ABSORPTION OF TEA CATECHINS INTO RAT PORTAL-VEIN

Following the oral administration of tea catechins, (-)-epicatechin (- )-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin g allate, respectively, to rats, the presence of these catechins in the portal blood was examined. It was confirmed by HPLC and mass spectrome try analysis that each of the administered catechins was present in th e blood, These results clearly indicate that four predominant catechin s in fresh tea leaves are absorbed, at least in part, into the rat por tal vein.