Effect of Anaerobically Treated Tea (Gabaron Tea) on Blood Pressure of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of green tea made from leaves incubated in an anaerobic condition (Gabaron tea) on the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). No difference was found in the mean body weight of the control groups (first group, fed on water; second group, fed on ordinary green tea) and the experimental group (third group, fed on Gabaron tea) throughout the test period. The mean blood pressure of the three groups was identical at 160 mmHg in the pre-test period. The mean blood pressure of the experimental group was 158 mmHg, whereas the control groups shared 163—167 mmHg one week after the experiment started. The blood pressure of the experimental group was significantly lower than pressures of the control groups (P<0. 01). In all groups, the mean blood pressure increased gradually from 10 to 20 weeks of age. The mean blood pressure of the experimental group was about 150 mmHg, and those of the control groups reached 175—180mmHg. The mean blood pressure of the experimental animals was 14—17% lower than the pressures of the control animals at 20 weeks of age (P < 0.01). The hypotensive effect on SHR fed the Gabaron tea infusion disappeared when the animals were returned to ordinary green tea intake at 20 weeks of age. © 1987, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.