Biological properties of monomeric and polymeric catechins: Green tea catechins and procyanidins
Biological properties of monomeric and polymeric catechins: Green tea catechins and procyanidins
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DOI：
10.3109/13880200490893500
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发表时间：
2004-01-01
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
Kong, ANT
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Jeong, WS;Kong, ANT
人们对绿茶和红酒的疾病预防及/或治疗特性越来越感兴趣。绿茶和红酒中主要的生物活性成分分别是茶多酚和原花青素。茶多酚是黄烷 - 3 - 醇的单体，原花青素是诸如儿茶素和表儿茶素等黄烷 - 3 - 醇单元的聚合物。这些结构相关的儿茶素化合物因其多种生物活性已被广泛研究。茶多酚和原花青素被认为是非常强的抗氧化剂，它们能够清除各种形式的自由基。它们可能预防心血管疾病，或许是通过其抑制低密度脂蛋白（LDL）氧化、降低血浆胆固醇水平以及防止血小板聚集的能力。此外，越来越多的证据表明儿茶素和原花青素具有癌症化学预防特性。了解它们有益特性的分子和细胞机制，特别是它们在信号转导途径和基因表达中的作用，是很有意义的。这篇综述讨论了我们目前对茶多酚和原花青素生物活性的认识和理解，包括它们的基本化学性质、存在形式、抗氧化活性、对心脏病的影响以及对信号转导途径的影响。综合起来，这些可能会更好地深入了解它们对人类可能产生的有益影响。
There is an increasing interest in the disease preventing and/or therapeutic properties of green tea and red wine. Major biologically active constituents in green tea and red wine are tea catechins and procyanidins, respectively. Tea catechins are monomers of flavan-3-ol, and procyanidins are polymers of the flavan-3-ol units such as catechin and epicatechin. These structurally related catechin compounds have extensively been studied for their various biological activities. Tea catechins and procyanidins are known as very strong antioxidants, which can scavenge various forms of free radicals. They may prevent cardiovascular diseases, probably through their ability to inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), to lower the plasma cholesterol level, and to prevent platelet aggregation. In addition, there is increasing evidence of the cancer chemopreventive properties of catechins and procyanidins. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of their beneficial properties, in particular their roles in the signal transduction pathways and gene expression, are of interest. This review discusses our current knowledge and understanding of the biological activities of tea catechins and procyanidins, including their basic chemistry, occurrence, antioxidant activity, effect on heart disease, and effects on signal transduction pathways. Together, these may provide better insights into their possible beneficial effects in human.