Description
(-)-Epicatechin (EC) is a flavanol and catechin originally found in Camilla and other plant sources; it exhibits antioxidative, neuroprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, and cardioprotective activities. In animal models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, EC decrease infarct size and improves mitochondrial respiration. In animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, EC decreases levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain and serum, suppressing neuroinflammation. EC also decreases atherosclerotic lesion area, lowering levels of SAA and CRP in vivo.
References
Yamazaki KG, Andreyev AY, Ortiz-Vilchis P, et al. Intravenous (-)-epicatechin reduces myocardial ischemic injury by protecting mitochondrial function. Int J Cardiol. 2014 Aug 1;175(2):297-306. PMID: 24908200.
Zeng YQ, Wang YJ, Zhou XF. Effects of (-)Epicatechin on the Pathology of APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice. Front Neurol. 2014 May 9;5:69. PMID: 24847308.
Morrison M, van der Heijden R, Heeringa P, et al. Epicatechin attenuates atherosclerosis and exerts anti-inflammatory effects on diet-induced human-CRP and NFκB in vivo. Atherosclerosis. 2014 Mar;233(1):149-56. PMID: 24529136.
Butt MS, Ahmad RS, Sultan MT, et al. Green tea and anticancer perspectives: Updates from last decade. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24915354.
