The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications

The pandemic proportion of diabesity—a combination of obesity and diabetes—sets a worldwide health issue. Experimental and clinical studies have progressively reinforced the pioneering epidemiological observation of an inverse relationship between consumption of polyphenol-rich nutraceutical agents...

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Main Authors: Maria Assunta Potenza, Dominga Iacobazzi, Luca Sgarra, Monica Montagnani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/13/3061
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author Maria Assunta Potenza
Dominga Iacobazzi
Luca Sgarra
Monica Montagnani
author_facet Maria Assunta Potenza
Dominga Iacobazzi
Luca Sgarra
Monica Montagnani
author_sort Maria Assunta Potenza
collection DOAJ
description The pandemic proportion of diabesity—a combination of obesity and diabetes—sets a worldwide health issue. Experimental and clinical studies have progressively reinforced the pioneering epidemiological observation of an inverse relationship between consumption of polyphenol-rich nutraceutical agents and mortality from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. With chemical identification of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as the most abundant catechin of green tea, a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activities of this unique catechin have been proposed. Favorable effects of EGCG have been initially attributed to its scavenging effects on free radicals, inhibition of ROS-generating mechanisms and upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Biologic actions of EGCG are concentration-dependent and under certain conditions EGCG may exert pro-oxidant activities, including generation of free radicals. The discovery of 67-kDa laminin as potential EGCG membrane target has broaden the likelihood that EGCG may function not only because of its highly reactive nature, but also via receptor-mediated activation of multiple signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Finally, by acting as epigenetic modulator of DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, EGCG may alter gene expression and modify miRNA activities. Despite unceasing research providing detailed insights, ECGC composite activities are still not completely understood. This review summarizes the most recent evidence on molecular mechanisms by which EGCG may activate signal transduction pathways, regulate transcription factors or promote epigenetic changes that may contribute to prevent pathologic processes involved in diabesity and its cardiovascular complications.
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spelling doaj.art-83956461a1cf4808a6a9512ca2dd6c7a2023-11-20T05:50:55ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-07-012513306110.3390/molecules25133061The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity ComplicationsMaria Assunta Potenza0Dominga Iacobazzi1Luca Sgarra2Monica Montagnani3Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyFaculty of Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UKDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyThe pandemic proportion of diabesity—a combination of obesity and diabetes—sets a worldwide health issue. Experimental and clinical studies have progressively reinforced the pioneering epidemiological observation of an inverse relationship between consumption of polyphenol-rich nutraceutical agents and mortality from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. With chemical identification of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as the most abundant catechin of green tea, a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activities of this unique catechin have been proposed. Favorable effects of EGCG have been initially attributed to its scavenging effects on free radicals, inhibition of ROS-generating mechanisms and upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Biologic actions of EGCG are concentration-dependent and under certain conditions EGCG may exert pro-oxidant activities, including generation of free radicals. The discovery of 67-kDa laminin as potential EGCG membrane target has broaden the likelihood that EGCG may function not only because of its highly reactive nature, but also via receptor-mediated activation of multiple signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Finally, by acting as epigenetic modulator of DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, EGCG may alter gene expression and modify miRNA activities. Despite unceasing research providing detailed insights, ECGC composite activities are still not completely understood. This review summarizes the most recent evidence on molecular mechanisms by which EGCG may activate signal transduction pathways, regulate transcription factors or promote epigenetic changes that may contribute to prevent pathologic processes involved in diabesity and its cardiovascular complications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/13/3061epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)oxidative stressdiabetesobesityredox balance
spellingShingle Maria Assunta Potenza
Dominga Iacobazzi
Luca Sgarra
Monica Montagnani
The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications
Molecules
epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)
oxidative stress
diabetes
obesity
redox balance
title The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications
title_full The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications
title_fullStr The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications
title_full_unstemmed The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications
title_short The Intrinsic Virtues of EGCG, an <i>Extremely Good Cell Guardian</i>, on Prevention and Treatment of Diabesity Complications
title_sort intrinsic virtues of egcg an i extremely good cell guardian i on prevention and treatment of diabesity complications
topic epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)
oxidative stress
diabetes
obesity
redox balance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/13/3061
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