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In an effort to identify tea cultivars with high flavonol content, we measured flavonol glycoside levels in the tea infusions of cultivars in the collection of the National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science. The cultivars 'Saemidori', 'Sofu', 'Surugawase', 'Fukumidori', and 'Asatsuyu' among others could be effective sources of quercetin compared to other tea cultivars. Quercetin glycosides in "Saemidori" and "Sofu" remained at a relatively high level (110-170 µg/mL aglycone equivalent). These cultivars are indicated as effective sources of dietary quercetin, and are potential sources of quercetin-rich drinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research paper in which several 0-methylated theaflavins (TFs) were synthesized by using O-methyltransferase from an edible mushroom and S9 fractions and inhibitory effect on H20 2-induced oxidative damage in human HepG2 cells were investigated. Topics discussed include the viability of H20 2-damaged HepG2 cells treated with TFs and 0-methylated TFs, polyphenol, and the inhibitory effect on oxidative damage.

We investigated the effects of extracts of Benifuuki (a tea cultivar that contains methylated catechins such as epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3''Me)) in mice fed a high-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet. This tea cultivar was then compared with an extract of Yabukita (a popular tea cultivar that lacks methylated catechins). For 6 weeks, C57BL/6J mice were fed either HF/HS diet with or without tea extracts from tea cultivars, which contained almost identical ingredients except for methylated catechins (i.e., Yabukita (0.2% and 1%) or Benifuuki (0.2% and 1%) extract powders). Supplementation with Benifuuki 0.2% markedly lowered plasma levels of TG and NEFAs compared with mice supplemented with Yabukita 0.2%. The diet containing Benifuuki 1% decreased adipose tissue weights, liver TG, and expression of lipogenic genes in the liver. These results suggested that Benifuuki had much greater lipid-lowering effects than Yabukita. Taken together, these data suggest that methylated catechins direct the strong lipid-lowering activity of Benifuuki [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-allergic effect of epigallocatechin-3-O-3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3"Me) and epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG4"Me) isolated from Japanese or Taiwanese tea (Camellia sinensis L.) leaves. These catechins strongly inhibited mast cell activation and histamine release after FcepsilonRI cross-linking through the suppression of tyrosine phosphorylation (Lyn) of cellular protein kinase, and the suppression of myosin light chain phosphorylation and high-affinity IgE receptor expression via the binding to 67kDa laminin receptor. A double blind clinical study on subjects with Japanese cedar pollinosis was carried out. At the eleventh weeks after starting to intake, the most severe cedar pollen scattering period, symptoms i.e. blowing nose, itch of eyes were significantly relieved in Benifuuki group compared with placebo group. Over one consecutive month intake of Benifuuki green containing O-methylated catechin tea was useful for reduction of some symptoms derived from Japanese cedar pollinosis, and did not affect any normal immune response in the subjects with Japanese cedar-pollinosis. From the investigation that the effects of cultivars, tea seasons of crops and manufacturing methods, green or semi-fermented teas, made from fully-matured Benifuuki in second crop season, should be consumed. It is possible to develop functional articles such as beverage or food with this Benifuuki green tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  ‘Benifuuki’, a tea (Camellia Sinensis L.) cultivar in Japan, is rich in anti-allergic epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3″Me). ‘Benifuuki’ green tea and simultaneous addition of ginger extract remarkably suppressed cytokine (TNF-α and MIP-1α) secretion from mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells after antigen stimulation and, as expected, suppressed delay-type allergy. After drinking ‘benifuuki’ green tea containing 43.5 mg of EGCG and 8.5 mg of EGCG3″Me, the AUC (area under the drug concentration time curve; min μg/ml) of EGCG was 6.72 � 2.87 and EGCG3″Me was 8.48 � 2.54 in healthy human volunteers. Though the dose of EGCG was 5.1 times the dose of EGCG3″Me, the AUC of EGCG3″Me was higher than that of EGCG. A double blind clinical study on subjects with Japanese cedar pollinosis was carried out. At the 11th week after starting the study, in the most severe cedar pollen scattering period, symptoms, i.e., blowing the nose and itching eyes, were significantly relieved in the ‘benifuuki’ intake group compared with the placebo group, and blowing the nose, itching eyes and nasal symptom score, and at the 11th and 13th weeks, stuffy nose, throat pain and the nasal symptom medication score were significantly relieved in the ‘benifuuki’ containing ginger extract group compared with the placebo group. These results suggested that over one consecutive month, drinking ‘benifuuki’ green tea was useful to reduce some of the symptoms from Japanese cedar pollinosis, and did not affect any normal immune response in subjects with seasonal rhinitis, and the ginger extract enhanced the effect of ‘benifuuki’ green tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new human fusion partner, ICLU-T was established for making human T-T hybridomas. Some 6-thioguanine resistant (6-TG...(\rm r)) clones were separated from human T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, PEER. The fastest growing clone of the 6-TG...(\rm r) cells was scaled up and was cultured in serum free medium. The clone that proliferated most quickly in the serum free medium was separated and named ICLU-T. When ICLU-T was fused with human peripheral blood lymphocytes by using only polyethylene glycol, the viability of fused cells was below 20 percent efficiency was 0.01\thicksim0.02 per 10...5 parent cells. Whereas, the combined use of 1 percent and the fusion efficiencies over 0.2 per 10...5 parent cells on the average. In a total of 34 clones of obtained hybridomas, there were 25 CD2 positive clones. CD4 positive or CD8 positive clones of the CD2 positive clones were 12 and 5 clones, respectively. Further, 4 clones of all hybridomas were CD19 positive, and one clone of these hybridomas was an Ig producer. These obtained hybridomas could proliferate in serum free medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate human immune responses, it is useful to use cultured human immunological cell lines. Cell fusion is one method to immortalize desired cells. Therefore, we established HAT sensitive human fusion partners, ICLU-B derived from human burkitt lymphoma, ICLU-T from human T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, ICLU-E from human eosinophilic leukemia, for efficiently making various human immunological hybridomas. When each fusion partner was fused with human peripheral blood lymphocytes or cord blood lymphocytes, their fusion efficiencies were about 1.3, 0.3 and 0.4 clones per 10∧ fusion partners. Approximately 70% derived from ICLU-B were CD19 positive hybridomas, and approximately 80% CD4 positive or CD8 positive hybridomas of the CD2 positive were approximately 35% hybridomas derived from ICLU-E were CD2 or CD19 positive hybridomas, phagocytosis was observed in the remaining hybridomas which were both CD2 and CD19 negative. Most obtained hybridomas could proliferate in serum free medium as well as the fusion partners. These results suggested that ICLU-B, -T, -E were useful for making human hybridomas derived from various immunological cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunrouge is an anthocyanin-rich, new tea cultivar that contains similar levels of catechins as Yabukita, the most popular tea cultivar consumed in Japan. Interestingly, Sunrouge preparations have previously been shown to have more pronounced acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and anticolitis activities than those of Yabukita. In this study, we examined their effects on expressions of self-defensive molecules, including heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are molecular chaperones involved in homeostasis and longevity. Hot water extract from freeze-dried Sunrouge significantly upregulated messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of HSP40, HSP70, and HSP32 (heme oxygenase-1), with grades greater than those shown by Yabukita. Oral administration of freeze-dried preparation of Sunrouge to male ICR mice at a dose of 1% in the basal diet for 1 month resulted in marked upregulations of several HSP mRNA expressions in mucosa from the gastrointestinal tract, especially the upper small intestine. Again, its efficacy was remarkably higher than that of Yabukita. Moreover, exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to Sunrouge conferred thermoresistant phenotype, and also resulted in a significant life-span elongation. Taken together, our results suggest that Sunrouge is a unique and promising tea cultivar for regulating self-defense systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]