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Ingestive Behavior and Neurosciences

Green Tea (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits β-Amyloid-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction through Modification of Secretase Activity via Inhibition of ERK and NF-B Pathways in Mice^1,2

³ College of Pharmacy and ⁴ Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University 12, Gaesin-dong, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea; and ⁵ Korea Food Research Institute, 46, Baekhyun-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 463-746, Korea

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the extracellular deposition of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) in cerebral plaques. Aβ is derived from the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the enzymes -, β- and -secretase. Compounds that enhance -secretase, but inhibit β- or -secretase activity, have therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD. Green tea, or its major polyphenolic compound, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on memory dysfunction caused by Aβ through the change of Aβ-induced secretase activities. Mice were pretreated with EGCG (1.5 or 3 mg/kg body weight in drinking water) for 3 wk before intracerebroventricular administration of 0.5 µg Aβ_1–42. EGCG dose-dependently reduced the Aβ_1–42-induced memory dysfunction, which was evaluated using passive avoidance and water maze tests. Aβ_1–42 induced a decrease in brain -secretase and increases in both brain β- and -secretase activities, which were reduced by EGCG. In the cortex and the hippocampus, expression of the metabolic products of the β- and -secretases from APP, C99, and Aβ also were dose-dependently suppressed by EGCG. Paralleled with the suppression of β- and -secretases by EGCG, we found that EGCG inhibited the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and nuclear transcription factor-B in the Aβ_1–42-injected mouse brains. In addition, EGCG inhibited Aβ_1–42-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in the brain. To further test the ability of EGCG to affect memory, EGCG (3 mg/kg body weight) was administered in drinking water for 1 wk to genetically developed preseniline 2 (PS2) mutant AD mice. Compared with untreated mutant PS2 AD mice, treatment with EGCG enhanced memory function and brain -secretase activity but reduced brain β- and -secretase activities as well as Aβ levels. Moreover, EGCG inhibited the fibrillization of Aβ in vitro with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 7.5 mg/L. These studies suggest that EGCG may be a beneficial agent in the prevention of development or progression of AD.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jinthong{at}chungbuk.ac.kr.

Manuscript received 12 May 2009. Initial review completed 22 May 2009. Revision accepted 16 July 2009.

Published online 4 August 2009.