Catechins are flavonoids (types of polyphenols) found throughout vascular plants, and in many herbal medicines. High concentrations are known in fresh tea leaves, red wine, black grapes, apricots, strawberries and broad beans.
The molecular structure contains two chiral centers, and therefore four diasteroisomers—when two of those isomers are in trans configuration, then it is called a catechin; when in cis configuration, then it is called epicatechin.
Among theier possible health benefits:
· Antioxidant
· Antimicrobial
· Cardiovascular Health
· Cognitive Health
· Weight Management
· Skin Health
· Cancer
Among the most studied catechins for their effects on human health are the green tea catechins. Green Tea consumption has been associated with a number of health benefits including prevention or reduction of serious disease such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Despite the many studies showing benefit, there is the paradoxical fact that catechins are poorly bioavailable. A study published this year shines further light into our understanding of their mechanisms of action for human health, focusing on their microbial-transferred metabolites.
The study found that the GI tract exerted a strong metabolic effect on catechins and uncovered 35 microbial-transferred metabolites, which is many more than found previously. This opened up our understanding of green tea catechins with new associations of the corresponding metabolic pathways, biological activities, and alteration of gut microbiota (which may be further associated with the green tea catechin metabolism).
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