Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Attenuates Behavioral Abnormality in Hemi-Parkinsonian Rat

Background: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of green tea, has been introduced as a potent free radical scavenger and can effectively reduce free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. Since free radical injury plays an important role in neuronal damage in Parkinson’s disease (PD), this study examined whether EGCG administration would reduce functional asymmetry in an experimental model of PD in male Wistar rats. Methods: For this purpose, unilateral intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats were intraperitoneally pretreated with EGCG (40 mg/Kg) 2 hours before surgery and daily (20 mg/Kg) for a period of 2 weeks post-surgery. Apomorphine- and amphetamine-induced rotations were measured pre- and post-surgery after 2 weeks. Results: The results showed that there are 35.1% (P<0.05) and 33.2% (P<0.05) reductions in controversies apomorphine- and ipsiversive amphetamine-induced rotations in EGCG-treated-lesioned group respectively as compared to the untreated lesioned group at 2nd week post-surgery.  Conclusion: Taken together, these results showed that two-week administration of EGCG could attenuate the drug-induced behavioral abnormalities in this model of PD.