• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.214-223
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• 2003

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of green tea extract (GTE) on arterial blood pressure and contractile responses of isolated aortic strips of the normotensive rats and to establish the mechanism of action. The phenylephrine ($10^{-6}~10^{-5}M$)-induced contractile responses were greatly inhibited in the presence of GTE (0.3~1.2 mg/mL) in a dose-dependent fashion. Also, high potassium ($3.5{\times}10^{-2}~5.6{\times}10^{-2}{\;}M$)-induced contractile responses were depressed in the presence of 0.6~1.2 mg/mL of GTE, but not affected in low concentration of GTE (0.3 mg/mL). However, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, $4~12{\;}{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect the contractile responses evoked by phenylephrine and high $K^+$. GTE (5~20 mg/kg) given into a femoral vein of the normotensive rat produced a dose-dependent depressor response, which is transient. Interestingly, the infusion of a moderate dose of GTE (10 mg/kg/30 min) made a significant reduction in pressor responses induced by intravenous norepinephrine. However, EGCG (1 mg/kg/30 min) did not affect them. Collectively, these results obtained from the present study demonstrate that intravenous GTE causes a dose-dependent depressor action in the anesthetized rat at least partly through the blockade of adrenergic $\alpha_1$-receptors. GTE also causes the relaxation in the isolated aortic strips of the rat via the blockade of adrenergic $\alpha_1$-receptors, in addition to the unknown direct mechanism. It seems that there is a big difference in the vascular effect between GTE and EGCG.

• 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 Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1201-1211
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• 2018

The study compared the anti-aging, anti-adipogenesis, and anti-tumor effects of epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG) in various cancer cell lines (SNU-601, MKN74, AGS, MCF-7, U87-MG, and A-549) and normal cell lines (MRC-5 fibroblasts, dental tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells [DSC], and 3T3-L1 pro-adipocytes). Half inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values were significantly (p<0.05) higher in normal cell lines (~50 uM), when compared to that in cancer cell lines (~10 uM). For anti-aging effects, MRC-5 and DSC were exposed to 10 uM EGCG for up to five passages that did not display any growth arrest. Population doubling time and senescence-related ${\beta}-galactosidase$ ($SA-{\beta}-gal$) activity in treated cells were similar to untreated cells. For anti-adipogenic effects, mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were induced to adipocytes in an adipogenic differentiation medium containing 10 uM EGCG, but adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells was not inhibited by EGCG treatment. For anti-tumor effects, the cancer cell lines were treated with 10 uM EGCG. PDT was significantly (p<0.05) increased in EGCG-treated SNU-601, AGS, MCF-7, and U87-MG cancer cell lines, except in MKN74 and A-549. The level of telomerase activity and cell migration capacity were significantly (p<0.05) reduced, while $SA-{\beta}-gal$ activity was highly up-regulated in EGCG treated-cancer cell lines, when compared to that in untreated cancer cell lines. Our results have demonstrated that EGCG treatment induces anti-tumor effects more efficiently as noted by decreased cell proliferation, cell migration, telomerase activity, and increased $SA-{\beta}-gal$ activity than inducing anti-aging and anti-adipogenesis. Therefore, EGCG at a specific concentration can be considered for a potential anti-tumor drug.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2006

Neuronal apoptotic events, consequently resulting in neuronal cell death, are occurred in hypoxic/ischemic condition. This cell death has been shown to be accompanied with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can attack cellular components such as nucleic acids, proteins and phospholipid. However, the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis induced in hypoxic/ischemic condition and its treatment methods are unsettled. Cobalt chloride $(CoCl_2)$ has been known to mimic hypoxic condition including the production of ROS. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, has diverse pharmacologial activities in cell growth and death. This study was aimed to investigate the apoptotic mechanism by $CoCL_2$ and effects of EGCG on $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in PC12 cells. Administration of $CoCl_2$ decreased cell survival in dose- and time-dependent manners and induced genomic DNA fragmentation. Treatment with $100{\mu}M$ EGCG for 30 min before PC12 cells were exposed to $150{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$, being resulted in the cell viability and DNA fragmentation being rescued. $CoCl_2$ caused morphologic changes such as cell swelling and condensed nuclei whereas EGCG attenuated morphologic changes by $CoCl_2$. EGCG suppressed the apoptotic peak and a loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ induced by $CoCl_2$. $CoCl_2$ decreased Bcl-2 expression but Bax expression was not changed in $CoCl_2$- treated cells. EGCG attenuated the Bcl-2 underexpression by $CoCl_2$. $CoCl_2$ augumented the cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytoplasm and increased caspase-8, -9 and caspase-3 activity a marker of the apoptotic executing stage. EGCG ameliorated the incruement in caspase-8, -9 and -3 activity, and cytochrome c release by $CoCl_2$ NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), a scavenger of ROS, attenuated $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in consistent with those of EGCG. These results suggest that $CoCl_2$ induces apoptotic cell death through both mitochondria- and death receptor-dependent pathway and EGCG has neuroprotective effects against $CoCl_2-induced$ apoptosis in PC12 cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2016

Green tea, the leaves of Camellia sinsneis (Theaceae), is generally acknowledged as the most consumed beverage with multiple pharmacological functions including antioxidant activity. This study was performed to analyze the effect of extraction conditions of green tea on its antioxidant effects using DPPH assay. Three extraction factors such as extraction solvent (EtOH, 0 - 100%), extraction time (3 - 15 min) and extraction temperature ($10-70^{\circ}C$) were analyzed and optimized extraction condition for antioxidant activity of green tea extract (GTE) was determined using response surface methodology with three-level-three-factor Box-Behnken design (BBD). Regression analysis showed a good fit of data and the optimal conditions of extraction were found to be 57.7% EtOH, 15 min and $70^{\circ}C$. Under this condition, antioxidant activity of experimental data was 88.4% which was almost fit to the ideal value of 88.6%. As epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is known for the major ingredient for antioxidant activity of green tea, we investigated the effect of EGCG on antioxidant activity of GTE. EGCG showed antioxidant activity with the $IC_{50}$ value of $4.2{\mu}g/ml$ and a positive correlation was observed between EGCG content and the antioxidant activity of GTE with $R^2=0.7134$. Interestingly, however, GTE with 50 - 70% antioxidant activity contain less than $1.0{\mu}g/ml$ of EGCG, which is much lower than $IC_{50}$ value of EGCG. Therefore, we suppose that EGCG together with other constituents contribute to antioxidant activity of GTE. Taken together, these results suggest that green tea is more beneficial than EGCG alone for antioxidant ability and optimal extraction condition of green tea will be useful for the development of food and pharmaceutical applications

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.525-531
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify the apoptosis caused by Proparacaine hydrochloride (PPC), a topical anesthesia, applied to conjunctival cell lines and determine whether pigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), has protective effects on. Methods: The conjunctival cell lines were treated with 0.5% of Alcaine$^{(R)}$, 0.5% of PPC and 0.01% of Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) for 15 minutes, respectively in order to investigate the effects of topical anesthesia on cells, and followed by cultured for 12 and 24 hours. The recovery effects were investigated by measuring level of cellular proliferation inhibiting using MTT assay and LDH assay. The conjunctival cell lines were pre-treated with EGCG $10{\mu}M$ for 3 hrs and post-treated with 0.5% PPC for 15 mins in order to investigate whether EGCG has protective effects, flow cytometry were performed in order to observe apoptosis. Results: A result of the additional culture of 12 and 24 hours and again immediately after the treatment for 15 minutes 0.5% of Alcaine$^{(R)}$, 0.5% of PPC, the 0.01% of BAC, cell viability was not increased in all groups (p<0.05). The cell viabilities were higher than in cells 3 hours post-treated with $10{\mu}M$ of EGCG and pre-treated PPC 0.5% (68.2%), compared to cells ($32.2{\pm}2.0%$) treated only with 0.5% of PPC. PPC 0.5% also induced apoptosis in the treated group was reduced by the addition of EGCG. Conclusions: It is considered that the EGCG has cell protective effects when it is added to PPC, a topical anesthesia, by improving cell viability and inhibiting apoptosis.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.111-116
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• 2013

Finite element analysis(FEA) has been extensively applied in the analyses of biomechanical properties of stents. Geometrically, a closed-cell stent is an assembly of a number of repeated unit cells and exhibits periodicity in both longitudinal and circumferential directions. This study concentrates on various parameters of the FEA models for the analysis of drug-eluting biodegradable polymeric stents for application to the treatment of coronary artery disease. In order to determine the mechanical characteristics of biodegradable polymeric stents, FEA was used to model two different types of stents: tubular stents(TS) and helicoidal stents(HS). For this modeling, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG)-eluting poly[(L-lactide-co-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone), PLCL] (E-PLCL) was chosen as drug-eluting stent materials. E-PLCL was prepared by blending PLCL with 5% EGCG as previously described. In addition, the effects of EGCG blending on the mechanical properties of PLCL were investigated for both types of stent models. EGCG did not affect tensile strength at break, but significantly increased elastic modulus of PLCL. It is suggested that FEA is a cost-effective method to improve the design of drug-eluting biodegradable polymeric stents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.3
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• pp.114-119
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• 2014

Background: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major biologically active component of green tea, has anti-cancer activity in human and animal models. We investigated the schedule-dependent effect of EGCG and paclitaxel on growth of NCI-H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells. Methods: To investigate the combined effect of EGCG (E) and paclitaxel (P), combination indices (CIs) were calculated, and cell cycle analysis was performed. For the effect on cell apoptosis, western blot analysis was also performed. Results: CI analysis demonstrated that both concurrent and sequential E ${\rightarrow}$ P treatments had antagonistic effects (CIs >1.0), but sequential P ${\rightarrow}$ E had synergistic effects (CIs <1.0), on the growth inhibition of NCI-H460 cells. In the cell cycle analysis, although paclitaxel induced $G_2/M$ cell cycle arrest and increased the sub-G1 fraction, concurrent EGCG and paclitaxel treatments did not have any additive or synergistic effects compared with the paclitaxel treatment alone. However, western blot analysis demonstrated that sequential P ${\rightarrow}$ E treatment decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and procaspase-3 and increased poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage; while minimal effects were seen with concurrent or sequential E ${\rightarrow}$ P treatments. Conclusion: Concurrent or sequential E ${\rightarrow}$ P treatment had opposite effects to P ${\rightarrow}$ E treatment, where P ${\rightarrow}$ E treatment showed a synergistic effect on growth inhibition of NCI-H460 cells by inducing apoptosis. Thus, the efficacy of EGCG and paclitaxel combination treatment seems to be schedule-dependent.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2016

Hydrolytic enzyme activities, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, ${\beta}$-galactosidase, ${\beta}$-arabinofuranosidase, ${\beta}$-arabinosidase, and ${\beta}$-arabinopyranosidase, which are useful for bioconversion, were explored in lactic acid bacteria isolated from Korean traditional fermented foods. Nine bacterial strains were selected for the fermentation of green tea extract prepared by supercritical fluid extraction. Changes in the concentrations of catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate in green tea extract were investigated after fermentation by the selected lactic acid bacteria strains. The strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides MBE1424, which showed the highest ${\beta}$-glucuronidase enzyme activity among the tested bacterial strains, increased the epigallocatechin content of the green tea extract by 60%. In addition, L. mesenteroides MBE1424 was more resistant than the control strain at high temperature and showed a maximum specific growth rate at $40^{\circ}C$. L. mesenteroides MBE1424 was presumed to have an enzyme system containing ${\beta}$-glucuronidase with utility in the bioconversion of green tea extract.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.363-368
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• 2006

EGCG [(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate], a major component of green tea has been considered as a major antioxidant constituent. In addition to having been considered for cancer treatment as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent, EGCG has recently been attributed an anti-proliferative effect. We re-examined the latter finding in this study and added specific focus on the ability of EGCG to induce apoptosis in human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells. Antiproliferative action of EGCG $(IC_{50}=35.3{\pm}6.0{\mu}g/mL)$ appeared to be linked to apoptotic cell death based on morphological changes, chromosomal DNA degradation, and an increase in the $sub-G_1$ apoptotic cell population. Treatment of HOS cells with EGCG gradually activated caspase-3, an established inducer of apoptotic cell death.