What are the benefits of epicatechin?
What is epicatechin?
Epicatechin is a natural plant flavanol compound that exists naturally in the dry leaves of the tea plant of the Theaceae family and is the main body of physiologically active substances in green tea extract. Together with epigallocatechin, catechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate, they are collectively referred to as catechin compounds. It is an isomer of catechin. Epicatechin is one of the important active ingredients in plants, foods, and Chinese medicinal materials, and is widely found in tea, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, and grains. As a flavonoid substance, epicatechin has many physiological activities, such as anti-oxidation, lipid-lowering and blood sugar-lowering, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, anti-inflammatory, nerve protection, and antibacterial effects.
From the chemical structure point of view, epicatechin belongs to the flavanols in flavonoid compounds. Flavonoid compounds are a class of natural products with a wide range of biological activities, and flavanols have unique structures and properties among them. The molecular structure of epicatechin contains multiple hydroxyl groups, which endow it with many special physiological activities.
In plants, the presence of epicatechin has many meanings. For example, in tea, it is an important contributor to the quality and health benefits of tea. The content and composition of epicatechin in different types of tea vary, which also leads to differences in taste, aroma and health functions of different teas. In cocoa, epicatechin is also a key component that affects the quality and health value of cocoa.
What are the benefits of epicatechin?
Antioxidation and free radical scavenging
Epicatechin is a powerful antioxidant that can scavenge free radicals produced by the human body, protect cell membranes, slow down human aging and resist aging. Its antioxidant activity is even higher than that of vitamin E. As a type of catechin, epicatechin has a strong antioxidant effect and can enhance the ability of plasma to scavenge free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation and damage. It effectively reduces the damage of free radicals to cells, protects biological macromolecules such as cell membranes and DNA, thereby delaying aging and preventing diseases.
Lipid and blood sugar lowering
Lipid lowering: epicatechin can reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increase the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which helps prevent and treat hyperlipidemia.
Blood sugar lowering: By increasing insulin secretion and lowering blood sugar levels, epicatechin has a preventive and therapeutic effect on diabetes and its complications.
Cardiovascular protection
Epicatechin can reduce insulin resistance, reduce vascular resistance, promote vasodilation, and inhibit the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.
Neuroprotection
Epicatechin can promote nerve regeneration and repair, and enhance the metabolism and function of nerve cells. Prevent and treat neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Change the distribution of intestinal microorganisms
Epicatechins can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria (such as botulism) without harming the reproduction of beneficial bacteria (such as lactic acid bacteria), and play a role in regulating the intestine.
Increase nitric oxide levels
Epicatechin can inhibit the process of decomposing nitric oxide in the blood, increasing nitric oxide. Nitric oxide can relax blood vessels (vasodilation) and increase oxygen and nutrient delivery, which has a positive effect on athletic performance. For example, increases in muscle endurance, strength, recovery and growth may be the result of increased vasodilation caused by increased nitric oxide levels.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Epicatechin has an inhibitory effect on a variety of pathogens, can improve the distribution of intestinal microorganisms, and prevent and treat infectious diseases.
Deodorizing
Epicatechin can inhibit the odor-causing bacteria in the intestines, thus removing bad breath.
How does epicatechin lower blood sugar levels?
Improve insulin sensitivity
Epicatechin can promote the secretion of insulin and enhance the sensitivity of cells to insulin. Insulin is a key hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Its increased sensitivity helps cells use glucose more efficiently, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
Promote glucose metabolism
Epicatechin can accelerate the metabolic process of glucose in cells, convert glucose into energy or other metabolites more quickly, and reduce the amount of glucose in the blood.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
Epicatechin has a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, which can reduce the damage of free radicals and inflammatory factors to pancreatic beta cells and protect the function and number of pancreatic beta cells. Pancreatic beta cells are the main cells that secrete insulin, and their stable function is essential for maintaining blood sugar balance.
Regulate the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism
Epicatechin can also regulate the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism, affect the activity of key enzymes in the sugar metabolism pathway, and thus regulate blood sugar levels. This regulatory effect may be achieved through the interaction between epicatechin and the promoter region of specific genes.
Inhibit gluconeogenesis
Gluconeogenesis is the process of converting non-sugar substances into glucose in the liver and kidneys. Epicatechin can inhibit this process, reduce the production of endogenous glucose, and help lower blood sugar levels.
Improve insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is an important feature of diabetes, which is manifested as a decrease in the responsiveness of cells to insulin. Epicatechin can improve the state of insulin resistance through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, making cells sensitive to insulin again, so that glucose can be used more efficiently.
Antioxidant mechanism of epicatechin
Scavenging free radicals: Epicatechin can directly scavenge free radicals in the body, thereby preventing free radicals from damaging cells.
Inhibiting lipid peroxidation: By inhibiting lipid peroxidation, epicatechin can further protect cells from oxidative damage.
Promoting endothelial function: epicatechin helps improve endothelial function, which is closely related to its antioxidant effect.
Regulating the level of nitric oxide: epicatechin can relax vascular smooth muscle by regulating the level of nitric oxide (NO), thereby promoting vasodilation, which also indirectly reflects its antioxidant ability.
Chelating metal ions: epicatechin can chelate metal ions, thereby antagonizing the occurrence of oxidative reactions
Activating antioxidant defense enzymes: epicatechin can also activate the antioxidant defense enzyme system in the body and enhance the body's antioxidant capacity.
Influencing cell signaling pathways: By regulating cell signaling pathways, epicatechin can inhibit oxidative stress and further exert its antioxidant effect.
Study on antioxidant activity: Study on the antioxidant activity of (-)-epicatechin in golden buckwheat showed that it has good superoxide anion free radical scavenging ability and hydroxyl free radical scavenging ability, as well as high reducing power.
What can epicatechin be used for?
Health care products
Epicatechin is also widely used in the health care products industry. Because of its antioxidant, lipid-lowering and glucose-lowering effects, it can be added to health foods as a functional ingredient to enhance the health benefits of the product.
Sports supplements
Epicatechin has also been studied for increasing nitric oxide levels in the body. Nitric oxide is a molecule responsible for telling our blood vessels to relax, a process known as vasodilation. Increasing oxygen and nutrient delivery can have a huge positive impact on athletic performance. Increased muscle endurance, strength, recovery, and growth may all be the result of increased vasodilation caused by increased nitric oxide levels.
Food industry
In the food industry, epicatechin can be used for antioxidant, freshness preservation, and deodorization. It is the main component of green tea polyphenols and is a catechin monomer isolated from tea leaves.
Cosmetic industry
As a natural antioxidant, epicatechin has been widely used in the cosmetics field and has been proven to be a safe and effective ingredient. It can be used as an additive to make skin care products and cosmetics.
Medicine
The application of epicatechin in the pharmaceutical industry is mainly to utilize its physiological activity. It can act as an antioxidant to protect biological membranes from oxidative damage induced by free radicals. In addition, epicatechin also has a lipid-lowering effect, can prevent atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases and other biological functions, and is even considered to be stronger than vitamin E.
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