Protective effects of the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate against hippocampal neuronal damage after transient global ischemia in gerbils.
Recent studies have shown that green tea polyphenols reduce free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. Oxygen free radical injury plays an important role in neuronal damage induced by brain ischemia and reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to examine whether (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) would reduce neuronal damage after transient global ischemia in the gerbils because EGCG has a potent antioxidant property as a green tea polyphenol. To produce transient global ischemia, both common carotid arteries were occluded for 3 min with microaneurysmal clips. The gerbils were treated with EGCG (10, 25, or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) immediately after ischemia. Neuronal cell damage in the hippocampal CA1 region was evaluated quantitatively 5 days after ischemia by a blinded investigator. EGCG at the dose of 10 mg/kg failed to reduce hippocampal neuronal damage. However, EGCG when administered at the dose of 25 or 50 mg/kg significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal damage in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.001, respectively). The present results show that the green tea polyphenol, EGCG, has a neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following global ischemia in the gerbils.
Lee
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Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Taegu, South Korea. srlee@dsmc.or.kr
Suh
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Kim
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D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013662:Tea
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate