Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) induced toxicity in rats

Abstract

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the principle antioxidant of the green tea extract. The effect of EGCG was studied against the hepatotoxicity induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in rats. The male rats were exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/ml) dissolved in drinking water separately and along with 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml of EGCG for 21 days. The activity of serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), serum alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured in blood serum. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content and micronucleus frequency were estimated in the rat hepatocytes. To study the effect on DNA damage, comet assay was performed on rat hepatocytes and blood lymphocytes. The results showed a dose-dependent significant decrease in the levels of blood serum enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) in rats exposed to NDEA along with EGCG. Histological sections of the liver also revealed a protective effect of EGCG. A significant dose-dependent reduction in the lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content and micronucleus frequency was observed in rats exposed to NDEA along with EGCG. The results obtained from the comet assay in rat hepatocytes as well as blood lymphocytes also showed a dose-dependent significant decrease in the mean tail length. It is suggested that the EGCG is both antigenotoxic and hepatoprotective agent.

Keywords:

• epigallocatechin gallate
• N-nitrosodiethylamine
• serum enzymes
• antigenotoxic
• hepatoprotective

Public Interest Statement

Nitroso compounds are well-known carcinogen present in a number of food stuffs such as milk products, meat products and preserved fruit juices. Their presence has been reported to cause acute hepatocellular damage. Natural antioxidants can play a major role in combating the toxic effects of the nitroso compounds. In this context, one of the antioxidants of the green tea extracts i.e. epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been studied against the toxic effects induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in rats. The results suggest that the EGCG is effective in reducing the toxic effects induced by NDEA and could play a role of therapeutic agent for various kinds of liver ailments.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interest.

Acknowledgement

We are thankful to the Chairman, Department of Zoology, AMU, Aligarh for providing laboratory facilities.

Additional information

Funding

Funding. We are gratefully thankful to Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science & Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Delhi, India for the sanction of the research project [project number SR/FT/LS-60/2011] to Dr. Yasir Hasan Siddique.

Notes on contributors

Yasir Hasan Siddique

Dr Siddique is an assistant professor in the Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. His research interest includes Toxicology and Neurodegenerative disorders. He has an experience of working with animal models (mice, rat, Drosophila) and in vitro cell culture.

Fahad Ali

Fahad Ali (ICMR-JRF) is working as a PhD student. Our study suggests that EGCG is effective in reducing the toxic effects induced by NDEA and could play a role of therapeutic agent for various kinds of liver ailments.