Do flavan-3-ols from green tea reach the human brain?
Following acute ingestion of green tea by six human subjects, HPLC-MS2 analysis revealed that flavan-3-ol methyl, glucuronide and sulfate metabolites appeared in the bloodstream but did not pass through the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. These observations emphasize the discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo evidence on the neuroprotective role of these compounds. If, as has been proposed, green tea exerts neuroprotective effects, this finding indicates that the active components are not flavan-3-ols or their metabolites. Alternatively, a systemic action may be hypothesised whereby dietary flavan-3-ols up-regulate antioxidant defences and/or reduce inflammation, the benefit of which may be effective throughout the body.
Zini
Andrea
A
Department of Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Del Rio
Daniele
D
Stewart
Amanda J
AJ
Mandrioli
Jessica
J
Merelli
Elisa
E
Sola
Patrizia
P
Nichelli
Paolo
P
Serafini
Mauro
M
Brighenti
Furio
F
Edwards
Christine A
CA
Crozier
Alan
A
D000328:Adult; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
D005419:Flavonoids; D013662:Tea; C404987:flavan-3-ol