The influence of green tea on the activity of proteases and their inhibitors in plasma of rats after ethanol treatment.

Ethanol oxidation in the liver is accompanied by formation of acetaldehyde and free radicals. These compounds can react with biologically active proteins, including proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors. The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of green tea on the activity of cathepsin G and elastase and their inhibitors such as alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin, total antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in plasma of young rats chronically intoxication with ethanol. The activity of cathepsin G and elastase was increased, while the activity of their inhibitors was reduced after ethanol treatment. AT the same time, the total antioxidant status was significantly decreased while lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal was significantly increased. Giving green tea to rats did not change the proteases and their inhibitors activity, but significantly increased total antioxidant status and decreased lipid peroxidation. Drinking green tea with ethanol partially prevents the changes observed after ethanol intoxication.