Epigallocatechin gallate protects the hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in tenocytes

Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and periodic corticosteroid injections are frequently used to treat tendinopathy. However, prior research clinical studies revealed that the role of these medications in tendon rupture is still debatable. Research is needed to reduce the corticosteroids and NSAIDs associated with toxicity in the emerging field of tendinopathy. The present study was designed to explore the clinical efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against H2O2-mediated inflammatory response in tenocytes derived from human bone marrow stem cells. To attenuate the H2O2-mediated toxicity, the tenocyte cells were supplemented with EGCG at a concentration of 3.125–100 µM. The study's findings explored that the supplementation of EGCG (100 µM) effectively suppressed the H202 mediated cytotoxicity and modulated the expression of apoptotic (Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-7) and inflammatory associated protein expression (Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) along with collagen expression (collagen type I and COL3A1). It was confirmed by western blot and molecular docking analysis. This study suggests that the optimal concentration (100 µM) of EGCG has great potential for tendon healing and restoration in H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity.