Identification of oxidation products of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin with H(2)O(2)

Oxidation and degradation of (epi)gallocatechin gallate (EGCG/GCG) and (epi)catechin gallate (ECG/CG) in alkali solution

The oxidative decomposition/degradation of two main tea flavanols, EGCG/GCG and ECG/CG, was studied in alkaline solution under ultrasonic-assisted thermal conditions. The study employed HPLC-ESI-ToF-MS to identify the products generated by atmospheric oxygen oxidation and various base-catalyzed reactions. Strong basic condition led to accelerated hydrolysis and oxidation of EGCG/GCG and ECG/CG and yielded gallic acid, de-galloyl flavanols and corresponding o-quinone derivatives. Meanwhile, peroxidation or base-catalyzed cleavage and rearrangement occurred extensively on C- and B-rings of flavanol and generated various simpler aldehydes or acids. Besides, a number of dimers/trimers were produced. This contribution provides empirical proof of oxidative degradation of flavanols under strong alkaline condition. Meanwhile, detailed reaction mechanisms of C-/B-ring degradation and dimerization/polymerization phenomena are proposed to help understand the structural changes of flavanols under strong alkaline conditions.

Degradation, isomerization and stabilization of three dicaffeoylquinic acids under ultrasonic treatment at different pH

Dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQAs) are found in a variety of edible and medicinal plants with various biological activities. An important issue is the low stability of diCQAs during extraction and food processing, resulting in the degradation and transformation. This work used 3,5-diCQA as a representative to study the influence of different parameters in ultrasonic treatment on the stability of diCQAs, including solvent, temperature, treatment time, ultrasonic power, duty cycle, and probe immersion depth. The generation of free radicals and its influence were investigated during the treatment. The stability of three diCQAs (3,5-diCQA, 4,5-diCQA and 3,4-diCQA) under the certain ultrasonic condition at different pH conditions was evaluated and found to decrease with the increase of pH, further weakened by ultrasonic treatment. Ultrasound was found to accelerate the degradation and isomerization of diCQAs. Different diCQAs showed different pattern of degradation and isomerization. The stability of diCQAs could be improved by adding epigallocatechin gallate and vitamin C.

In Vitro and In Silico Study on the Impact of Chlorogenic Acid in Colorectal Cancer Cells: Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Interaction with β-Catenin and LRP6

Colorectal cancer mortality rate and highly altered proteins from the Wnt/β-catenin pathway increase the scientific community's interest in finding alternatives for prevention and treatment. This study aims to determine the biological effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on two colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 and SW480, and its interactions with β-catenin and LRP6 to elucidate a possible modulatory mechanism on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These effects were determined by propidium iodide and DiOC6 for mitochondrial membrane permeability, MitoTracker Red for mitochondrial ROS production, DNA content for cell distribution on cell cycle phases, and molecular docking for protein-ligand interactions and binding affinity. Here, it was found that CGA at 2000 µM significantly affects cell viability and causes DNA fragmentation in SW480 cells rather than in HT-29 cells, but in both cell lines, it induces ROS production. Additionally, CGA has similar affinity and interactions for LRP6 as niclosamide but has a higher affinity for both β-catenin sites than C2 and iCRT14. These results suggest a possible modulatory role of CGA over the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer.

Ultra high-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) method development and validation for the identification of oxidized product of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG)

OBJECTIVE

In the present study we reported oxidation of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and validation of oxidized product by a validated ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method.

METHODS

Two hundred milligrams of EGCG was oxidized in 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and was identified by a validated UHPLC method with precision and robustness. Confirmation of parameters like C-H stretching and mass was carried out using infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy, respectively. Identification of oxidized EGCG (O-EGCG) was done by UHPLC.

RESULTS

The infrared spectroscopy chromatograms observed less intensity C-H stretching as compared to O-EGCG. The mass of EGCG and O-EGCG were 459.09 and 915.16, respectively. Structure elucidation revealed a loss of one proton in O-EGCG as compared to EGCG. Validation of the developed method was specific, with linear correlation coefficient 0.9981 and 0.9917, respectively for EGCG and O-EGCG, the accuracy rate of 95.2%-99.6% for EGCG, and 99.18%-101.5% for O-EGCG.

CONCLUSION

Together, the results of this study demonstrate the formation of a dimer also the UHPLC method developed for identification of both EGCG and O-EGCG is validated as per the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines.

The Role and Mechanisms of Action of Catechins in Neurodegenerative Diseases

The prevalence, incidence and mortality rates of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are gradually increasing. New approaches are being developed to manage the progression and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Catechins, polyphenolic compounds, are key compounds that demonstrate therapeutic effects with their properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic properties in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The therapeutic effects of catechins have been exhaustively studied in human and animal models. Catechins can have anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing inflammatory pathways and cytokines, as well as antioxidant effects such as chelating metal ions and scavenging radicals. They might reduce phosphorylation of tau proteins, aggregation of amyloid-beta and apoptotic proteins release. They can also decrease alpha-synuclein accumulation and increase dopamine levels. With all these effects, they can have an effect on neurodegenerative diseases. This review points to the potential mechanisms of catechins in neurodegenerative diseases, based on their findings in the literature review.Key teaching pointsCatechins can reduce amyloid-β plaque aggregation and tau phosphorylation.Catechins can decrease alfa-synuclein levels.Catechins can protect neuronal cells with their anti-apoptotic effect.More comprehensive studies are needed to clarify this issue.

Anticarcinogenic potentials of tea catechins

Catechins are a cluster of polyphenolic bioactive components in green tea. Anticarcinogenic effects of tea catechins have been reported since the 1980s, but it has been controversial. The present paper reviews the advances in studies on the anticarcinogenic activities of tea and catechins, including epidemiological evidence and anticarcinogenic mechanism. Tea catechins showed antagonistic effects on many cancers, such as gynecological cancers, digestive tract cancers, incident glioma, liver and gallbladder cancers, lung cancer, etc. The mechanism underlying the anticarcinogenic effects of catechins involves in inhibiting the proliferation and growth of cancer cells, scavenging free radicals, suppressing metastasis of cancer cells, improving immunity, interacting with other anticancer drugs, and regulating signaling pathways. The inconsistent results and their causes are also discussed in this paper.

Assessment of Antioxidant, Immunomodulatory Activity of Oxidised Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (Green Tea Polyphenol) and Its Action on the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2—An In Vitro and In Silico Approach

Owing to the instability of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), it may undergo auto-oxidation and form oxidised products or dimers. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects, including antioxidation and immunomodulatory action, of the Oxidised Epigallocatechin Gallate (O-EGCG) as compared to native EGCG and the action of these compounds on main protease (Mpro) docking against SARS-CoV-2. HCT-116 (Human Colon Cancer) cell lines were used to estimate the total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation levels and pro-inflammatory markers (human IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α). Further, molecular docking analysis was performed by AutoDock and visualised in Discovery studio. Improved antioxidant capacity of O-EGCG was observed, and there was a significant decrease in the inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) when O-EGCG was applied as compared to EGCG. The O-EGCG was shown to be strongly associated with the highest docking score and active site residues of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF- α, as well as the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2, according to in silico approach. The in vitro and in silico analyses indicate an improved therapeutic action of the oxidised form of EGCG. The effective inhibitory action of O-EGCG against SARS-CoV-2 suggests further exploration of the compound against COVID-19 and its efficacy. However, in vivo studies and understanding of the mechanism of action of O-EGCG may yield a better opinion on the use of O-EGCG and future human clinical trials.

Virtual screening by targeting proteolytic sites of furin and TMPRSS2 to propose potential compounds obstructing the entry of SARS-CoV-2 virus into human host cells

Background and aim

The year 2020 begins with the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that cause the disease COVID-19, and continue till today. As of March 23, 2021, the outbreak has infected 124,313,054 worldwide with a total death of 2,735,707. The use of traditional medicines as an adjuvant therapy with western drugs can lower the fatality rate due to the COVID-19. Therefore, in silico molecular docking study was performed to search potential phytochemicals and drugs that can block the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells by inhibiting the proteolytic cleavage activity of furin and TMPRSS2.

Experimental procedure

The protein-protein docking of the host proteases furin and TMPRSS2 was carried out with the virus spike (S) protein to examine the conformational details and residues involved in the complex formation. Subsequently, a library of 163 ligands containing phytochemicals and drugs was virtually screened to propose potential hits that can inhibit the proteolytic cleavage activity of furin and TMPRSS2.

Results and conclusion

The phytochemicals like limonin, gedunin, eribulin, pedunculagin, limonin glycoside and betunilic acid bind at the active site of both furin and TMPRSS2. Limonin and gedunin found mainly in the citrus fruits and neem showed the highest binding energy at the active site of furin and TMPRSS2, respectively. The polyphenols found in green tea can also be useful in suppressing the furin activity. Among the drugs, the drug nafamostat may be more beneficial than the camostat in suppressing the activity of TMPRSS2.

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Protein-protein docking of the host proteases furin and TMPRSS2 with virus spike protein was performed.

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A library of 163 phytochemicals and drugs was virtually screened to propose potential hits against SARS-CoV-2.

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Limonin, gedunin, eribulin, pedunculagin, limonin glycoside and betunilic acid bind at the active site.

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Drug nafamostat may be more beneficial than the camostat.

Potential Role of Natural Polyphenols against Protein Aggregation Toxicity: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Clinical Studies

One of the main features of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease is the amyloidogenic behavior of disease-specific proteins including amyloid β, tau, α-synuclein, and mutant Huntingtin which participate in the formation, accumulation, and deposition of toxic misfolded aggregates. Consequently, these proteins not only associated with the progress of their respective neurodegenerative pathologies but also qualify as disease-specific biomarkers. The aim of using natural polyphenols is to target amyloid-dependent proteopathies by decreasing free radical damage and inhibiting and dissolving amyloid fibrils. We explore the effectiveness of the polyphenols epigallocatechin-3-gallate, oleuropein aglycone, and quercetin on their ability to inhibit aggregation of amyloid β, tau, and α-synuclein and mitigate other pathological features for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The analysis was carried from in vitro and cell line studies to animal models and clinical trials. This Review describes the use of phytochemical compounds as prophylactic agents for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other proteopathies.

Comparison of In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Activities of Six Flavonoids with Similar Structures

The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of six flavonoids with similar structures, including epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), procyanidin B2 (P), quercetin (Q), taxifolin (T), and rutin (R) were compared. The structures of the six flavonoids and their scavenging activities for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) radicals were closely related. The flavonoids decreased serum contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), and increased serum total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels to different degrees in d-galactose-treated mice. The changes in mRNA expression of liver GSH-Px1, CAT, SOD1, and SOD2 by d-galactose were dissimilarly restored by the six flavonoids. Moreover, the six flavonoids differentially prevented the inflammatory response caused by oxidative stress by inhibiting interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, and restoring IL-10 levels. These six flavonoids from two subclasses revealed the following antioxidant capability: P > EC, EGC > EC, Q > T, Q > R. Our results indicate that (1) the pyrogallol, dimerization, and C2=C3 double bonds of flavonoids enhanced antioxidant activity and (2) the C3 glycosylation of flavonoids attenuated antioxidant capacity.

Comprehensive characterization of ethoxyquin transformation products in fish feed by traveling-wave ion mobility spectrometry coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Feed additives are typically used in intensive farming production over long periods, and hence, they can accumulate in farmed animal tissues. Concerns regarding the use of ethoxyquin as an antioxidant feed additive, have recently arisen due to its potential conversion into a series of transformation products (TPs). The aim of this work was to characterize the TPs of ethoxyquin in fish feed by a novel approach based on the use of traveling-wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) coupled to high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOFMS). First, ethoxyquin was oxidized under controlled conditions and the generated TPs were added to a comprehensive database. Atlantic salmon feeds were then screened for ethoxyquin TPs using both targeted and untargeted approaches. Twenty-seven TPs were tentatively identified during the oxidation experiments, fifteen of them also being present in the feed samples. In addition, ten other potential TPs were detected in fish feed following the untargeted approach. Thirty-one of these TPs have been reported for the first time in this work through the oxidation experiments and the feed samples. Therefore, this study provides valuable information on the oxidative fate of ethoxyquin in feed, which can be used for future evaluations of potential risk related to this additive.

Potential neuroprotective properties of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) enforce an overwhelming social and economic burden on society. They are primarily characterized through the accumulation of modified proteins, which further trigger biological responses such as inflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and modulation of signalling pathways. In a hope for cure, these diseases have been studied extensively over the last decade to successfully develop symptom-oriented therapies. However, so far no definite cure has been found. Therefore, there is a need to identify a class of drug capable of reversing neural damage and preventing further neural death. This review therefore assesses the reliability of the neuroprotective benefits of epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) by shedding light on their biological, pharmacological, antioxidant and metal chelation properties, with emphasis on their ability to invoke a range of cellular mechanisms in the brain. It also discusses the possible use of nanotechnology to enhance the neuroprotective benefits of EGCG.

Interaction of flavanols with amino acids: postoxidative reactivity of the B-ring of catechin with glycine

Flavanol-related structures such as epicatechin and catechins have been associated with potential antioxidant activity in food and are known to interfere with the Maillard reaction through scavenging of reactive dicarbonyl compounds. High-resolution ESI-TOF mass spectrometry and an isotope labeling technique were used to assess the reactivity of glycine with (+)-catechin heated under oxidative conditions at 120 °C for 70 min. Evidence based on accurate mass analysis of the products obtained and the isotope incorporation pattern of [(13)C-1]glycine, [(13)C-2]glycine, and [(15)N]glycine experiments indicated that (+)-catechin formed various adducts with glycine; two of them incorporated a single amino acid, and three adducts incorporated two amino acid moieties. Some of these adducts underwent dehydration reaction at ring C, and in some the C-ring remained intact. Detailed MS/MS analyses of the fragmentation patterns of these adducts have confirmed the addition of amino acid moieties to the oxidized B-ring of (+)-catechin through the formation of Schiff bases. Formation of such nonvolatile (+)-catechin/amino acid adducts provides insight into how amino acid can have the potential of modifying the antioxidant properties of (+)-catechin and how catechin in turn has the potential of modifying the profile of the Maillard reaction.

Conflict of evidence: carotenoids and other micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment

Cognitive impairment is a common age-related disorder which affects in the stadium and type Alzheimer's Disease (AD) a steadily growing number of patients. AD is not curable and is not being easily diagnosed in its preclinical phase. This work aims at highlighting the complex though promising rationale for the use of selected micronutrients against age-related cognitive impairment and its progression. The advances made in the last decades in both defining the etiopathogenesis of cognitive impairment and in revealing mechanisms of action underlying possible preventive effects of several vitamins and micronutrients--likely related to antioxidant activity and modulation of cellular signaling--is being accompanied by conflicting results of most clinical trials. Therefore, available data do not currently support the use of substances such as carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin D, curcumin, vitamin E, vitamin C, or lipoic acid in AD prevention and/or treatment. This might be partly due to the fact that cognitive impairment and especially AD are extremely complex disorders. The main obstacle to the inclusion of micronutrients among anticognitive impairment drug strategies, however, is that studies conducted so far are poorly comparable and probably underestimate of the role of vascular damage in age-related cognitive impairment. A possible clinical benefit of these substances in AD is not disproved to date, thus further better designed studies are needed.

Antioxidant clinical trials in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly disabling progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a steadily growing number of patients, by the absence of a cure for the disease and by great difficulties in diagnosing in the preclinical phase. Progresses in defining the complex etiopathogenesis of AD consider oxidative stress a core aspect as far as both AD onset and progression are concerned. However, clinical trials of antioxidants in AD have brought conflicting conclusions. In this review, we report the main results of clinical trials with antioxidants in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Although available data do not warrant the doubtless use of antioxidants in AD, they are characterized by extremely poor comparability and the absence of a substantial clinical benefit of antioxidants in AD is not disproved to date. Furthermore, the role of vascular damage that contributes to oxidative stress in AD should be addressed in testing antioxidant treatments. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Antioxidants and Antioxidant Treatment in Disease.

The role of antioxidant versus pro-oxidant effects of green tea polyphenols in cancer prevention

Consumption of green tea (Camellia sinensis) may provide protection against chronic diseases, including cancer. Green tea polyphenols are believed to be responsible for this cancer preventive effect, and the antioxidant activity of the green tea polyphenols has been implicated as a potential mechanism. This hypothesis has been difficult to study in vivo due to metabolism of these compounds and poor understanding of the redox environment in vivo. Green tea polyphenols can be direct antioxidants by scavenging reactive oxygen species or chelating transition metals as has been demonstrated in vitro. Alternatively, they may act indirectly by upregulating phase II antioxidant enzymes. Evidence of this latter effect has been observed in vivo, yet more work is required to determine under which conditions these mechanisms occur. Green tea polyphenols can also be potent pro-oxidants, both in vitro and in vivo, leading to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, the hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion. The potential role of these pro-oxidant effects in the cancer preventive activity of green tea is not well understood. The evidence for not only the antioxidant, but also pro-oxidant, properties of green tea is discussed in the present review.

Comparative studies on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of different tea extracts

Tea is one of the most popular drinks next to water. Tea polyphenol is one of the main bioactive constituents of tea with health functions. In order to find the most bioactive tea polyphynols, polyphenol extracts from green tea, black tea and chemical oxidation products of green tea extracts were comparatively studied on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties. Results showed physicochemical and antioxidant properties of polyphenol extracts changed greatly after the chemical oxidation. Hydrogen peroxide induced oxidation products (HOP) possessed the highest antioxidant ability among the four tea polyphenol extracts. Thirteen phenolic compounds and one alkaloid in HOP were identified by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS). Hydrogen peroxide induced oxidation of tea polyphenol extracts could improve the antioxidant activity and could be used to produce antioxidants for food industry.

Exploring the chemical sensitivity of a carbon nanotube/green tea composite

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) possess unique electronic and physical properties, which make them very attractive for a wide range of applications. In particular, SWNTs and their composites have shown a great potential for chemical and biological sensing. Green tea, or more specifically its main antioxidant component, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has been found to disperse SWNTs in water. However, the chemical sensitivity of this SWNT/green tea (SWNT/EGCG) composite remained unexplored. With EGCG present, this SWNT composite should have strong antioxidant properties and thus respond to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we report on fabrication and characterization of SWNT/EGCG thin films and the measurement of their relative conductance as a function of H(2)O(2) concentrations. We further investigated the sensing mechanism by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and field-effect transistor measurements (FET). We propose here that the response to H(2)O(2) arises from the oxidation of EGCG in the composite. These findings suggest that SWNT/green tea composite has a great potential for developing simple resistivity-based sensors.

Identifying new lignin bioengineering targets: 1. Monolignol-substitute impacts on lignin formation and cell wall fermentability

BACKGROUND

Recent discoveries highlighting the metabolic malleability of plant lignification indicate that lignin can be engineered to dramatically alter its composition and properties. Current plant biotechnology efforts are primarily aimed at manipulating the biosynthesis of normal monolignols, but in the future apoplastic targeting of phenolics from other metabolic pathways may provide new approaches for designing lignins that are less inhibitory toward the enzymatic hydrolysis of structural polysaccharides, both with and without biomass pretreatment. To identify promising new avenues for lignin bioengineering, we artificially lignified cell walls from maize cell suspensions with various combinations of normal monolignols (coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols) plus a variety of phenolic monolignol substitutes. Cell walls were then incubated in vitro with anaerobic rumen microflora to assess the potential impact of lignin modifications on the enzymatic degradability of fibrous crops used for ruminant livestock or biofuel production.

RESULTS

In the absence of anatomical constraints to digestion, lignification with normal monolignols hindered both the rate and extent of cell wall hydrolysis by rumen microflora. Inclusion of methyl caffeate, caffeoylquinic acid, or feruloylquinic acid with monolignols considerably depressed lignin formation and strikingly improved the degradability of cell walls. In contrast, dihydroconiferyl alcohol, guaiacyl glycerol, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate readily formed copolymer-lignins with normal monolignols; cell wall degradability was moderately enhanced by greater hydroxylation or 1,2,3-triol functionality. Mono- or diferuloyl esters with various aliphatic or polyol groups readily copolymerized with monolignols, but in some cases they accelerated inactivation of wall-bound peroxidase and reduced lignification; cell wall degradability was influenced by lignin content and the degree of ester group hydroxylation.

CONCLUSION

Overall, monolignol substitutes improved the inherent degradability of non-pretreated cell walls by restricting lignification or possibly by reducing lignin hydrophobicity or cross-linking to structural polysaccharides. Furthermore some monolignol substitutes, chiefly readily cleaved bi-phenolic conjugates like epigallocatechin gallate or diferuloyl polyol esters, are expected to greatly boost the enzymatic degradability of cell walls following chemical pretreatment. In ongoing work, we are characterizing the enzymatic saccharification of intact and chemically pretreated cell walls lignified by these and other monolignol substitutes to identify promising genetic engineering targets for improving plant fiber utilization.

Screening antioxidants using LC-MS: case study with cocoa

Oxidative stress enhances pathological processes contributing to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, and dietary antioxidants may counteract these deleterious processes. Because rapid methods to evaluate and compare food products for antioxidant benefits are needed, a new assay based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was developed for the identification and quantitative analysis of antioxidants in complex natural product samples such as food extracts. This assay is based on the comparison of electrospray LC-MS profiles of sample extracts before and after treatment with reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide or 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Using this assay, methanolic extracts of cocoa powder were analyzed, and procyanidins were found to be the most potent antioxidant species. These species were identified using LC-MS, LC-MS/MS, accurate mass measurement, and comparison with reference standards. Furthermore, LC-MS was used to determine the levels of these species in cocoa samples. Catechin and epicatechin were the most abundant antioxidants followed by their dimers and trimers. The most potent antioxidants in cocoa were trimers and dimers of catechin and epicatechin, such as procyanidin B2, followed by catechin and epicatechin. This new LC-MS assay facilitates the rapid identification and then the determination of the relative antioxidant activities of individual antioxidant species in complex natural product samples and food products such as cocoa.

EGCG redirects amyloidogenic polypeptides into unstructured, off-pathway oligomers

The accumulation of beta-sheet-rich amyloid fibrils or aggregates is a complex, multistep process that is associated with cellular toxicity in a number of human protein misfolding disorders, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. It involves the formation of various transient and intransient, on- and off-pathway aggregate species, whose structure, size and cellular toxicity are largely unclear. Here we demonstrate redirection of amyloid fibril formation through the action of a small molecule, resulting in off-pathway, highly stable oligomers. The polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate efficiently inhibits the fibrillogenesis of both alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta by directly binding to the natively unfolded polypeptides and preventing their conversion into toxic, on-pathway aggregation intermediates. Instead of beta-sheet-rich amyloid, the formation of unstructured, nontoxic alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta oligomers of a new type is promoted, suggesting a generic effect on aggregation pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.

Green tea, anti-diabetic or diabetogenic: a dose response study

Present study was conducted to clarify whether lower or higher dietary dose of green tea is beneficial for the reduction of risk of type 2 diabetes. Five weeks old male SD rats were fed high fat diet for 2 weeks then divided into 4 groups of 8 animals as Normal Control (NC), Diabetic Control (DBC), Green Tea Low (GTL, 0.5%, Green Tea High (GTH, 2.0%) groups. Diabetes was induced by intra-peritoneal (i.p) injection of STZ (40 mg/kg BW) in all animals except NC group. After 4 weeks feeding of experimental diets, serum fasting blood glucose was not decreased but relatively increased in both green tea fed groups compared to DBC group. Serum insulin concentration was significantly (p< 0.05) increased in GTL group but not in GTH group when compared with DBC group. Serum lipids were significantly decreased in GTH group but not in GTL group compared to DBC group. Intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test, blood HbA1c, liver weight, and liver glycogen level were not influenced by the feeding of green tea containing diets. Data of this study suggest that lower dose of green tea is insulinotropic when higher dose is hyperglycemic but hypolipidemic at least in this experimental condition.

Effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate on pancreatic beta-cell damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Oxygen free radicals, which are produced as a result of chronic hyperglycemia, are implicated in many diabetic complications. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, has been shown to have both antioxidant and pro-oxidant activities, but its effect on oxidative stress of pancreatic beta cells in vivo is unclear. Here we evaluated the effects of nanomolar concentrations of EGCG on beta-cell survival and the response to high glucose loading in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A 4-day intraperitoneal treatment with EGCG (5 mg/kg/day) further impaired the beta-cell response to high glucose in the diabetic rats. EGCG exacerbated the loss of islet cell mass and insulin-immunoreactivity in beta cells. These results suggest that, even at nanomolar plasma concentrations, EGCG acts as a pro-oxidant rather than an antioxidant, at least in beta cells in vivo.

Mechanisms of action of green tea catechins, with a focus on ischemia-induced neurodegeneration

Catechins are dietary polyphenolic compounds associated with a wide variety of beneficial health effects in vitro, in vivo and clinically. These therapeutic properties have long been attributed to the catechins' antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects. Emerging evidence has shown that catechins and their metabolites have many additional mechanisms of action by affecting numerous sites, potentiating endogenous antioxidants and eliciting dual actions during oxidative stress, ischemia and inflammation. Catechins have proven to modulate apoptosis at various points in the sequence, including altering expression of anti- and proapoptotic genes. Their anti-inflammatory effects are activated through a variety of different mechanisms, including modulation of nitric oxide synthase isoforms. Catechins' actions of attenuating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response may, in part, account for their confirmed neuroprotective capabilities following cerebral ischemia. The versatility of the mechanisms of action of catechins increases their therapeutic potential as interventions for numerous clinical disorders. However, more epidemiological and clinical studies need to be undertaken for their efficacy to be fully elucidated.

Green tea extract and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, the major tea catechin, exert oxidant but lack antioxidant activities

Green tea is the most widely consumed beverage. It has attained high reputation as a health-promoting dietary component ascribed to the antioxidant activity of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), its main polyphenolic constituent. Evidence is increasing that tea constituents can be cell damaging and pro-oxidant themselves. These effects were suggested to be due to spontaneous H2O2 generation by polyphenols in solution. In the present study, we investigated the oxidant and antioxidant properties of green tea extracts (GTE) and of EGCG by means of the rodent macrophage-like RAW 264.7 and human promyelocytic leukemic HL60 cell lines. The results obtained show that both under cell-free conditions and in the presence of cells the oxidant activities of GTE and EGCG exceeded those of spontaneously generated H2O2 (FOX assay). Increase of intracellular oxidative stress was indicated by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin probing, and the enhanced genotoxicity was demonstrated by the alkaline comet assay and by the micronucleus assay (cytokinesis block). Time- and dose-dependent induction of cell death was monitored by trypan blue exclusion, MTT assay, and Hoechst staining. Furthermore, in our systems in vitro, EGCG neither directly scavenges H2O2 nor mediates other antioxidant activities but rather increased H2O2-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. In conclusion, our data suggest that detailed mechanistic studies on the effects of GTE and EGCG should be performed in vivo before excessive intake and/or topical application of green tea products can be recommended to healthy and/or diseased persons.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate induces mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase-dependent apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells

Polyphenols such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from green tea extract can exert a growth-suppressive effect on human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. In pursuit of our investigations to dissect the molecular mechanism of EGCG action on pancreatic cancer, we observed that the antiproliferative action of EGCG on pancreatic carcinoma is mediated through programmed cell death or apoptosis as evident from nuclear condensation, caspase-3 activation and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. EGCG-induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells is accompanied by growth arrest at an earlier phase of the cell cycle. In addition, EGCG invokes Bax oligomerization and depolarization of mitochondrial membranes to facilitate cytochrome c release into cytosol. EGCG-induced downregulation of IAP family member X chromosome linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) might be helpful to facilitate cytochrome c mediated downstream caspase activation. On the other end, EGCG elicited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in pancreatic carcinoma cells. Interestingly, inhibitor of JNK signaling pathway as well as antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) blocked EGCG-induced apoptosis. To summarize, our studies suggest that EGCG induces stress signals by damaging mitochondria and ROS-mediated JNK activation in MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Kinetic Comparisons of Anthocyanin Reactivities towards 2,2′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH) Radicals, Hydrogen Peroxide and tert-Buthylhydroperoxide by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Twelve major anthocyanins identified in bilberry extracts were studied in vitro using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for their reactions towards 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH) radicals, hydrogen peroxides (H(2)O(2)) and tert-buthylhydroperoxides (t-BuOOH). Reactivity towards AAPH radicals was primarily determined by the aglycon structure, not by the type of sugar moiety. Delphinidins carrying three-hydroxyl groups on the B ring were most reactive followed by cyanidins, with two-hydroxyl groups. Further, methylation of the hydroxyl groups reduced reactivity towards AAPH radicals. However, reactivity of anthocyanins towards H(2)O(2) was not significantly affected by aglycon structure or by the type of sugar moiety; there being no marked difference in reaction rates among the anthocyanins. Reactivity towards t-BuOOH was essentially the same as towards H(2)O(2), although the reaction rate was several times smaller. Also, the reaction rate of anthocyanin towards peroxide was relatively high compared to that of (+)-catechin (approximately 30 times larger) measured as a reference antioxidant, whereas the reactivities of anthocyanins and (+)-catechin towards AAPH radicals were similar.

Roles of catalase and hydrogen peroxide in green tea polyphenol-induced chemopreventive effects

The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) possesses promising anticancer potential. Although in vivo studies unveiled the metabolic routes and pharmacokinetics of EGCG and showed no adverse effects, in vitro studies at high concentrations demonstrated oxidative stress. EGCG causes differential oxidative environments in tumor versus normal epithelial cells, but the roles that EGCG, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and intracellular catalase play in the epithelial system are largely unknown. The current study employed enzyme activity assays, reactive oxygen species quantification, and immunoblotting to investigate whether EGCG-induced differential effects correlate with levels of key antioxidant enzymes and H2O2. It was found that normal human keratinocytes with high catalase activity are least susceptible to H2O2, whereas H2O2 caused significant cytotoxicity in oral carcinoma cell lines. However, the EGCG-induced differential effects could not be duplicated by H2O2 alone. The addition of exogenous catalase failed to completely prevent the EGCG-induced cytotoxicity and rescue the EGCG-induced growth arrest in the tumor cells. The antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine rescued the tumor cells from H2O2-induced damage only, but not from EGCG-induced mitochondrial damage. Finally, alterations in catalase or superoxide dismutase activities were not observed upon EGCG exposure. In conclusion, although endogenous catalase may play a role in response to H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, the EGCG-induced cytotoxic effects on tumor cells mainly result from sources other than H2O2.

Chemical studies on antioxidant mechanism of tea catechins: analysis of radical reaction products of catechin and epicatechin with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

Tea catechins, an important class of polyphenols, have been shown to have wide spectrum of antitumor activity believed to be due mainly to their antioxidative effect. In this study, the radical scavenging behavior of catechins on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was studied. Two reaction products of (+)-catechin, and two reaction products of (-)-epicatechin were purified and identified. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed high-field 1-D and 2-D NMR spectral analysis. Structure elucidation of these products can provide insights into specific mechanisms of antioxidant reactions. A possible mechanism of the formation of reaction products is suggested.