White tea intake interferes with the expression of angiogenic factors in the corpora lutea of superovulated rats

Summary White tea derived from the Camellia sinensis (L.) plant has anticancer effects. Its main catechin decreases the gene expression of Vegf in tumours. However, VEGF is also the angiogenic factor of the reproductive organs. In this study, Wistar rats were divided into the following groups (n = 30): the control group (CT), which received water, and the white tea intake group (WT), for 3 months. At the end of every month, the corpora lutea (CL) of ten rats were removed to evaluate the gene expression of Vegf and its receptors (Flt‐1 and Kdr). White tea increased the relative mRNA abundance of Vegf (CT = 0.95 ± 0.06 and WT = 2.13 ± 0.19), Kdr (CT = 0.88 ± 0.06 and WT = 1.94 ± 0.32) and Flt‐1 (CT = 0.94 ± 0.06 and WT = 2.11 ± 0.22) in CL (P