(-)-Epicatechin gallate

General description

(−)-Epicatechin gallate is one of the major polyphenols present in green tea. It belongs to the catechin gallates group of organic compounds. ECG has a chemical structure like that of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the other major polyphenol found in green tea.

Application

(−)-Epicatechin gallate has been used:

• in cell proliferation assays on the human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs) to understand its effectiveness against anti-ischemic/reperfusion injury
• as an inhibitor in Human Salivary α-Amylase (HAS) and α-Glucosidase (AGH) in inhibition assays
• may be used as a cancer chemopreventive polyphenol in two human colorectal cell lines HCT-116 and SW-480
• as an inhibitor to in vitro collagenase and elastase enzymes
• as a supplement in spermatozoa incubation to check its effectiveness against oxidative stress

Biochem/physiol Actions

(−)-Epicatechin gallate (ECG), a potent free-radical scavenger has an inhibitory effect on collagenase and elastase enzymes making it an anti-aging agent. It displays antiproliferative effects on human colorectal cells and hence is a chemo-preventative agent. It influences cell survival, preventing apoptosis or autophagy by promoting cell proliferation in oxygen-glucose deprived human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Being structurally and functionally similar to EGCG, ECG might be involved in balancing the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways in endoplasmic reticulum stress. It prevents cell death in this scenario by showing resistance against oxygen-deprived cells. ECG may contribute in preventing oxidative stress. It effectively inhibits secretory sphingomyelinase in many disease states and provides protection for human spermatozoa in Assisted reproductive technology (ART).