title: Green tea modulates reserpine toxicity in animal models.
abstract: Reserpine, a natural product extracted from Rauwolfia serpintina or Rauwolfia vomitoria, is a known dopamine depleter that inhibits several neurotransmitters. Reserpine has been used clinically to control hypertension, schizophrenia, insomnia and insanity. The use of this drug, however, has been limited because of its side effects which include oxidative damage to organs, including the liver. Green tea catechins are potent antioxidants that have the potential to counteract reserpine induced oxidative stress. This study investigated the merits of administering green tea concurrently with reserpine to prevent oxidative hepatic damage in Sprague-Dawely (SD) rats. Reserpine was found to cause hepatic damage, with elevated levels of oxidative stress markers, such as Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), transaminases and cholesterol. Reserpine also induced hepatic ultra-structural damage in the cytoplasmic membrane, nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum (rER), ribosomal stripping and mitochondria. Electron microscopy examination showed revival of liver cells as a result of green tea extract administration to experimental rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969- SAFAT- State of Kuwait.
authors.forename: Shaima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Bloushi
authors.forename: Abdel-Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Safer
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzal
authors.forename: Shaker A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mousa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015394:Molecular Structure; D015388:Organelles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012110:Reserpine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D000637:Transaminases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013662:Tea; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D012110:Reserpine; D002392:Catechin; D000637:Transaminases; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C057580:gallocatechol