Safety and Efficacy of Black Tea Extract in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis: A Rabbit Model

Abstract

To determine the safety and efficacy of black tea extract in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in a rabbit model and compare it with that of gatifloxacin drops. Methods: Black tea extract was tested in vitro on bacterial cultures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Forty-two rabbit eyes were cultured with either MRSA (n¼21) or P. aeruginosa (n¼21) and further divided into a control group (n¼5), a tea group (n¼8) treated with black tea extract, and a gatifloxacin group (n¼8) treated with 0.3% gatifloxacin eye drops. Conjunctival swabs were collected on the third and fifth days. Results: The tea extract successfully inhibited the growth of both organisms at a concentration of 400 mg/mL. Rabbits in the treatment groups showed a reduction in the clinical index on day 2 (P,0.01), unlike the control group (P¼0.1), for both organisms. Resolution of conjunctivitis was achieved on days 4 and 5 in the tea and gatifloxacin groups, respectively. On days 3 and 5, while the control group still showed considerable bacterial growth, the tea and gatifloxacin groups showed its inhibition. Conclusion: Tea extract has antimicrobial effects similar to those of gatifloxacin in a rabbit model of conjunctivitis.

Topical Application of Cell-Penetrating Peptide Modified Anti-VEGF Drug Alleviated Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice

“…41 Eye drop solutions must traverse various anatomical regions of the eyeball, ensuring their components do not harm different eye tissues. 42 In addition, drugs can be metabolized throughout the body through the bloodstream, and it is essential to verify the integrity of various organ structures. 43 Through fluorescein sodium staining of the mice corneas, 44 HE staining of mice eyes, and vital organs, we demonstrated that the three eye drop formulations have excellent biocompatibility at the cellular, tissue, and organ levels, providing assurance for the biological application of eye drops.…”

Antimicrobial Activity Test of Black Tea Ethanol Extract (Camellia sinensis) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…A recent study on determining the safety and efficacy of black tea extract in the treatment of P. aureginosa and Stapylococcus aureus bacterial conjunctivitis in a rabbit model and comparing it with gatifloxacin drops. The results showed that black tea extract had an antimicrobial effect similar to that of gatifloxacin in the rabbit model of conjunctivitis (Abdullatif et al, 2023).…”