title: Quercetin and epigallocatechin gallate effects on the cell membranes biophysical properties correlate with their antioxidant potential.
abstract: Quercetin and epigallocatechin gallate are two of the most abundant polyphenols in dietary plants, including apples, onions, red wine and green tea. The bioactivity of polyphenols is linked to their ability to interact with cell membranes without being internalized. The aim of the present study was to assess the short-time effect of these polyphenols on membrane anisotropy and transmembrane potential of U937 monocytes and Jurkat T lymphoblasts. Results showed that quercetin and epigallocatechin gallate induced, after 20 minutes cell exposure, a dose-dependent increase of membrane anisotropy and polarization. Anisotropy increase was correlated with the reduction of lipid peroxidation. Our results could indicate that the antioxidant capacity of the tested polyphenols is due to their stabilizing effect on the cell membranes, thus contributing to cell protection in various pathologies and as adjuvant therapy in highly toxic treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Margina
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilie
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manda
authors.forename: Ionela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neagoe
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mocanu
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gradinaru
authors.forename: Constanţa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ganea
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002392:Catechin; D011794:Quercetin; C057580:gallocatechol