QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Adcocks, C. Articles by Buttle, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Adcocks, C. Articles by Buttle, D. J.

---

Biochemical and Molecular Action of Nutrients

Catechins from Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Inhibit Bovine and Human Cartilage Proteoglycan and Type II Collagen Degradation In Vitro^{1 ,2}

Division of Genomic Medicine, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK and ^* Coastside BioResources, Stonington, ME 04681

³To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: D.J.Buttle{at}sheffield.ac.uk.

Polyphenolic compounds from green tea have been shown to reduce inflammation in a murine model of inflammatory arthritis, but no studies have been undertaken to investigate whether these compounds are protective to joint tissues. We therefore investigated the effects of catechins found in green tea on cartilage extracellular matrix components using in vitro model systems. Bovine nasal and metacarpophalangeal cartilage as well as human nondiseased, osteoarthritic and rheumatoid cartilage were cultured with and without reagents known to accelerate cartilage matrix breakdown. Individual catechins were added to the cultures and the amount of released proteoglycan and type II collagen was measured by metachromatic assay and inhibition ELISA, respectively. Possible nonspecific or toxic effects of the catechins were assessed by lactate output and proteoglycan synthesis. Catechins, particularly those containing a gallate ester, were effective at micromolar concentrations at inhibiting proteoglycan and type II collagen breakdown. No toxic effects of the catechins were evident. We conclude that some green tea catechins are chondroprotective and that consumption of green tea may be prophylactic for arthritis and may benefit the arthritis patient by reducing inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown. Further studies will be required to determine whether these compounds access the joint space in sufficient concentration and in a form capable of providing efficacy in vivo.

KEY WORDS: • green tea • catechin • cartilage breakdown • proteoglycan • type II collagen

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. R. Kim, R. Rajaiah, Q.-L. Wu, S. R. Satpute, M. T. Tan, J. E. Simon, B. M. Berman, and K. D. Moudgil Green Tea Protects Rats against Autoimmune Arthritis by Modulating Disease-Related Immune Events J. Nutr., November 1, 2008; 138(11): 2111 - 2116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ahmed, J. Anuntiyo, C. J. Malemud, and T. M. Haqqi Biological Basis for the Use of Botanicals in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., September 1, 2005; 2(3): 301 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Crespy and G. Williamson A Review of the Health Effects of Green Tea Catechins in In Vivo Animal Models J. Nutr., December 1, 2004; 134(12): 3431S - 3440S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ahmed, N. Wang, M. Lalonde, V. M. Goldberg, and T. M. Haqqi Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) Differentially Inhibits Interleukin-1{beta}-Induced Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and -13 in Human Chondrocytes J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., February 1, 2004; 308(2): 767 - 773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Ulrich-Vinther, M. D. Maloney, E. M. Schwarz, R. Rosier, and R. J. O'Keefe Articular Cartilage Biology J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., November 1, 2003; 11(6): 421 - 430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]