Therapeutic effects of EGCG: a patent review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Green tea contains polyphenolic flavanoids such as epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin (EC). EGCG is the most abundant and active compound in green tea. Extensive research has shown that it has significant antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, and neuroprotective properties and has therapeutic potential against various human diseases.

Areas covered: This review focuses on the applications of EGCG alone, and in combination with other compounds, for the treatment of various types of cancers, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and microbial diseases, and discusses its mechanism of action in cell line and animal modesl. Recent advances, which include the use of nanoencapsulated EGCG to enhance the drug delivery and reduce cell toxicity, have also been discussed along with the comprehensive analysis of the specific granted patents associated with EGCG.

Expert opinion: Under the current scenario, the role of EGCG as a therapeutic agent is being utilised and new approaches are being formulated to overcome the problem of stability and bioavailability of EGCG. EGCG and its derivatives could be used for the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer, as well as various microbial, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-carcinogenic
• anti-microbial
• antioxidant
• bioavailability
• metabolic diseases
• nanoencapsulation
• neuroprotective

Article highlights

• EGCG has multiple molecular targets and exhibits multitude of therapeutic effects against various human diseases.

• EGCG inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis and triggers cell cycle arrest by regulating various enzymes involved in cell cycle.

• Green tea consumption leads to reduction in heart rate and plasma glucose concentrations in overweight individuals and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.

• EGCG exhibits the anti-microbial activity by inhibiting the activity of several bacterial enzymes and causes damage to the bacterial cell membrane.

• EGCG is useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and HIV-associated dementia.

• Numerous alterations of EGCG have been patented to improve the bioavailability and stability of the native compound.

• Recent advances to increase the bio-availability of EGCG and enhance the drug delivery include the use of nano-complexes and synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable EGCG encapsulated nanostructured lipid carriers. This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, for providing the infrastructural facility to carry out the work.

Declaration of interest

The authors were supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.