The synergistic inhibitory effect of co-digestion of gallic acid, catechin, β-glucan on lipid digestion in vitro.

L-epicatechin partially alleviates Ochratoxin A-induced oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress and improves developmental competence of porcine embryos during in vitro culture.

The effect of flavan-3-ols on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice and the potential mechanisms.

Valorization of tea (Camellia sinensis) waste: Extraction of bioactive compounds using ionic liquids and evaluation of their stability, efficiency, and volatile profiles during the process.

Effects of varying proportions of grape skins, seeds, and stems added pre-fermentation on tannin and anthocyanin evolution in Marselan wine.

Stelechocarpus burahol (kepel) is valued for its aromatic fruits and medicinal leaves, yet its genomic and phytochemical features remain poorly characterized. This study estimated the nuclear DNA content of kepel leaves at 3.96 pg per haploid genome (genome size: 3873 Mbp) and comprehensively profiled their bioactive metabolites. Leaf extracts prepared with water and 70% ethanol, with or without pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment, were analyzed using HPLC-MS, UHPLC-QTOF-MS, HPLC-DAD, and GC-MS. Leaf extracts showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, with PEF markedly improving ethanolic extraction efficiency. A total of 72 phenolics, 2 tocopherols, 3 tocotrienols, and several novel vitamin E derivatives were detected, alongside abundant catechins, tannic acid, and gallic acid. PEF significantly enhanced catechin recovery: catechin (C) increased from 153.7 to 846.8 mg/g and epicatechin (EC) from 338.2 to 921.4 mg/g in water extracts, while ethanolic extracts rose from 335.3 to 905.1 mg/g (C) and 245.0 to 616.9 mg/g (EC). Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), absent in untreated leaves, reached 799.9 mg/g in water and 231.9 mg/g in ethanol extracts after PEF. In fruits, PEF reduced phenolic recovery in water extracts (C: 236.7 → 136.8 mg/g; EC: 135.4 → 118.2 mg/g; EGCG: 2892.2 mg/g → undetectable), but slightly improved ethanolic extracts (C: 237.8 → 289.4 mg/g). GC-MS identified 19 volatile compounds contributing to the fruit’s aroma. This work provides the first integrated report of kepel genome size and phytochemical composition, highlighting PEF as a promising strategy to enhance leaf catechin extraction and supporting kepel’s potential as a functional food and medicinal resource.

Evidence suggests that consuming epicatechin-rich green tea can increase metabolism in the body, and this metabolic effect might be linked to weight loss in obese subjects. The precise mechanism by which epicatechin influences weight loss is still unclear.Our goal was to identify a specific signature in the plasma proteins of obese individuals, categorized or not by gender (men and women), and to investigate how epicatechin (EC) supplementation affected them. Additionally, we analyzed anthropometric data to assess the potential anti-obesity effects of EC and to identify any gender-related differences that may have emerged. In our clinical trial, we provided pure EC (90%) at a daily dosage of 200mg, administered before the main meal, for three months. The participants were obese men and women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 or higher. We conducted measurements of body dimensions and performed biochemical blood tests before and after the supplementation with EC, also analyzing the proteome in the plasma samples. EC supplementation did not alter anthropometric parameters in obese subjects, but it did cause significant molecular changes in their plasma proteome, which varied between men and women. Key proteins like RPL30 were consistently regulated, indicating that EC might activate translational remodeling to adapt to metabolic stress in obesity. Proteomic profiling reveals early biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy, and future research should examine EC's time-dependent effects on ribosomal biogenesis and metabolic regulation.

Genotype and cultivar identification is essential for conserving tea genetic diversity within plantation ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of high-quality tea production. This study represents the first large-scale genetic characterization of 200 elite varietal candidate tea (Camellia sinensis) clones, which were pre-selected from 2,034 genotypes originating from the Eastern and Western Black Sea regions of Türkiye. Eight polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers located near loci associated with catechin content, including epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were employed. SSR profiles were generated for all 200 tea clones cultivated in control plots at the National Tea Gene Bank, and the resulting data were additionally used for DNA barcoding of 12 varietal candidate tea clones currently under registration. Among the evaluated markers, TM412 (EGC) exhibited the highest polymorphism information content (PIC = 0.8816), whereas TM376 (EC) showed the lowest (0.4321). Notably, TM412 (EGC) and TM399 (ECG) displayed high PIC values, indicating their strong discriminatory potential for Turkish tea genotypes. The findings indicate that Turkish tea germplasm possesses substantial genetic diversity, and some markers may be effectively utilized in variety registration and breeding efforts. This study presents the first comprehensive molecular characterization of tea genetic resources in Türkiye. It contributes to the long-term conservation of selected clones and supports the variety registration process through DNA barcoding and a QR code-based traceability system. The genetic dataset generated in this work contributed directly to the establishment of Türkiye’s first and the world’s fifth-largest tea gene pool in Rize Province, providing a valuable reference for strengthening tea genetic resource conservation and breeding programs at both national and global scales.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-07464-z.

Abstract Background Flavanols (FLs), a group of polyphenols abundant in cocoa and red wine, have been associated with improved cognitive function, particularly hippocampus-dependent memory in older adults. However, their poor bioavailability has limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying their effects on the brain. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive and molecular responses following acute FLs administration in mice. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered FLs (25 mg/kg) or distilled water (DW) and subjected to a novel object recognition test. In one experiment, FLs were administered before training, in another, after training. Exploratory behavior and the discrimination index (DI) were analyzed. Hippocampal tissues were collected at 15 min to 4 h post-administration to assess levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 by western blotting. Results Mice treated with FLs before training exhibited significantly longer exploration of the novel object and higher DI, whereas no enhancement was observed when FLs were administered after training. CREB phosphorylation increased at 30 min post-administration, and BDNF levels were elevated at 2 and 4 h. Conclusion These findings suggest that FLs enhance short-term memory via hippocampal CREB activation and BDNF upregulation. Despite low systemic absorption, the rapid effects observed may involve sensory signaling pathways, potentially triggered by the astringent properties of FLs. This study provides mechanistic insight into the cognitive benefits of dietary FLs.

(-)-Epicatechin targets early growth response protein 1, an inflammation-associated ferroptosis regulator, to ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Modulation of molecular and serological biomarkers by (-)-epicatechin consumption on a murine model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Influence of catechin-PAYCS interactions on gastrointestinal structural and bioactivity stability: Key mechanisms in digestive enzymes inhibition.

Updated insights into esterified Flavan-3-ols in grapevine and wine: Origin, transformation, and taste response of epicatechin-3-O-vanillate and-3-O-gallate.

Chronic inflammation conducts an irreplaceable role in the aging process. More importantly, the impact is particularly significant in scenarios involving cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR), where elderly individuals are inclined to suffer from more severe inflammatory injuries when compared to younger counterparts. Network pharmacology demonstrated a tight correlation between epicatechin (EC), aging, and the NRG1-NF-κB signaling pathway. With an aim to investigate whether EC suppressing inflammatory aging and alleviating post-CA/CPR brain injury is associated with the inhibition of the NRG1-NF-κB pathway, we established a model of naturally aged 21-month-old rats subjected to CA/CPR. A network pharmacology method was employed to pinpoint possible pathways that connect EC to neuroinflammation associated with aging. Sixty rats were randomly divided into three groups for feeding: a control group (pure water) and EC groups (EC was administered by gavage at doses of 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg respectively from the 12th month). Those groups underwent a CA/CPR procedure. At 24-h post-resuscitation, neurological scores, cortical pathology staining and assessments of neural injury were conducted. Expression levels of NRG1-NF-κB pathway-relevant inflammatory factors and proteins underwent systematic investigation by carrying out ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. In comparison with the 21-month-old groups treated with water, the 21-month-old groups treated with EC at 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg demonstrated decreased β-galactosidase staining, aging-correlated proteins and pro-inflammatory factors and NF-κB pathway-relevant proteins, as well as reinforced NRG1-ErbB4 expression. EC lessened inflammatory aging and mitigates post-CA/CPR brain injury in aged rats, associated with the inhibition of the NRG1-NF-κB pathway.

Mice bred in 2021 were tested by the Interventions Testing Program (ITP) for possible lifespan benefits of 2BAct (2BA), dichloroacetate (DCA), Epicatechin (EPI), Forskolin (FSK), Halofuginone (HAL) and Mitoglitazone (MIT). All agents were administered in the diet ad libitum beginning at 7months of age. In male mice, EPI increased median lifespan by ~ 5%, and HAL and MIT each increased median lifespan by ~ 9%. EPI and HAL, but not MIT, increased 90% survival. In addition to adding 3 new agents to the list of interventions identified by the ITP that extend lifespan, this report continues the strong male bias in the efficacy of life-extending drugs identified so far.

Bioactive catechins from Potentilla fulgens Wall. ex Sims roots ameliorate oral carcinogenesis through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic pathways.

In briefPreeclampsia is a severe pregnancy-related complication that can result in adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Current therapeutic options for preeclampsia remain limited. This study demonstrates that epicatechin can inhibit pyroptosis in extravillous trophoblasts and block the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby offering a novel therapeutic approach for the management of preeclampsia.Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized as new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, and affects 5–7% pregnant women globally. PE is associated with a systemic inflammatory status that is overly activated and contributes to dysregulated extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) invasion and impaired spiral vessel remodeling. Recent studies showed that inhibition of systematic inflammatory response significantly ameliorates the PE-like symptoms, suggesting that anti-inflammation could be a potential PE treatment. However, few effective therapeutic strategies have been shown to control systemic inflammation in PE patients. In the current study, we investigated the protective effects of epicatechin (EC), a small molecule compound that exhibits excellent anti-inflammatory activity on HTR8/SVneo cells and EVTs stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results revealed that EC pretreatment significantly improved cellular viability and attenuated the inflammatory response of EVTs in response to LPS stimulation. Mechanistically, we found that EC significantly blocked the activation of the LPS-induced pyroptosis pathway of classical pyrin domain protein 3, cleaved caspase 1 and cleaved gasdermin D (NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD) in LPS-treated EVTs and inhibited interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression (a hallmark of pyroptosis) by suppressing the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. Our study demonstrates the protective effects of EC on LPS-stimulated inflammation and provides the direct evidence in vitro that EC may be a promising compound that mitigates the PE-associated systemic inflammation.

Public health problems are increasingly prevalent worldwide, and many diseases have a multifactorial nature and complex pathophysiology. In this context, mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as a recent target of investigation, being observed in several conditions such as neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, highlighting the complexity of their treatment. Given this scenario, the search for new therapeutic alternatives that act at the mitochondrial level represents an important focus of research. Epicatechin (EC), a flavonoid found in various plants, possesses well-known beneficial biological properties. This study aims to analyze the effects of EC in reversing mitochondrial damage induced by known oxidative agents. THP-1 monocyte cell lines were exposed to rotenone, sodium azide, or sodium nitroprusside and subsequently treated with epicatechin. Assays were performed to evaluate cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, nitric oxide release, the presence of extracellular double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and DNA damage through the alkaline comet assay. The results are consistent with the literature and indicate that, at certain concentrations, EC can attenuate the induced damage in the evaluated parameters, demonstrating potential as a cellular protective agent. Thus, EC shows the ability to protect cells and minimize mitochondrial damage, highlighting its promise as a therapeutic candidate for further investigation.

Insights from experiments and simulation of polydopamine modified carboxymethyl chitosan molecularly imprinted resins for adsorption of epicatechin in Rumex acetosa L.

Mechanism of interaction between key active ingredients and myosin in tea-stewed beef: Improvement of myosin's structural and functional characteristics.