ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF BETA-CATECHIN

The free radical scavenging effect of ''beta CATECHIN'', an antioxidan t preparation containing green tea extract, ascorbic acid, sunflower s eed extract, dunaliella carotene and natural vitamin E, was evaluated. Two techniques were used: electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry to measure radical-scavenging activity, and measurement of its effect on iron-induced lipid peroxidation in brain. A 0.05% solution of ''bet a CATECHIN'' completely scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (6.l x 10(15)spins/ml). A 10% solution of ''beta CATECHIN'' completely scavenged superoxide (4.2x10(15)spins/ml) generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. An undiluted solution of ''beta CATECHIN'' scavenged about 90% of hydroxyl radicals (3.5 x 10(15)spins /ml) generated by the Fenton reaction. ''beta CATECHIN'''s effect on t he accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TEARS) was evaluated from tissue obtained from the ipsilateral cortex of FeCl3-i nduced epileptic rats. Oral administration of ''beta CATECHIN'' (1 or 2ml/kg body weight) both inhibited TEARS formation and increased the a ctivity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the ipsilateral cortex 30 min after iron-salt injection into the left sensory motor cortex. These d ata suggest that ''beta CATECHIN'' has an antioxidant effect and may h ave a prophylactic effect against aging and other neurological disease s related to free radical mechanisms.