Potential Therapeutic Targets of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), the Most Abundant Catechin in Green Tea, and Its Role in the Therapy of Various Types of Cancer

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 25; no. 14; p. 3146
• Main Authors: Almatroodi, Saleh A, Almatroudi, Ahmad, Khan, Amjad Ali, Alhumaydhi, Fahad A, Alsahli, Mohammed A, Rahmani, Arshad Husain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09.07.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Anti-inflammatory agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacokinetics; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bioavailability; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Carcinogenesis; Carcinogens; Catechin; Catechin - analogs & derivatives; Catechin - chemistry; Catechin - pharmacokinetics; Catechin - therapeutic use; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; cell signaling pathways; Chemopreventive agents; Clinical trials; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug Carriers - pharmacokinetics; Drug Carriers - therapeutic use; EGCG; Encapsulation; Epigallocatechin gallate; Green tea; Humans; Inflammation; Micelles; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - therapeutic use; Nanotechnology; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Prevention; Reagents; Review; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Synergistic effect; Tea; Tea - chemistry; Therapeutic applications; Toxicity; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vascular endothelial growth factor; cancer; cell signaling pathways; clinical trials; bioavailability; EGCG; synergistic effect
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143146

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an active compound of green tea and its role in diseases cure and prevention has been proven. Its role in diseases management can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-cancer role of this green tea compound has been confirmed in various types of cancer and is still being under explored. EGCG has been proven to possess a chemopreventive effect through inhibition of carcinogenesis process such as initiation, promotion, and progression. In addition, this catechin has proven its role in cancer management through modulating various cell signaling pathways such as regulating proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and killing of various types of cancer cells. The additive or synergistic effect of epigallocatechin with chemopreventive agents has been verified as it reduces the toxicities and enhances the anti-cancerous effects. Despite its effectiveness and safety, the implications of EGCG in cancer prevention is certainly still discussed due to a poor bioavailability. Several studies have shown the ability to overcome poor bioavailability through nanotechnology-based strategies such as encapsulation, liposome, micelles, nanoparticles and various other formulation. In this review, we encapsulate therapeutic implication of EGCG in cancer management and the mechanisms of action are discussed with an emphasis on human clinical trials.