title: Protective effects of green tea catechins on cerebral ischemic damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Green tea catechins possess potent antioxidative properties, and the preventive effects against various oxidative diseases have been reported. The purpose of this study is to examine preventive and protective effects of green tea catechins on various deteriorative processes following stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were given ad libitum water with or without 0.25 and 0.5% tea catechin extract for 5 days prior to the operation and during the experiment. Right middle cerebral artery was occluded for 2 h, then reperfused for 22 h. Brain slices were stained with triphenyltetrazolim chloride to assess infarct area. Concentrations of plasma EGCg, and serum NOx were analyzed by HPLC. Detection of iNOS expression, neutrophil infiltration and peroxynitrite formation in the penumbra was performed by immunostain. Neurologic deficit was scored by posture reflex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tea catechins dose-dependently reduced the brain infarct area and volume. Infarct volume was inversely correlated with plasma EGCg concentration. Dark staining for iNOS, neutrophils and peroxynitrite were observed in vessel wall of small arteries in control ischemic hemisphere, while in catechins (0.5%)-treated rats iNOS was detected slightly, and staining for neutrophils and peroxynitrite was not seen. Catechin ingestion blocked a 3-fold increase in serum NOx concentration in the jugular vein, and also reduced by 35% a 2-fold increase of plasma lipid peroxide level seen in control rats after reperfusion. Neurologic deficits were significantly alleviated by 0.5% catechin ingestion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily intake of green tea catechins efficiently protects the penumbra from irreversible damage due to cerebral ischemia, and consequent neurologic deficits.
authors.affiliation: University of Shizuoka, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 52-1 Yada, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
authors.forename: Motohisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umegaki
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; D007377:Interleukin-3; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013662:Tea; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D007377:Interleukin-3; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013662:Tea; C404145:myelopoietin; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat