1997 Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 150-153
The protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) on paraquat-induced oxidative stress was determined in rats. Decreases in food intake, body weight gain, and liver triacylglycerol level, which were all caused by being fed a paraquat diet, were mitigated by supplementing EGCg in the paraquat diet. Blood and liver antioxidative enzyme activities were not significantly different among the control, paraquat, and paraquat+EGCg diets-fed rats. The liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, however, markedly decreased when the paraquat diet was supplemented with EGCg. These results indicate that EGCg acted in a preventive fashion against paraquat-induced oxidative stress.
