• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.961-969
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• 2015

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main catechin in green tea, has been shown to have some beneficial effects against various human diseases, including diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. To investigate the mechanism of the suppressive effects of EGCG on inflammatory response in macrophages, alterations on the levels of nitric oxide (NO) regulatory factors and inflammatory cytokines were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. No significant toxicity was detected in RAW264.7 cells treated with 100–400 μM EGCG. Moreover, the optimal concentration of LPS was determined to be 1 μg/ml based on the results of cell viability assay, NO assay and IL-6 enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, NO levels decreased significantly by 68.2% in the 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group, while the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression decreased by 12-17% in the 200 and 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group. A significant decrease in transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was also detected in the EGCG/LPS treated group. However, IL-6 transcript and protein was maintained at a constant level when in the LPS treated group relative to the EGCG/LPS treated group. Overall, these results suggest that the differential regulation of inflammatory cytokines is an important factor influencing the suppressive effects of EGCG against LPS-activated inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2007

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCC), a flavonoid, is the main component of green tea extracts. EGCG has been reported to be an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrom P450 3A(CYP3A4). This study investigated the effect of long-term administration of EGCG on the pharmacokinetics of verapamil in rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters of verapamil were determined after oral administration of verapamil (9 mg/kg) in rats pretreated with EGCG (7.5 mg/hg) for 3 and 9 days. Compared to oral control group, the presence of EGCG significantly (p<0.01) increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of verapamil by 102% (coad), 83.2% (3 days) and 52.3% (9 days), and the peak concentration $(C_{max})$ by 134% (coad), 120% (3 days) and 66.1% (9 days). The absolute bioavailability (A.B.%) of verapamil was significantly (p<0.01) higher by 8.4% (coad), 7.7% (3 days), 6.4% (9 days) compared to control (4.2%), and presence of EGCG was no significant change in the terminal half-life $(t_{1/2})$ and the time to reach the peak concentration $(T_{max})$ of verapamil. Our results indicate that EGCG significantly enhanced oral bioavailability of verapamil in rats, implying that presence of EGCG could be effective to inhibit the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism and P-gp efflux of verapamil in the intestine. Drug interactions should be considered in the clinical setting when verapamil is coadministrated with EGCG or EGCG-containing dietary.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2007

We have previously reported that green tea catechins(GTC) displayed potent antithrombotic effect, which was due to the antiplatelet activity. In the present study, the antiplatelet activity of each green tea catechin components was compared in vitro. Galloylated catechins including (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-catechin gallate (CG), significantly inhibited collagen $(5{\mu}g/mL)-induced$ rabbit platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ values of 79.8, 63.0, 168.2 and $67.3{\mu}M$, respectively. EGCC GCG and CG also significantly inhibited arachidonic acid (AA, $100{\mu}M$)-induced rabbit platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ values of 98.9, 200.0 and $174.3{\mu}M$, respectively. However catechins without gallate moiety showed little inhibitory effects against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen or AA compared with galloylated catechins. These observations suggest that the presence of gallate moiety at C-3 position may be essential to the antiplatelet activity of catechins and the presence of B ring galloyl structure may also contribute to the antiplatelet activity of GTC. In line with the inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, EGCG caused concentration-dependent decreases of cytosolic calcium mobilization, AA liberation and serotonin secretion. In contrast, epigallocatechin (EGC), a structural analogue of EGCG lacking a galloyl group in the 3' position, although slightly inhibited collagen-stimulated cytosolic calcium mobilization, failed to affect other signal transductions as EGCG in activated platelets. Taken together, these observations suggest that the antiplatelet activity of EGCG may be due to inhibition of arachidonic acid liberation and inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and that the antiplatelet of EGCG is enhanced by the presence of a gallate moiety esterified at carbon 3 on the C ring.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.61-71
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate chemotaxonomical correlation an d the chemical constituents of domestic Quercus sp. leaves. The leaves of Q. mongolica, Q. aliena, Q. serrata, Q. acutissima, Q. dentata and Q. variabilis were collected in the experimental forest of Kangwon National University. The combined extracts were successively fractionated with n -hexane, methylene chloride and ethyl acetate using a separation funnel. A portion of the ethyl acetate and $H_2O$ soluble materials of each species were chromatographed on a Sephadex LH-20 column using various aqueous MeOH and EtOH-hexane as washing solvents. Spectrometric analysis such as NMR and MS, including TLC, were performed to characterize the structures of the isolated compounds. Gallic acid, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-gallocatechin, kaempferol, astragalin, astragalin-6"-O-gallate, isoquercitrin, isoquercitrin-6"-O-gallate and myricetin were isolated from Q. mongolic a leaves. Gallic acid, kaempferol and quercetin were characterized from Q. acutissima leaves. Gallic acid, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, kaempferol, quercetin, guajaverin and tamarixin were identified from Q. dentata leaves. Gallic acid, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, kaempferol, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and myricetin were purified from Q. serrata leaves. Gallic acid, (+)-catechin, astragalin, astragalin-6"-O-gallate and isoquercitrin were isolated from Q. variabilis leaves. Gallic acid was isolated from all the leaves and could be a taxonomic index on Quercus spp..

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.21 no.3 s.87
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• pp.346-353
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• 2005

CThis study used HPLC to analyze the contents of 7 kinds of catechins, 4 kinds of theaflavins, and 2 kinds of methylxanthines in the following 6 kinds of commercial Korean tea: 2 green, 2 black, 1 jasmine and loolong. The following ranges in the 13 tea components of the 6 samples by ethanol extract were evaluated in mg/g: (-)-epigallocatechin, 0(black tea and jasmine tea) to 14.19(green tea); (-)-catechin 0; (+)-epicatechin, 0.62(bran rice-green tea) to 2.91(black tea); (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, 4.59(black tea) to 43.96(jasmine tea); (-)-gallocatechin gallate, 0.58(black tea) to 5.80(jasmine tea); (-)-epicatechin gallate, 5.63(bran rice-ueen tea) to 48.06(jasmine tea): (-)-catechin gallate, 0.26(black tea): theaflavif 0 to 3.66(black tea): theaflavin-3-gallate, 0 to 6.94(black tea): theaflavin-3'-gallate, 0 to 4.01(black tea); theaflavin-3,3-digallte, 0 to 10.25(black tea); caffeine, 4.60(bran rice-peen tea) to 26.44(black tea); and theobromine, 0.10(bran rice-green tea) to 1.81(jasmine tea). The contents of all components were lower by water extract than by ethanol extract. Therefore, total catechin (100.55, 45.88 mg/g) and theobromine (1.81, 0.86 mg/g) contents in jasmine tea, and theaflavin content (24.88, 1.36 mg/g) in black tea by ethanol and water extract were the highest. Caffeine content was the highest in black tea(96.48 mg/g) for the ethanol extract, and in jasmine tea (12.38 mg/g) for the water extract.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2008

Until now, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG) is known as the most powerful antioxidant among green tea catechins having many beneficial effects on human skin. Considering that the content of catechins is variable according to many conditions such as solvent, temperature and pressure, we prepared the heat-epimerized-EGCG-mixture (HE-EGCG-mix) containing high content of gallocatechin-3-gallate(GCG) by epimerization during autoclaving process and found out its optimal condition for maximizing conversion from EGCG to GCG. To investigate the effects of EGCG and HE-EGCG-mix on skin barrier function, we performed in vivo experiments with hairless mice. We found that HE-EGCG-mix has more potent stimulating activity than EGCG for the production of involucrin 7(INV7) and for recovery of barrier function in SKH-1 mice. Also, we found that GCG stimulates $PPAR-{\alpha}$ transactivation more effectively than EGCG in vitro by transient transfection assay for $PPAR-{\alpha}$ activation activity. These imply that HE-EGCG-mix consisting of high content of GCG should stimulate more efficiently recovery of skin barrier through PPAR-mediated-kerationocyte differentiation than EGCG. In conclusion, our study may provide a possibility that GCG, the C-2 epimer of EGCG, could be a potentially effective agent for development of new cosmetics or health foods for recovery of skin barrier.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

This study was conducted to compare the nutrient and chemical contents of traditional Chungtaejeon tea with that of green tea which was harvested in Jangheung, Jeonnam district. Vitamin C, amino acids and total nitrogen contents of Chungtaejeon tea were lower than that of green tea by 0.30, 2.30 and 4.20g/100g, respectively. The tannin, caffeine, reducing sugar and chlorophyll contents in Chungtaejeon tea were the same as those in green tea. Comparing catechin contents, catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin (EGC) in Chungtaejeon tea were lower than those of green tea. However, gallocatechin (GC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and catechin gallate (CG) showed no significant difference between Chungtaejeon tea and green tea. The flavonoid contents of Chungtaejeon tea and green tea showed higher quercetin and kaempferol contents in green tea, and higher myricetin content in Chungtaejeon tea. The measured amino acid contents for threonine and aspartic acid were lower, and for glutamic acid were higher in Chungtaejeon tea compared with those in green tea. However, free amino acid content in Chungtaejeon tea and green tea showed no significant difference. Potassium and magnesium contents in Chungtaejeon tea were lower compared to green tea but no significant difference was found for iron, manganese or calcium contents when comparing the two teas.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.2 s.57
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• pp.117-121
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• 2006

Although many studies have been performed to elucidate the molecular consequence of factors that regulate skin aging, little is known about the effect of green tea catechins except EGCG. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), can degrade matrix proteins and results in a collagen deficiency in photodamaged skin, are known to play an important role in photoaging. This study, investigated the effects of green tea catechins on the UVA-induced MMP-1 expression, activity of MMP-2 and synthesis of type I procollagen in human dermal fibroblasts. We examined eight catechins that naturally exist in green tea leaves and compared their efficacies among them. Most of catechins inhibited the expression of MMP-1 in dose dependent manner, and the levels were reduced, especially, 57.4 and 68.2% by treatment with $1{\mu}M$ of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG), respectively. Also, catechins significantly suppressed the activities of MMP-2. Catechins also induced the expression of type I procollagen, however, they acted only at the concentration below $1{\mu}M$ interestingly. Furthermore, when EGCG:GCG:ECG had the ratio of 0.5:1.5:.1.3, they presented the most effective on procollagen synthesis. Therefore, we concluded that catechins significantly inhibited MMPs and induced collagen synthesis. Taken together, all these results suggested that green tea catechins might be good natural materials act as an anti-photoaging and a skin-aging improving agent.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2011

Purpose: Avulsed tooth can be completely recovered, if sound periodontal ligament (PDL) of tooth is maintained. Although a lot of storage solutions have been explored for the better storage of avulsed tooth, there is a shortcoming that the preservation time is much short. On the other hand, there has been studies that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, which is related to the anti inflammatory, antioxygenic, and antibacterial effects, allows the successful preservations of tissues and cells. This study evaluated the effect of EGCG on avulsed-teeth preservation of Beagle dogs for a period of time. Methods: The atraumatically extracted teeth of Beagle dogs were washed and preserved with 0/10/$100\;{\mu}M$ of EGCG at the time of immediate, period 1 (4 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 1 day in EGCG-free media), period 2 (8 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 2 days in EGCG-free media) and period 3 (12 days in EGCG-contained media and additional 2 days in EGCG-free media). Then, the cell viabilities of preserved teeth was calculated by dividing optical density (OD) of 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with OD of eosin assay to eliminate the measurement errors caused by the different tissue volumes. Results: From the results, the immediately analyzed group presented the highest cell viability, and the rate of living cells on teeth surface decreased dependent on the preservation period. However, the $100\;{\mu}M$ of EGCG-treated group showed statistically significant positive cell activity than EGCG-free groups throughout preservation periods. Conclusions: Our findings showed that $100\;{\mu}M$ EGCG could maintain PDL cell viability of extracted tooth. These results suggest that although EGCG could not be a perfect additive for tooth preservation, it is able to postpone the period of tooth storage. However, further in-depth studies are required for more plausible use of EGCG.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2011

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), or epigallocatechin 3-gallate, is the ester of epigallocatechin and gallic acid, and is a type of catechin. EGCG may be therapeutic for many disorders including diabetics and some types of cancer. However it is unknown whether EGCG can induce transdifferentiation of pancreatic cells in pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on the expression of pancreatic regenerating related markers in pancreatic AR42J cells, a model of pancreatic progenitor cells. AR42J cells, differentiated with betacellulin and activin A, were cultured with/without EGCG in a time-dependent manner. Cell growth rate, levels of mRNA, and protein expression were examined with the MTT assay, quantitative PCR, and Western blots, respectively. The results showed that AR42J cell growth rates were inhibited by EGCG in a dose-dependent manner. mRNA and protein expression of amylase, insulin and neurogenin 3 (ngn 3) increased in AR42J cells treated with EGCG. Additionally, we demonstrated that the signal transduction pathway of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is active in EGCG-treated AR42J cells. ERK and JNK phosphorylation decreased in cells treated with EGCG but not p38 phosphorylation. Activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway was confirmed by specific MAP kinase pathways inhibitors: U0126 for ERK, SP600126 for JNK, and SB203580 for p38. Activated p38 phosphorylation was inhibited by the specific p38 inhibitor SB203580 but p38 phosphorylation was inhibited with increased EGCG treatment. The ERK and JNK MAP kinase pathways were not affected by EGCG treatment. Although further studies are needed, these results suggest that EGCG affects the induction of pancreatic cell regeneration by increasing the ngn 3 protein and mRNA expression and activating the p38 MAP kinase pathway.