Green tea and its catechins modulate cholesterol metabolism in cultured human liver (HepG2) cells and the hypercholesterolaemic rabbit / Christina Anne Bursill.

Includes bibliographical references (21 leaves).1 v. (various pagings) : ill. ; 30 cm.Previous studies have found that green tea and its antitoxidant constituents, the catechins, are hypocholesterolaemic in both epidemiological and animal intervetion studies. The main objectives of the present study were to investigate the mechanism by which green tea and its most abundant catechin constituent epigallocatechin gallate increase the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor of HepG2 cells. In addition, it was hoped to determine if a crude catechin extract from green tea could lower plasma cholesterol levels in the hypercholesterolaemic rabbit and ascertain if this effect was due to an increase in the LDL receptor. The study provides evidence that green tea and its catechins exhibit hypocholesterolaemic properties and may therefore provide protection against heart disease.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physiology, 200