Effects of (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate on some protein factors involved in the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway

（-）-Epigallocatechin gallate （EGCG）, a major polyphenolic constituent of green tea, can inhibit activity of specific receptor tyrosine kinases （RTKs） and related downstream signal transduction pathways, resulting in the control of unwanted cell proliferation. The epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） signaling pathway is one of the most important pathways that regulates growth, survival,proliferation and differentiation in mammalian cells. This review addresses the effects of EGCG on some protein factors involved in the EGFR signaling pathway in a direct or indirect manner. Based on our understanding of the interaction between EGCG and these factors, and based on their structures, EGCG could be used as a lead compound for designing and synthesizing novel drugs with significant biological activity.

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers for solid-phase extraction of （-）-epigallocatechin gallate from toothpaste

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers （SMIPs） have been synthesized to selectively determine （-）-epigallocatechin gallate in aqueous media. SMIPs were prepared using a surface grafting copolymerization method on a functionalized silica gel modified with β-cyclodextrin and vinyl groups. The morphology and composition of the SMIPs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the molecular binding capacity, recognition properties and selectivity of the SMIPs were evaluated. The imprinted polymers were found to have a highly specific recognition and binding capacity for aqueous media which is （-）-epigallocatechin gallate in the result of the hydrophobic properties of the β-cyclodextrin and the hydrogen-bonding interactions of methacrylic acid. The SMIPs were successfully employed as solid-phase extraction adsor- bents prior to the HPLC determination of （-）-epigallocatechin gallate in toothpaste. The HPLC analysis had a linear dynamic range of 0.5-50.0 μg·mL^-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and the recoveries ranged from 89.4% to 97.0% with relative standard deviations less than 4.8%. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.17 and 0.33 μg·mL^-1, respectively. The method provides a promising approach for the preparation of selective materials for the purification and determination of complex samples.

Molecular mechanisms of chemopreventive phytochemicals against gastroenterological cancer development

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.Commonly used cancer treatments,including chemotherapy and radiation therapy,often have side effects and a complete cure is sometimes impossible.Therefore,prevention,suppression,and/or delaying the onset of the disease are important.The onset of gastroenterological cancers is closely associated with an individual's lifestyle.Thus,changing lifestyle,specifically the consumption of fruits and vegetables,can help to protect against the development of gastroenterological cancers.In particular,naturally occurring bioactive compounds,including curcumin,resveratrol,isothiocyanates,(-)-epigallocatechin gallate and sulforaphane,are regarded as promising chemopreventive agents.Hence,regular consumption of these natural bioactive compounds found in foods can contribute to prevention,suppression,and/or delay of gastroenterological cancer development.In this review,we will summarize natural phytochemicals possessing potential antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities,which are exerted by regulating or targeting specific molecules against gastroenterological cancers,including esophageal,gastric and colon cancers.

Long Non-coding RNAs Expression Profile in HepG2 Cells Reveals the Potential Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Cholesterol Metabolism

Background：Green tea has been shown to improve cholesterol metabolism in animal studies,but the molecular mechanisms underlying this function have not been fully understood.Long non-coding RNAs （lncRNAs） have recently emerged as a major class of regulatory molecules involved in a broad range of biological processes and complex diseases.Our aim was to identify important lncRNAs that might play an important role in contributing to the benefits of epigallocatechin-3-gallate （EGCG） on cholesterol metabolism.Methods：Microarrays was used to reveal the lncRNA and mRNA profiles in green tea polyphenol（-）-epigallocatechin gallate in cultured human liver （HepG2） hepatocytes treated with EGCG and bioinformatic analyses of the predicted target genes were performed to identify lncRNA-mRNA targeting relationships.RNA interference was used to investigate the role of lncRNAs in cholesterol metabolism.Results：The expression levels of 15 genes related to cholesterol metabolism and 285 lncRNAs were changed by EGCG treatment.Bioinformatic analysis found five matched lncRNA-mRNA pairs for five differentially expressed lncRNAs and four differentially expressed mRNA.In particular,the lncRNA4 T102202 and its potential targets mRNA-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase （HMGCR） were identified.Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique,we confirmed that EGCG down-regulated mRNA expression level of the HMGCR and up-regulated expression ofAT102202.After AT102202 knockdown in HepG2,we observed that the level of HMGCR expression was significantly increased relative to the scrambled small interfering RNA control （P 〈 0.05）.Conclusions：Our results indicated that EGCG improved cholesterol metabolism and meanwhile changed the lncRNAs expression profile in HepG2 cells.LncRNAs may play an important role in the cholesterol metabolism.