Epigallocatechin Gallate from Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Increases Lifespan and Stress Resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a major green tea polyphenol with pronounced antioxidative activity. The effects of EGCG on lifespan and stress resistance in wild-type N2 and transgenic strains of Caenorhabditis elegans [hsp-16.2/GFP, mev-1(kn1), fem-1(hc17)] were investigated. The expression of hsp-16.2 (induced by the pro-oxidant juglone) and the intracellular levels of H₂O₂ were inhibited by EGCG treatment. Daily administration of 220 μM EGCG increased the mean lifespan by 10.14 % and 14.27 % in N2 and fem-1(hc17) strains, respectively, and 55 μM EGCG increased the mean lifespan in mev-1(kn1) by 16.11 %. The survival rate was also increased under lethal oxidative stress by 65.05 %. These findings suggest that the increased mean lifespan and stress resistance in C. elegans apparently depend, among other factors, on the antioxidant properties of EGCG.

EGCG - Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditidae) - lifespan - free radicals - juglone - Camellia sinensis (Theaceae)

References

• 1 Weisburger J H. Tea antioxidants and health. In: Cardenas E, Packer L, editors Handbook of antioxidants. New York; Marcel Dekker 1996: 469-86
• 2 Van Wyk B A, Wink M. Medicinal plants of the world. Portland; Timber 2004: 388-91
• 3 Wink M. Wie funktionieren Phytopharmaka? Wirkmechanismen der Vielstoffgemische.  Z Phytother. 2005;  26 262-79
• 4 Hollman P CH, Feskens E JM, Katan M B. Tea flavonols in cardiovascular disease and cancer epidemiology.  Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1999;  220 198-202
• 5 Guo Q, Zhao B L, Shen S R, Hou J W, Hu J G, Xin W J. ESR study on the structure-antioxidant activity relationship of tea catechins and their epimers.  Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999;  1427 13-23
• 6 Beal M F. Aging, energy, and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases.  Ann Neurol. 1995;  38 357-66
• 7 Harman D. Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry.  J Gerontol Biol Sci. 1956;  11 298-300
• 8 Harman D. Free radical theory of aging.  Mutat Res. 1992;  275 257-66
• 9 Brenner S. The genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans.  Genetics. 1974;  77 71-94
• 10 Glenn C F, Chow D K, David L, Cooke C A, Gami M S, Iser W B. et al . Behavioral deficits during early stages of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans result from locomotory deficits possibly linked to muscle frailty.  J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004;  59 1251-60
• 11 Lakowski B, Hekimi S. The genetics of caloric restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans. .  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1998;  95 13 091-6
• 12 Klass M R. Aging in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: major biological and environmental factors influencing life span.  Mech Ageing Dev. 1977;  6 413-29
• 13 Blois M S. Antioxidant determinations by the use of a stable free radical.  Nature. 1958;  26 1199-200
• 14 Robak J, Gryglewski R J. Flavonoids are scavengers of superoxide anions.  Biochem Pharmacol. 1988;  37 837-41
• 15 Sulston J, Hodgkin J. Methods. In: Wood WB, editor. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.  Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Press;  1988 587-606
• 16 Apfeld J, Kenyon G. Regulation of lifespan by sensory perception in Caenorhabditis elegans. .  Nature. 1999;  402 804-9
• 17 Ishii N, Fujii M, Hartman P S, Tsuda M, Yasuda K, Senoo-Matsuda N. et al . A mutation in succinate dehydrongenase cytochrome b causes oxidative stress and aging in nematodes.  Nature. 1998;  394 694-7
• 18 Liu Z Q, Ma L P, Zhou B, Yang L, Liu Z L. Antioxidative effects of green tea polyphenols on free radical initiated and photosensitized peroxidation of human low density lipoprotein.  Chem Phys Lipids. 2000;  106 53-63
• 19 Hu C, Kitts D D. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of epigallocatechin gallate in biphasic model systems in vitro. .  Mol Cell Biochem. 2001;  218 147-55
• 20 Wickens A P. Aging and the free radical theory.  Respir Physiol. 2001;  128 379-91
• 21 Brown M K, Evans J L, Luo Y. Beneficial effects of natural antioxidants EGCG and α-lipoic acid on lifespan and age-dependent behavioral declines in Caenorhabditis elegans. .  Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006;  85 620-8
• 22 Strayer A, Wu Z, Christen Y, Link C D, Luo Y. Expression of the small heat-shock protein Hsp-16 – 2 in Caenorhabditis elegans is suppressed by Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761.  FASEB J. 2003;  17 2305-7
• 23 Gutierrez-Zepeda A, Santell R, Wu Z, Brown M, Wu Y, Khan I. et al . Soy isoflavone glycitein protects against beta amyloid-induced toxicity and oxidative stress in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans.  BMC Neurosci. 2005;  6 54
• 24 Link C D, Cypser J R, Johnson C J, Johnson T E. Direct observation of stress response in Caenorhabditis elegans using a reporter transgene.  Cell Stress Chaperones. 1999;  4 235-42
• 25 Hassan H M, Fridovich I. Intracellular production of superoxide radical and of hydrogen peroxide by redox active compounds.  Arch Biochem Biophys. 1979;  196 385-95
• 26 Sampayo J N, Olsen A, Lithgow G J. Oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans: protective effects of superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics.  Aging Cell. 2003;  2 319-26
• 27 Weisburger J H. Tea and health: a historical perspective.  Cancer Lett. 1997;  114 315-7
• 28 Wilson M A, Shukitt-Hale B, Kalt W, Ingram D K, Joseph J A, Wolkow C A. Blueberry polyphenols increase lifespan and thermotolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. .  Aging Cell. 2006;  5 59-68
• 29 Wu Z, Smith J V, Paramasivam V, Butko P, Khan I, Cypser J R. et al . Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 increases stress resistance and extends life span of Caenorhabditis elegans. .  Cell Mol Biol. 2002;  48 725-31
• 30 Kenyon C, Chang J, Gensch E, Rudner A, Tabtiang R. A C. elegans mutant that lives twice as long as wild type.  Nature. 1993;  366 461-4