In our previous work, we reported that an oral administration of tetrahydrocurcumin (a more active antioxidant metabolite of curcumin contained in turmeric) can significantly prolong average life span as well as the 10% longest survival of male C57/BL mice.
In the present study, we examined the effect of green tea polyphenols (PP). Male C57/BL mice were imported from Harlan, USA and had been maintained in the clean conventional animal facility until use. Animals were divided into two groups, one, control animals given normal drinking water, the other given water containing green tea PP (Sunphenon1), Taiyokagaku, Yokkaichi, Japan), both pasteurized by g-ray irradiation. Animals started to receive treatments at the age of 13 months. Sunphenon is made from green tea water extract which contained different PPs (>70%).
The average life span (days) of green tea PP fed mice was significantly longer days than that of control animals (801.1±121.5, control vs. 852.7 ±88.2 PP, each n=50, P<0.01, t test). At three continuous months (24~26 months), numbers of surviving animals were significantly greater than corresponding values of control animals (P<0.01, chi-square test). On the other hand, the 10% longest survival of animals was not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). Average body weights were almost identical for the first 10 months of treatment and then tended to be slightly higher in the following several months in PP fed animals; however, a statistically significant difference was observed only at the months of 24 (P<0.05). At 32 months, the average body weight was lower in PP fed mice (P<0.05). Except for these minor differences, body weights were almost identical for both groups at corresponding months of age.
Green tea PPs have been shown to be potent antioxidants and to be effective in preventing a number of experimentally induced pathologies including atherosclerosis, cancer, etc. Further a recent epidemiological study also suggested a beneficial effect of drinking green tea in lowering the incidence of malignant neoplasms. The results of the present study have shown for the first time that green tea PPs can prolong the average life span of animals. Since aging mice do not develop many of the age-associated pathologies observed in humans and yet PPs are effective in increasing the life span of these animals, a similar (or even a greater) effect of prolonging the health span of humans is expected to be present for green tea PP.
Ref. 1)Sakanaka S et al., Agric Biol Chem 53:2307-2311
Key words: Green tea polyphenol, Mice, Life span
Key words:
Green tea polyphenol, Mice, Life span
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