Can Green Tea Extract Become a Cause of Acute Pancreatitis?

Acute pancreatitis is a local inflammatory process that could occur due to multiple causes. This condition is diagnosed by elevated plasma amylase. In mice there is only one predominant model of acute pancreatitis, in which hyper-stimulatory doses of cholecystokinin or its analog caerulein are administered [1]. Nothing is known about herbs and botanicals for their potential to cause acute pancreatitis. We report a suspected potential of green tea extract to cause acute pancreatitis in mice. Balb/C mice 20–25 g was administered by oral gavage 200 uL of commercially available green tea extract. After 18 hours blood samples were taken and were analyzed for plasma chemistry profile and complete blood picture. Mice that were given green tea extract showed elevated plasma amylase (mean = 1428 ± 546.27 U/L) whereas in the normal mice the mean was 58.0 ± 0.4 U/L. In addition, slight elevation of plasma Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) was observed (mean 127 ± 79.45 U/L) compared to normal controls (30 U/L). The Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) values were also raised (81 ± 51.0 mg/dl) compared to normal control (21 U/L). Green tea administered mice showed hyperactivity or restlessness compared to normal controls. The blood picture showed slight elevation of granulocytes (ranging from 26.8 to 83.2% Mean54%) as compared to normal that range between 8 to 48%. Plasma amylase elevation is a good indicator of acute pancreatitis. An increase in BUN and BUN: Creatinine (CRE) ratio is one of the manifestations of dehydration. In our study, plasma amylase was remarkably increased in mice administered green tea. The caffeine in the green tea extract may have caused dehydration due to increased urination hence increasing BUN and BUN: CRE ratio. We conclude that green tea extract in the doses administered in this study could lead to acute pancreatitis. Further studies are needed to confirm these results along with histopathology of treated pancreas. References: [1] Lampel M, Kern HF, (1977), Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histol, 373(2): 97–117.