Tuesday, September 20, 2011

CLINICAL CASE 43: ANSWERS and SUMMARY


A 34 Y OLD FEMALE WITH KNOWN IGA NEPHROPATHY ASKS YOU ABOUT GREEN TEA AS A POSSIBLE TREATMENT. WHAT COMPONENT OF GREEN TEA HAS SHOWN THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL IN GLOMERULAR DISEASES IN MURINE MODELS?

Caffeine
  1 (2%)
Theanine
  9 (18%)
EGCG( catechin)
  25 (50%)
Vitamin B 2
  4 (8%)
Saponin
  4 (8%)
Chlorophyll
  7 (14%)

Green tea has many different components as listed above.  The catechin components have shown in mice studies to reduce oxidative stress. It is believed that it's these components of green tea that might benefit in many diseases.
A recent study in Kidney International showed that EGCG( Epigallocatechin-gallate )reversed the progression of immune mediated GN in mice by targeting redox and inflammatory pathways. Another mice study also showed that cisplatin induced rats didn't have the renal damage noted usually with cisplatin when pretreated with EGCG. 
The study showed for the first time that EGCG can protect against Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. At the molecular level, cisplatin triggers a high level of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, events that were all abrogated with EGCG. 
The other substances in green tea are also protective but no direct renal protection has been shown.  Vitamins are always good. Theanine is an amino acid that promotes neural function balance and perhaps has activity against hypertension. Saponins might have some anti cancer effect and augment the immunity but not well studied.  Chlorophyll gives the green pigment to the tea. 

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