EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) is epigallocatechin gallate. It is the main component of green tea polyphenols. It is a catechin monomer isolated from tea. It has antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-arterial properties. Hardening, anti-thrombosis, anti-vascular proliferation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects.
The anti-tumor effect of tea polyphenols has been recognized by relevant researchers at home and abroad. Studies have shown that its main component catechins (accounting for 70% to 80% of the total tea polyphenols) play a major role. EGCG is catechin unique to tea, and its amount is the highest, accounting for 40% to 50% of tea polyphenol products.
Tea polyphenols are the main components with health-care functions in tea.
Catechin is the main component of tea polyphenols.
EGCG is the main component of catechins.
It sounds a bit convoluted. Simply put, in a word, tea mainly depends on tea polyphenols, tea polyphenols mainly depend on catechins, and catechins mainly depend on EGCG. In other words, EGCG is the top priority.
So, What Are The Effects Of EGCG?
Modern medical research shows that the blood lipid-lowering effect of green tea is mainly due to the active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has a regulatory effect on the metabolism of cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein. The regulation of blood lipid indexes can be achieved through multiple channels.
Reduce Cholesterol
①EGCG can inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol by inhibiting the expression of the rate-limiting enzyme HMGCR for endogenous cholesterol production.
②Under the condition of a high-fat diet, EGCG can inhibit the reabsorption of bile acids by adsorbing with bile acids, thereby enhancing the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids in the liver, thereby lowering cholesterol.
③EGCG can enhance the expression of SREBP-2, thereby increasing the uptake of cholesterol by hepatocytes, and reducing the content of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the body, thereby exerting the activity of lowering blood lipids.
④EGCG can increase the activity of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), thereby promoting the maturation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL binds to HDL receptors on liver cell membranes and is taken up by liver cells. At the same time, cholesterol is used in this process It is used to synthesize bile acid or excrete it through bile, thereby accelerating the elimination of cholesterol in liver metabolism.
Regulate Triglycerides
①EGCG can inhibit the action of pancreatic lipase, reduce the absorption of fatty acids and then inhibit the synthesis of triglycerides, thereby reducing the blood triglyceride content.
②EGCG can inhibit the activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS), thereby reducing the synthesis of triglycerides in fat cells and lowering the level of triglycerides;
③EGCG can increase the activity of liver lipase (HL), promote the decomposition of triglycerides in serum and liver, and reduce triglyceride levels.
Interpretation of EGCG’s New Features
Promote healing of diabetic wounds
EGCG can target to attenuate the early inflammatory response of macrophages.
The research results of the team of Professor Sheng Jun from Yunnan Agricultural University: The main components of tea polyphenols can effectively promote the healing of the skin wounds of diabetic mice by inhibiting the inflammation targets of diabetic wounds. This is the first natural monomer activity in the world to promote the healing of diabetic wounds. Element. The scientific research results provide a scientific basis for people to develop natural medicines that promote the healing of diabetic wounds.
The Key Laboratory of Pu’er Tea Science of the Ministry of Education of Yunnan Agricultural University and Kunming Biomanufacturing Research Institute Co., Ltd. jointly established the “Anti-coronavirus Research Team” on January 20, 2020. The research team synthesized and expressed 5 coronavirus S proteins that infect humans based on the released new coronavirus gene sequences. Through computer simulation screening methods, more than 800 compounds from more than 110 medicinal and food homologous plants were initially selected and selected from them. More than 20 compounds were tested for verification. Through molecular interaction experiments and molecular-level blocking experiments, five natural compounds with affinity for S protein were discovered. In-depth studies have found that EGCG has the strongest affinity with the S protein, showing that EGCG has high-efficiency biological activity that prevents the virus from binding to cell-specific receptors. The research team combined computational chemistry and molecular docking research methods to study in detail the molecular mechanism of the compound’s binding to the virus S protein. The results of the study suggest that the active ingredients of tea are expected to be used to manufacture specific protective and therapeutic preparations to block the new coronavirus infection.
The research team’s previous studies found that EGCG has the function of significantly inhibiting the inflammation target receptor Notch, and reducing the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. The typical symptoms caused by the new coronavirus are the “inflammatory storm” caused by the spread of the virus and the excessive immune response of the body. Therefore, suppressing the inflammatory response is an important consideration in the treatment of patients with new coronavirus infections. The active ingredients of tea already possess these two functions at the same time, and it is of great significance and value to carry out in-depth clinical research on it and the development of related adjuvant therapy products.
