The Inhibitory Effect of Tea and Coffee Beverages and Their Constituents on the Synthesis of the Lipoxygenase Product- 12-Hete by the Rat Testis and Trachea

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Chronic treatment of rats with tea and coffee beverages (5% w/v) significantly inhibited the synthesis of the lipoxygenase-derived arnchidonic acid metabolite - 12-HETE by 38-52% in both testis and trachea. Similarly, pretreatment of the two tissues with caffeine (30-120 μM) or theophylline (55-110 μM) in vitro inhibited the synthesis by 32-76%. These inhibitions are likely to result from inhibition of the phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase enzymes following an elevation of the intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Such an increase may limit the availability of free Ca2+ needed for activity of the enzymes. The compounds induced Inhibitions may partly contribute towards better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms that underlie some of their already known actions.

Inhibitory; Synthesis; Beverages