Abstract

The present study investigated the protective effects of green tea against acute ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation and the change of antioxidative enzyme activities in various regions of rat brain : cortex, cerebellum, striatum and hippocampus. The following parameters were examined : malondialdehyde(MDA) levels and activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given the experimental containing 1% green tea powder or control diet for 4 weeks, and at the end of feeding diet group received acute ethanol(5g/kg body weight) or equicaloric sucrose solution intragastrically. Green tea powder significantly decreased MDA levels in the striatum compared to control-non alcohol treated group to 1% green tea-non alcohol treated group without altering the antioxidative enzyme activities. Green tea resulted in a significant increase in GSH-Px activities in the hippocampus compared to either control-non alcohol treated group(0.043units/mg protein) or 1% green tea-non alcohol treated group(0.071units/mg protein). In conclusion, these results suggest that moderate consumption of green tea leaves can exert protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in brain regions, by reducing MDA concentrations in the striatum and enhancing GSH-Px activities in the hippocampus. (Korean J Nutrition 34(5) : 525∼531, 2001)

Keywords

• green tea;
• antioxidative enzymes;
• malondialdehyde;
• rat brain regions