Pharmaceutical Importance of Components of Tea in Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), Pathways and Genes Involved in CVDs and Strategy to Enhance the Absorption of Tea Components by Human Body

Abstract

The beneficial effects of consumption of tea on prevention of Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is established by several in vitro and in vivo experimentations., Biochemical constituents of tea are reported to upregulate several key genes involve in prevention of CVDs. Few other contemporary research findings also reported that tea polyphenols down regulate several genes associated with occurrence of CVDs. Tea components are reported to modulate several pathways relevant to CVDs. Experimental in vitro studies, 2D and 3D cell culture studies, supported by relevant in-vivo studies, may generate valuable insights on role of tea polyphenols on regulation of different relevant genes and pathways. Tea components, including the most important epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and theaflavin (TF), are poorly absorbed by human digestive tract. Recent reports on the possible roles of gut microbiota on absorption of tea components and better absorption of methylated form of EGCG (3” ECGF) pave the ways of microbial, as well as, biochemical interventions that may improve the absorption efficiency of tea polyphenols. This manuscript reviews the most recent findings on how polyphenols from tea regulate the expression of genes and pathways associated with occurrence of CVDs, mechanism involve and how absorption of polyphenols by human digestive tract can be enhanced by microbial and chemical modifications. .