title: Antimalarial properties of green tea.
abstract: We show here that a crude extract of green tea as well as two of its main constituents, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), strongly inhibit Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro. Both these catechins are found to potentiate the antimalarial effects of artemisinin without interfering with the folate pathway. The importance of these findings and their mechanistic implications are discussed in view of future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases and International Health Section, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Rosa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sannella
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Messori
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francesco Vincieri
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bilia
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Majori
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Severini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C062669:epicatechin gallate; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate