Green Tea Molecule Could Prevent Heart Attacks Caused by Atherosclerosis,

Researchers found that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), most commonly associated with green tea, binds to the amyloid fibres of apoA-1. This converts the fibres to smaller soluble molecules that are less likely to be damaging to blood vessels.

Now, the team are working on finding ways of introducing effective amounts of EGCG into the bloodstream without it being necessary to drink large and potentially harmful quantities of green tea. This could involve modifying the chemical structure of EGCG, making it easier to be absorbed from the stomach and more resistant to metabolism, or developing new methods to deliver the molecule to the plaques – such as via an injection.

David Middleton, Professor in Chemistry at Lancaster University, said:

“The health benefits of green tea have been widely promoted and it has been known for some time that EGCG can alter the structures of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our results show that this intriguing compound might also be effective against the types of plaques which can cause heart attacks and strokes.”

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Our bodies are very good at breaking down EGCG so swapping your cuppa for green tea is unlikely to make a big difference with respect to your heart health. “But by engineering the molecule slightly, we might be able to make new medicines to treat heart attack and stroke.”

Professor Sheena Radford, Director of the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds and co-author of the research, said: “The findings of this round of studies are very encouraging. We now need to apply the best scientific techniques to find how we can take the molecular EGCG element from green tea, and turn it into a functioning tool to combat life-limiting health issues.”

Contacts and sources
Jennifer Mitchell
British Heart Foundation