed to humans, but not human-to-human, and is cured with antibiotics.