Evaluation of toxicity of green tea catechins with 90-day dietary administration to F344 rats.
Green tea catechins (GTC), polyphenols extracted from the stalks and leaves of Camellia sinensis, are found in the different types of tea beverages and as antioxidant additives to many foods, snacks, fats and fatty oils. As a part of their safety assessment, subchronic toxicity was investigated in male and female F344 rats with dietary administration at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.3%, 1.25% and 5.0% for 90 days. The average daily intakes of GTC in each group were 180, 764 and 3525mg/kg body weight/day, respectively for males, and 189, 820 and 3542mg/kg body weight/day, respectively for females. No mortality or obvious clinical signs were observed throughout the experimental period but body weights were reduced from week 1 to the end of the experiment in 5.0% males. In serum biochemistry, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in 5.0% males and females and aspartate transaminase in 5.0% females were increased, together with the relative liver weights in both sexes receiving 5.0%. Although decreases were evident for total cholesterol in 0.3-5.0% males and triglycerides in 1.25% and 5.0% males and 5.0% females, these changes were not considered to be adverse. Hematology and histopathological observation revealed no GTC-related toxicological changes. Based on above findings, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of GTC was estimated to be 1.25% (764mg/kg body weight/day for males and 820mg/kg body weight/day for females).
Takami
S
S
Division of Pathology, National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.
Imai
T
T
Hasumura
M
M
Cho
Y-M
YM
Onose
J
J
Hirose
M
M
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives; D008297:Male; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D005503:Food Additives; D013662:Tea; D014280:Triglycerides; D002392:Catechin; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase