Effects of crude drugs on experimental hypercholesterolemia. I. Tea and its active principles.
The effect of methanol extractives from tea leaves on hypercholesterolemia was examined in animal models. It was found that orally administered (-)-epicatechin gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate from tea leaves lowered the serum cholesterol level in mice fed a high fat emulsion. Quantitation of tissue cholesterol and examination of liver tissues in mice fed a high cholesterol diet revealed that these constituents also significantly lowered the amount of cholesterol crystallization. These results support the reputed effectiveness of tea use in hypercholesterolemia.
D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013662:Tea / Q000032:analysis*
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin