title: Neurochemical and behavioral effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis): a model study.
abstract: Being rich in polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids, green tea is suggested to be a potential candidate for the treatment of obesity, stress, depression, Parkinson's and other disorders. Since serotonin has an important role in the pathophysiology of these disorders, present study was designed to monitor the effects of green tea in rats. Green tea extract was provided to the male Albino Wistar rats for 5 weeks, and effects on behaviors were monitored. Results show a decrease in food intake after 5th week but not before. An increase in locomotive activities of the animals was observed, as monitored in novel as well as in familiar environment. Anxiolytic effects were observed in elevated plus maze but not in light dark activity box. An increase in dopamine and serotonin turnover was observed. Our results suggest that beneficial effects of green tea drinking might be due to alteration of serotonin and/or dopamine metabolism. We thereby propose that in further experiments, green tea should be administered in animal model of learned helplessness and effects on the development of adaptation to stress should be monitored. Neurochemical estimations of catecholamine and indoleamine in these animal models of stress exposed to green tea would help in understanding the anxiolytic effects of green tea.
authors.affiliation: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Beenish
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.forename: Huma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikram
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilgrami
authors.forename: Darakhshan Jabeen
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Haleem
authors.forename: Muhammad Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haleem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine