The Effect of Green Tea Catechin on Lymphocytic Leukemia Cell Line

Park, Jeong Hyun

Abstract

We investigated the effect of green tea catechin on cultured L1210 cell line (lymphocytic leukemia) in various concentrations and durations. It was focused on which phenomenon was involved with cellular damages, apoptosis or necrosis, in addition to their onset and duration. For this study. intensity of morphological changes and cell damage was observed under inverted, light, confocal and electron microscope as well as flowcytometric analysis, after exposure to 1, 10, 100 microgram/ml catechin during 72 hours. Exposure of catechin induced severe cellular damage and growth inhibition in dose-and time-dependent manner. We found two modes of cellular damage, necrosis and apoptosis after administration of 100 microgram/ml catechin. In necrotic cells, increase of cell volume, vacuole formation, destruction of membranous organelles were observed. These findings were mainly involved in the early phase (before 24 hours) after administration of 100 microgram/ml catechin, Whereas, In apoptotic cells, diminished cell volume, chromatin condensation, apoptotic body formation, wrinkled cell membrane were shown frequently. Both of necrotic and apoptotic cells were co-existed in the late phase (after 24 hours) after administration of 100 microgram/ml catechin simultaneously. however, proportion of apoptotic cells were higher among total damaged cells. In low dose (1, 10 microgram/ml) treatment of catechin, both of necrotic and apoptotic cells were also seen, but not frequently. In conclusion, This study suggest that the green tea catechin resulted in cell death and inhibition of proliferation markedly on cultured lymphocytic leukemia cells. Then, we confirmed apparent effect of catechin on leukemia and its mechanism are involved with both of apoptosis and necrosis. Thus green tea would be helpful to cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention and this study would be basic source for further research of green tea.