• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.167-170
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• 2007

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a mai or tea catechin has been shown to have many interesting biological activities. In the present study, we studied the effects of green tea catechins, EGCG metabolites, and black tea theaflavins on accumulation of EGCG in HT-29 human colon cells. Intracellular levels of [$^3H$]-EGCG were not changed significantly in the presence of other tea catechins including (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate. EGCG methyl metabolites and EGCG 4"-glucuronide did not affect cellular levels of [$^3H$]-EGCG. Black tea theaflavins and theasinensin A (TsA), an EGCG oxidative dimer, however, significantly decreased cellular accumulation of EGCG in HT-29 cells by 31-56%. This decrease was more pronounced when cells were incubated in the presence of theaflavin-3',3"-digallate (TFdiG) or TsA. When EGCG was added separately from TFdiG or TsA, the accumulation of EGCG in HT-29 cells was also significantly decreased regardless of when TFdiG or TsA was added during the uptake study (p<0.01). The results suggest that theaflavins and TsA may interrupt EGCG absorption through the gastrointestinal epithelium.