Green Tea Catechins Effectively Altered Hepatic Fibrogenesis in Rats by Inhibiting ERK and Smad1/2 Phosphorylation

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2019-05, Vol.67 (19), p.5437-5445
• Main Authors: Wang, Liwen, Yang, Guliang, Yuan, Li, Yang, Yiwen, Zhao, Hui, Ho, Chi-Tang, Li, Shiming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Catechin - administration & dosage; Catechin - chemistry; Female; Humans; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver Cirrhosis - drug therapy; Liver Cirrhosis - genetics; Liver Cirrhosis - metabolism; MAP Kinase Signaling System - drug effects; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Smad1 Protein - genetics; Smad1 Protein - metabolism; Smad2 Protein - genetics; Smad2 Protein - metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05179

Polyphenols derived from green tea have been reported to have a wide range of profound functions. Tea catechins, including epicatechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), are considered as the major bioactive polyphenols in tea. The present study was designed to elucidate the potential antifibrogenic role of three abundant tea catechins (ECG, EGC, and EGCG) in a CCl4-induced fibrotic rat and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Tea catechins, especially groups of ECG, EGC, and EGCG, effectively induced several beneficial alterations of liver injury markers, oxidative status, and liver histology. Furthermore, catechins ameliorated liver fibrosis, as evidenced by the reduced expression of desmin, α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), and downstream ERK1/2 and Smad1/2 phosphorylation. The most significant inhibitory effect on those proteins was observed in ECG (300 mg/kg) and EGCG (300 mg/kg) groups. In addition, catechins conferred their protective role by downregulating the proinflammation cytokines TGF-β, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 17. It is postulated that tea catechins, particularly ECG and EGCG, are potential therapeutic candidates in antifibrotic therapy.