The anti-fibrotic effect of green tea with a high catechin content in the galactosamine-injured rat liver

Kouichi ABE, Takuji SUZUKI, Mitsuhiro IJIRI, Yu KOYAMA, Mamoru ISEMURA, Naohide KINAE
2007 Biomedical research  
Previously, we reported that the oral administration of green tea rich in catechins restored levels of several biomarkers increasing in galactosamine-treated rats to nearly control values. These biomarkers included serum transaminase activities, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 1-β, and the hepatic mRNA expression of these inflammatory cytokines. In the present study, we examined possible anti-fibrotic effects of green tea in galactosamine-induced hepatitis. The
more » ... sults of the reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction indicated that the increase in gene expression of the α1 chain of collagen type 1 and transforming growth factor β-1 in the injured liver 24 h post-injection of galactosamine was suppressed by the administration of green tea. Masson's trichrome staining demonstrated that the extent of fibrogenesis after 14 days was greater in the galactosamine-injured livers not treated with green tea than the treated ones. These results suggest that the drinking of green tea with a high catechin content may help to prevent and/or attenuate the development of fibrosis in hepatitis.
doi:10.2220/biomedres.28.43 pmid:17379956 fatcat:e6beyjflqbc6thulmcyiq4ftoq