Systemic Absorption of Catechins after Intraruminal or Intraduodenal Application of a Green Tea Extract in Cows

Abstract

Green tea catechins have various potential health benefits in humans including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and hepato-protective effects. If present in the circulation, they might have similar effects in ruminants, which are exposed to oxidative stress and fatty liver disease such as dairy cows during the periparturient phase. However, the bioavailability of a substance is a prerequisite for any post absorptive effect in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the appearance of catechins from a green tea extract (GTE) in cattle plasma after intraruminal and intraduodenal administration because absorption is of major importance regarding the bioavailability of catechins. The studies were performed in 5 rumen-fistulated non-lactating heifers and 6 duodenally fistulated lactating dairy cows, respectively, equipped with indwelling catheters placed in a jugular vein. The GTE was applied intraruminally (10 and 50 mg/kg BW, heifers) or duodenally (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg BW, dairy cows) in a cross‐over design with a 2 d washout period between different dosages. Blood samples were drawn following the GTE administration at various pre-defined time intervals. The concentration of the major GTE catechins (gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin-gallate, epicatechin-gallate) in plasma samples were analysed by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Irrespective of the dose, almost none of the catechins originally contained in the GTE were detected in plasma samples after intraruminal application. In contrast, intraduodenal administration of GTE resulted in increased plasma concentrations of epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate in a dose‐dependent manner. Thus, we can conclude that intraruminally or orally administered catechins are intensively metabolized by ruminal microorganisms.

Improvement of Anthocyanin Stability in Butterfly Pea Flower Extract by Co-pigmentation with Catechin

“…An increase in stability of anthocyanin after copigmentation could be explained by an alteration of its structure. The structure of catechin composes of two benzene rings (called the A-and B-rings) and a dihydropyran heterocycle (the C-ring) with a hydroxyl group on carbon 3 [12]. Catechin has a similar structure to anthocyanin molecule and it is the building blocks of pro-anthocyanidins.…”

Nutritional applications and beneficial health applications of green tea and l‐theanine in some animal species: A review

“…The concentrations of major catechins were determined in the plasma by HPLC and the study revealed that intraruminal or orally administered catechins were metabolized by rumen micro-organism, and hence did not appear in blood plasma. Contrary to this, intraduodenal administration resulted in increased concentration of catechins in the plasma (Wein et al, 2016). Green tea waste which is obtained after tea production can be utilized for silage production.…”

“…In addition, cows fed with supplemented feed showed a reduction in haptoglobin mRNA level (Winkler et al, 2015). Contrary to this, intraduodenal administration resulted in increased concentration of catechins in the plasma (Wein et al, 2016). Green tea extract (GTE) was added (0.028% of dry matter) to the feed of lactating Holstein/Holstein-Gir dairy cows; however, the diet did not alter the milk yield or most of the milk characteristics but reduced the emission of methane gas.…”

Pharmacokinetics and Disposition of Green Tea Catechins

“…The efficiency of microbial metabolism on catechins was well reported in a GTE study on cows [64]. Different doses of GTE was applied intraruminally (10 and 50 mg/kg) and duodenally (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg BW) to dairy cows.…”