| Abstract
| - The inhibitory effects of C-2 epimeric isomers of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and twoO-methylated EGCG derivatives, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG3‘ ‘Me) and (−)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG4‘ ‘Me), against oxazolone-induced type IV allergyin male mice were investigated. These compounds exhibited strong antiallergic effects by percutaneousadministration at a dose of 0.13 mg/ear. The inhibition rates of (−)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate (GCG),(−)-gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (GCG3‘ ‘Me), and (−)-gallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate(GCG4‘ ‘Me) on mouse type IV allergy were 52.1, 53.3, and 54.8%, respectively. However, theantiallergic effects were weaker than those of their corresponding original tea catechins (2R,3R type).The inhibition rates of those were 88.0, 73.2, and 77.6%, respectively. For all of the catechins tested,oral administration at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight significantly suppressed the allergic symptoms.The inhibitory rates varied from 24.0 to 60.6%. No significant differences were observed betweenthe effects of the epimers (2S,3R type) and their corresponding original catechins (2R,3R type). Theantiallergic effects of tea catechins and their C-2 epimers observed in this study were dose-dependent.These results suggest that C-2 epimers of tea catechins, which are produced during heat processingat high temperatures, could be disadvantageous for the antiallergic effects on type IV allergy. Keywords: Tea; catechin; O-methylated catechin; mouse; type IV allergy; epimerization
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