Chemical Properties
Catechin is a flavan-3-ol, part of the chemical family of flavonoids, a naturally occurring phenol, an antioxidant, and a secondary metabolite in certain plants. It consists of two benzene rings (called ring A and ring B), as well as a dihydropyran heterocycle (ring C) with a hydroxyl group attached to carbon 3. Ring A is analogous to a resorcinol moiety, whereas ring B is akin to a catechol moiety.
benefits
The consumption of foods rich in catechins and epicatechins has been associated with a variety of beneficial biological effects including increased plasma antioxidant activity (ability of plasma to scavenge free radicals), brachial artery dilation (blood vessel expansion), fat oxidation, and resistance of LDL to oxidation and promotion of gut health.
