Original Article

Inhibitory effects of purified green tea epicatechins on contraction and proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells

Zhen-Yu Chen, Wai-Ip Law, Xiao-Qiang Yao, Chi-Wai Lau, Water Kwok Keung Ho, Yu Huang

Abstract

"AIM:
The present study was aimed to examine the vasorelaxant and antiproliferative responses to purified green tea epicatechin mixture, (-)epicatechin and (-)epigallocatechin gallate on rat arterial smooth muscle cells.
METHODS:
Changes in isometric force were measured by Grass force transducer and effects on cell proliferation were evaluated using [3H]thymidine incorporation assay.
RESULTS:
Epicatechin mixture, (-)epicatechin and (-)epigallocatechin gallate, which we isolated and purified from jasmine green tea, concentration-dependently, reduced the contractile response to phenylephrine in rat isolated aortic rings with (-)epigallocatechin gallate being more effective. These three agents also inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
CONCLUSION:
The purified epicatechin derivatives from jasmine green tea relaxed the isolated rat arteries preconstricted by phenylephrine and inhibited aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation."
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