Active components such as tea polyphenols and theanine in black tea, as well as walnut peptides, all exhibit immunomodulatory effects. This study evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of combined intervention with black tea aqueous extract and walnut peptides (FT-WP) in a cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed mouse model. Compared with the model group, FT-WP treatment significantly increased body weight, spleen and thymus indices, and alleviated spleen atrophy (P < 0.05). It also elevated serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM) and cytokines (IFN-γ), and improved the CD4 + T-cell balance in the jejunum. Non-targeted metabolomics revealed that FT-WP ameliorated Cy-induced metabolic disorders by regulating key metabolites—such as choline, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and prostaglandin F2β—primarily through the glycine/serine/threonine metabolic pathway. In conclusion, the FT-WP combination effectively alleviates immunosuppression by synergistically regulating immune organ function, intestinal immunity, and metabolic networks, providing a scientific basis for the development of novel functional immunomodulatory products.
Liu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.