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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject: Green Tea (ECGC) and Neuroprotection
There have been several discussions about green tea. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties it apparently also exhibits some neuroprotective properties and if this has been posted before my apologies. I know several of you know a lot about it.
EGCG was capable of protecting against neuronal injury in living brain tissue induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate or TRAIL and of directly blocking the formation of neurotoxic reactive oxygen species in neurons. Thus, a natural green tea constituent may open up a new therapeutic avenue for young disabled adults with inflammatory brain disease by combining, on one hand, anti-inflammatory and, on the other hand, neuroprotective capacities.
Here's a more recent general abstract from some of the same authors.
I asked someone if green tea (ECGC) was mentioned in this more recent article as something that could potentially target neurodegeneration in people with MS and they assured me it was.
How much of the green tea extract do you take daily? I was going to order some and the description said each tablet was the equivalent of three cups of green tea. I thought that strength was too weak, but didn't know what was the suggested strength to take.
We have investigated the effects of different biologically active components from natural products, including green tea polyphenols (GTP), resveratrol, genistein and organosulfur compounds from garlic, on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and MMP-12 activities. GTP caused the strongest inhibition of the three enzymes, as measured by fluorescence assays using gelatin or elastin as substrates. The inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 caused by GTP was confirmed by gelatin zymography and was observed for MMPs associated with both various rat tissues and human brain tumors (glioblastoma and pituitary tumors). The activities of MMPs were also measured in the presence of various catechins isolated from green tea including (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epicatechin gallate(ECG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin (EC) and (+)-catechin (C). The most potent inhibitors of these activities, as measured by fluorescence and by gelatin or casein zymography, were EGCG and ECG. GTP and the different catechins had no effect on pancreatic elastase, suggesting that the effects of these molecules on MMP activities are specific.
Furthermore, in vitro activation of proMMP-2 secreted from the glioblastomas cell line U-87 by the lectin concanavalin A was completely inhibited by GTP and specifically by EGCG. These results indicate that catechins from green tea inhibit MMP activities and proMMP-2 activation.
I have been reading your posts and other sources analyzing the green tea extracts. There appears to be little doubt of the therapeutic value of the extracts. Until rather recently, however, the FDA was discounting the claims of the value of the extracts. I think a lot of research has come out within the last two years with documentation that does point to their value.
Please don't get your knickers in a knot, because there are a lot of us that have a whole brain operational too.
The peeing comment related to the 6 cups of tea that you consume in addition to the supplements. Next time I will use the smiley icon so you know I am not serious.
Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Near Wash DC
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:22 pm Post subject:
I was a bit excessive in my comment and attitude.
But I did not say that I drink 6 cups of tea. I have two LARGE cups of tea that contains three tea bags (white, green and black). The white tea has lots of flavonoids 195 mg.
Here is some more info on flavonoids and MS on my web storage area.
Abstract:
1: Biochem Pharmacol 2003 Mar 1;65(5):877-85
Flavonoids inhibit myelin phagocytosis by macrophages; a structure-activity relationship study.
Hendriks JJ, de Vries HE, van der Pol SM, van den Berg TK, van Tol EA, Dijkstra
CD.
Department of Molecular Cell Biology, VU Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat
7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Demyelination is a characteristic hallmark of the neuro-inflammatory disease multiple sclerosis. During demyelination, macrophages phagocytose myelin and secrete inflammatory mediators that worsen the disease. Here, we investigated whether flavonoids, naturally occurring immunomodulating compounds, are able to influence myelin phagocytosis by macrophages in vitro. The flavonoids luteolin, quercetin and fisetin most significantly decreased the amount of myelin phagocytosed by a macrophage cell line without affecting its viability. IC(50) values for these compounds ranged from 20 to 80 microM.
The flavonoid structure appeared to be essential for observed effects as flavonoids containing hydroxyl groups at the B-3 and B-4 positions in combination with a C-2,3 double bond were most effective.
The capacity of the various flavonoids to inhibit phagocytosis correlated well with their potency as antioxidant, which is in line with the requirement of reactive oxygen species for the phagocytosis of myelin by macrophages.
Our results implicate that flavonoids may be able to limit the demyelination process during multiple sclerosis.
It's being combined with Copaxone and they're using the standard lesion load outcome measure, but they're also using brain atrophy as a secondary outcome measure. That should provide some info about whether or not it provides neuroprotection.
I would love to know what the ideal dose would be in you are taking the extract.
Sorry if i've missed it but i didn't seem to be able to see it in any of the literature.
I've roughly calculated from the clinical trial info that they are using approximately 380 mg of EGCG (in two doses of 190 mg each) for the first three months of the trial and 760 mg (in two doses of 380 mg each) for the remainder of the trial. I based that on my understanding that the extract they're using is 95% EGCG per 100 mg of extract.
It's my impression that different brands of green tea extract have varying amounts of EGCG so I'd definitely check that out. I did google the brand they're using in the trial and it didn't seem to be readily available in the U.S.
I went out and bought the only one available in the health shop near me before i saw your replies.
I'm in Australia and i don't know if we have access to these other brands.
I'll take the ones i have and then reassess.
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The flavonoid structure appeared to be essential for observed effects as flavonoids containing hydroxyl groups at the B-3 and B-4 positions in combination with a C-2,3 double bond were most effective.
