Impact of High EGCG Consumption on Mouse Liver

Tea is one of the most popular beverages especially among Middle East countries. Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), the principal component of green tea is known to have many beneficial effects in therapeutic doses. However, higher doses of EGCG may have a damaging impact on liver. This study was initiated to explore the effects of high doses of EGCG alone and under predisposing factors. One of these predisposing factors is fever that can be induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mice (ND4) were given single or multiple intragastric (IG) doses of EGCG 1500 mg/kg and(LPS) was injected intraperitoneal (IP) as a single dose of 6 mg/kg. Histopathological examination of liver was done and survival rates of animals were observed and statistically analyzed. A single high IG dose of EGCG alone did not show liver toxicity, while combination of a single dose of EGCG with a single dose of LPS, initiated liver toxicity as observed on histopathology. Repeated administration of high IG doses of EGCG without LPS showed mortality among treated mice; but mortality was increased under the influence of LPS. It can be concluded from this study that administration of high doses of EGCG alone can initiate liver toxicity. However, under febrile condition (induced by LPS), this toxicity can lead to increased mortality.