title: Condensed catechins and their potential health-benefits.
abstract: Condensed catechins are commonly present in fermented tea, and are produced by the oxidation of monomeric catechins. Due to their auto-oxidation, catechins have diverse structural features, including different binding modes and degrees of polymerization. Because of their structural complexity, their physiological functions and possible health-benefits have not yet been fully investigated. This review focuses on the physiological potentials of dimeric and trimeric catechins in the intestine (regulation of absorption across the intestinal membrane), blood vessels (vasorelaxation in vessel regulation), and muscle organs (promotion of glucose uptake resulting in an anti-diabetic effect). Furthermore, the roles of non-absorbable theaflavins (dimeric catechins), absorbable theasinensins (dimeric catechins), and absorbable procyanidins (dimeric and trimeric catechins) on target organs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioresources and Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. Electronic address: tmatsui@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin
keywords: Condensed catechins; Procyanidins; Theaflavins; Theasinensins