Description
(-)-Epigallocatechin (EGC) is a flavanol/catechin originally found in Camilla and other plant sources; it exhibits antioxidative, neuromodulatory, antithrombotic/anticoagulant, anticancer, anti-metastatic, and anti-osteoporotic activities. EGC displays agonist activity at cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors. In vivo, EGC inhibits platelet aggregation and increases activated partial thromboplastin time. Additionally, EGC inhibits expression of FLT3 and decreases phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, Akt, and STAT5 in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells, suppressing cell proliferation. In breast cancer cells, EGC inhibits cell migration and invasion. This compound also decreases adipocyte formation, suppresses expression of PPARγ, CEBP, and FABP4, and increases osteogenic differentiation in vitro.