[Inhibition effect of epicatechin on phenobarbitol-induced proliferation precancerous liver cells]

Epicatechin complex was given to diethylnitrosamine-initiated male Wistar rats concomitantly with the administration of phenobarbitol during hepatocarcinogenesis. The epicatechin complex was extracted from Longjing green tea and its concentration of whole epicatechin was 87.5%. The results denoted that epicatechin efficiently inhibited the promotive effect of phenobarbitol. High performance liquid chromatography analysis proved that the chemical properties of phenobarbitol and epicatechin were still well preserved when these two substances were dissolved together in distilled water. It was noted that there was no direct chemical reaction between these two substances. The inhibition mechanism and need of further studies concerning the effect of epicatechin on cell metabolism are discussed.