title: Preventive effects of C-2 epimeric isomers of tea catechins on mouse type I allergy.
abstract: The preventive effects of C-2 epimeric isomers of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and the O-methylated derivative, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG3''Me), against ovalbumin-induced type I allergy in male mice were investigated. EGCG and EGCG3''Me exhibited strong antiallergic effects by oral administration at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight. The antiallergic effects of their C-2 epimers, (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate and (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (GCG3''Me), on mouse type I allergy were almost equivalent to and/or as strong as those of the corresponding original catechins, respectively. Oral administration of these compounds at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight tended to suppress the increases in interleukin-4 levels in the abdominal walls of allergic mice and immunoglobulin E levels in the serum of allergic mice. In particular, the administration of GCG3''Me exhibited significant effects on the production and/or release of these parameters stimulating type 2 T helper cells and mast cells in the type I allergic process. These results indicated that C-2 epimerization of tea catechins, which are produced during heat processing at high temperatures, would not be disadvantageous for preventive effects on type I allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Numazu College of Technology, Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan. k-yoshino@numazu-ct.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyase
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007536:Isomerism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D013662:Tea; C420224:epigallocatechin-3-(3''-O-methyl)gallate; C417940:gallocatechin gallate; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002392:Catechin; D010047:Ovalbumin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate