Proliferation of hepatic peroxisomes in rats following the intake of greenor black tea

Rats maintained on green, black or decaffeinated black tea (2.5%, w/v) as t heir sole drinking fluid displayed higher hepatic CN- insensitive palmitoyl CoA oxidase activity than controls, the extent of increase was similar wit h the three types of tea. Morphological examination of the liver using elec tron microscopy revealed an increase in the number of peroxisomes in the te a-treated animals. The same treatment of the animals with green and black t ea resulted in a similar rise in hepatic microsomal lauric acid hydroxylati on. Analysis by HPLC of the aqueous tea extracts employed in the current st udy showed that the total flavanol content of the green variety was much hi gher than the black varieties, and confirmed the absence of caffeine in the decaffeinated black tea. It may be concluded from the present studies that neither caffeine nor flavanoids are likely to be responsible for the proli feration of peroxisomes observed in rats treated with tea. (C) 1999 Publish ed by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.