Theanine prevents memory impairment induced by repeated cerebral ischemia in rats.

Abstract

The present study investigated the neuroprotective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine), a component Japanese green tea (Camellia sinensis), on memory impairment induced by twice-repeated cerebral ischemia in rats. Theanine was injected i.p. immediately after the first occlusion. Theanine (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) significantly prevented the impairment of spatial memory in rats subjected to repeated cerebral ischemia, 7 days after the second reperfusion. Moreover, theanine (1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the decrease in the number of surviving cells in the hippocampal CA1 field in the same rats. These results suggest that theanine prevents memory impairment induced by repeated cerebral ischemia, in part by protecting against neuronal cell death, and that it might be useful for preventing cerebrovascular disease.

• Authors: Nobuaki Egashira, Noriko Ishigami, Fengling Pu, Kenichi Mishima, Katsunori Iwasaki, Kensuke Orito, Ryozo Oishi, Michihiro Fujiwara
• Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (Phytother Res) Vol. 22 Issue 1 Pg. 65-8 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 0951-418X [Print] England
• PMID: 17705146 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Glutamates
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Tea
• theanine

Topics

• Animals
• Brain Ischemia (complications)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Glutamates (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Memory Disorders (etiology, prevention & control)
• Neuroprotective Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Tea (chemistry)