Title:Effects of Green Tea (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) on Cardiac Function - A Review of the Therapeutic Mechanism and Potentials
Volume: 22
Issue: 18
Author(s): Yuejin Li*, Md. Rezaul Karim, Buheng Wang and Jiangnan Peng*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Keywords:
Green tea, EGCG, heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, ischemic heart diseases, muscle contractility
Abstract: Heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, refers to various illnesses that affect
heart structure and function. Specific abnormalities affecting cardiac muscle contractility and remodeling
and common factors including oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis underlie the pathogenesis
of heart diseases. Epidemiology studies have associated green tea consumption with lower
morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, including heart and blood vessel dysfunction.
Among the various compounds found in green tea, catechins are believed to play a significant role in
producing benefits to cardiovascular health. Comprehensive literature reviews have been published to
summarize the tea catechins' antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects in various
diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and metabolic diseases. However, recent studies on
tea catechins, especially the most abundant (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG), revealed their
capabilities in regulating cardiac muscle contraction by directly altering myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity
on force development and Ca2+ ion handling in cardiomyocytes under both physiological and pathological
conditions. In vitro and in vivo data also demonstrated that green tea extract or EGCG protected
or rescued cardiac function, independent of their well-known effects against oxidative stress and
inflammation. This mini-review will focus on the specific effects of tea catechins on heart muscle
contractility at the molecular and cellular level, revisit their effects on oxidative stress and inflammation
in various heart diseases, and discuss EGCG's potential as one of the lead compounds for new
drug discovery for heart diseases.