• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 1997

Crude catechin extracts were prepared using ethyl acetate from Korean Puerariae Radix (PR) and their biological effects on the alcoholic liver damage were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old). Ethanol (5g ethanol/kg body weight/day) administration was performed for 8 weeks and after ethanol consuming rats were treated with one or two% catechin extracts of diet for 8 weeks. At the end of experimental period, lipid hydroperoxides in liver were analyzed using a chemiluminescence-high performance liquid chromatography (CL-HPLC) method. Compared with control animals, ethanol consumed rats showed lighter body weights, lower ratios of liver/body weight, higher activities of GOT and GPT, and increased lipid hydroperoxide amount in liver. With one or two% catechin extracts treatment, GOT and GPT activities returned to normal ranges. Lipid hydroperoxide contents in liver of on or two% PR treated rats lowered to 20% or 25% respectively, compared with the levels of those ethanol consumed animals without catechin extracts treatment. Therefore, we concluded that on or two% PR crude catechins treatment could be effective for alcoholic liver damage caused by lipid peroxidation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2010

Phytochemical examination of the barks of Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zuccarini has led to the isolation of one phenylpropanoid, one lignan, one flavonoid, one flavan 3-ol and two procyanidins : 4-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl-p-coumaric acid (1), 2,3-dihydro-2-(4-methoxy)-7-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-(3-hydroxy propyl)-benzofuran 3-O-$\alpha$-D-glucopyranoside (2), taxifolin 3'-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (3), (+)-catechin (4), procyanidin B1 (5) and epicatechin-($4{\beta}$-8)-catechin-($4{\alpha}$-8)-catechin (6). Among them, Compound 4, 5 and 6 showed potent anti-oxidative activities and these anti-oxidative activities were significantly different compared with ascorbic acid as positive control.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1187-1193
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin on lipid metabolism in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150$\pm$10gm were randomly assigned to one normal and three STZ-induced diabetic groups. Diabetic animals were fed catechin free diet(DM-0C group), 0.5% catechin diet(DM-0.5C group) and 1% catechin diet(DM-1C group). Diabetes was experimentally induced by intravenous injection of 55mg/kg body wt of STZ in citrate buffer(pH 4.3) after feeding of three experimental diets for 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed at the 6th day of diabetic states. Levels of blood glucose were three fold higher in all three STZ-induced diabetic groups than that of the normal group. The levels of plasma insulin were markedly lower in three STZ-induced diabetic groups than that of the normal group. The levels of plasma cortisol were increased in DM-0C group compared with that of the normal group. Triglyceride, total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in serum were increased in DM-0C groups compared with the normal group but were not significantly different between catechin diet groups and normal group. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels were reduced in DM-0C and DM-0.5C groups by 38% and 25%, respectively and had similar tendency in the DM-1C group compared with that of control group. Atherogenic index have shown same pattern as the result of total cholesterol. Activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Co enzyme A(HMG-CoA) reductase were higher in DM-0C groups than those of the normal group but were not significantly different between catechin diet groups and the normal group. It is concluded that dietary catechins can modulate lipid levels of serum and liver HMG-CoA reductase activity in diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1253-1259
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin on change of bone tissue in long-term cadmium treated rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three cadmium treated groups. Cadmium groups were classified to catechin free diet group (Cd-0C group), 0.25% catechin diet group (Cd-0.25C group) and 0.5% catechin diet group (Cd-0.5C group) according to the levels of catechin supplement. Animals were raised for 20 weeks. Cadmium were supplied as drinking water of 50 ppm Cd$^{2+}$. Effects of catechin were analyzed on changes of bony tissue in long-term cadmium treated rats by determining the accumulated cadmium in bone and bone mineral density and micro- photographs of bony tissue. The cadmium accumulation of tibia and femur were higher in Cd-treated groups than in normal group, but they was lowered by catechin supplementation. The bone mineral density (BMD) of tibia and femur in Cd-0C group was significantly lower than in normal group, but it of catechin supplemetation group was similar to normal group. Microphological changers were appeared under a light microscope and an electro microscope reveal no structural changes in bony spicules, marrow cell distribution and cellular morphology in all groups. The bone weight and length tend to decrease in Cd-0C groups. Catechin supplementation in long-term cadmium treated rats depressed the cadmium accumulation in bony tissue that led to improve the bone mineral density in tibia and femur.r.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2001

The antioxidant activity of Pinus densiflora was determined by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. The methanol extract of P. densiflora showed strong antioxidant activity, and thus fractionated with several solvents. The antioxidant activity potential of the individual fraction was in the order of ethyl acetate>n-butanol>water>dichloromethane> n-hexane fraction. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction exhibiting strong antioxidant activity was further purified by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Antioxidant (+)-catechin was isolated as one of the active principles from the ethyl acetate fraction, together with the inactive components, dihydrokaempferol and 1-O-benzoylglucose. The radical scavenging effect of (+)-catechin on DPPH radical exceeded to that of L-ascorbic acid which is a well known antioxidant.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.4 s.131
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• pp.404-410
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• 2002

Phytochemical examination of Barks of Ulmus macrocarpa has led to the isolation and characterization of two fla-vanonol, taxifolin $7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (1), taxifolin $3'-0-7-{\beta}-glucopyranoside$ (2), two flavanone eriodictyol $7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (3), nalingenin $7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (4), three flavan 3-ol, (+)-catechin (5), (-)-epicatechin (6), (+)-catechin 7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside (7) and one proanthocyanidin, procyanidin B-1 (8). Antioxidative activity of these compounds was determined by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals . (+)-Catechin (5) , (-)-epicatechin (6), (+)-catechin $7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (7) and procyanidin B-1 (8) showed significant antioxidative activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.753-756
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• 2004

The effect of far-infrared (FIR) treatment on total flavanols contents and catechin composition of green tea were determined by vanillin spectroscopic and HPLC methods. Total flavanols content of green tea increased from 145 mg/g to 160 mg/g after FIR treatment for 10 min, but decreased from 146 to 90 mg/g after FIR treatment for 20 min. Among nine catechins of green tea, epicatechin derivatives decreased continuously with treatment time of FIR, while catechin derivatives increased up to 10 min and decreased to 20 min. These results indicate that FIR treatment exerting appreciable influence on catechin content of green tea may be useful as one of processing method improving quality of green tea.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2000

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary green tea catechin and vitamin E on the phospholipse {TEX}$A_{2}${/TEX} activity and th antioxidative defense system in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 gm were randomly assigned to one normal and five STZ-induced diabetic groups. The diabetic groups were assigned either a catechin-free diet (DM group), 0.5% catechin diet (DM-0.5C group), 1% catechin diet (DM-1C group), vitamin E-free diet (DM-0E group), and 400 mg vitamin E per kg diet (DM-400E group) according to the levels of dietary catechin or vitamin E supplementation. The vitamin E levels of the normal, DM, DM-0.5C, and DM-1C groups were 40 mg per kg diet. Diabetes was experimentally induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin after 4 weeks of feeding the five experimental diets. The animals were sacrificed on the 6th day of he diabetic state. The body weight gains were lower in all five diabetic groups after the STZ injection. The platelet phospholipase {TEX}$A_{2}${/TEX}({TEX}$PLA_{2}${/TEX}) activity in the diabetic groups was higher than that in the normal group. However, the enzyme activity in the DM-0.5C, DM-1C, and DM-400E groups was lower than that in the DM and DM-0E groups. The cytochrome {TEX}$P_{450}${/TEX} and cytochrome {TEX}$b_{5}${/TEX} content and NADPH-cytochrome {TEX}$P_{450}${/TEX} reductase activity were about 50~110% higher in the DM and DM-0E groups than in the normal group, yet significantly reduced by either catechin or vitamin E supplementation. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) content in the liver did not differ significantly in any of the groups. However, the glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) activity was generally lower in the diabetic groups, compared with the normal group, whereas that of the DM-0.5C, DM-1C, and DM-400E groups was significantly higher compared with that of the DM and DM-0E groups. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver tissue were 148% and 201% higher in the DM and DM-0E groups, respectively, compared with the normal group, however, these levels were reduced by either catechin or vitamin E supplementation (DM-0.5, DM-1C and DM-400E). Accordingly, the present results indicate that STZ-induced diabetic rats exhibited an imbalance between free radical generation and scavenger systems in the liver which led to the acceleration of lipid peroxidation. However, these abnormalities were reduced and the antioxidative defense system was restored by either dietary catechin or vitamin E supplementation. In conclusion, the effects of dietary catechin or vitamin E in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats would appear to inhibit lipid peroxidation as an anti-oxidant by regulating the activity of {TEX}$PLA_{2}${/TEX}.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.734-740
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of green tea catechins on the antioxidative defense enzyme activity of kidney in diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighting 100$\pm$10g were randomly assigned to one normal and three STZ-induced diabetic groups; catechin free diet(DM-0C group), 0.25% catechin diet(DM-0.25C group) and 0.5% catechin diet(DM-0.5C group). Diabetes was induced by intravenous of 55mg/Kg body weight of STZ in sodium citrate buffer(pH 4.3) after 4 weeks feeding of experimental diets. Rats were sacrified at the 6th day of diabetic states. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity in kidney was decreased by 25% and 20% in DM-0C and DM-0.25C groups compared with normal group, DM-0.5C group was not significantly different when compared with normal group. Glutathione peroxidase(GSHpx) activity in kidney was were no significant differences the diabetic groups compared to normal group. Xanthin oxidase(XOD) activity was increased by 110% and 63% in DM-0C and DM-0.25C groups compared with normal group, DM-0.5C group was not significantly different when compared with normal group. The contents of superoxide radical(O$_2$)in kindney were 116% and 33%, respectively, higher in DM-0C and DM-0.25C groups than normal group. DM-0.5C group and normal groups were similar levels in their superoxide radical contents of kidneys. Levels of TBARS(thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) in kidney were increased by 62% in DM-0C group, when compared with normal group, but those of DM-0.5C group were similar to that of normal groups. These results indicate that free radical generation system was weakened and free radical scavenger system was enhance in kidney of STZ-induced diabetics rats by dietary catechin. Thereby it may reduce renal disorders such as oxidative damage and aging of tissue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.936-942
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• 2012

In the present study, the effects of green tea catechin on microsomal phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$) activity and the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade in the lungs of microwave exposed rats were investigated. One Sprague-Dawley male rats weighting $100{\pm}10$ g was randomly assigned to the normal group and three were assigned to the microwave exposed groups. The microwave exposed groups were subdivided into three groups according to the levels of dietary catechin supplementation: catechin free diet (MW) group, 0.25% catechin (MW-0.25C) group and 0.5% catechin (MW-0.5C) group. Rats were sacrificed on the 6th day after microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz, 15 min). The lung microsomal $PLA_2$ activity in the MW and MW-0.25C groups was 30% and 15% greater than that of the normal group, respectively, whereas no significant difference between the normal group and MW-0.5C group was observed. The percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) hydrolyzed in the lung microsome in the MW, MW-0.25C and MW-0.5C group increased by 47%, 18% and 20%, respectively, due to microwave irradiation. The formation of thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) in the lung microsome was 50% greater in the MW group than in the normal group. However, the levels of $TXA_2$ in the MW-0.25C and MW-0.5C group were normal. The formation of prostacyclin ($PGI_2$) in the lung microsome was 31% lower in the MW group than in the normal group, while the levels of $PGI_2$ in the MW-0.25C and MW-0.5C group were similar to the normal group. The lung microsomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration, which can be used as an index of lipid peroxide was 34% greater in the MW group, when compared with the normal group. However, there was no difference between the MW-0.25C, MW-0.5C and normal groups. In conclusion, lung function appeared to be improved by green tea catechin supplementation due to its antithrombus action, which in turn controls the AA cascade system.