Table.

Biological Effects, Mechanisms, Molecular Targets and Chemical Structures Involved in the Cardioprotective Effect of Green Tea Catechins

Cardioprotective Effects	Mechanisms	Molecular Targets	Required Chemical Structures
Antioxidant effect	Scavenge free radicals	↓ O2•−, NO•, 1O2, ONOO−	Hydroxyl and gallate
	Chelate metal ions	Chelate copper and iron	Hydroxyl and gallate
	⊖ redox active transcription factors	⊖ NF-kB, AP-1	Unknown
	⊖ pro-oxidant enzymes	⊖ iNOS, XO	Unknown
	Up regulate antioxidant enzymes	↑ catalase, GPx, SOD	Unknown
	Sparing of antioxidants	Sparing tocopherol	Unknown
Improvement of lipid metabolism	⊖ cholesterol synthesis	⊖ squalene epoxidase	Gallate
	↑ Cholesterol excretion	Bind to cholesterol	Gallate
	↓ Cholesterol absorption	Bind to cholesterol	Gallate
	↓ Triglycerides	⊖ phospholipase	Hydroxyl
	↓ Fatty acid synthesis	⊖ acetyl CoA carboxylase ⊖ β-ketoacyl reductase of FAS	Gallate Gallate
Improvement of endothelial function	NO-dependent vasodilation	↑ eNOS	Unknown
	NO-independent vasodilation	↑ prostacyclin ↑ cytosolic cAMP, cGMP	Gallate Unknown
Anti-inflammatory effect	⊖ Adhesion of leucocytes to ECs	↓ VCAM, MCP-1	Gallate
	+ Apoptosis of monocytes	↑ caspase 8 and 9	Unknown
Anti-proliferative effect	⊖ VSMC growth	⊖ PCNA ⊖ PDGF	Gallate Unknown
	⊖ VSMC migration	⊖ MMP-2	Unknown
Anti-platelet and Anti-thrombiotic effects	⊖ platelet aggregation	⊖ cytoplasmic Ca2+ release ⊖ PAF	Unknown Unknown
	⊖ Thrombosis	⊖ Thromboxane A2 synthase Scavenge free radicals	Unknown Hydroxyl and gallate

↑, increase; ↓, decrease; ⊖, inhibition; +, activation.