Insulinotropic and cytoprotective effect of L-theanine: An in vitro dose dependent study

Pharmacognosy Magazine,2018,14,55s,s36-s39.DOI:10.4103/pm.pm_595_17Published:June 2018Type:Original ArticleAuthors:Arpita Saha, Sirshendu Chatterjee, Ananya Chatterjee, Surmi Roy, Nirmalya Roy, Satinath Mukhopadhyay, and Sandip K Bandyopadhyay Author(s) affiliations:Arpita Saha1, Sirshendu Chatterjee2, Ananya Chatterjee1, Surmi Roy1, Nirmalya Roy3, Satinath Mukhopadhyay4, Sandip K Bandyopadhyay1 1 Department of Biochemistry, KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India 2 Department of Biotechnology, Techno India University, Kolkata, India 3 Department of Medicine, KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India 4 Department of Endocrinology, IPGME and R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Abstract:Background: L-theanine is a natural bioactive amino acid present in tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze) and consumed worldwide through tea decoction. Objective: The present work aims at evaluation of the insulin secretion and cytoprotective efficacy of L-theanine, a bioactive amino acid present in tea, on pancreatic β-cell line, RIN-m5F. Methods: RIN m5F cell were treated with L-theanine alone or prior to hydrogen peroxide (200 um) treatment and subsequently cell viability, cellular morphology, insulin secretion and insulin gene expression were analyzed. Results: Studies have shown that L-theanine dose dependently (0–300 μm) increases the β-cell mass as well as increases insulin production by RIN-m5F cell. It was also observed that pretreatment of the cell with L-theanine partially protected the oxidative stress of β-cells that were evident from cell viability, cellular morphology, and restoration of insulin-secreting ability. Conclusion: Results suggest that L theanine is an insulinotropic agent as well as effective in giving partial protection to pancreatic β-cells in oxidatively stressed condition. L-theanine can be used in the prevention or treatment of diabetes. Keywords:diabetes, Hydrogen peroxide, Insulinotropic, L-theanine, oxidative stress, β-cellView:PDF (1.42 MB)