Effect of white tea consumption on serum leptin, TNF-α and UCP1 gene expression in ovariectomized rats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and dyslipidemia due to estrogen deficiency are among the important health problems in menopausal women. Increasing evidence reports the anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic properties of tea polyphenols. However, the effect of white tea (WT) with high polyphenol content on overweight and lipid profile is uncertain. Here, we aimed to examine the effects of long-term WT consumption on serum leptin, tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) mRNA gene expression in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: Adult rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): (i) sham, (ii) OVX, (iii) WT and (iv) OVX + WT. WT was given at a dose of 0.5% w/v for 12 weeks. In the study, body weight, serum leptin, TNF, estradiol (E2) levels, lipid profile and UCP1 mRNA gene expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in body weight of OVX rats, which was decreased following WT consumption. While leptin and E2 levels decreased in the OVX group, TNF levels increased. There was no difference between the NF-kB levels of the groups. In addition, BAT UCP1 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in OVX groups, while WT treatment stimulated UCP1 activity. CONCLUSION: We explain the stimulatory effect of WT on weight loss mainly by the induction of UCP1 gene-mediated thermogenesis and suppression of inflammation. Therefore, we suggest that prolonged WT consumption may have beneficial effects in limiting excess weight gain caused by estrogen deficiency.

Astaxanthin alleviates renal damage of rats on high fructose diet through modulating NFκB/SIRT1 pathway and mitigating oxidative stress.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of astaxanthin (ASX) treatment on alleviation of renal damage in high fructose induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial fashion: administrations of fructose (30%, via drinking water) and ASX (1 mg/kg/day, within 0.2 ml olive oil) for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. The ASX treatment decreased serum urea (p < .01) and blood urea-N concentrations (p < .02) at a lower extent in rats receiving fructose than those not receiving fructose. Moreover, the ASX treatment reversed the increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < .0001) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) (p < .0003) levels and the decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < .0001) and sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) level (p < .0004), in the kidney upon high fructose consumption. The data suggest that ASX supplementation alleviates renal damage induced by high fructose consumption through modulating NF-κB/SIRT1 pathway and mitigating oxidative stress.

The effect of bee pollen on reproductive and biochemical parameters in methotrexate-induced testicular damage in adult rats.

OBJECTIVES: Methotrexate (MTX) is an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy. MTX was known for its toxic effects involving most of the organs including testis. Bee pollen is healthy food for human and has antioxidant effect. We intended to determine protective effect of bee pollen against testicular injury caused by MTX in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two adult Sprague Dawley male rats were used, and 4 groups were formed: control, MTX, pollen, and MTX + pollen. Rats were given pollen at a dose of 400 mg/kg with intragastric gavage for 10 days. On day 7, MTX was administered a single dose of 30 mg/kg ip. Serum testosterone and LH, tissue MDA level, and SOD and CAT enzyme activities were examined. In addition, spermatological parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: MDA level and SOD activity increased while testosterone level decreased significantly in the MTX group compared to the control group. In the MTX + pollen group, MDA level and SOD activity decreased while testosterone level increased. There was no significant change in CAT activity and LH values. Abnormal sperm ratio decreased in the MTX + pollen group compared to the MTX group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that bee pollen has a healing effect on reproductive parameters in testicular damage caused by MTX.

The effect of white tea on serum TNF-α/NF-κB and immunohistochemical parameters in cisplatin-related renal dysfunction in female rats.

OBJECTIVE: Nephrotoxicity is the most important side effect of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin, thereby restricting its use. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of white tea infusions (WT) against renal damage induced by cisplatin (CP) in rats by biochemical and histopathological means. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used 24 female Sprague Dawley rats at 12-14 weeks of age and weighing 250-300 g. Rats were divided into three groups: Control, CP and CP + WT groups. CP was injected 7 mg/kg i.p as a single dose/rat in the CP group. White tea was given at a dose of 0.5% (w/v) for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) along with caspase-3 in the kidney were evaluated in study. RESULTS: BUN, creatinine, TNF-α, NF-κB and IL-6 levels of the CP group showed a statisically significant increase in comparison to the control group. TNF-α, NF-κB and IL-6 levels showed a statistically significant decrease in the CP + WT group with respect to the CP group. Caspase-3 levels in tubular epithelial cells decreased in CP + WT group compared with CP group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: White tea infusions reduced significantly the nephrotoxicity of CP. The anti-nephrotoxic feature of the infusion may be attributed primarily to its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic characteristics.