The withdrawal of a green tea extract in Spain and France (Exolise®) a couple of years ago needs to be mentioned. After application of this medication some cases of severe hepatotoxicity were reported. Symptoms like icterus, massive elevation of transaminases occurred not later than 12 weeks after beginning the treatment with the extract in capsules and were completely reversible few weeks after stopping the medication. The exact underlying mechanisms have not been completely worked out. Possibly these are due to a SAE that is specific for Exolise®, and is connected with the manufacturing process (hydro-alcoholic extraction techniques). For this reason, only the distribution of Exolise® has been stopped by the respective authorities, but not the distribution of other green tea extracts (see also the following publications by the WHO): www.who.int/entity/medicines/publications/restrictedpharm2005.pdf It has not yet been found out which parts of the polyphenols and their metabolites are responsible for the hepatotoxic effects. Even though in most cases mixtures of green tea and polyphenols have been administered it is suspected, that EGCG as a main component of the green tea extracts shows hepatotoxic potential. In favor of this hypothesis is the fact, that there have been reports of elevated transaminases under treatment with EGCG in man and interactions with other substances. EGCG is known to bind to α- and β-estrogene receptors and increases 17 β-estradiol-induced reactions in mice. EGCG is a known inhibitor of the Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) that catalyses the degradation of exogenous and endogenous substances.