catechin-gallate and epicatechin-gallate

Structural investigations, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, are performed on tea catechins, including 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA), L-theanine (Thea), caffeine (CAF), theobromine (TB), theophylline (TP), catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin gallate (CG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). With an identified lowest energy conformer of investigated molecules, FTIR and FT-Raman spectra have been assigned according to DFT calculations in the way of B3LYP/6-31 + G (d, p). Normal spectra of these catechin powders are also measured by Raman spectrometers. There is a kind of everlasting correlation between experimental results and theoretical data. And our research has also obtained a clear evidence for reliable assignments of vibrational bands, bringing great feasibility to the rapid tea catechin detection.

Topics: Catechin; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Tea

Although specialized metabolite distributions in different tea (Camellia sinensis) tissues has been studied extensively, little is known about their within-tissue distribution owing to the lack of nondestructive methodology. In this study, desorption electrospray ionization imaging mass spectrometry was used to investigate the within-tissue spatial distributions of specialized metabolites in tea. To overcome the negative effects of the large amount of wax on tea leaves, several sample preparation methods were compared, with a Teflon-imprint method established for tea leaves. Polyphenols are characteristic metabolites in tea leaves. Epicatechin gallate/catechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate/gallocatechin gallate, and gallic acid were evenly distributed on both sides of the leaves, while epicatechin/catechin, epigallocatechin/gallocatechin, and assamicain A were distributed near the leaf vein. L-Theanine was mainly accumulated in tea roots. L-Theanine and valinol were distributed around the outer root cross-section. The results will advance our understanding of the precise localizations and in-vivo biosyntheses of specialized metabolites in tea.

Topics: Camellia sinensis; Catechin; Gallic Acid; Glutamates; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Polyphenols; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

There are eight most abundant green tea catechins (GTCs) existing in four pairs of eipimers, and carbon-3 configuration represents the only steric difference within each pair. This study aimed to use a new kinetic approach to elucidate the effect of stereochemical changes on the antioxidant activity. A mixture of eight GTCs was treated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) prepared in a series of concentrations, their relative reaction rates towards scavenging DPPH were revealed by the recently introduced parameter, i.e. D

Topics: Antioxidants; Catechin; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Kinetics; Mass Spectrometry; Stereoisomerism; Tea

The effects of green tea catechins on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were investigated in the β-cell line INS-1D. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) at 10 µM or gallocatechin gallate (GCG) at 30 µM caused significant inhibitory effects on GSIS, and each of these at 100 µM almost abolished it. In contrast, epicatechin (EC) or catechin (CA) had no effect on GSIS at concentrations up to 100 µM. We thus investigated the structure-activity relationship by using epigallocatechin (EGC) and gallocatechin (GC) containing a trihydroxyl group in the B-ring, and epicatechin gallate (ECG) and catechin gallate (CG) containing the gallate moiety. EGC, GC, and ECG caused an inhibition of GSIS, although significant effects were obtained only at 100 µM. At this concentration, EGC almost abolished GSIS, whereas GC and ECG partially inhibited it. In contrast, CG did not affect GSIS at concentrations up to 100 µM. EGCG also abolished the insulin secretion induced by tolbutamide, an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel blocker, and partially inhibited that induced by 30 mM K(+). Moreover, EGCG, but not EC, inhibited the oscillation of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration induced by 11.1 mM glucose. These results suggest that some catechins at supraphysiological concentrations have inhibitory effects on GSIS, the potency of which depends on their structure; the order of potency was EGCG>GCG>EGC>GC≈ECG. The inhibitory effects seem to be mediated by the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, which is caused, at least in part, by membrane hyperpolarization resulting from the activation of K(+) channels.

Topics: Calcium; Calcium Channels; Catechin; Glucose; Insulin; Insulin Secretion; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tea

The molecular basis for the antiviral inhibitory properties of three catechins epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate and catechin-5-gallate derived from green tea was assessed in terms of their ability to interact with influenza neuraminidase. This was investigated using a molecular based MALDI mass spectrometry approach in conjunction with companion inhibition assays employing confocal microscopy. Together with computational molecular docking, all three catechins were found to bind to influenza neuraminidase in the vicinity of a structurally conserved cavity adjacent to residue 430 that has been suggested to be a secondary sialic acid binding site. In doing so, they were effective inhibitors of the enzyme preventing the release of progeny viruses from host cells at inhibitor concentrations (IC50 values) of between 100 and 173 μM. Importantly, their different binding profiles avoid the limitations of existing neuraminidase inhibitors manifested by the evolution of antiviral resistance strains.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Binding Sites; Catechin; Cell Line; Dogs; Enzyme Inhibitors; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; Neuraminidase; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Tea

Green tea catechins are considered as possible cancer preventive agents for several cancer types but little is known regarding their effects on pancreatic cancer cells. The best studied catechin and the major polyphenol present in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In the present study, we investigated the in vitro anti-tumoral properties of EGCG on human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells PancTu-I, Panc1, Panc89 and BxPC3 in comparison with the effects of two minor components of green tea catechins, catechin gallate (CG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG). We found that all three catechins inhibited proliferation of PDAC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, CG and ECG exerted much stronger anti-proliferative effects than EGCG. Western blot analyses performed with PancTu-I cells revealed catechin-mediated modulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins (cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases [CDK], CDK inhibitors). Again, these effects were clearly more pronounced in CG or ECG than in EGCG-treated cells. Importantly, catechins, in particular ECG, inhibited TNFα-induced activation of NF-κB and consequently secretion of pro-inflammatory and invasion promoting proteins like IL-8 and uPA. Overall, our data show that green tea catechins ECG and CG exhibit potent and much stronger anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities on PDAC cells than the most studied catechin EGCG.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Catechin; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Tea; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The contents of starch and catechins in the fresh leaf of 'Huang Zhi Xiang' Oolong tea trees girdled at the bottom, middle (on the big branches) and top (on the small branches) were determined. The study demonstrated that the starch contents from girdled trees were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that from non-girdled ones. Furthermore, the contents of (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), total catechins (TC) and simple catechins (SC) from girdled trees were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those from non-girdled ones. Especially, the contents of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and catechin gallate (CG) from girdled at the middle were also significantly higher (p<0.05) than those from the non-girdled. The starch contents were negatively correlated with the contents of (-)-gallocatechin (GC), EC, SC, TC and EGC, while positively correlated with the contents of EGCG and CG in fresh shoots.

Topics: Camellia sinensis; Catechin; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Plant Leaves; Starch

Green tea catechins inhibit human matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) activity non-competitively, and the galloyl group is essential for potent inhibition (Oneda et al., J. Biochem., 133, 571-576 (2003)). In this study, we analyzed the mechanism of this inhibition. In the hydrolysis of (7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)acetyl-L-Pro-L-Leu-Gly-L-Leu-[N(3)-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropionyl]-L-Ala-L-Arg-NH(2), the inhibitory effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and (-)-catechin-3-gallate (CG) increased with increasing pH levels from 7.0 to 8.5. The inhibitory effects of EGCG and GCG were more potent than those of ECG and CG, and increased with increasing CaCl(2) concentrations from 10 to 50 mM. The fluorescence of EGCG and GCG decreased with increasing CaCl(2) concentrations and with the addition of MMP-7, while those of ECG and CG did not. Our results suggest that these differences result from that in the B ring, EGCG and GCG have phenol hydroxyl groups at the 3', 4', and 5' positions, while ECG and CG have them at the 3' and 4' positions.

Topics: Antioxidants; Calcium Chloride; Catechin; Chromogenic Compounds; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; Oligopeptides; Recombinant Proteins; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tea

Four catechins with the galloyl moiety, including catechin gallate (CG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin gallate (GCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG), were found to inhibit HIV-1 integrase effectively as determined by our ELISA method. In our docking study, it is proposed that when the HIV-1 integrase does not combine with virus DNA, the four catechins may bind to Tyr143 and Gln148, thus altering the flexibility of the loop (Gly140-Gly149), which could lead to an inhibition of HIV-1 integrase activity. In addition, after combining HIV-1 integrase with virus DNA, the four catechins may bind between the integrase and virus DNA, consequently, disrupt this interaction. Thus, the four catechins may reduce the activity of HIV-1 integrase by disrupting its interaction with virus DNA. The four catechins have a highly cooperative inhibitory effect (IC₅₀=0.1 μmol/L). Our study suggests that catechins with the galloyl moiety could be a novel and effective class of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Anti-HIV Agents; Catechin; DNA, Viral; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; HIV Integrase; HIV Integrase Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Pyrrolidinones; Raltegravir Potassium

Here, we investigated the structure-activity relationship of major green tea catechins and their corresponding epimers on cell-surface binding and inhibitory effect on histamine release. Galloylated catechins; (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate (GCG), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG), and (-)-catechin-3-O-gallate (CG) showed the cell-surface binding to the human basophilic KU812 cells by surface plasmon resonance analysis, but their non-galloylated forms did not. Binding activities of pyrogallol-type catechins (EGCG and GCG) were higher than those of catechol-type catechins (ECG and CG). These patterns were also observed in their inhibitory effects on histamine release. Previously, we have reported that biological activities of EGCG are mediated through the binding to the cell-surface 67kDa laminin receptor (67LR). Downregulation of 67LR expression caused a reduction of both activities of galloylated catechins. These results suggest that both the galloyl moiety and the B-ring hydroxylation pattern contribute to the exertion of biological activities of tea catechins and their 67LR-dependencies.

Topics: Anti-Allergic Agents; Basophils; Catechin; Cell Line, Tumor; Glycosylation; Histamine Release; Humans; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Molecular Structure; Receptors, Laminin; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tea

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression is linked with myeloid cell differentiation, as well as inflammation and angiogenesis processes related to cancer progression. MMP-9 secretion and macrophage-like HL-60 myeloid leukemia cells differentiation were triggered by the tumor-promoting agent PMA. The chemopreventive effects of green tea catechins epigallocatechin-gallate, catechin-gallate, and epicatechin-gallate, but not those catechins that lack a 3'-galloyl group, inhibited in a time- and dose-dependent manner MMP-9 secretion. The gene and protein expression of MMP-9 and of the mRNA stabilizing factor HuR were also inhibited, while that of the 67 kDa laminin receptor remained unaffected. Specific catechins may help optimize current chemotherapeutic treatment protocols for leukemia.

Topics: Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antigens, Surface; Carcinogens; Catechin; Cell Adhesion; Cell Differentiation; ELAV Proteins; ELAV-Like Protein 1; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Immunoblotting; Macrophages; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; RNA-Binding Proteins; Tea; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Attomole quantities of catechins were determined by a capillary liquid chromatography system with electrochemical detection (CLC-ECD) and the system is applied to the determination of catechins in human plasma. The eight catechins: catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin gallate (Cg), epicatechin gallate (ECg), gallocatechin gallate (GCg), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), were separated within 10 min using a capillary column (0.2 mm i.d.) and a mobile phase of phosphoric acid (85%)-methanol-water (0.5:27.5:72.5, v/v/v), and were detected at +0.85 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Peak heights were found to be linearly related to the amount of catechins injected, from 200 amol to 500 fmol (r > 0.998). The detection limits of the catechins were 61 amol for EGC, 75 amol for EC, 54 amol for GC, 61 amol for C, 67 amol for GCg, 75 amol for EGCg, 75 amol for ECg and 89 amol for Cg (S/N = 3). Because the present method is highly sensitive and allows facile pretreatment for plasma sample, the time courses of concentrations of catechins (GCg, EC, EGCg, ECg, and Cg) and their conjugates in human plasma obtained from a 10 microl plasma sample after ingestion of green tea could be determined.

Topics: Catechin; Chromatography, Liquid; Electrochemistry; Humans; Methanol; Phosphoric Acids; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tea; Time Factors; Water

Recent studies have shown that FAS (fatty acid synthase) is a potential therapeutic target of obesity. In the present paper we report that extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis Xihu Longjing) inhibits FAS effectively with an IC50 value of 12.2 microg dry weight/ml. The ability of GTE (green tea extract) to inhibit FAS is more potent than that of two known inhibitors in green tea leaves, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) and ECG (epicatechin gallate). We find that (-)-CG (catechin gallate) is a very potent inhibitor of FAS, with an IC50 of 1.5 microg/ml, and may contribute to the high inhibitory effect of GTE on FAS. The inhibitory mechanism of (-)-CG is not mainly involved in its binding to the beta-oxoacyl reductase domain to which both (-)-EGCG and (-)-ECG mainly bind. By analyses of the inhibitory kinetics and the structure of the gallated catechins, we found that the acyl transferase domain may be the main site reacting with (-)-CG, the structure consisting of a B ring, a C ring and a gallate ring, which is possibly essential for its inhibitory efficacy. The polyphenols rather than the alkaloids are the main fractions contributing to the inhibitory effect of GTE on FAS. During separation we also found that the total ability of this portion to inhibit FAS increases by 15-fold, and this may be due to some novel potent inhibitor of FAS other than (-)-CG being formed.

Topics: Camellia sinensis; Catechin; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fatty Acid Synthases; Flavonoids; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Obesity; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Polyphenols; Tea

We have developed an improved and reliable method for stereoselective functionalization at C4 of naturally occurring (+)-catechin. Our method utilizes DDQ oxidation followed by trapping of the quinonemethide intermediate with allyl alcohol. The quinonemethide intermediate can be regenerated from the allyl ether by exposure to boron trifluoride diethyl etherate. This reactive intermediate can be trapped with a wide range of external nucleophiles. NBS bromination, lithium halogen exchange, and alkylation gave access to C8-allyl derivatives of (+)-catechin, and this allyl group was used in a series of cross-metathesis experiments to prepare novel dimeric catechin-derived products. Gallate ester derivatives of the novel C4- and C8-substituted catechins were prepared, and these materials were screened for potential anticancer activity in a range of human cancer cell lines. From these preliminary cytotoxicity assays (MTT) we found that C8-propyl-catechin gallate was more active (IC50 = 31 microM) than catechin gallate (CG, IC50 = 53 microM) or epicatechin gallate (ECG, IC50 = 76 microM) against the colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HCT116. Differential sensitivity in pancreas (Pan1), bladder (RT112), stomach (MGLVA1), liver (HepG2), and fibroblasts (46Br.1G1) cell lines was also observed.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Catechin; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Molecular Conformation; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship

This study evaluated the biologic activity of epicatechin gallate (ECG), a polyphenol in tea, to carcinoma HSC-2 cells and normal HGF-2 fibroblasts cells from the human oral cavity. The relative cytotoxicity of ECG, as compared to five other polyphenols in tea, was evaluated. For the HSC-2 carcinoma cells, ECG, catechin gallate (CG), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) grouped as highly toxic, epigallocatechin (EGC) as moderately toxic, and catechin (C) and epicatechin (EC) as least toxic. For the HGF-2 fibroblasts, ECG and CG grouped as highly toxic, EGCG as moderately toxic, and EGC, C, and EC as least toxic. The cytotoxic effects of the polyphenols were more pronounced to the carcinoma, than to the normal, cells. The addition of ECG to cell culture medium led to the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, ECG, as compared to EGCG, was a poor generator of H2O2 and, hence, the cytotoxicity of ECG was unaffected by the presence of the antioxidants, N-acetyl cysteine and glutathione, and catalase. The cytotoxicity of ECG was unaffected by a metabolic activating system, i.e., a hepatic microsomal S-9 mix. DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity, and nuclear staining, both with acridine orange and the TUNEL procedure, were used to assess ECG-induced apoptosis. ECG induced apoptosis in the carcinoma HSC-2 cells, but not in the normal HGF-2 fibroblasts. This research supports those studies suggesting that tea green is an effective chemopreventive agent of oral carcinoma.

Topics: Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Catechin; Cell Survival; DNA; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Fibroblasts; Gingiva; Humans; Mouth Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of catechins and their derivatives on the activities of Arg-gingipain (Rgp) and Lys-gingipain (Kgp) in Porphyromonas gingivalis. Catechin derivatives, which included (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-gallocatechin gallate, and (-)-catechin gallate, significantly inhibited the Rgp activity. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of these catechin derivatives for Rgp ranged from 3 to 5 microm. While (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-gallocatechin moderately inhibited Rgp activity (IC50s, 20 microm), (-) -epicatechin, (+)-catechin, and gallic acid were not effective, with IC50s greater than 300 microm. Further, some of the catechin derivatives tested also inhibited the Kgp activity, though to a lesser extent than inhibition of the Rgp activity. These findings suggest that green tea catechins may have the potential to reduce periodontal breakdown resulting from the potent proteinase activity of P. gingivalis.

Topics: Adhesins, Bacterial; Catechin; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; Hemagglutinins; Humans; Plant Extracts; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Tea

Aqueous extracts of Japanese green tea (Camellia sinensis) are able to reverse beta-lactam resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We have attributed the capacity to reverse oxacillin resistance in the homogeneous PBP2a producer BB568 and in EMRSA-16 to (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-catechin gallate (CG). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for oxacillin were reduced from 256 and 512 to 1-4 mg/l, respectively, in the presence of these polyphenols. In addition, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) had a moderate capacity to modulate oxacillin activity against S. aureus BB568, but none against EMRSA-16. ECG, CG and EGCG increased the sensitivity of EMRSA-15 to oxacillin. The gallate moiety was essential for the oxacillin-modulating activity of ECG, as both (-)-epicatechin and (-)-epicatechin-3-cyclohexylcarboxylate were unable to reverse resistance to oxacillin. Gallic acid and three alkyl gallates (methyl gallate, propyl gallate, and octyl gallate) did not modulate beta-lactam resistance in MRSA. Octyl gallate exhibited direct antibacterial activity against S. aureus BB568 (16 mg/l). Modulation of beta-lactam resistance by ECG significantly enhanced the activities of flucloxacillin and the carbapenem antibiotics imipenem and meropenem against 40 MRSA isolates, with MIC(90) values for the antibiotics reduced to the susceptibility breakpoint or below. Consequently, EGCG, CG and, particularly, ECG warrant further investigation as agents to combat beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Lactam Resistance; Catechin; Flavonoids; Gallic Acid; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oxacillin; Phenols; Polyphenols; Propyl Gallate; Staphylococcus aureus

The green tea polyphenol catechin-3-gallate (CG) and epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) were synthesized enantioselectively via a Sharpless hydroxylation reaction followed by a diastereoselective cyclization. Their potencies to inhibit the proteasome activity were measured. The unnatural enantiomers were found to be equally potent to the natural compounds.

Topics: Catechin; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Flavonoids; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Jurkat Cells; Molecular Structure; Phenols; Polyphenols; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Stereoisomerism; Tea

It has been known that tea catechins, (-)-epicatechin (1), (-)-epigallocatechin (2), (-)-epicatechin gallate (3), and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (4) are epimerized to(-)-catechin (5), (-)-gallocatechin (6), (-)-catechin gallate (7), and (-)-gallocatechin gallate (8), respectively, during retort pasteurization. We previously reported that tea catechins, mainly composed of 3 and 4, effectively inhibit cholesterol absorption in rats. In this study, the effect of heat-epimerized catechins on cholesterol absorption was compared with tea catechins. Both tea catechins and heat-epimerized catechins lowered lymphatic recovery of cholesterol in rats cannulated in the thoracic duct and epimerized catechins were more effective than tea catechins. The effect of purified catechins on micellar solubility of cholesterol was examined in an in vitro study. The addition of gallate esters of catechins reduced micellar solubility of cholesterol by precipitating cholesterol from bile salt micelles. Compounds 7 and 8 were more effective to precipitate cholesterol than 3 and 4, respectively. These observations strongly suggest that heat-epimerized catechins may be more hypocholesterolemic than tea catechins.

Topics: Animals; Catechin; Cholesterol; Hot Temperature; Intestinal Absorption; Male; Micelles; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Solubility; Tea

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors (VEGFR) play a major role in tumor angiogenesis and, thus, represent attractive targets for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. In this work, we report that green tea catechins are novel inhibitors of VEGFR-2 activity. Physiological concentrations (0.01-1 microM) of epigallocatechin-3 gallate, catechin-3 gallate, and, to a lesser extent, epicatechin-3 gallate induce a rapid and potent inhibition of VEGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-2. The inhibition of VEGFR-2 by epigallocatechin-3 gallate was similar to that induced by Semaxanib (SU5416), a specific VEGFR-2 inhibitor. The inhibition of VEGFR-2 activity by the catechins displayed positive correlation with the suppression of in vitro angiogenesis. These observations suggest that the anticancer properties of green tea extracts may be related to their inhibition of VEGF-dependent angiogenesis.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Beverages; Catechin; Cattle; Cells, Cultured; Chick Embryo; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Kinetics; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptors, Growth Factor; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) as well as the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays an important role in the development of proliferative cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we show that treatment of rat and human aortic VSMC with 50 microM 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol (catechin) and epicatechin (EC) fails to inhibit the PDGF-Rb-activated intracellular signal transduction pathway and VSMC growth. In contrast, 10-50 microM epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), epicatechin-3 gallate (ECG), and catechin-3 gallate (CG), which all have a galloyl group in the 3-position of the catechin structure, effectively inhibit tyrosine-phosphorylation of PDGF-Rb, PI 3'-K, and PLC-gamma1 as well as the PDGF-BB-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. The PDGF-BB-induced increase in DNA synthesis and cell number was inhibited by ECG, EGCG, and CG, but not by catechin and EC. Epigallocatechin (EGC) that has a galloyl group in the 2-position effectively inhibited VSMC growth without affecting the PDGF-Rb signal pathway. A reduction of 45% and 70% of the intimal and medial cell number in the S-phase, respectively, has been observed in the catheter-injured left carotid artery 7 days after treatment of Wistar Kyoto rats with 10 mg/day EGCG. These results suggest that the galloyl group in the P3-position of the catechin structure is essential for inhibiting the PDGF-Rbeta-mediated intracellular signal transduction pathway.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Becaplermin; Bromodeoxyuridine; Calcium; Carotid Artery Injuries; Catechin; Cell Count; Cells, Cultured; DNA; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Male; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Phosphorylation; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; Rats; Rats, Inbred WKY; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; Signal Transduction; Tunica Intima; Tunica Media; Tyrosine

Systematic simplification of the molecular structures of epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate to determine the minimum structural characteristics necessary for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition in vitro resulted in several compounds that strongly inhibited the native as well as the A17 double mutant (K103N Y181C) enzyme, which is normally insensitive to most known nonnucleoside inhibitors.

Topics: Catechin; HIV Reverse Transcriptase; Mutation; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Structure-Activity Relationship

Investigators have shown that green tea may decrease the risk of cancer. It is widely accepted that the main active component of green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). In this study, we examined the effect of green tea on breast cancer growth and endothelial cells in in vitro assays and in animal models. Furthermore, we compared the potency of the different catechin components of green tea extract (GTE), including EGCG. Our data showed that mixed GTE and its individual catechin components were effective in inhibiting breast cancer and endothelial cell proliferation. In mouse experiments, GTE suppressed xenograft size and decreased the tumor vessel density. Our results demonstrated the value of all catechins and argued for the use of a mixed GTE as a botanical dietary supplement, rather than purified EGCG, in future clinical trials.

Topics: Animals; Breast Neoplasms; Catechin; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Mice; Mice, SCID; Plant Extracts; Tea; Transplantation, Heterologous; Umbilical Veins

The title determination was conducted by HPLC with electrochemical detection using an ODS column and a mobile phase of acetonitrile: 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) (15:85, v/v). The eight catechins, gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), gallocatechin gallate (GCg), epicatechin gallate (ECg), and catechin gallate (Cg), were detected at 0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. Good linear relationships between current and amount were noted for 0.5-250 pmol of each catechin, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 in each case. The detection limit for any one was 0.5 pmol (signal to noise ratio, S/N = 3). After the ingestion of 340 ml canned green tea, GC, EGC, C, and EC, mostly in conjugated form, were determined in urine samples. Conjugated catechins were hydrolyzed by enzymes using sulfatase and beta-glucuronidase. The time courses of the above four catechins showed a maxima at 1-3 h after tea ingestion. (+), (-)-EC and (+), (-)-C were present in canned tea.

Topics: Acetonitriles; Catechin; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Electrochemistry; Flavonoids; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Models, Chemical; Phosphates; Tea; Time Factors