Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect and antioxidant activity of chronic epigallocatechin-gallate in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
Green tea catechins including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could exert beneficial health effects to ameliorate metabolic diseases. The effect of chronic administration of EGCG was evaluated on serum glucose and lipid profile and hepatic lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats.


METHODS
Rats received EGCG 25mg/kg/day for 8 weeks 1 week after diabetes induction. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels and MDA level and SOD activity in hepatic tissue were spectrophotometrically measured.


RESULTS
Treatment of diabetic rats with EGCG produced a hypoglycemic effect and there were appropriate changes regarding serum lipids in treated diabetic group. Meanwhile, EGCG treatment attenuated the increased MDA content and reduced activity of SOD in liver.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic treatment of diabetic rats with EGCG could prevent abnormal changes in blood glucose and lipid profile and attenuat hepatic lipid peroxidation.
Roghani
Mehrdad
M
Department of Physiology and Medical Research Center, School of Medicine and Medicinal Plant Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
Baluchnejadmojarad
Tourandokht
T