Theacrine, a Purine Alkaloid Obtained from Camellia assamica var. kucha, Attenuates Restraint Stress-Provoked Liver Damage in Mice

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2013 papers

Abstract

Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid), a purine alkaloid, has proven to be beneficial in maintaining several brain functions and is being studied for potential medicinal uses in recent years. In this study, we isolated theacrine from Camellia assamica var. kucha and investigated its protective effects on liver damage induced by restraint stress in mice. Results showed that 18 h of restraint stress could induce liver damage, with an obvious increase in levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This finding was further confirmed by hepatic pathological examination, which showed inflammatory cell infiltration and focal necrosis of hepatocytes. However, oral administration of theacrine (10, 20, 30 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days) was found to decrease plasma ALT and AST levels, reduce hepatic mRNA levels of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ), and reverse the histologic damages in stressed mice. Simultaneously, theacrine also significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde and increased oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) level in the plasma and liver of stressed mice. These results suggested that the protective effects of theacrine on stress-induced liver damage might be correlated with its antioxidative activity. The antioxidative capacity of theacrine was further evaluated by in vitro ORAC and cellular antioxidant activity assay. The results suggested that the antioxidative capacity of theacrine was not due to the direct action on free radical clearance. Moreover, the elevated activities and gene expressions of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the reduced activity of xanthine oxidase by theacrine treatment in stressed mice suggested that the antioxidative activity might be due to the strengthening of the antioxidant system in vivo. On the basis of the above results, theacrine is possibly a good candidate for protecting against or treating lifestyle diseases and might contribute to the study of natural products.

Related Papers

• → Protective Effects of Mogroside V on Oxidative Stress Induced by H2O2 in Skin Fibroblasts(2021)36 cited
• → Changes in the Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Rat Liver Tissue Exposed to Cadmium and Protect with Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Ro`ssle) Flower Extract(2016)6 cited
• Protective effect of polysaccharides from Cortex Eucommiae on exhaustiveexercise-induced oxidative stress in mice.(2015)
• → Enhancing the Skin's Natural Antioxidant Enzyme System by the Supplementation or Upregulation of Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, and Glutathione Peroxidase(2009)2 cited