Korean J Nutr.  2003 Mar;36(2):117-124.

Effect of Korean Traditional Tea Materials Water Extract on Hepatic Oxygen Free Radical Generating and Scavenging Enzyme Activities in Lead Administered Rats

• Kim DJ
• Cho SY
• Shin KH
• Lee MK
• Kim MJ

Abstract

This study was designed to test the effect of Korean traditional tea materials on oxygen-free radical metabolism in lead (Pb) -administered rats. Male rats were divided into normal, Pb-control (Pb-Con) and Pb-water extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis; GT) , persimmon leaf (Diospyros kaki; PL) , safflower seed (Carhamus tinctorius: SS) , Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides; EU) groups, respectively. Pb intoxication was induced by administration of lead acetate (25 mg/kg. B.W., oral) weekly. The extract was administered based on 1.26 g of raw material/kg B.W./day for 4 weeks. When the GT, PL, SS and EU were supplemented to the Pb-administered rats, hepatic lipid peroxide levels were significantly lower compared to the Pb-Con group. Hepatic cytochrom P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was lower in the Pb-Con group than in the normal group, whereas xanthine oxidase activity was significantly elevated in Pb-administered rats. The water extract of GT, PL, SS and EU supplementation attenuated changes in enzyme activities generating reactive oxygen species in the liver. Hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in the Pb-Con group than in the normal group, while monoamine oxidase activity also tended to increase in the Pb-administered rats. However, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities, and glutathione content significantly decreased through Pb intoxication. The supplementation of GT, PL, SS and EU induced alleviation changes of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity.

Keyword

tea materials; lead; oxygen free radical metabolism

MeSH Terms

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase
Animals
Carthamus tinctorius
Catalase
Diospyros
Eucommiaceae
Glucose
Glutathione
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione Transferase
Humans
Liver
Male
Metabolism
Monoamine Oxidase
Oxidoreductases
Oxygen*
Rats*
Reactive Oxygen Species
Superoxide Dismutase
Tea*
Water*
Xanthine Oxidase
Aminopyrine N-Demethylase
Catalase
Glucose
Glutathione
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione Transferase
Monoamine Oxidase
Oxidoreductases
Oxygen
Reactive Oxygen Species
Superoxide Dismutase
Tea
Water
Xanthine Oxidase