Abstract
The effects of dried leaf powders and water and ethanol extracts of persimmon and green tea on lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity were investigated in 12-month-old rats. Forty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 520$\pm$19g were blocked into seven groups according to body weight. Rats were raised for four weeks with control(no tea leaf powder or extracts) and experimental diets containing either 5%(w/w) dried leaf powders of persimmon(Diospyros kaki Thunb) or green tea(Camellia sinensis O. Ktze), or water or ethanol extract from equal amounts of each dried tea powder. Food intakes of all tea diet groups were higher than that of control. Weight gains and food efficiency ratios of all tea diet groups were not significantly different from those of control. All tea diets decreased plasma triglyceride level, especially, green tea powder and persimmon ethanol diets were more effective than other diet. All the tea diet groups showed decrease in liver triglyceride level, and persimmon powder and ethanol extract increased fecal triglyceride excretion. Plasma cholesterol levels of all the tea diet groups were not significantly different from the control, but control. Fecal cholesterliver cholesterol concegroups were significantlntrations of all tea y lower than that of ol excretions of persimmon powder, green tea ethanol extract, persommon ethanol extract and green tea ethanol extract groups were significantly higher than that of control. Plasma and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentrations of all the tea diet groups were lower than that of control. Especially, plasma TBARS concentrations of green tea powder and persimmon ethanol extract groups were sinificantly low. Red blood cell(RBC) superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities of persimmon ethanol extract and green tea water extract groups were increased, and RBC catalase activities of all experimental groups were not significantly different. RBC glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px) activities of persimmon ethanol extract, persimmon water extract and green tea powder groups were increased. Liver SOD activities of all the tea diet groups except green tea ethanol extract group were higher than that of control. Liver catalase activities of all experimental groups were not significantly different, and liver GSH-px activity of green tea powder group was significantly higher than that of control. In conclusion, dried leaf powders, and water and ethanol extracts of persimmon and green tea were effective in lowering lipid level, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxdative enzyme activities in 12-month-old rat. Green tea leaf powder with high contents of flavonoids and water soluble dietar fiber was most effective in lowering plasma triglyceride, cholesterol and TBARS level. (Korean J Nutrition 34(3) : 285~298, 2001)
