The Role and Mechanisms of Action of Catechins in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

The prevalence, incidence and mortality rates of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are gradually increasing. New approaches are being developed to manage the progression and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Catechins, polyphenolic compounds, are key compounds that demonstrate therapeutic effects with their properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic properties in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The therapeutic effects of catechins have been exhaustively studied in human and animal models. Catechins can have anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing inflammatory pathways and cytokines, as well as antioxidant effects such as chelating metal ions and scavenging radicals. They might reduce phosphorylation of tau proteins, aggregation of amyloid-beta and apoptotic proteins release. They can also decrease alpha-synuclein accumulation and increase dopamine levels. With all these effects, they can have an effect on neurodegenerative diseases. This review points to the potential mechanisms of catechins in neurodegenerative diseases, based on their findings in the literature review.

Key teaching points

• Catechins can reduce amyloid-β plaque aggregation and tau phosphorylation.

• Catechins can decrease alfa-synuclein levels.

• Catechins can protect neuronal cells with their anti-apoptotic effect.

• More comprehensive studies are needed to clarify this issue.

Keywords:

• Catechins
• EGCG
• neurodegenerative diseases
• neuroprotective effect
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

Funding support hasn’t been received for this study.

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.