Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate on brain damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of green tea, is a potent free radical scavenger. The purpose of this study was to verify whether EGCG reduces focal ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg, i.p.) and subjected to a middle cerebral artery 2 h occlusion and then a 24-h reperfusion. The EGCG (25 mg and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle was administered immediately after reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, infarction size, levels of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and oxidized/total glutathione ratio) in the brain and neurological deficits were evaluated. The dose of 50 mg/kg of EGCG significantly reduced the infarction volume (9.9+/-3.2%) as compared to those (45.6+/-5.3%, 34.5+/-7.8%) of the control group and the EGCG 25 mg/kg treated group (p<0.01). The dose of 50 mg/kg of EGCG significantly reduced the neurological deficit total score (5.2+/-1.7) as compared to those (9.5+/-1.2, 8.5+/-2.5) of the control group and the EGCG 25 mg/kg treated group (p<0.05). The dose of 50 mg/kg of EGCG significantly attenuated the level of malondialdehyde and the level of oxidized/total glutathione ratio (281+/-66 nmol/g and 0.48+/-0.03) as compared to the those (415+/-46 nmol/g and 0.64+/-0.05, 381+/-51 nmol/g and 0.61+/-0.06) of the control group and the EGCG 25 mg/kg treated group (p<0.05). These results demonstrate the anti-oxidant effects of EGCG (50 mg/kg) in a rat model of transient focal ischemia, which is a likely explanation for EGCG's neuroprotective effects.
Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, South Korea.
Young Bin
YB
Choi
Yeong In
YI
Kim
Kwang Soo
KS
Lee
Beum Saeng
BS
Kim
Dai Jin
DJ
Kim
D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate