The effect of epigallocatechin gallate on caspase-3, BCL-2, TNF-alfa, NRF-2 ve NF-kB proteins expression in lung injury in rats

Recently, it has been determined that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and antiinflammatory effects, is a vegetable polyphenol-derived substance found in many grained fruits such as pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, grape and walnut. Studies have shown that EGCG inhibits tumor growth, apoptosis or cell death in cancer cells, which have a protective role on lung tissue. In addition, EGCG also shows anti-aging effects. There is also a growing body of evidence that EGCG halts cancer development by blocking a large proportion of oxidative damage in DNA. In this study, 28 Wistar albino (n = 28, 8 weeks old) rats were used. Groups: (i) Control: Standard diet; (ii) EGCG: Standard diet + EGCG (50 mg / kg CA, ip); (iii) CCl4 Group: Standard diet + CCl4 (1.5 ml / kg CA, ip); (iv) EGCG + CCl4 Group. After 4 weeks, the rats were decapitated and the lung tissue were analysed. Lung tissue caspase-3, bcl-2, Nrf-2, NF-kB and TNF-alpha protein expression levels were determined by western blotting technique, MDA, GSH and catalase analysis determined by spectrophotometer. As a result, in the EGCG + CCl4 group, caspase-3 and Nrf-2 proteins expression increased but NF-kB, bcl-2 and Tnf-alpha proteins expression decreased, in addition, in the EGCG + CCl4 group, GSH and catalase activity increased and MDA decreased compared to CCl4 group.