Chemical studies of the antioxidant mechanism of tea catechins: radical reaction products of epicatechin with peroxyl radicals

Tea catechins, an important class of polyphenols, have been shown to have antioxidant activity and are thought to act as antioxidants in biological systems. However, the mechanisms of their antioxidant reactions remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize the reaction products of epicatechin with peroxyl radicals generated by thermolysis of the azo initiator azo-bisisobutyrylnitrile (AIBN). Structural elucidation of these products can provide insights into specific mechanisms of antioxidant reactions. Eight reaction products were isolated and identified using high-field 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis. The observation of these compounds confirmed that the B-ring is the initial site for formation of reaction products in the peroxyl radical oxidant system.     

Structure-activity relationship of the tocopherol-regeneration reaction by catechins

The reaction rates (k(r)) of 5,7-diisopropyl-tocopheroxyl radical (Toc) with catechins (epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) and related compounds (methyl gallate (MG), 4-methylcatechol (MC), and 5-methoxyresorcinol (MR)) have been measured by stopped-flow spectrophotometer. The k(r) values increased in the order of MR < < MG < EC < MC approximately ECG < EGC < EGCG in ethanol and 2-propanol/H(2)O (5/1, v/v) solutions, indicating that the reactivity of the OH groups in catechins increased in the order of resorcinol A-ring < < gallate G-ring < catechol B-ring < pyrogallol B-ring. The catechins which have lower oxidation potentials show higher reactivities. The rate constants for catechins in micellar solution showed notable pH dependence with one or two peaks around pH 9-11, because of the dissociation of various phenolic hydroxyl protons in catechins. The structure-activity relationship in the free-radical-scavenging reaction by catechins has been clarified by the detailed analyses of the pH dependence of k(r) values. The reaction rates increased remarkably with increasing the anionic character of catechins, that is, the electron-donating capacity of catechins. The mono anion form at catechol B-and resorcinol A-rings and dianion form at pyrogallol B-and gallate G-rings show the highest activity for free-radical-scavenging. It was found that catechins (EC, ECG, EGC, and EGCG) have activity similar to or higher than that of vitamin C in vitamin E regeneration at pH 7-12 in micellar solution.     

Kinetic study of the quenching reaction of singlet oxygen by tea catechins in ethanol solution

A kinetic study of the quenching reaction of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) with catechins (catechin (CA), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) and related compounds (5-methoxyresorcinol (MR), 4-methylcatechol (MC), and n-propyl gallate (PG)) was performed in ethanol at 35 degrees C. MR, MC, and PG are considered to be a model of resorcinol (A)-, catechol (B)-, and gallate (G)-rings in catechins, respectively. The overall rate constants, k(Q) (= k(q) + k(r), physical quenching + chemical reaction), for the reaction of catechins with (1)O(2) increased in the order of PG < MR < MC < CA < EC < EGC < ECG < EGCG. In a comparison of the rate constants, the relationship between quenching rates and chemical structures is discussed. The catechins which have lower peak oxidation potentials, E(P), show higher reactivities. It was observed that the chemical reaction (k(r)) is almost negligible in the quenching reaction of (1)O(2) by catechins. The k(Q) values of EGCG (1.47 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) and ECG (7.81 x 10(7)) were found to be larger than those of lipids (1.3 x 10(5)-1.9 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), amino acids (<3.7 x 10(7)), and DNA (5.1 x 10(5)). Further, these values are similar to those (1.15 x 10(8)-2.06 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, ubiquinol-10, and gamma-tocopherol hydroquinone (plastoquinol model). The result suggests that catechins may contribute to the protection of oxidative damage in biological systems, by quenching (1)O(2).     

Novel and potent inhibitors of fatty acid synthase derived from catechins and their inhibition on MCF-7 cells

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a potential target for cancer, but potent inhibitors against FAS are scarce. In this study, we found that activities of catechins on inhibiting FAS increased greatly by heating them in acid. The enhancement was positively correlated to H⁺ concentration. The inhibitory activities of the final products from different catechins were similar, all of which were less than 1 μg/mL. The product from ( ? )-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was stable at room temperature, and its inhibitory kinetics and reacting sites on FAS were obviously different from the known FAS inhibitors. It also affected the viability of MCF-7 cells more obviously than EGCG. A putative route of the reaction progress was proposed and the effective inhibitors were deduced to be oligomers of 2-hydroxy-3-(3′, 4′, 5′-trihydroxyphenyl) propenoic acid by analysis of their spectra. The work affords new and potent FAS inhibitors that would be promising candidates for the treatment of cancer.     

Novel and potent inhibitors of fatty acid synthase derived from catechins and their inhibition on MCF-7 cells

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a potential target for cancer, but potent inhibitors against FAS are scarce. In this study, we found that activities of catechins on inhibiting FAS increased greatly by heating them in acid. The enhancement was positively correlated to H(+) concentration. The inhibitory activities of the final products from different catechins were similar, all of which were less than 1 microg/mL. The product from (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was stable at room temperature, and its inhibitory kinetics and reacting sites on FAS were obviously different from the known FAS inhibitors. It also affected the viability of MCF-7 cells more obviously than EGCG. A putative route of the reaction progress was proposed and the effective inhibitors were deduced to be oligomers of 2-hydroxy-3-(3', 4', 5'-trihydroxyphenyl) propenoic acid by analysis of their spectra. The work affords new and potent FAS inhibitors that would be promising candidates for the treatment of cancer.     

Peroxidase-mediated oxidation of catechins

Theaflavins and thearubigins are major pigments in black tea, and they are produced by oxidation and polymerization of flavan-3-ols (catechins) during tea fermentation. In the course of studies on the mechanism of black tea polyphenol formation, we have systematically studied peroxidase-mediated oxidation of tea catechins. Individual catechins, appropriate pairs of catechins, and the combination of selected catechins and theaflavins have been used as substrates of peroxidase. Different dimers, trimers and a tetramer are formed. This work has led to the characterization of some of the new trimers in black tea by LC/ESI-MS/MS. The proposed mechanisms for the peroxidase-mediated reaction are discussed.     

光源或培养基成分对金花茶愈伤组织中DFR、LAR与PPO基因表达及总儿茶素含量的影响

该研究以富含儿茶素的金花茶愈伤组织为材料,对不同光源、激素、碳源及苯丙氨酸处理30 d的愈伤组织中DFR表达量、LAR表达量、PPO表达量与总儿茶素含量的变化情况及四者两两之间的相关性进行了分析.结果表明:这4个检测项目均对以上处理有显著的响应;在以上各因素处理下,DFR与LAR的表达模式十分相似,其相关系数处在0.710~0.889之间;在不同碳源处理下,PPO表达量与总儿茶素含量的变化呈显著负相关关系,其相关系数为-0.696;在不同苯丙氨酸添加量处理下,DFR与LAR表达量变化均与总儿茶素含量变化呈显著正相关关系,其相关系数分别为0.786和0.564;适宜儿茶素离体生产的金花茶愈伤组织增殖配方为附加4 mg·L-16-BA、0.6 mg·L-12,4-D、30 g·L-1蔗糖与0.6608 g·L-1苯丙氨酸的MS固体培养基,其总儿茶素含量可达40.11 mg·g-1 DW.以上研究表明,与茶树相似,在金花茶中DFR与LAR在儿茶素代谢过程中密切相关;PPO表达量升高导致金花茶儿茶素损失;添加适宜浓度的苯丙氨酸作为前体物质是提高愈伤组织中总儿茶素含量的有效措施.     

Deodorizing effects of tea catechins on amines and ammonia

Deodorizing effects of tea catechins on amines were examined under alkaline conditions to eliminate the neutralization reaction. They showed deodorizing activity on ethylamine, but none on dimethylamine or trimethylamine. Deodorizing activity on ethylamine was found to be in the order of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate > gallic acid > (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) > (-)-epicatechin gallate > ethyl gallate > (+)-catechin = (-)-epicatechin. Further, reaction products of EGC with methylamine, ethylamine, and ammonia were detected by HPLC, indicating that a deodorizing reaction other than neutralization occurs. From structural analysis of the reaction product with the methylamine isolated as a peracetylated derivative, the product was presumed to be methylamine substituted EGC, in which the hydroxyl group of EGC at the 4' position is replaced by the methylamino group. The same replacement reaction took place in the case of ethylamine and ammonia.     

Isolation of region-specific and polymorphic markers from chromosome 17 by restricted Alu polymerase chain reaction

We demonstrate that the digestion of template DNAs with restriction endonucleases prior to Alu polymerase chain reaction ("restricted Alu-PCR") reduces the complexity of the Alu-primed amplification patterns of human DNA in somatic cell hybrids and allows a direct informative comparison of these patterns. A comparison of restricted Alu-PCR patterns of a monochromosomal hybrid retaining a human chromosome 17 (MH22-6) and a hybrid retaining a human chromosome 17 deleted for band p11.2 (DH110-D1) revealed four Alu-PCR products that were present in the former but absent in the latter hybrid. Hybridization of these fragments to the total Alu-PCR amplification products of the two hybrids confirmed their absence in DH110-D1 amplification products. Hybridization to a panel of somatic cell hybrids indicated that two of these fragments were deleted in the hybrid DH110-D1 and mapped to 17p11.2, as expected. However, two additional fragments were not deleted in the hybrid DH110-D1 and mapped to other regions of chromosome 17. An insertion-deletion polymorphism was associated with one of the latter fragments, which may be the mechanism for the lack of its amplification in the hybrid DH110-D1. Restricted Alu-PCR should enhance the applications of Alu-PCR and provides a new method for the identification of chromosome-specific polymorphic markers.     

Reactivity of flavonoids with 1-hydroxyethyl radical: a gamma-radiolysis study

We have investigated the reactivity between 11 flavonoids and 1-hydroxyethyl radical (HER). HER was recently implicated in many liver injuries induced by ethanol intoxication. In this study, HER was generated by radiolysis; due to its reaction rate, HER is well known to be responsible for solute degradation in irradiated ethanol. Flavonoid ethanol solutions were irradiated with gamma-rays and the flavonoid degradation was followed by HLPC. We observed the degradation of flavonols while all other flavonoids (flavones, flavanones, dihydroflavonols, catechins) were not degraded after irradiation. The major radiolysis products were identified by NMR and LC-MS and we concluded that flavonols were essentially transformed into depsides. We proposed a reactivity mechanism between flavonols and HER. In a first step, H-transfer occurred from the 3-OH group to HER. Afterwards, C-ring opening occurred due to the presence of the 2,3-double bond in flavonols. Finally, we calculated the reaction constants in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of flavonols against HER and to compare it with reference compounds.     

Glycosylation of Aromatic Amines I: Characterization of Reaction Products and Kinetic Scheme

The reactions of aliphatic and aromatic amines with reducing sugars are important in both drug stability and synthesis. The formation of glycosylamines in solution, the first step in the Maillard reaction, does not typically cause browning but results in decreased potency and is hence significant from the aspect of drug instability. The purpose of this research was to present (1) unreported ionic equilibria of model reactant (kynurenine), (2) the analytical methods used to characterize and measure reaction products, (3) the kinetic scheme used to measure reaction rates and (4) relevant properties of various reducing sugars that impact the reaction rate in solution. The methods used to identify the reversible formation of two products from the reaction of kynurenine and monosaccharides included LC mass spectrometry, UV spectroscopy, and 1-D and 2-D ¹H–¹H COSY NMR spectroscopy. Kinetics was studied using a stability-indicating HPLC method. The results indicated the formation of α and β glycosylamines by a pseudo first-order reversible reaction scheme in the pH range of 1–6. The forward reaction was a function of initial glucose concentration but not the reverse reaction. It was concluded that the reaction kinetics and equilibrium concentrations of the glycosylamines were pH-dependent and also a function of the acyclic content of the reacting glucose isomer.     

Methylation of tea catechins by rat liver homogenates

Methylation of (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg), and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) was carried out with a rat liver homogenate and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. A structural analysis of the reaction products by MS and NMR showed that 4'-O-methyl EGC, 4"-O-methyl ECg, and 4"-O-methyl EGCg had been formed from EGC, ECg, and EGCg, respectively. These results suggest that methylation may be one of the metabolic pathways to the catechins.     

Green tea catechins as a BACE1 (beta-secretase) inhibitor

In the course of searching for BACE1 (beta-secretase) inhibitors from natural products, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of green tea, which was suspected to be rich in catechin content, showed potent inhibitory activity. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and (-)-gallocatechin gallate were isolated with IC(50) values of 1.6 x 10(-6), 4.5 x 10(-6), and 1.8 x 10(-6) M, respectively. Seven additional authentic catechins were tested for a fundamental structure-activity relationship. (-)-Catechin gallate, (-)-gallocatechin, and (-)-epigallocatechin significantly inhibited BACE1 activity with IC(50) values of 6.0 x 10(-6), 2.5 x 10(-6), and 2.4 x 10(-6) M, respectively. However, (+)-catechin, (-)-catechin, (+)-epicatechin, and (-)-epicatechin exhibited about ten times less inhibitory activity. The stronger activity seemed to be related to the pyrogallol moiety on C-2 and/or C-3 of catechin skeleton, while the stereochemistry of C-2 and C-3 did not have an effect on the inhibitory activity. The active catechins inhibited BACE1 activity in a non-competitive manner with a substrate in Dixon plots.     

The Qa-1 alloantigens. III. Biochemical analysis of the structure and extent of polymorphism of the Qa-1 allelic products

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) was used to examine and compare the products of the Qa-1 locus. Analysis of Qa-1 isolated from detergent lysates of surface labeled cells indicated this molecule was a slightly acidic 48,000 to 50,000 dalton glycoprotein that displayed little charge heterogeneity on resting lymphocytes. The level of expression and degree of charge heterogeneity were both increased on activated lymphocytes. Direct comparison of the Qa-1b, Qa-1c, and Qa-1d allelic products by 2-D PAGE revealed that these three molecules could be distinguished from one another on the basis of isoelectric point, indicating that they were distinct at the molecular level. Comparison of Qa-1 isolated from several Qa-1b strains did not detect additional polymorphism. Removal of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides by treatment with endoglycosidase F indicated that carbohydrate contributed 10,000 to 12,000 to the m.w. of these allelic products. Comparative 2-D PAGE analysis could not distinguish between the deglycosylated Qa-1b, Qa-1c, and Qa-1d allelic products, implying that these molecules have similar primary structures. Peptide mapping supported this conclusion. Proteolytic digestion of the deglycosylated Qa-1b and Qa-1c allelic products resulted in identical peptide map patterns; such treatment of the deglycosylated Qa-1d allelic product produced a slightly different pattern. Peptide mapping analysis also demonstrated that the Tlaa and Qa-1a allelic products were distinct from one another, as well as being very different from the other three Qa-1 allelic products.     

Enzymatic oxidation of gallocatechin and epigallocatechin: effects of C-ring configuration on the reaction products

Tea leaf is rich in pyrogallol-type catechins, and their oxidation is important in the generation of black tea polyphenols. In the present study, the enzymatic oxidation of three pyrogallol-type catechins, (+)- and (−)-gallocatechins and (−)-epigallocatechin, was compared. The reactions yielded unstable quinone products, which were trapped as condensation products with o-phenylenediamine. The oxidation of (+)-gallocatechin proceeded very slowly compared to the reaction of (−)-epigallocatechin, and yielded a proepitheaflagallin-type dimer as the major product, though oxidation of (−)-epigallocatechin gave predominantly dehydrotheasinensin C. The cis-configuration of the C-3 hydroxyl group and the B-ring of (−)-epigallocatechin was apparently crucial for rapid and selective production of dehydrotheasinensin C. Oxidation of (−)-gallocatechin proceeded in a manner similar to that of (+)-gallocatechin, and produced an enantiomer of the (+)-gallocatechin product. The results suggest that enzymes catalyze oxidation of the pyrogallol B-ring to the o-quinone, with subsequent non-enzymatic coupling reactions proceed under highly steric control.     

Kinetic analysis and mechanistic aspects of autoxidation of catechins

A peroxidase-based bioelectrochemical sensor of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and a Clark-type oxygen electrode were applied to continuous monitoring and kinetic analysis of the autoxidation of catechins. Four major catechins in green tea, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin, and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, were used as model compounds. It was found that dioxygen (O(2)) is quantitatively reduced to H(2)O(2). The initial rate of autoxidation is suppressed by superoxide dismutase and H(+), but is independent of buffer capacity. Based on these results, a mechanism of autoxidation is proposed; the initial step is the one-electron oxidation of the B ring of catechins by O(2) to generate a superoxide anion (O(2)(*-)) and a semiquinone radical, as supported in part by electron spin resonance measurements. O(2)(*-) works as a stronger one-electron oxidant than O(2) against catechins and is reduced to H(2)O(2). The semiquinone radical is more susceptible to oxidation with O(2) than fully reduced catechins. The autoxidation rate increases with pH. This behavior can be interpreted in terms of the increase in the stability of O(2)(*-) and the semiquinone radical with increasing pH, rather than the acid dissociation of phenolic groups. Cupric ion enhances autoxidation; most probably it functions as a catalyst of the initial oxidation step of catechins. The product cuprous ion can trigger a Fenton reaction to generate hydroxyl radical. On the other hand, borate ion suppresses autoxidation drastically, due to the strong complex formation with catechins. The biological significance of autoxidation and its effectors are also discussed.     

Synergistic Effects of Cu(II) and Dimethylammonium 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetate (U46 D Fluid) on PM2 DNA and Mechanism of Dna Damage

Dimethylammonium 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D · DMA) induced strand breaks in PM2 DNA when incubated with CuCl₂, whereas 2,4-D · DMA alone or CuCl₂ alone did not show any or only a negligible effect. The formation of single strand breaks increased linearly with time and concentration of 2,4-D · DMA. Neocuproine, a specific Cu(I) chelator totally prevented strand break formation. So did catalase (up to 100mM 2,4-D · DMA), but DMSO had only a small protective effect. 2,4-Dichlorophenol, CO₂ and formaldehyde were detected as reaction products of 2,4-D and CuCl₂. From these results a redox reaction of Cu(II) and 2,4-D is proposed, which could explain the DNA damaging properties of CuCl₂/2,4-D · DMA.     

Mechanisms of inhibition of carcinogenesis by tea

Tea (Camellia sinensis) preparations have been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis at the initiation, promotion, and progression stages in different animal models. The anti-proliferative effects of tea polyphenols may be a key mechanism, especially in the NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis model with mice. Studies with cell lines have demonstrated that tea polyphenols inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. The effective concentrations used in these studies (20-100 microM) are usually higher than those observed in blood and tissues of humans and animals, which are in the low micromolar range. Glucuronide and sulfate conjugated and methylated catechins as well as ring fission products (due to intestinal microflora) have been observed in human plasma and urine. Purified green and black tea polyphenols inhibited the H-ras induced milogen-activated protein kinases, AP-1 activities, and the growth of 30.7b Ras 12 and BES21 cells. Among the catechins, both the galloyl structure on the B ring and the gallate moiety are important for the inhibition. Both (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate inhibited the phosphorylation of c-jun and p44/42 (ERK 1/2). More mechanistic and human studies in these areas will help us to understand the possible inhibitory action of tea against carcinogenesis in humans.     

Evaluation of the role of leukotrienes on ovum implantation in mice

Prostaglandins are considered to be one of the important mediators of ovum implantation. Various lipoxygenase products also have been implicated along with PGs for this process. A specific rather than preferential inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase is used to investigate the role of leukotrienes in the event of implantation and decidualization process in mice. AA861, a selective inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase is used in different dose levels like 50,100 and 500 μg in (A) intact pregnant mice (on D1-D4 and D2-D4 and D4); (B) delayed mice on (D3-D8); (C) pseudopregnant traumatized mice (on D1-D4). All the experimental animals of group A were killed on D6. Estrogen injected delayed animals of group  were killed 48 h after the induction of implantation. Implantation sites were counted as blue spot and compared with those of control animals. Traumatized animals of group C were killed 24 h after the mechanical traumatization and uterine weights were compared with those of vehicle treated controls. Results show that AA861 could not inhibit ovum implantation in either intact or ovariectomized delayed animals. It also did not show any adverse effect on tubal transport or development of embryos. AA861 did not have any inhibitory role on decidualization of pseudopregnant uteri also. This experiment shows that a selective inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase enzyme may not impair the implantation in mice indicating a doubt about the involvement of 5-lipoxygenase products in implantation.     

Reduction of catechin astringency by the complexation of gallate-type catechins with pectin

The reductive effect of pectin on tea catechin astringency was investigated by using a taste sensor system and (1)H-NMR spectroscopy. The sensor analysis revealed that the astringency of gallate-type catechins (EGCg and ECg) was reduced by the addition of pectin, whereas that of non-gallate-type catechins (EGC and EC) hardly changed. Changes in the (1)H-NMR chemical shifts of the catechins and pectin in mixed solutions showed that the gallate-type catechins formed complexes with pectin more closely than the non-gallate-type catechins. These results demonstrate that complexation between the gallate-type catechins and pectin is a factor for reducing catechin astringency.