Epigallocatechin Gallate Modulates Muscle Homeostasis in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity by Targeting Energetic and Redox Pathways: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Obesity is associated with the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipose tissue, affecting the healthy secretion profile of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines. Increased influx of fatty acids and inflammatory adipokines from adipose tissue can induce muscle oxidative stress and inflammation and negatively regulate myocyte metabolism. Muscle has emerged as an important mediator of homeostatic control through the consumption of energy substrates, as well as governing systemic signaling networks. In muscle, obesity is related to decreased glucose uptake, deregulation of lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This review focuses on the effect of epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) on oxidative stress and inflammation, linked to the metabolic dysfunction of skeletal muscle in obesity and their underlying mechanisms. EGCG works by increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes, by reversing the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in skeletal muscle and regulating mitochondria-involved autophagy. Moreover, EGCG increases muscle lipid oxidation and stimulates glucose uptake in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle. EGCG acts by modulating cell signaling including the NF-κB, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, and through epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation.

The (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia - mediated oxidative stress in liver and kidney of alloxan induced diabetic mice

“…These enzymes are supposed to respond in a compensatory response, increasing enzyme activity in diabetic mice, in an attempt to maintain homeostasis. Our findings on disturbed ROS enzymatic levels due to hyperglycaemia and their amelioration by plant extract are congruent with previous reports [30][31].…”

Science and Healthy Meals in the World: Nutritional Epigenomics and Nutrigenetics of the Mediterranean Diet

“…Epigallocatechin has been widely described as an epigenetic modulator and is a component of some MD fruits, such as as cranberries and pomegranates [86,87]; it has been even proposed as an epigenetic adjuvant in Down Syndrome management to balance the abnormal DNA methlyation caused by the overdose of chromosome 21 genes [88]. Epigallocatechin is also able to regulate the expression of some important genes, among which are those encoding phase II antioxidant enzymes, DNA methyltransferases, and histone acetyl transferases: all these genes are capable of triggering/mediating numerous crucial epigenetic mechanisms in cells [89].…”

Herbal Active Ingredients: An Emerging Potential for the Prevention and Treatment of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

“…Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is the major catechin in tea, shows remarkable protective effects against several chronic inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, myocardial ischemia, bronchitis, and asthma [65][66][67][68][69][70]. EGCG exerts chemopreventive effects on various tumors and selectively inhibits various cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion via regulating VEGF, MAPK, PI3K, and Wnt pathways [71][72][73].…”