title: Green tea extract co-administered with a polymer effectively prevents alcoholic liver damage by prolonged inhibition of alcohol absorption in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol toxicity can induce multiple organ dysfunction, including the liver. Gallated catechins (GCs), the components of green tea extract (GTE), have been known to inhibit intestinal lipid absorption. This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of GC on the absorption of the lipid-soluble ethanol in normal mice. In addition, the effectiveness of prolonging the GC-mediated effect was evaluated as a means of preventing alcoholic liver damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  GTE was administered orally immediately or 90 min before ethanol administration and the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were measured. Binge ethanol administration (by gavage every 6 h for 24 h) was used to induce acute liver injury, and GTE was administered 90 min prior to every ethanol administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When GTE, but not GC-decreased GTE, was administered immediately before ethanol intake, the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were significantly lower than those in the control. On the other hand, GTE has no effect when GTE was administered 90 min before ethanol intake. When GTE was co-administered with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or poly-γ-glutamate (PGA) 90 min before ethanol intake, the lowering effect of GTE on the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels was maintained in contrast to the GTE-alone-treated group. After binge ethanol administration, liver weight decreased, and serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were elevated. Additionally, histopathological changes, such as macrovesicular steatosis and necrosis, were induced in the liver, together with reactive oxygen species generation. When GTE + PEG or GTE + PGA, but not GTE alone, was administered 90 min before ethanol intake, acute liver injury was ameliorated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the development of GTE + PEG or GTE + PGA as an inhibitor of intestinal alcohol absorption for the preventative treatment of acute alcohol toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, 1095 Dalgubeoldae-Ro, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu, Korea
authors.forename: Jae-Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sun-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ilseon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ki-Cheor
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jae-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Dae-Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000431:Ethanol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013662:Tea; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011108:Polymers; D013662:Tea; D000431:Ethanol