Fatty acids in tea shoots (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) and their effects on the growth of retinal RF/6A endothelial cell lines.
Chemo-protective effects of tea on ocular diseases were recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeia about 2000 years ago by eating tea. In the present study, contents of fatty acids (FAs) in tea shoots were determined by capillary GC; and the growth of RF/6A cells was also investigated by exposure to various representative FAs existing in tea shoots with pathologically relevant concentrations (40-500 microM) by ameliorated MTT assay and flow cytometry. Electron spin resonance (ESR) was used to measure oxygen consumption and investigate the free radical scavenging ability of linoleic acid (LA). Results showed that the most abundant long chain FAs were palmitic, linoleic, and alpha-linolenic acid in tea shoots; some RF/6A cells became suspended in culture medium treated by a high dose of both saturated and unsaturated FAs, but no apoptosis was observed. Moreover, it seemed that those FAs with different structure had various effects on the cell proliferation at their relatively low concentrations, LA expressed antioxidant activity in this study, which might be an important mechanism on the protection of eyes.
Shen
Sheng-rong
SR
Department of Tea Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China. shrshen@zju.edu.cn
Yu
Hai-ning
HN
Chen
Ping
P
Yin
Jun-jie
JJ
Xiong
Yao-kang
YK
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D005227:Fatty Acids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013662:Tea; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid