Repletion of antioxidant status by EGCG and retardation of oxidative damage induced macromolecular anomalies in aged rats

Ageing is defined as the loss of ability to maintain cellular homeostasis of an organism associated with the free radical-elicited oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the key component of green tea catechins on attenuating the age associated oxidative perturbances by assessing the redox status in mitotic (liver) and post-mitotic (skeletal muscle) tissues of young and aged rats. From the results, we observed an increase in the marker for oxidative damage such as lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content in aged rats, when compared to young rats. This was accompanied with decreased levels of both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants and redox index. On supplementation with EGCG (100 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage for 30 days), the levels of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content were significantly decreased in aged rats, possibly by enhancing the GSH redox status, and both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants status. In conclusion, this study supports the beneficial effect of EGCG in alleviating oxidative disturbances in ageing and retard the age associated derangements in both mitotic and post-mitotic tissues.