title: Anti-invasive effects of green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural inhibitor of metallo and serine proteases.
abstract: Several reports have attributed to green tea chemopreventive and therapeutic properties. Epidemiological studies have linked the regular use of green tea to a reduced incidence of breast and colon carcinomas. Tea contains several antioxidants, including polyphenols of the catechin (green tea) and theaflavin (black tea) groups. Green tea derivatives have been shown to act in vitro and in vivo as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-tumor drugs. Despite the extensive body of data only few studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. In this brief review we focus on the inhibitory activity of catechins derived from green tea toward proteases involved in tumor invasion.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Biotecnologie Avanzate,Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venè
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bisacchi
authors.forename: Spiridione
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbisa
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albini
mesh_terms: D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D011108:Polymers; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases