Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Pharmacological profile of green tea and its polyphenols: a review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Medicinal Chemistry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) is the second most consumed beverages in the world, next to water in terms of worldwide popularity. The chemical components of green tea chiefly include polyphenols, caffeine, and amino acids. Green tea is rich in catechins, of which (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate is the most abundant. As described in literature, green tea and its polyphenols are beneficial in curing a wide variety of diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc. It also has antimicrobial activity, protects from solar radiations, and possesses neuroprotective properties. The current review article focuses on pharmacological profile associated with Green tea and its polyphenols. We hope that this review will expose areas for further study and encourage research on important public health issue.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Raheem IT, El-Sherbiny GA, Taye A (2010) Green tea ameliorates renal oxidative damage induced by gentamicin in rats. Pak J Pharm Sci 23:21–28

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akgun H, Berk B, Erol DD, Mercanoglu G, Bayrak OF, Caglayan B, Dedeagac A, Kurnaz IA (2009) Nitric oxide releasing derivatives of [(2-chloroethyl)ureido] benzoic acid esters as potential antineoplastic agents. Turk J Chem 33:107–121

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aktas O, Prozorovski T, Smorodchenko A, Savaskan NE, Lauster R, Kloetzel P-M, Infante-Duarte C, Brocke S, Zipp F (2004) Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate mediates T cellular NF-κB inhibition and exerts neuroprotection in autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Immunol 173:5794–5800

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Attar AM, Zari TA (2010) Influences of crude extract of tea leaves, Camellia sinensis, on streptozotocin diabetic male albino mice. Saudi J Biol Sci 17:295–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atoui AK, Mansouri A, Boskou G, Kefalas P (2004) Tea and herbal infusions: their antioxidant activity and phenolic profile. Food Chem 89:27–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bisht GS, Rawat DS, Kumar A, Kumar R, Pashaa S (2007) Antimicrobial activity of rationally designed amino terminal modified peptides. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 17:4343–4346

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco AR, Sudano-Roccaro A, Spoto GC, Nostro A, Rusciano D (2005) Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits biofilm formation by ocular staphylococcal isolates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 49:4339–4343

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boschmann M, Thielecke F (2007) The effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on thermogenesis and fat oxidation in obese men: a pilot study. J Am Coll Nutr 26:389S–395S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bose M, Lambert JD, Ju J, Reuhl KR, Shapses SA, Yang CS (2008) The major green tea polyphenol, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, inhibits obesity, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver disease in high-fat–fed mice. J Nutr 138:1677–1683

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera C, Artacho R, Giménez R (2006) Beneficial effects of green tea—a review. J Am Coll Nutr 25:79–99

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson JR, Bauer BA, Vincent A, Limburg PJ, Wilson T (2007) Reading the tea leaves: anticarcinogenic properties of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Mayo Clin Proc 82:725–732

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalh M, Jeronimo C, Valentao P, Andrad PB, Silva BM (2010) Green tea: a promising anticancer agent for renal cell carcinoma. Food Chem 122:49–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chacko SM, Thambi PT, Kuttan R, Nishigaki I (2010) Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review. Chin Med 5:13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan C-M, Huang J-H, Lin H-H, Chiang H-S, Chen B-H, Hong J-Y, Hung C-F (2008) Protective effects of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate on UVA-induced damage in ARPE19 cells. Mol Vis 14:2528–2534

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan C-M, Huang J-H, Chiang H-S, Wu W-B, Lin H-H, Hong J-Y, Hung C-F (2010) Effects of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate on RPE cell migration and adhesion. Mol Vis 16:586–595

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen A, Zhang L, Xu J, Tang J (2002) The antioxidant (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits activated hepatic stellate cell growth and suppresses acetaldehyde-induced gene expression. Biochem J 368:695–704

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Lin Z, Ye Y, Zhang R, Yin J, Jiang Y, Wan H (2010) Suppression of diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice by oral administration of water-soluble and alkali-soluble polysaccharide conjugates prepared from green tea. Carbohydr Polym 82:28–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng TO (2006) All teas are not created equal the Chinese green tea and cardiovascular health. Int J Cardiol 108:301–308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chrostek L, Tomaszewski W, Szmitkowski M (2005) The effect of green tea on the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the liver of rats during chronic ethanol consumption. Rocz Akad Med Bialymst 50:220–223

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chyu K-Y, Babbidge SM, Zhao X, Dandillaya R, Rietveld AG, Yano J, Dimayuga P, Cercek B, Shah PK (2004) Differential effects of green tea-derived catechin on developing versus established atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-Null mice. Circulation 109:2448–2453

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clement Y (2009) Can green tea do that? A literature review of the clinical evidence. Prev Med 49:83–87

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daisuke U, Satomi Y, Koji Y, Hirofumi T (2008) Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate signaling pathway through 67-kDa Laminin receptor. J Biol Chem 283:3050–3058

    Google Scholar 

  • Dulloo AG, Seydoux J, Girardier L, Chantre P, Vandermander J (2000) Green tea and thermogenesis: interactions between catechin-polyphenols, caffeine and sympathetic activity. Int J Obes 24:252–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrnhoefer DE, Duennwald M, Markovic P, Wacker JL, Engemann S, Roark M, Legleiter J, Marsh JL, Thompson LM, Lindquist S, Muchowski PJ, Wanker EE (2006) Green tea (−)-epigallocatechin-gallate modulates early events in huntingtin misfolding and reduces toxicity in Huntington’s disease models. Hum Mol Genet 15:2743–2751

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Shahat AE, Gabr A, Meki A-R, Mehana E-S (2009) Altered testicular morphology and oxidative stress induced by cadmium in experimental rats and protective effect of simultaneous green tea extract. Int J Morphol 27:757–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkel R, Clark AM, Cubeddu XL (2009) Antihypertensives. In: Harvey RA, Champe PC (eds) Lippincott’s illustrated reviews: pharmacology, 4th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Maryland, p 215

    Google Scholar 

  • Frei B, Higdon JV (2003) Antioxidant activity of tea polyphenols in vivo: evidence from animal studies. J Nutr 133:3275S–3284S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon NC, Wareham DW (2010) Antimicrobial activity of the green tea polyphenol (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) against clinical isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Int J Antimicrob Agent 36:129–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hao J, Kim C-H, Ha T-S, Ahn H-Y (2007) Epigallocatechin-3 gallate prevents cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload in rats. J Vet Sci 8:121–129

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hara-Kudo Y, Yamasaki A, Sasaki M, Okubo T, Minai Y, Haga M, Kondo K, Sugita-Konishi Y (2005) Antibacterial action on pathogenic bacterial spore by green tea catechins. J Sci Food Agric 85:2354–2361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hauber I, Hohenberg H, Holstermann B, Hunstein W, Hauber J (2009) The main green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate counteracts semen-mediated enhancement of HIV infection. PNAS 106:9033–9038

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirasawa M, Takada K (2004) Multiple effects of green tea catechin on the antifungal activity of antimycotics against Candida albicans. J Antimicrob Chemother 53:225–229

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirasawa M, Takada K, Makimura M, Otake S (2002) Improvement of periodontal status by green tea catechin using a local delivery system: a clinical pilot study. J Periodont Res 37:433–438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann CS, Sonenshein GE (2003) Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3 gallate induces apoptosis of proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells via activation of p53. FASEB J 17:702–704

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain P, Kawar B, El Nahas M (2007) Obesity and diabetes in the developing world—a growing challenge. N Engl J Med 356:213–215

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imanishi N, Tuji Y, Katada Y, Maruhashi M, Konosu S, Mantani N, Terasawa K, Ochiai H (2002) Additional inhibitory effect of tea extra on the growth of Influenza A and B viruses in MDCK cells. Microbiol Immunol 46:491–494

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi S, Bisht GS, Rawat DS, Kumar A, Kumar R, Maiti S, Pasha S (2010) Interaction studies of novel cell selective antimicrobial peptides with model membranes and E. coli ATCC 11775. Biochim Biophys Acta 1798:1864–1875

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juneja VK, Bari ML, Inatsu Y, Kawamoto S, Friedman M (2007) Control of Clostridium perfringens spores by green tea leaf extracts during cooling of cooked ground beef, chicken, and pork. J Food Prot 70:1429–1433

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kang KW, Oh SJ, Ryu SY, Song GY, Kim B, Kang JS, Kim SK (2010) Evaluation of the total oxy-radical scavenging capacity of catechins isolated from green tea. Food Chem 121:1089–1094

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karaca T, Yoruk M, Yoruk IH, Uslu S (2010) Effects of extracts of green tea and ginseng on pancreatic beta cells and levels of serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triglycerides in rats with experimentally streptozotocin-induced diabetes: a histochemical and immunohistochemical study. J Anim Vet Adv 9:102–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaszkin M, Beck K, Eberhardt W, Pfeilschifter J (2004) Unravelling green tea’s mechanisms of action: more than meets the eye. Mol Pharmacol 65:15–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Katiyar SK, Mukhtar H (2001) Green tea polyphenol (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment to mouse skin prevents UVB-induced infiltration of leukocytes, depletion of antigen-presenting cells, and oxidative stress. J Leukoc Biol 69:719–726

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katiyar SK, Afaq F, Perez A, Mukhtar H (2001) Green tea polyphenol (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment of human skin inhibits ultraviolet radiation-induced oxidative stress. Carcinogenesis 22:287–294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim YW, Bae SM, Lee JM, Namkoong SE, Han SJ, Lee BR, Lee IP, Kim SH, Lee YJ, Kim CK, Kim Y-W, Ahn WS (2004) Activity of green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate against ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Cancer Res Treat 36:315–323

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SH, Lee LS, Bae SM, Han SJ, Lee BR, Ahn WS (2008) Antimicrobial and antifungal effects of a green tea extract against vaginal pathogens. J Womens Med 1:27–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Koizumi Y, Tsubono Y, Nakaya N, Nishino Y, Shibuya D, Matsuoka H, Tsuji I (2003) No association between green tea and the risk of gastric cancer: pooled analysis of two prospective studies in Japan. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 12:472–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuriyama S, Hozawa A, Ohmori K, Shimazu T, Matsui T, Ebihara S, Awata S, Nagatomi R, Arai H, Tsuji I (2006) Green tea consumption and cognitive function: a cross-sectional study from the Tsurugaya Project. Am J Clin Nutr 83:355–361

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee M-J, Lambert JD, Prabhu S, Meng X, Lu H, Maliakal P, Ho C-T, Yang CS (2004) Delivery of tea polyphenols to the oral cavity by green tea leaves and black tea extract. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 13:132–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leung LK, Su Y, Chen R, Zhang Z, Huang Y, Chen Z-Y (2001) Theaflavins in black tea and catechins in green tea are equally effective antioxidants. J Nutr 131:2248–2251

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levites Y, Amit T, Mandel S, Youdim MBH (2003) Neuroprotection and neurorescue against Aβ toxicity and PKC-dependent release of non-amyloidogenic soluble precursor protein by green tea polyphenol (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. FASEB J 17:952–954

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz M, Wessler S, Follmann E, Michaelis W, Dusterhoft T, Baumann G, Stangl K, Stangl V (2004) A constituent of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase by a phosphatidylinositol-3-OH-kinase-, cAMP-dependent protein kinase-, and Akt-dependent pathway and leads to endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation. J Biol Chem 279:6190–6195

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maeta K, Nomura W, Takatsume Y, Izawa S, Inoue Y (2007) Green tea polyphenols function as prooxidants to activate oxidative-stress-responsive transcription factors in yeasts. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:572–580

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maki KC, Reeves MS, Farmer M, Yasunaga K, Matsuo N, Katsuragi Y, Komikado M, Tokimitsu I, Wilder D, Jones F, Blumberg JB, Cartwright Y (2009) Green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced abdominal fat loss in overweight and obese adults. J Nutr 139:264–270

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maruyama K, Iso H, Sasaki S, Fukino Y (2009) The association between concentrations of green tea and blood glucose levels. J Clin Biochem Nutr 44:41–45

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matsubara S, Shibata H, Ishikawa F, Yokokura T, Takahashi M, Sugimura T, Wakabayashi K (2003) Suppression of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis by green tea extract in Mongolian gerbils. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 310:715–719

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNaught JG (1906) On the action of cold or lukewarm tea on Bacillus typhosus. J Royal Army Medical Corps 7:372–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Meeran SM, Akhtar S, Katiyar SK (2009) Inhibition of UVB-induced skin tumor development by drinking green tea polyphenols is mediated through DNA repair and subsequent inhibition of inflammation. J Invest Dermatol 129:1258–1270

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mildner-Szkudlarz S, Zawirska-Wojtasiak R, Obuchowski W, Gόslínski M (2009) Evaluation of antioxidant activity of green tea extract and its effect on the biscuits lipid fraction oxidative stability. J Food Sci 74:S362–S370

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mimoto J, Kiura K, Matsuo K, Yoshino T, Takata I, Ueoka H, Kataoka M, Harada M (2000) (−)-Epigallocatechin gallate can prevent cisplatin-induced lung tumorigenesis im A/J mice. Carcinogenesis 21:915–919

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miura T, Koike T, Ishida T (2005) Antidiabetic activity of green tea (Thea sinensis L.) in genetically Type 2 diabetic mice. J Health Sci 51:708–710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mughal T, Tahir A, Qureshi S, Nazir T, Rasheed M (2010) Antibacterial activity of black tea against streptococcus mutans and its synergism with antibiotics. J Appl Pharm 2:60–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukhtar H, Ahmad N (2000) Tea polyphenols: prevention of cancer and optimizing health. Am J Clin Nutr 71:1698S–1702S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagao T, Hase T, Tokimitsu I (2007) A green tea extract high in catechins reduces body fat and cardiovascular risks in humans. Obesity 15:1473–1483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-Martínez MD, Navarro-Perán E, Cabezas-Herrera J, Ruiz-Gόmez J, García-Cánovas F, Rodríguez-Lόpez JN (2005) Antifolate activity of epigallocatechin gallate against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 49:2914–2920

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Negishi H, Xu J-W, Ikeda K, Njelekela M, Nara Y, Yamori Y (2004) Black and green tea polyphenols attenuate blood pressure increases in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr 134:38–42

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ng T-P, Feng L, Niti M, Kua E-H, Yap K-B (2008) Tea consumption and cognitive impairment and decline in older Chinese adults. Am J Clin Nutr 88:224–231

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Papparella I, Ceolotto G, Montemurro D, Antonello M, Garbisa S, Rossi GP, Semplicini A (2008) Green tea attenuates Angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats by modulating reactive oxygen species production and the Src/epidermal growth factor receptor/Akt signaling pathway. J Nutr 138:1596–1601

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park JH, Jin JY, Baek WK, Park SH, Sung HY, Kim YK, Lee J, Song DK (2009) Ambivalent role of gallated catechins in glucose tolerance in humans: a novel insight into non-absorbable gallated catechin-derived inhibitors of glucose absorption. J Physiol Pharmacol 60:101–109

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Potenza MA, Marasciulo FL, Tarquinio M, Tiravanti E, Colantuono G, Federici A, Kim J, Quon MJ, Montagnani M (2007) EGCG, a green tea polyphenol, improves endothelial function and insulin sensitivity, reduces blood pressure, and protects against myocardialnI/R injury in SHR. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 292:E1378–E1387

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rains TM, Agarwal S, Makia KC (2011) Antiobesity effects of green tea catechins: a mechanistic review. J Nutri Biochem 22:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rezai-Zadeh K, Shytle D, Sun N, Mori T, Hou H, Jeanniton D, Ehrhart J, Townsend K, Zeng J, Morgan D, Hardy J, Town T, Tan J (2005) Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) modulates amyloid precursor protein cleavage and reduces cerebral amyloidosis in alzheimer transgenic mice. J Neurosci 25:8807–8814

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rietveld A, Wiseman S (2003) Antioxidant effects of tea: evidence from human clinical trials. J Nutr 133:3285S–3292S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roy AM, Baliga MS, Katiyar SK (2005) Epigallocatechin-3-gallate induces apoptosis in estrogen receptor—negative human breast carcinoma cells via modulation in protein expression of p53 and Bax and caspase-3 activation. Mol Cancer Ther 4:81–90

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudelle S, Ferruzzi MG, Cristiani I, Moulin J, Macé K, Acheson KJ, Tappy L (2007) Effect of a thermogenic beverage on 24-hour energy metabolism in humans. Obesity 15:349–355

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruggiero P, Rossi G, Tombola F, Pancotto L, Lauretti L, Giudice GD, Zoratti M (2007) Red wine and green tea reduce H pylori—or VacA-induced gastritis in a mouse model. World J Gastroenterol 13:349–354

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sakanaka S, Juneja LR, Taniguchi M (2000) Antimicrobial effects of green tea polyphenols on thermophilic spore-forming bacteria. J Biosci Bioeng 90:81–85

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartippour MR, Pietras R, Marquez-Garban DC, Chen H-W, Heber D, Henning SM, Sartippour G, Zhang L, Lu M, Weinberg O, Rao JY, Brooks MN (2006) The combination of green tea and tamoxifen is effective against breast cancer. Carcinogenesis 27:2424–2433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharangi AB (2009) Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.)—a review. Food Res Int 42:529–535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha D, Roy S, Roy M (2010) Antioxidant potential of tea reduces arsenite induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice. Food Chem Toxicol 48:1032–1039

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song J-M, Lee K-H, Seong B-L (2005) Antiviral effect of catechins in green tea on influenza virus. Antivir Res 68:66–74

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stapleton PD, Gettert J, Taylor PW (2006) Epicatechin gallate, a component of green tea, reduces halotolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Food Microbiol 111:276–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stoicov C, Saffari R, Houghton J (2009) Green tea inhibits Helicobacter growth in vivo and in vitro. Int J Antimicrob Agent 33:473–478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suganuma M, Okabe S, Kai Y, Sueoka N, Sueoka E, Fujiki H (1999) Synergistic effects of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate with (−)-epicatechin, Sulindac, or Tamoxifen on cancer-preventive activity in the human lung cancer cell line PC-9. Cancer Res 59:44–47

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland BA, Shaw OM, Clarkson AN, Jackson DM, Sammut IA, Appleton I (2005) Neuroprotective effects of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate after hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage: novel mechanisms of action. FASEB J 19:258–260

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka T, Ishii T, Mizuno D, Mori T, Yamaji R, Nakamura Y, Kumazawa S, Nakayama T, Akagawa M (2011) (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses growth of AZ521 human gastric cancer cells by targeting the DEAD-box RNA helicase p68. Free Radic Biol Med 50:1324–1335

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor PW, Hamilton-Miller JMT, Stapleton PD (2005) Antimicrobial properties of green tea catechins. Food Sci Technol Bull 2:71–81

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsubono Y, Nishino Y, Komatsu S, Chung-Cheng H, Kanemura S, Tsuji I, Nakatsuka H, Fukao A, Satoh H, Hisamichi S (2001) Green tea and the risk of gastric cancer in Japan. N Engl J Med 344:632–636

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods. Nutrient Data Laboratory. Food Composition Laboratory. Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. Nutrient Data Laboratory. United States Department of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12354500/Data/Flav/Flav02-1.pdf. Accessed February 20, 2011

  • Waltner-Law ME, Wang XL, Law BK, Hall RK, Nawano M, Granner DK (2002) Epigallocatechin gallate, a constituent of green tea, represses hepatic glucose production. J Biol Chem 277:34933–34940

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • West PWJ, Mathew TC, Miller NJ, Electricwala Q (2001) The effect of green tea on the growth and morphology of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. J Nutr Environ Med 11:263–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson MP, McCormick TG, Nance CL, Shearer WT (2006) Epigallocatechin gallate, the main polyphenol in green tea, binds to the T-cell receptor, CD4: Potential for HIV-1 therapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 118:1369–1374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfram S, Raederstorff D, Preller M, Wang Y, Teixeira SR, Riegger C, Weber P (2006) Epigallocatechin gallate supplementation alleviates diabetes in rodents. J Nutr 136:2512–2518

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu JZ, Yeung SYV, Chang Q, Huang Y, Chen ZY (2004) Comparison of antioxidant activity and bioavailability of tea epicatechins with their epimers. Br J Nutr 91:873–881

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang G, Shu X-O, Li H, Chow W-H, Ji B-T, Zhang X, Gao Y-T, Zheng W (2007) Prospective cohort study of green tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk in women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 16:1219–1223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao K, Ye P-P, Zhang L, Tan J, Tang X-J, Zhang Y-D (2008) Epigallocatechin gallate protects against oxidative stress-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells. Mol Vis 14:217–223

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yee Y-K, Koo MW-L (2000) Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Chinese tea: in vitro study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 14:635–638

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yi S-M, Zhu J-L, Fu L–L, Li J-R (2010) Tea polyphenols inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa through damage to the cell membrane. Int J Food Microbiol 144:111–117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young IS, Woodside JV (2001) Antioxidants in health and disease. J Clin Pathol 54:176–186

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan J-M, Koh W-P, Sun C-L, Lee H-P, Yu MC (2005) Green tea intake, ACE gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk among Chinese women in Singapore. Carcinogenesis 26:1389–1394

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yung SL, Yao JT, Jyh ST, Jen KL (2003) Factors affecting the levels of tea polyphenols and caffeine in tea leaves. J Agric Food Chem 5:1864–1873

    Google Scholar 

  • Zapora E, Hołub M, Waszkiewicz E, Dąbrowska M, Skrzydlewska E (2009) Green tea effect on antioxidant status of erythrocytes and on haematological parameters in rats. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 53:139–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaveri NT (2006) Green tea and its polyphenolic catechins: Medicinal uses in cancer and noncancer applications. Life Sci 78:2073–2080

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y-M, Rock CO (2004) Evaluation of epigallocatechin gallate and related plant polyphenols as inhibitors of the FabG and FabI reductases of bacterial Type II fatty-acid synthase. J Biol Chem 279:30994–31001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZF, Li Q, Liang J, Dai XQ, Ding Y, Wang JB, Li Y (2010) Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) protects the insulin sensitivity in rat L6 muscle cells exposed to dexamethasone condition. Phytomedicine 17:14–18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng G, Sayama K, Ohkubo T, Juneja LR, Oguni I (2004) Anti-obesity effects of three major components of green tea, catechins, caffeine and theanine, in mice. In Vivo 18:3–10

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sumit Bansal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bansal, S., Syan, N., Mathur, P. et al. Pharmacological profile of green tea and its polyphenols: a review. Med Chem Res 21, 3347–3360 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-011-9800-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-011-9800-4

Keywords

Navigation