Biophysical characteristics of proteins and living cells exposed to the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg): review of recent advances from molecular mechanisms to nanomedicine and clinical trials.
Herbs and traditional medicines have been applied for thousands of years, but researchers started to study their mode of action at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels only recently. Nowadays, just like in ancient times, natural compounds are still determining factors in remedies. To support this statement, the recently won Nobel Prize for an anti-malaria agent from the plant sweet wormwood, which had been used to effectively treat the disease, could be mentioned. Among natural compounds and traditional Chinese medicines, the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) is one of the most studied active substances. In the present review, we summarize the molecular scale interactions of proteins and EGCg with special focus on its limited stability and antioxidant properties. We outline the observed biophysical effects of EGCg on various cell lines and cultures. The alteration of cell adhesion, motility, migration, stiffness, apoptosis, proliferation as well as the different impacts on normal and cancer cells are all reviewed. We also handle the works performed using animal models, microbes and clinical trials. Novel ways to develop its utilization for therapeutic purposes in the future are discussed too, for instance, using nanoparticles and green tea polyphenols together to cure illnesses and the combination of EGCg and anticancer compounds to intensify their effects. The limitations of the employed experimental models and criticisms of the interpretation of the obtained experimental data are summarized as well.
Doctoral School of Molecular- and Nanotechnologies, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, 8200, Hungary. pbeatrix@mfa.kfki.hu.|Nanobiosensorics Group, Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, 1121, Hungary. pbeatrix@mfa.kfki.hu.
Beatrix
B
Peter
MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, POB 32, Budapest 112, 1518, Hungary.
Szilvia
S
Bosze
Nanobiosensorics Group, Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, 1121, Hungary.
Robert
R
Horvath
D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
D011506:Proteins; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
Anticancer effects; Cell adhesion; EGCg; Nanoparticles; Polyphenol; Proteins