Possible involvement of group I mGluRs in neuroprotective effect of theanine

We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of theanine, a green tea component, using primary cultured rat cortical neurons, focusing on group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Theanine and a group I mGluR agonist, DHPG, inhibited the delayed death of neurons caused by brief exposure to glutamate, and this effect of theanine was abolished by group I mGluR antagonists. Although the administration of glutamate alone decreased the neuronal expression of phospholipase C (PLC)-beta1 and -gamma1, which are linked to group I mGluRs, their expression was equal to the control levels on cotreatment with theanine. Treatment with theanine or DHPG alone for 5-7 days resulted in increased expression of PLC-beta1 and -gamma1, and the action of theanine was completely abolished by group I mGluR antagonists. These findings indicate that group I mGluRs might be involved in neuroprotective effect of theanine by increasing the expression levels of PLC-beta1 and -gamma1.     

不同培养条件对悬浮培养茶叶细胞生长及茶氨酸合成的影响*

婺源绿茶嫩叶用MS 培养基( 加IBA 2 mgPL, 6-BA 4 mgPL) 进行茶叶愈伤组织悬浮培养, 研究了不同培养条件对茶叶细胞悬浮培养过程中细胞生长与茶氨酸合成的影响。结果显示, NH4+PNO3- 110P6010 mmolPL、K+ 10010 mmolPL、Mg2+ 310mmolPL、H2PO4- 310 mmolPL、蔗糖3010 gPL、水解酪蛋白210 gPL 条件下, 茶叶细胞生长量和茶氨酸积累量均达到最高值; 提高培养基中蔗糖和水解酪蛋白浓度可使细胞对数生长期和稳定期得到延长, 从而有利于茶氨酸积累; H2 PO4- 浓度主要影响细胞生长速率和茶氨酸积累速率的同步性, 低H2 PO4- 浓度环境中茶氨酸积累速率峰值滞后于细胞增长速率峰值, 高H2PO4- 浓度环境中早于细胞生长速率峰值出现时间; K+ 和Mg2+ 对细胞生长的影响不明显, 但影响细胞茶氨酸合成酶活性, 维持适量的K+和Mg2+ 有利于茶氨酸积累。添加盐酸乙胺可大幅度提高茶氨酸积累量, 并且先加入一定量盐酸乙胺再每天进行少量补充, 茶氨酸合成量比一次性加入的效果要好。茶叶细胞生长和茶氨酸积累高峰期在整个培养过程的第19~ 22 天出现, 从生产效率考虑, 培养周期以19~ 22 天为宜。     

Effect of Theanine,r-Glutamylethylamide,on Brain Monoamines and Striatal Dopamine Release in Conscious Rats

Theanine, r-glutamylethylamide, is one of the major components of amino acids in Japanese green tea. Effect of theanine on brain amino acids and monoamines, and the striatal release of dopamine (DA) was investigated. Determination of amino acids in the brain after the intragastric administration of theanine showed that theanine was incorporated into brain through blood-brain barrier via leucine-preferring transport system. The concentrations of norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5HIAA) in the brain regions were unaffected by the theanine administration except in striatum. Theanine administration caused significant increases in serotonin and/or DA concentrations in the brain, especially in striatum, hypothalamus and hippocampus. Direct administration of theanine into brain striatum by microinjection caused a significant increase of DA release in a dose-dependent manner. Microdialysis of brain with calcium-free Ringer buffer attenuated the theanine-induced DA release. Pretreatment with the Ringer buffer containing an antagonist of non-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) glutamate receptor, MK-801, for 1 hr did not change the significant increase of DA release induced by theanine. However, in the case of pretreatment with AP-5, (±)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid; antagonist of NMDA glutamate receptor, the theanine-induced DA release from striatum was significantly inhibited. These results suggest that theanine might affect the metabolism and/or the release of some neurotransmitters in the brain, such as DA.     

Tea, flavonoids and stroke in man and mouse

Background and purpose

To evaluate the strength of the in vivo evidence of relationships between flavonoids and risk of stroke.

Methods

We reviewed the literature more broadly for flavonoids and stroke and conducted an evidence-based review of original publication experiments on tea or tea components on induced coronary occlusion in animal models and on the observational epidemiology on stroke and either tea or flavonoids in man. Each of the studies was evaluated by two independent reviewers. The evidence in total was compared with the Bradford Hill [1] and Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR)¹ quality-assessment criteria [2].

Results

The search of epidemiologic publications revealed 7 cohort studies on flavonoid intake and stroke and 7 cohort studies and 3 case control studies on tea and stroke. In studies of tea there was a consistent protective effect. However, the epidemiologic research on flavonoids and stroke was much less consistent. Eleven animal experiments were identified that examined tea or tea components and stroke relevant sequelae, eight of which reported on infarct volume. All studies demonstrated reduced infarct volumes in animals exposed either to tea extracts, theanine or tea catechins prior to or shortly after reperfusion.

Conclusions

Hill’s criteria of causality are largely met in the case of tea and stroke. A high level of consistency across preclinical studies, of the effect of tea components as single agents effective in reducing stroke volume after middle cerebral artery occlusion, is noted in all rodent models (rat, mouse, and gerbil). Reductions in infarct volume are seen with both tea extracts consumed orally and tea components introduced intra-peritoneally. Observational epidemiology supports this finding in man for tea - the studies are consistent across countries and type of tea and the relative risks are moderately strong. That is not the case for the body of evidence on flavonoid intakes and stroke.     

茶氨酸的制取及应用

茶氨酸是茶叶中的一种主要氨基酸 ,通常占茶叶干重的 2 %左右 ,约占茶树体内游离氨基酸5 0 %。茶氨酸具有鲜甜味 ,是茶叶特征物质之一 ,与茶叶品质呈正相关。现已作为食品添加剂应用于食品领域。除此以外 ,茶氨酸还具有一些重要的药理作用。如抗肿瘤、降压安神、拮抗咖啡碱等医疗功效。本文综述了茶氨酸的性质、制取方法及应用前景等方面的内容。     

Effects of theanine on growth of human lung cancer and leukemia cells as well as migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of theanine, a tea characteristic amino acid, on human lung cancer and leukemia cells. In the present study, we have demonstrated that theanine suppressed the in vitro and ex vivo growth of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 and leukemia K562 cell lines in dose- and time-dependant manners. In addition, theanine displayed the inhibitory effect on the migration of A549 cells. More importantly, theanine enhanced the anticancer activity of anticancer agents such as trichostatin A (the histone deacetylase inhibitor), berbamine and norcantharidin (the anticancer drugs in China) by strongly reducing the viability and/or migration rate in A549 cells. In addition, theanine significantly suppressed A549 cell invasion. Suppression of A549 cell migration may be one of the important mechanisms of action of theanine against the A549 cell invasion. Our present results suggest that theanine may have the wide therapeutic and/or adjuvant therapeutic application in the treatment of human lung cancer and leukemia.     

白莺山古茶的化学成分分析与栽培茶树的起源

应用高压液相色谱(HPLC)技术,对白莺山古茶的大理茶素、儿茶素类、茶掊素、没食子酸、咖啡因和茶氨酸的含量进行分析.同时,应用分光光度法测定茶多糖和茶多酚含量.在与野生大理茶及栽培大叶茶(普洱生茶)进行多成分比较的基础上,结合形态性状的变异与进化,讨论白莺山古茶种质资源的多样性与野生大理茶和栽培大叶茶的相互关系.分析研究结果不仅为白莺山古茶的品质评价提供可靠的科学数据,为白莺山丰富的古茶种质资源的深人系统研究和合理开发利用提供基础,同时,通过多种过渡类型的化学成分分析与比较,为栽培大叶茶的起源和大理茶作为大叶茶的野生基源之一的假说提供了植物化学方面的证据.     

Possible activation by the green tea amino acid theanine of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in undifferentiated neural progenitor cells in vitro

We have shown marked promotion of both proliferation and neuronal differentiation in pluripotent P19 cells exposed to the green tea amino acid theanine, which is a good substrate for SLC38A1 responsible for glutamine transport. In this study, we evaluated the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase pathway, which participates in protein translation, cell growth and autophagy in a manner relevant to intracellular glutamine levels, in murine neural progenitor cells exposed to theanine. Exposure to theanine promoted the phosphorylation of mTOR and downstream proteins in neurospheres from embryonic mouse neocortex. Although stable overexpression of SLC38A1 similarly facilitated phosphorylation of mTOR-relevant proteins in undifferentiated P19 cells, theanine failed to additionally accelerate the increased phosphorylation in these stable transfectants. Theanine accelerated the formation of neurospheres from murine embryonic neocortex and adult hippocampus, along with facilitation of both 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine incorporation and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide reduction in embryonic neurospheres. In embryonic neurospheres previously exposed to theanine, a significant increase was seen in the number of cells immunoreactive for a neuronal marker protein after spontaneous differentiation. These results suggest that theanine activates the mTOR signaling pathway for proliferation together with accelerated neurogenesis in murine undifferentiated neural progenitor cells.     

茶氨酸和没食子酸在普洱茶中的含量变化

建立高效液相色谱分析茶氨酸和没食子酸的方法,对由云南大叶茶（Camellia sinensis var．assamica）生产的晒青毛茶及其加工的普洱茶中二者的含量进行分析。结果表明,普洱茶中没食子酸的含量显著增高,而茶氨酸的含量则明显降低。茶氨酸和没食子酸的含量与原料的来源和质量,以及普洱茶的后发酵生产过程均有关系。对二者含量变化的机制进行了初步的讨论。     

A novel assay method for theanine synthetase activity by capillary electrophoresis

The determination of theanine has been performed by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) as a derivative reagent. To achieve the separation, a fused-silica capillary column was used with a borax buffer at 0.03 mol/L pH 9.8 (containing Brij35 and isopropanol) at 17 degrees C with detection wave length at 360 nm. The factors affecting the efficiency of the sample separation were examined simultaneously. A 40-min reaction at 35 degrees C between l-glutamate and ethylamine (with Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.5) was investigated using the theanine synthetase from budding tea seeds. A novel method for the analysis of theanine synthetase activity based on MECC was established. The method shows mean recovery ranged from 87.1 to 105.3% and linearity ranged from 0.2 to 5.0 mmol/L.