Author(s)

Somdet Srichairatanakool, Kanokwan Kulprachakarn, Kanjana Pangjit, Kovit Pattanapanyasat, Suthat Fuchaeron

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Office of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Thalassemia Research Center, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Mahidol University Salaya Campus, Nakornpathom, Thailand.

Cellular and mitochondrial damage can be caused by labile iron pool (LIP) and mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Livers of the thalassemias have highly increased levels of LIP and ROS. Green tea extract (GTE) and epigallocatechin 3-gallatte (EGCG) can potentially protect liver inflammation, fibrosis and cancer due to their anti-oxidative and iron-chelating activities. We studied the effects of GTE and EGCG on intracellular LIP and ROS, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) in mouse hepatocyte and HepG2 cell cultures using specific fluorescent techniques. Treatment with GTE (12.5 - 25 mg/dl) and EGCG (25 - 50 μM) significantly lowered levels of ΔΨ_m in the mouse hepatocytes; however, combined treatment of 25 μM DFP with GTE and EGCG did not enhance the decrease of hepatic ΔΨ_m. The results showed that GTE and EGCG effectively removed the intracellular LIP and ROS, and relieved the mitochondria membrane collapse of the liver cells, suggesting a hepatoprotective effect of green tea extract and EGCG in the hepatocytes with iron overload. Their actions might be related to iron-chelating and free radical-scavenging capacities. Whether the effects can improve iron overload and oxidative stress in thalassemia patients remains to be seen upon further examination.

Green Tea; Epigallocatechin Gallate; Hepatocytes; Labile Iron Pool; Iron; Reactive OxygenSpecies

Srichairatanakool, S. , Kulprachakarn, K. , Pangjit, K. , Pattanapanyasat, K. and Fuchaeron, S. (2012) Green tea extract and epigallocatechin 3-gallate reduced labile iron pool and protected oxidative stress in iron-loaded cultured hepatocytes. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 3, 1140-1150. doi: 10.4236/abb.2012.38140.