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Molecular mechanisms by which white tea prevents oxidative stress

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Abstract

The flavonoid content of tea (Camellia sinensis) has beneficial properties in the prevention of diseases. However, the mechanisms by which white tea can protect against oxidative stress remain unclear. To shed light on this issue, rats were given distilled water (controls), 0.15 mg/day (dose 1) or 0.45 mg/day (dose 2) of solid tea extract/kg body weight for 12 months. All the animals received an injection of adriamycin (ADR; 10 mg/kg body weight), except half of the control group, which were given an injection of saline solution. The expression of the nuclear factor, E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1), glutathione S-transferase (Gst), haem oxygenase-1 (Ho1), catalase (Cat), superoxide dismutase (Sod) and glutathione reductase (Gr) in liver was analysed by real-time PCR, and the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) was measured spectrophotometrically. ADR significantly increased the expression of Nrf2, Gst, Nqo1, Ho1, Cat, Sod and Gr with respect to the control levels and also increased the activity of CAT, SOD and GR. The intake of white tea increased in a higher degree the expression of Nrf2, Gst, Nqo1 and Ho1 in the tea + ADR group compared with the control group and C + ADR group. In addition, tea + ADR groups decreased the expression and activity of CAT, SOD and GR in a dose-dependent manner.

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Abbreviations

ADR:

Adriamycin

ARE:

Antioxidant response element

Cat :

Catalase gene

CAT:

Catalase

ECH:

Erythroid-derived CNC (cap’n’collar) homology protein

ECG:

Epicatechin gallate

EGCG:

Epigallocatechin gallate

EGC:

Epigallocatechin

Gr :

Glutathione reductase gene

GR:

Glutathione reductase

Gst :

Glutathione S-transferase gene

GST:

Glutathione S-transferase

Keap1:

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1

NAD(P)H:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

NQO1:

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1

Nqo1 :

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 gene

NRF-2:

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2

Nrf2 :

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 gene

Sod :

Superoxide dismutase gene

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología of Spain under project AGL2005-08088-C02-01 and Beca FPU (AP2006-02642). The authors thank M. Pilar Almajano for the extract of white tea, Alberto Cuesta Peñafiel for his invaluable advice and assistance and Elvira Larqué Daza, Daniel Gonzalez Silvera and Rebeca Martinez-Tomás for their technical support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    C. Espinosa, F. Pérez-Llamas, S. Zamora & J. A. López-Jiménez

  2. Fish Innate Immune System Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    F. A. Guardiola & M. A. Esteban

  3. Department of Plant Biology (Plant Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    M. B. Arnao

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  1. C. Espinosa
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  2. F. Pérez-Llamas
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  3. F. A. Guardiola
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  4. M. A. Esteban
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  6. S. Zamora
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  7. J. A. López-Jiménez
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Correspondence to C. Espinosa.

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Espinosa, C., Pérez-Llamas, F., Guardiola, F.A. et al. Molecular mechanisms by which white tea prevents oxidative stress. J Physiol Biochem 70, 891–900 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-014-0357-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-014-0357-9

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