Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antioxidant activity of various teas against free radicals and LDL oxidation

  • Articles
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

Tea is a widely consumed beverage throughout the world. We assessed the antioxidant activity of six teas, including the aqueous extracts of green tea and oolong tea (Camellia sinensis), tochu (Eucommia ulmoides), Gymnema sylvestre, Japanese mugwort (Artemisia princeps), and barley (Hordeum vulgare), against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and LDL oxidation, and examined the association of LDL oxidizability with the plasma catechin levels in 10 healthy volunteers with a single dose of 5 g green tea powder. In vitro, the inhibitory effects of DPPH radicals and LDL oxidation were found to be strongest in the extract of green tea and weakest in that of barley. After the ingestion of green tea powder, the lag time increased from basal 52.2±4.1 to 60.3±4.2 min at 1 h and 59.5±4.1 min at 2 h, and then returned to the baseline lag time (51.9±1.4 at 4 h and 52.1±4.7 min at 6 h). Regarding the plasma catechin levels, epigallocatechingallate and epicatechingallate significantly increased from basal 3.7±1.3 and 0.8±0.8 ng/mL to 65.7±11.6 and 54.6±12.6 ng/mL at 1 h, and 74.4±18.6 and 49.4±7.1 ng/mL at 2 h, respectively. Green tea therefore showed the strongest antioxidant activity among the six different teas, and the inhibitory effects of green tea on LDL oxidation depended on the plasma catechin levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AMVN-CH3O:

2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile)

CAD:

coronary artery disease

DPPH:

1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

EC:

epicatechin

ECg:

epicatechingallate

EGCg:

epigallocatechingallate

References

  1. Steinberg, D., Parthasarathy, S., Carew, T.E., Khoo, J.C., and Witztum, J.L. (1989) Beyond Cholesterol. Modifications of Low-Density Lipoprotein That Increase Its Atherogenicity, N. Engl. J. Med. 320, 915–924.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fogelman, A.M., Shechter, I., Seager, J., Hokom, M., Child, J.S., and Edwards, P.A. (1980) Malondialdehyde Alteration of Low Density Lipoproteins Leads to Cholesteryl Ester Accumulation in Human Monocyte-Macrophages, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 2214–2218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rosenfeld, M.E., Khoo, J.C., Miller, E., Parthasarathy, S., Palinski, W., and Witztum, J.L. (1991) Macrophage-Derived Foam Cells Freshly Isolated from Rabbit Atherosclerotic Lesions Degrade Modified Lipoproteins, Promote Oxidation of Low-Density Lipoproteins, and Contain Oxidation-Specific Lipid-Protein Adducts, J. Clin. Invest. 87, 90–99.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Regnstrom, J., Nilsson, J., Tornvall, P., Landou, C., and Hamsten, A. (1992) Susceptibility to Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Man, Lancet 339, 1183–1186.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Esterbauer, H., Jurgens, G., Quehenberger, O., and Koller, E. (1987) Autoxidation of Human Low Density Lipoprotein: Loss of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Vitamin E and Generation of Aldehydes, J. Lipid Res. 28, 495–509.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hertog, M.G., Feskens, E.J., Hollman, P.C., Katan, M.B., and Kromhout, D. (1993) Dietary Antioxidant Flavonoids and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: The Zutphen Elderly Study, Lancet 342, 1007–1011.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tikkanen, M.J., Wahala, K., Ojala, S., Vihma, V., and Adlercreutz, H. (1998) Effect of Soybean Phytoestrogen Intake on Low Density Lipoprotein Oxidation Resistance, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 3106–3110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Luo, M., Kannar, K., Wahlqvist, M.L., and O’Brien, R.C. (1997) Inhibition of LDL Oxidation by Green Tea Extract, Lancet 349, 360–361.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kurihara, H., Fukami, H., Toyoda, Y., Kageyama, N., Tsuruoka, N., Shibata, H., Kiso, Y., and Tanaka, T. (2003) Inhibitory Effect of Oolong Tea on the Oxidative State of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Biol. Pharm. Bull. 26, 739–742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chung, B.H., Segrest, J.P., Ray, M.J., Brunzell, J.D., Hokanson, J.E., Krauss, R.M., Beaudrie, K., and Cone, J.T. (1986) Single Vertical Spin Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation, Methods Enzymol. 128, 181–209.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hirano, R., Kondo, K., Iwamoto, T., Igarashi, O., and Itakura, H. (1997) Effects of Antioxidants on the Oxidative Susceptibility of Low-Density Lipoprotein, J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. (Tokyo) 43, 435–444.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Unno, T., Kondo, K., Itakura, H., and Takeo, T. (1996) Analysis of (−)-Epigallocatechin Gallate in Human Serum Obtained Ffter Ingesting Green Tea, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 60, 2066–2068.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tijburg, L.B., Wiseman, S.A., Meijer, G.W., and Weststrate, J.A. (1997) Effects of Green Tea, Black Tea and Dietary Lipophilic Antioxidants on LDL Oxidizability and Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolaemic Rabbits, Atherosclerosis 135, 37–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Princen, H.M., van Duyvenvoorde, W., Buytenhek, R., Blonk, C., Tijburg, L.B., Langius, J.A., Meinders, A.E., and Pijl, H. (1998) No Effect of Consumption of Green and Black Tea on Plasma Lipid and Antioxidant Levels and on LDL Oxidation in Smokers, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 18, 833–841.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nakamura, T., Nakazawa, Y., Onizuka, S., Satoh, S., Chiba, A., Sekihashi, K., Miura, A., Yasugahira, N., and Sasaki, Y.F. (1997) Antimutagenicity of Tochu Tea (an Aqueous Extract of Eucommia ulmoides Leaves): 1. The Clastogen-Suppressing Effects of Tochu Tea in CHO Cells and Mice, Mutat. Res. 388, 7–20.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Li, Y., Metori, K., Koike, K., Kita, F., Che, O.M., Sato, T., Shirai, W., and Takahashi, S. (2000) Granuloma Maturation in the Rat is Advanced by the Oral Administration of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver Leaf, Biol. Pharm. Bull. 23, 60–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Yang, J., Kato, K., Noguchi, K., Dairaku, N., Koike, T., Iijima, K., Imatani, A., Sekine, H., Ohara, S., Sasano, H., et al. (2003) Tochu (Eucommia lmoides) Leaf Extract Prevents Ammonia and Vitamin C Deficiency Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury, Life Sci. 73, 3245–3256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kwan, C.Y., Chen, C.X., Deyama, T., and Nishibe, S. (2003) Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxant Effects of the Aqueous Extracts of the Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Leaf and Bark: Implications on Their Antihypertensive Action, Vascul. Pharmacol. 40, 229–235.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yen, G.C., and Hsieh, C.L. (2000) Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Activity of Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) and Its Active Compounds, J. Agric. Food Chem. 48, 3431–3436.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sugihara, Y., Nojima, H., Matsuda, H., Murakami, T., Yoshikawa, M., and Kimura, I. (2000) Antihyperglycemic Effects of Gymnemic Acid IV, a Compound Derived from Gymnema sylvestre Leaves in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Mice, J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res. 2, 321–327.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Baskaran, K., Kizar Ahamath, B., Radha Shanmugasundaram, K., and Shanmugasundaram, E.R. (1990) Antidiabetic Effect of a Leaf Extract from Gymnema sylvestre in Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Patients, J. Ethnopharmacol. 30, 295–300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Shimizu, K., Iino, A., Nakajima, J., Tanaka, K., Nakajyo, S., Urakawa, N., Atsuchi, M., Wada, T., and Yamashita, C. (1997) Suppression of Glucose Absorption by Some Fractions Extracted from Gymnema sylvestre Leaves, J. Vet. Med. Sci. 59, 245–251.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hayashi, T., Hayakawa, Y., Hayashi, T., Sasaki, H., and Sakuragawa, N. (1997) Sulfated Polysaccharide from the Leaves of Artemisia princeps Activates Heparin Cofactor II Independently of the Lys173 and Arg189 Residues of Heparin Cofactor II, Thromb. Res. 87, 105–112.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kaji, T., Kaga, K., Miezi, N., Ejiri, N., and Sakuragawa, N. (1990) A Stimulatory Effect of Artemisia Leaf Extract on the Proliferation of Cultured Endothelial Cells, Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo) 38, 538–540.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Toda, S. (2004) Inhibitory Effects of Polyphenols in Leaves of Artemisia princeps PAMP on Protein Fragmentation by Cu(II)−H2O2 in vitro, J. Med. Food 7, 52–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Thu, N.N., Sakurai, C., Uto, H., Van Chuyen, N., Lien Do, T.K., Yamamoto, S., Ohmori, R., and Kondo, K. (2004) The Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activities of the Main Edible Vegetables in Northern Vietnam, J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. 50, 203–210.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Nakagawa, K., Ninomiya, M., Okubo, T., Aoi, N., Juneja, L.R., Kim, M., Yamanaka, K., and Miyazawa, T. (1999) Tea Catechin Supplementation Increases Antioxidant Capacity and Prevents Phospholipid Hydroperoxidation in Plasma if Humans, J. Agric. Food Chem. 47, 3967–3973.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Miura, S., Watanabe, J., Tomita, T., Sano, M., and Tomita, I. (1994) The Inhibitory Effects of Tea Polyphenols (flavan-3-ol derivatives) on Cu2+ Mediated Oxidative Modification of Low Density Lipoprotein, Biol. Pharm. Bull. 17, 1567–1572.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Renaud, S., and de Lorgeril, M. (1992) Wine, Alcohol, Platelets, and the French Paradox for Coronary Heart Disease, Lancet 339, 1523–1526.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Frankel, E.N., Kanner, J., German, J.B., Parks, E., and Kinsella, J.E. (1993) Inhibition of Oxidation of Human Low-Density Lipoprotein by Phenolic Substances in Red Wine, Lancet 341, 454–457.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Criqui, M.H., and Ringel, B.L. (1994) Does Diet or Alcohol Explain the French Paradox? Lancet 344, 1719–1723.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. World Health Organization (2002) The Tobacco Atlas (netlink: www.who.int/tobacco/statistics/tobacco_atlas/en/).

  33. World Health Organization. (1989) World Health Statistics Annual, WHO, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Science for Human Life, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo-ku, 112-0012, Tokyo

    Tamami Iwamoto, Motomi Tago & Kazuo Kondo

  2. Center Research Institute, Itoen Ltd., Haibara-gun, 421-0516, Shizuoka

    Tadakazu Takeo & Tomonori Unno

  3. Department of Life Sciences, Ibaraki Christian University, 319-1221, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki, Japan

    Hiroshige Itakura

  4. First Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, 359-8513, Saitama, Japan

    Reiko Ohmori

Authors
  1. Reiko Ohmori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tamami Iwamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Motomi Tago
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tadakazu Takeo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tomonori Unno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hiroshige Itakura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kazuo Kondo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reiko Ohmori.

About this article

Cite this article

Ohmori, R., Iwamoto, T., Tago, M. et al. Antioxidant activity of various teas against free radicals and LDL oxidation. Lipids 40, 849–853 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1447-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1447-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation