title: Polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate targeting myocardial reperfusion limits infarct size and improves cardiac function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This experiment was performed to determine the effect of polyphenolic (-)-epigallocatechin (EGCG), the most abundant catechin of green tea, given at reperfusion period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion. Green tea extract (GT) was perfused with the following concentrations; 0, 0.5, and 1 microM (GT-O, GT-0.5, and GT-1, respectively). In a next experiment, hearts were assigned randomly to one of the following groups; Control, EGCG-1 (1 microM of EGCG), and EGCG-10 (10 microM of EGCG). GT and EGCG were perfused for a period of 5 min before and 30 min after reperfusion. For comparison of cardioprotection among groups, morphometric measurement was performed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GT 1 microM (10.3 +/- 2.1%, P < 0.05) significantly reduced infarct volume as a percentage of ischemic volume compared to untreated hearts (27.4 +/- 1.1%). EGCG 10 microM (13.2 +/- 4.0%) significantly reduced myocardial infarction compared to control hearts (27.2 +/- 1.4%, P = 0.002). After 2 h of reperfusion, cardiodynamic variables, including left ventricular developed pressure, rate-pressure produce, +dP/dt(max), and -dP/dt(min) were significantly improved by 10 microM of EGCG compared to control hearts (P = 0.01, 0.016, 0.009, and 0.019, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGCG treatment at an early reperfusion period reduces myocardial infarction and improves cardiodynamics in isolated rat hearts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Ryong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: June Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kook Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chun