S. Kaviarasan

Epigallocatechin Gallate, a Green Tea Phytochemical, Attenuates Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Protein and Lipid Damage

ABSTRACT Oxidative damage to cellular constituents is one of the major mechanisms of alcoholic liver injury, and administration of antioxidants ameliorates alcoholic liver disease. The present study investigated the influence of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol component of green tea, on oxidant–antioxidant balance, protein, and lipid damage in liver of rats fed ethanol. Chronic ethanol administration (6 g/kg/day × 60 days) caused liver damage that was manifested by excessive formation of lipid peroxidation end products such as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (LHP), and conjugated dienes (CD) accompanied by a reduction in enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidant levels. Further, ethanol caused a rise in protein carbonyl formation and loss of protein thiol groups. Ethanol-fed rats exhibited increased staining for the presence of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) protein adducts in liver. The detrimental effects of ethanol were alleviated upon simultaneous treatment with EGCG (100 mg/kg/day) for the last 30 days of alcohol feeding. These findings show that EGCG ameliorates protein and lipid damage induced by the hepatotoxin, ethanol.

Induction of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and heat shock protein expression by ethanol and modulation by fenugreek seed polyphenols in Chang liver cells.

The present study investigated the effect of fenugreek seed polyphenolic extract (FPEt) on ethanol-induced protein expression in Chang liver cells. Cells were incubated with either 30 mM EtOH alone or together in the presence of FPEt for 24 h. Cells were harvested and assessed for expression of alcohol metabolizing enzymes-alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH2 isoform), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2 isoform), cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1), the electron transport component (cytochrome-c), and the heat shock proteins. The expression of ADH2, ALDH2, and CYP2E1 were upregulated, whereas the expression of cytochrome-c was downregulated in the ethanol-treated cells. The expression of cellular heat shock proteins-HSP70, HSC70, HSC92, and mitochondrial protein mtHSP70 were induced in ethanol-treated Chang liver cells. FPEt modulated the protein expression changes induced by ethanol and had no effect when incubated with normal Chang liver cells. FPEt might exert cytoprotective action on ethanol-induced liver cell damage, possibly by enhancing cellular redox status.

(-) Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Prevents Lipid Changes and Collagen Abnormalities in Chronic Ethanol-Fed Rats

ABSTRACT The objective of the study is to examine the influence of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea component, on lipid and collagen abnormalities in chronic ethanol-fed rats. Solubility properties, aldehyde content, fluorescence, and peroxidation were analyzed in collagen samples isolated from liver. Chronic alcoholism (6 g/kg/day × 60 days) was associated with fatty liver and collagen accumulation. Significant alterations in the levels of lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids, and triglycerides) and total collagen were observed in liver. Collagen obtained from ethanol-fed rats showed alterations in solubility properties, increased fluorescence, peroxidation, and aldehyde content. Coadministration of EGCG along with ethanol significantly reduced the levels of liver lipids and collagen, improved the solubility properties of collagen, and caused a reduction in cross-linking as evidenced by a decrease in fluorescence, peroxidation, and aldehyde content. Histology of liver sections of ethanol-fed rats showed accumulation of fat and collagen, which were largely prevented by EGCG administration. The possible mechanisms in the protective action of EGCG in alcoholic liver disease are suggested and discussed.

Fenugreek seed polyphenols inhibit RBC membrane Na + /K + -ATPase activity

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effects of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum) are well established. Owing to the wide spread use of the seeds by healthy individuals and by diabetic patients we wanted to test whether the seeds can affect biological systems such as membrane transport function. In the present study fenugreek seed polyphenols were extracted and their effect on erythrocyte membrane-bound sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase activity was studied in vitro. Fenugreek seed polyphenols inhibited in erythrocyte membrane of diabetic and normal subjects. Maximum inhibition was observed at of extract containing 0.75 mM gallic acid equivalents. The uncoupling of membrane ATPases in vitro suggest that polyphenols from fenugreek seeds may possess a positive inotropic effect.