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J.Health Sci., 47(3), 248-257, 2001

Suppressive Effect of (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate on Aflatoxin B1-induced Chromosome Aberrations in Rat Bone Marrow Cells

Yoshiaki Ito* and Mitsuo Ito

Kobe Institute of Health, 4-6 Minatojima-Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0046, Japan

The suppressive effect of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic constituent present in green tea, on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced chromosome aberrations (CA) in rat bone marrow cells was studied. The administration of EGCG 24 hr before the AFB1 injection significantly suppressed AFB1-induced CA. The suppression was observed 18 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr after the AFB1 treatment but no suppressive effect was observed at the early period (6 hr and 12 hr) after the AFB1 treatment. Furthermore, the suppression was observed in all doses of AFB1 (1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) investigated. Rats given EGCG 2 hr before the AFB1 injection displayed no suppressive effect. The suppressive effect of EGCG paralleled the dose of EGCG when given in a dose range of 10-60 mg/kg body weight. The administration of (-)-epicatechin gallate 24 hr before the AFB1 injection significantly suppressed AFB1-induced CA as well as EGCG. On the other hand, in rats given green tea polyphenols (GTP) 2 hr before the AFB1 injection, (-)-epigallocatechin and gallic acid significantly suppressed AFB1-induced CA. The pretreatment with EGCG or gallic acid did not induce the drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver, such as cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transeferase. Rats given 2% green tea infusion as the sole source of drinking water for four days before sacrifice displayed significantly suppressed AFB1-induced CA. However, rats given various kinds of canned tea for four days showed no suppressive effect. The amount of GTP in canned tea determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was much less than that in 2% green tea infusion.