GREEN TEA; BEST WAY TO STRUGGLE LIPID

Introduction: Tea is one of the most common famous drink used daily in many countries in the world. Green tea contains polyphenolic compounds as catechins, that contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The lowering of plasma cholesterol levels and blood pressure as well as improvement of insulin sensitivity and endothelial function by green tea.

Aim of the work: Study the effect of green tea on obesity, blood lipid level and its effect on fatty liver.

Materials and Methods: All animal procedures were approved by the ethical committee of Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University. Thirty male Albino rats in the range of 230–280 g body weight was used in this study. All subjects were kept in an animal room of Physiology Department of Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, in a controlled temperature and 12:12 h light/dark cycle with free access to food and water. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals each. Group-1: the sham group (sham operated, no obesity). Group-2: the vehicle group (obesity induced rats treated with normal saline). Group-3: the ghrelin group (obesity induced rats treated with EGCG).

Results: Body weight, fat deposits, adiposity index and serum cholesterol increased significantly in a time-dependent manner in obese and control animals but were higher in the obese group (HFD > SD). High fat diet caused significant increases in the serum cholesterol level indicating high body lipid and obesity but when EGCG was administered after the beginning of high fat diet, these elevations were significantly depressed. In the vehicle group (obesity induced + saline), areas of hepatocyte necrosis in the liver parenchyma, lymphocytic infiltration, expansion of sinusoids and scattered congestion were detected. Hepatocyte damage was not observed in the liver parenchyma of the EGCG group (obesity induced + EGCG) except for scattered necrotic hepatocytes. Expansion of blood sinusoids was less compared to the vehicle group (obesity induced + saline).

Conclusion: In conclusion, since the administration of EGCG increase lipolysis and the accumulation of neutrophils in the damaged hepatic tissue, this agent appears to play a cytoprotective role in the liver insulted by fatty infiltration with obesity. It seems likely that Green tea (EGCG) is put in consideration as a potential therapeutic agent against obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Keywords: Green Tea; EGCG; Obesity; Hyperlipidemia.