Chemical Properties
White powder
Uses
(-)-Epicatechin gallate is polyphenols which are abundant in green and black teas. (-)-Epicatechin gallate (ECG) is a natural catechin with a single galloyl group. The hydroxyl groups of ECG contribute to its potent antioxidant activity and facilitate the killing of methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus.
Uses
An antioxidant investigated as an adjunct treatment of some methyicillin resistant bacteria.
Uses
One of the catechin isomers and a potent antioxidant that can modulate a wide range of membrane proteins. Its bilayer-modifying potency was tested using gramicidin A (gA) channels as probes. All the c
atechins alter gA channel function and modify bilayer properties, with a 500-fold range in potency. The gallate group causes current block, as evident by brief downward current transitions.
Definition
ChEBI: A gallate ester obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of gallic acid with the (3R)-hydroxy group of epicatechin. A natural product found in Parapiptadenia rigida.
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.
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).
References
[1]. cho kn, sukhthankar m, lee sh, et al. green tea catechin (-)-epicatechin gallate induces tumour suppressor protein atf3 via egr-1 activation. eur j cancer, 2007, 43(16): 2404-2412.
[2]. babich h, krupka me, nissim ha, et al. differential in vitro cytotoxicity of (-)-epicatechin gallate (ecg) to cancer and normal cells from the human oral cavity. toxicol in vitro, 2005, 19(2): 231-242.
[3]. kohri t, suzuki m, nanjo f. identification of metabolites of (-)-epicatechin gallate and their metabolic fate in the rat. j agric food chem, 2003, 51(18): 5561-5566.
