Inhibitory effect of green and black tea on tumor growth

The administration of green tea, black tea, or (-)-epigallocatechin gallate inhibited the growth of established nonmalignant and malignant tumors in tumor-bearing mice. In experiments with black tea, we found that its oral administration inhibited DNA synthesis and enhanced apoptosis in both nonmalignant and malignant tumors in tumor-bearing mice.     

Antimutagenic activity of green tea and black tea extracts studied in a dynamic in vitro gastrointestinal model

An in vitro gastrointestinal model, which simulates the conditions in the human digestive tract, was used to determine potential antimutagenic activity of extracts of black tea and green tea. In this paper, results are presented on the availability for absorption of potential antimutagenic compounds present in tea and on the influence of the food matrix on this activity. Between 60 and 180min after the tea was introduced into the model, antimutagenic activity was recovered from the jejunal compartment by means of dialysis: the dialysate appeared to inhibit the mutagenicity of the food mutagen MeIQx in the direct plate assay with Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test). The maximum inhibition was measured at 2h after the start of the experiment and was comparable for black tea and green tea extract. To determine the influence of food matrices on the antimutagenic activity of tea, the model was loaded with black tea together with milk or a homogenized standard breakfast. The maximum inhibition observed with black tea was reduced by 22, 42 and 78% in the presence of whole milk, semi-skimmed milk, and skimmed milk, respectively. Whole milk and skimmed milk abolished the antimutagenic activity of green tea by more than 90%; for semi-skimmed milk the inhibition was more than 60%. When a homogenized breakfast was added into the model together with the black tea extract, the antimutagenic activity was completely eliminated. When tea and MeIQx were added together into the digestion model, MeIQx mutagenicity was efficiently inhibited, with green tea showing a slightly stronger antimutagenic activity than black tea. In this case, the addition of milk had only a small inhibiting effect on the antimutagenicity.Antioxidant capacity and the concentration of catechins were also measured in the jejunal dialysates. The reduction in antimutagenic activity corresponded with reduction in antioxidant capacity and with a decrease of concentration of three catechins, viz. catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and epigallocatechin. The in vitro gastrointestinal model appears to be a useful tool to study the antimutagenicity of food components.     

Centrally-mediated bombesin effects on gastrointestinal motility

Administration of bombesin into the lateral cerebral ventricle (i.c.v.) of rats results in a dose-related delay in gastric emptying and small intestinal transit. Recordings of intestinal intraluminal pressure in this species show that the i.c.v. peptide produces a dose-related increase in the frequency of duodenal contractions, and a complex inhibitory/excitatory jejunal effect at low and high doses, respectively. Intrathecal (i.th.) or i.c., but not intraperitoneal (i.p.), bombesin produces a dose-related slowing of gastrointestinal and colonic transit in mice. I.c.v. bombesin is 13.5 and 3406 times more potent in inhibition of gastrointestinal transit than when given by the i.th. or i.p. routes, respectively. Similarly, the i.c.v. peptide is 1.54 and over 11000 times more potent in slowing mouse colonic transit than when given by the i.th. or i.p. routes, respectively. The substance P analogue, D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11-Substance P (DAPTL-SP)(a reported bombesin antagonist in vitro) was not effective in blocking the gastrointestinal transit effects of the peptide in vivo. Transection of the spinal cord at the level of the second thoracic vertebra (T2) eliminates the gastrointestinal and colonic effects of i.th., but not i.c.v. bombesin. Thus, bombesin can affect motor function of the gut via activity within the brain or spinal cord of rats and mice; the activity of the peptide when given at the supraspinal level depends on an intact vagus nerve and adrenal-pituitary axis, while the activity of the peptide given at the spinal level appears to depend on the integrity of ascending spinal-supraspinal pathways.     

红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群形成的影响

探讨红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群形成的影响,为从微生态角度研究红茶在人体肠道菌群形成过程中的作用机制奠定基础。

利用宏基因组测序技术检测4周龄新生幼鼠（4weeks组,n = 30）、12周龄正常对照组小鼠（control组,n = 15）和12周龄喂饲红茶水实验组小鼠（teadrink组,n = 15）的肠道菌群分布,分析3组样本的菌群差异情况,探求红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群形成的影响。

与control组相比,teadrink组小鼠肠道拟杆菌门（t = −7.711,P＜0.001）、拟杆菌科（t = −3.411,P = 0.009）、长尾嗤菌体科（t = −2.515,P = 0.036）、拟杆菌属（t = −2.693,P = 0.027）、邓肯菌属（t = −2.434,P = 0.041）、居海事城球杆菌属（t = −3.327,P = 0.029）、迪博邓肯菌（t = −2.679,P = 0.028）、普通居海事城球杆菌（t = −3.401,P = 0.027）和Duncaniella_sp._C9（t = −3.104,P = 0.035）相对丰度显著增加,厚壁菌门（t = 8.952,P＜0.001）、乳杆菌科（t = 13.102,P＜0.001）、消化链球菌科（t = 3.665,P = 0.021）、爱格菌科（t = 4.481,P = 0.002）、理研菌科（t = 3.626,P = 0.022）、乳杆菌属（t = 5.542,P = 0.004）、黏液乳杆菌属（t = 6.334,P = 0.002）、龙包茨菌属（t = 3.785,P = 0.005）、阿德勒菌属（t = 4.504,P = 0.002）、约氏乳杆菌（t = 4.282,P = 0.011）和罗伊氏粘液乳杆菌（t = 6.156,P = 0.003）相对丰度显著减少。与4weeks组相比,teadrink组小鼠肠道菌群分布差异大于control组。

红茶对新生幼鼠肠道菌群的形成能够产生影响,不同丰度的菌群可能通过调节碳水化合物代谢等途径来达到改善肠道菌群结构、增强肠道稳态的目的,具体代谢机制有待深入研究。

     

红茶对2型糖尿病小鼠肠道菌群分布的影响

探讨红茶对2型糖尿病（T2DM）小鼠肠道菌群分布的影响,为研究红茶在代谢性疾病的辅助治疗机制提供参考。

构建 T2DM小鼠模型,将其随机分为模型组（T2DM组）和茶水饲喂组（T2DM_T组）,取健康小鼠作为对照组（Control组）,每组各15只。实验终点收集3组小鼠粪便进行宏基因组测序,分析组间菌群差异;同时进行肝脏组织形态学检查,观察组织病理学改变。

与Control组和T2DM组相比,T2DM_T组拟杆菌门（F = 21.056,P＜0.001）、邓肯氏菌属（F = 13.330,P = 0.001）、乳杆菌属（F = 36.546,P＜0.001）和粘液乳杆菌属（F = 43.813,P＜0.001）的相对丰度增加,担子菌门（F = 8.676,P = 0.005）、Muribaculum（F = 8.151,P = 0.006）和肠球菌属（F = 4.271,P = 0.040）的相对丰度降低。与T2DM组小鼠相比,T2DM_T组小鼠肝细胞排列较为紧密,细胞空泡变性程度有所减弱。

红茶在一定范围内能调节T2DM模型小鼠肠道菌群结构和相对丰度,红茶水喂饲可减缓造模所致的T2DM小鼠肝脏细胞的损伤,其具体作用机制值得深入研究和探讨。

     

Neurohumoral control of gastrointestinal motility

Neurohumoral substances and their receptors play a major part in the complex regulation of gastrointestinal motility and have therefore been the predominant targets for drug development. The numerous receptors involved in motility are located mainly on smooth muscle cells and neuronal structures in the extrinsic and intrinsic parts of the enteric nervous system. Within this system, receptor agonists and antagonists interacts directly to modify excitatory or inhibitory signals. In view of this complexity it is not surprising that our knowledge about the mechanisms of actions of the various neurohormones and drugs affecting gut motility has been rather fragmented and incomplete. However, recently substantial progress has been achieved, and drug therapy for gut dysmotility is emerging, based primarily on neurohumoral receptors. This paper presents a selective review of the neurohumoral regulatory mechanisms of gastrointestinal motility. In this context, the physiology and pharmacology of the smooth muscle cells, gastrointestinal motility and dysmotility, the enteric nervous system, gastrointestinal reflexes, and serotonin is presented. Further investigation and understanding of the transmitters and receptors involved in especially the reflex activation of peristalsis is crucial for the development of novel therapies for motility disorders.     

Effect of preoperative suggestion on postoperative gastrointestinal motility.

Autonomic behavior is subject to direct suggestion. We found that patients undergoing major operations benefit more from instruction than from information and reassurance. We compared the return of intestinal function after intra-abdominal operations in 2 groups of patients: the suggestion group received specific instructions for the early return of gastrointestinal motility, and the control group received an equal-length interview offering reassurance and nonspecific instructions. The suggestion group had a significantly shorter average time to the return of intestinal motility, 2.6 versus 4.1 days. Time to discharge was 6.5 versus 8.1 days. Covariates including duration of operation, amount of intraoperative bowel manipulation, and amount of postoperative narcotics were also examined using the statistical model analysis of covariance. An average savings of $1,200 per patient resulted from this simple 5-minute intervention. In summary, the use of specific physiologically active suggestions given preoperatively in a beleivable manner can reduce the morbidity associated with an intra-abdominal operation by reducing the duration of ileus.     

Effect of kappa-casein glycomacropeptide on gastrointestinal motility in dogs

Glycomacropeptide, which provoked a significant inhibition of food motility of the stomach fundus on intravenous injection to dogs in a dose of 10 mg, was isolated from the products of restricted pepsin proteolysis of cow kappa-casein with the aid of gel chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and G-10. Glycomacropeptide administered on an empty stomach produced cyclic-repetitive vomiting. Physiological action of glycomacropeptide (inhibition of gastric secretion and motility) may play an important role in the preservation of biologically active milk proteins and peptides in the gastrointestinal tract of the newborn.     

The current status of opioid research on gastrointestinal motility

Apparently conflicting data on opioid effects on gastrointestinal motility have been reported in the literature. The current status is reviewed and an attempt is made to find a common denominator to discrepant results by suggesting functionally contrasting opioid systems modulating the same physiological functions. Upon superimposition, these contrasting systems might result in opposite opioid effects dependent on the actual functional balance between the systems at the time of drug administration. Inhibitory neuromodulation at multiple sites leading to either inhibition or disinhibition by opioids may serve as a common basis of their contrasting effects. This interpretation, though consistent with most of the currently available data, is still a working hypothesis.     

Ultrastructural changes in tea leaves during 'orthodox' black tea manufacture

Changes in fine structure of upper epidermal and palisade cells of fresh, withered, rolled, ‘fermented’ and ‘fired’ tea leaves have been studied. In the fresh immature leaves, the polyphenols are located mainly in the vacuoles of the first two to three layers of upper palisade cells. Loss of water during withering causes slight disorganization in the fine structure of the organelles. Rolling causes extensive disorganization of the organelles, membranes and cell walls. The chloroplast membranes, which are rich in lipoproteins, rupture and parts of it vesiculate. These controlled and defined changes in fine structure leading to cell death, characterized by cleavage of cell walls in certain areas, rupture of the membranes, organelles and their inclusions, followed by‘cramped plasmolysis’ of cellular contents, throw more light on the biochemical changes that take place during tea manufacture.     

Lipid degradation during manufacture of black tea

About 85% of the fatty acids liberated during the manufacture of black tea can be attributed to autolysis of 4 major polar lipid classes in tea leaf tissue, phosphatidylcholine, monogalactosyldiglyceride, digalactosyldiglyceride and phosphatidylethanolamine. Linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acids are the principal fatty acids released from these lipids and they all undergo further degradation. Linolenic acid (60% of fatty acids released) is derived mainly from galactolipids and thus the upper limit of release is dependent on the chloroplast maturity and content of the leaf tissues. Lipid breakdown is complete after 2 hr fermentation and, as there appears to be no accumulation of long chain fatty acid intermediates, it is probable that volatile production has also ceased at this time.     

Peptidergic regulation of gastrointestinal motility in rodents

Peptides involved in the endocrine and enteric nervous systems as well as in the central nervous system exert concerted action on gastrointestinal motility. Mechanical and chemical stimuli which induce peptide release from the epithelial endocrine cells are the earliest step in the initiation of peristaltic activities. Gut peptides exert hormonal effects, but peptide-containing stimulatory (Ach/substance P/tachykinin) and inhibitory (VIP/PACAP/NO) neurons are also involved in the induction of ascending contraction and descending relaxation, respectively. The dorsal vagal complex (DVC), located in the medulla of the brainstem, constitutes the basic neural circuitry of vago-vagal reflex control of gastrointestinal motility. Several gut peptides act on the DVC to modify vagal cholinergic reflexes directly (PYY and PP) or indirectly via afferent fibers in the periphery (CCK and GLP-1). The DVC is also a primary site of action of many neuropeptides (such as TRH and NPY) in mediating gastrointestinal motor activities. The identification over the last few years of a number of neuropeptide systems has greatly changed the field of feeding and body weight regulation. By exploring the brain and gut systems that employ recently identified peptidergic molecules, it will be possible to elaborate on the central and peripheral pathways involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility.     

Molecular cloning of growth hormone secretagogue-receptor and effect of quail ghrelin on gastrointestinal motility in Japanese quail

We identified a growth hormone secretagogue-receptor (GHS-R) for ghrelin (GRLN) in the Japanese quail, and examined relationship between its receptor distribution and the effects of ghrelin on the gastrointestinal tract of the quail. GHS-R expression and GRLN-induced response were also investigated in the chicken and compared with quail. Several types of GHS-R, namely GHS-R1a-L, GHS-R1a-S, GHS-R1aV, GHS-R1b, GHS-R1bV and GHS-R1tv-like receptor, were identified in quail cerebellum cDNA. Amino acid sequence of quail GHS-R1a-L was 98% identical to that of chicken GHS-R1a. GHS-R1a mRNA was expressed heterogeneously in the quail gastrointestinal tract with a high expression level in the colon, moderate levels in the esophagus and crop, and low levels in the proventriculus, gizzard and small intestine. The region-specific expression pattern was almost the same as that in the chicken. Chicken and quail GRLN caused contraction in the crop, proventriculus and colon of both the quail and chicken, whereas the small intestine was less sensitive. However, the contractile efficacy was more potent in the chicken than in the quail. Chicken motilin (MTL), another gut peptide, structurally resemble to GRLN, caused marked contraction in the small intestine of both the quail and chicken, and the region-specific effect of MTL was opposite to that of GRLN. In conclusion, GRLN mainly induces the contractile responses of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and MTL stimulates motility of the middle intestine in both the quail and chicken. Regions in which GRLN acts were consistent with the distribution of GHS-R1a mRNA, but the contractile efficacy was different in the quail and chicken. These results suggest a species-specific contribution of GRLN in the regulation of avian gastrointestinal contractility.     

Antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing effect of lactoferrin and black tea polyphenol combination on hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

Combination chemoprevention using tea polyphenols as one of the components has received growing consideration in recent years. The present study was designed to evaluate the antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and black tea polyphenol (Polyphenon-B: P-B) combination on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis. Topical application of DMBA for 14 weeks induced buccal pouch tumours that showed aberrant expression of cytokeratins, a marker for epithelial carcinomas. This was associated with increased cell proliferation and evasion of apoptosis as revealed by upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, NF-kappaB, mutant p53, Bcl-2 and downregulation of Bax, Fas and caspase 3 protein expression. Although dietary administration of bLF and Polyphenon-B alone significantly reduced tumour incidence, combined administration of bLF and Polyphenon-B was more effective in inhibiting HBP carcinogenesis by restoring normal cytokeratin expression, inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. These findings suggest that a "designer item" approach will be useful for human oral cancer prevention strategies.     

牛樟芝发酵碎红茶及其特性研究

牛樟芝是一种具有良好护肝功能的高等药用真菌,且具有浓郁的芳香。本文利用牛樟芝对碎红茶进行发酵,分析牛樟芝发酵茶风味特征以及对HepG 2细胞酒精损伤的保护作用。研究结果显示,青稞等淀粉质辅料能够促进牛樟芝在碎红茶上的生长。GC-MS分析显示牛樟芝发酵茶含有69种风味成分,主要含有醛类23种、醇类14种、酮类13种,酯类4种、呋喃类4种、吡嗪类3种以及其他5种等。HepG2体外活性分析表明,牛樟芝发酵茶水提物能够有效地保护肝细胞酒精损伤,与模型组相比细胞存活率提高了230%,细胞数量、形态以及贴壁性能得到显著改善。     

Effect of Schistosoma mansoni-induced granulomatous inflammation on murine gastrointestinal motility

In Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice, gastrointestinal transit was measured in vivo and the neuromuscular function of longitudinal muscle strips of inflamed ileum and noninflamed gastric fundus was assessed in vitro. Eight weeks after infection, the ileal wall was acutely inflamed, as shown by a mucosal inflammatory infiltrate, leading to an increase in mucosal thickness, in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and in interleukin (IL)-1beta production. At that time, both gastrointestinal transit and in vitro ileal contractility were normal. Twelve weeks after infection, chronic granulomatous inflammation led to proliferation of the muscle layer and to a further increase in MPO activity, whereas IL-1beta production normalized. Gastrointestinal transit was decreased, whereas in vitro ileal contractility was increased irrespective of the contractile stimulus. In vitro incubation with IL-1beta (10 ng/ml for 60 min) significantly increased ileal contractility only at 8 wk after infection. Indomethacin, tetrodotoxin, and atropine had no differential effect on ileal contractility in controls and infected mice. In vitro contractility of noninflamed gastric fundus was normal both 8 and 12 wk after infection. We conclude that intestinal schistosomiasis 8 wk after infection is associated only with structural changes of the ileum, whereas 12 wk after infection, both structural and functional changes are present. These changes are characterized by increased ileal wall thickness, decreased gastrointestinal transit, and increased smooth muscle contractility restricted to the inflamed gut segment.