Effect of catechin and commercial preparation of green tea essence on the pharmacokinetics of l-dopa in rabbits

The aim of this study was to investigate drug interactions of L-dopa/carbidopa with catechin and green tea essence in rabbits following the simultaneous administration via an intramuscular injection of catechin or via an intragastric route for green tea essence with L-dopa/carbidopa. The results indicated that catechin at doses of 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg increased the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUC_0–t) of L-dopa by about 69, 78 and 42%, respectively. The metabolic ratios of the AUC_0–t for 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD)/L-dopa significantly decreased by about 56, 68 and 76% (P < 0.05), respectively. In addition, a single dose of 5/1.25 mg/kg L-dopa/carbidopa was co-administrated with 150 mg/kg green tea essence via an intragastric route with an oral-gastric tube. Comparing the related pharmacokinetic parameters of L-dopa, the clearance and metabolic ratio of L-dopa decreased by 20 and 19% (P < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, catechin and green tea essence can significantly affect the metabolism of L-dopa by the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) metabolic pathway. Catechin can enhance L-dopa bioavailability, and both catechin and green tea essence decreased 3-OMD formation. Therefore, catechin and green tea essence may increase L-dopa efficacy for Parkinson's disease treatment.