@article{3062846,
    title = "Effect of green tea on angiogenesis and severity of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbit",
    author = "Kavantzas, N. and Chatziioannou, A. and Yanni, A.E. and Tsakayannis, D. and Balafoutas, D. and Agrogiannis, G. and Perrea, D.",
    journal = "Vascular Pharmacology",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "44",
    number = "6",
    pages = "461-463",
    issn = "1537-1891",
    doi = "10.1016/j.vph.2006.03.008",
    keywords = "green tea extract;  vasculotropin, angiogenesis;  animal experiment;  animal model;  antiangiogenic activity;  aorta;  article;  atherosclerotic plaque;  cholesterol diet;  controlled study;  disease severity;  drug effect;  feeding;  hypercholesterolemia;  male;  nonhuman;  priority journal;  protein expression;  rabbit;  smooth muscle fiber;  tea;  vasa vasorum, Angiogenesis Inhibitors;  Animals;  Aorta, Abdominal;  Aorta, Thoracic;  Atherosclerosis;  Camellia sinensis;  Cholesterol, Dietary;  Hypercholesterolemia;  Male;  Plant Extracts;  Plant Leaves;  Rabbits;  Severity of Illness Index;  Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A",
    abstract = "Background and Aims: Since the development of the atherosclerotic plaque requires the growth of new microvessels in the plaque itself (vasa vasorum), we postulated that green tea may exert an anti-atherogenic effect. Methods and results: Thirteen male New Zealand white rabbits were studied for 17 weeks. All rabbits were fed an hypecholesterolemic diet. After 2 weeks of adaptation rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups. Animals in Group A were fed the hypercholesterolemic diet and received plain tap water ad libitum. Animals in Group B were fed with the same diet and furthermore received 2.5% (g/g) green tea for 17 weeks. Conclusion: According to our results the atherosclerotic lesions were more severe in Group B than in Group A specimens. Also, the number of VEGF positively stained foam cells and smooth muscle cells of Group B were significantly greater than in Group A. About 30% less plaque was found in Group A than in the control group (Group B). So, our study showed that the consumption of green tea leads to a reduction of atherosclerosis as well as a significant decrease of VEGF expression in the atherosclerotic plaque of rabbit aorta. The hypothesis that probably green tea may produce its anti-atherogenetic effect through an anti-angiogenetic mechanism needs more investigation. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."
}