Anti-atherogenic role of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in South Indian smokers

Venkateswarlu Reddy Kanu; Swetha Pulakuntla; Gouthami Kuruvalli; Sreelatha Aramgam; Shakeela Begum Marthadu; Padmavathi Pannuru; Ananda Vardhan Hebbani; Padma Priya Dharmavaram Desai; Kameswara Rao Badri; Damodara Reddy Vaddi

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118298

Anti-atherogenic role of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in South Indian smokers

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 May 5:118298. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118298. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bengaluru (Bangalore) -560064, KA, India.
² School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bengaluru (Bangalore) -560064, KA, India; Department of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, GA, Atlanta-30310, USA.
³ Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapuramu-515003, AP, India.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, Indian Academy Degree College, Bengaluru-560043, India.
⁵ Department of Basic Sciences, New Horizon College of Engineering, Bengaluru-560103 India.
⁶ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, GA, Atlanta-30310, USA; Clinical Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Clinical Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, GA, Atlanta-30310, USA. Electronic address: kbadri@msm.edu.
⁷ School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bengaluru (Bangalore) -560064, KA, India; Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapuramu-515003, AP, India. Electronic address: damodara.reddyv@reva.edu.in.

PMID: 38714238
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118298

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a popular beverage consumed all over the world due to its health benefits. Many of these beneficial effects of green tea are attributed to polyphenols, particularly catechins.

Aim of the study: The present study focuses on underlying anti-platelet aggregation, anti-thrombotic, and anti-lipidemic molecular mechanisms of green tea in South Indian smokers.

Materials and methods: We selected 120 South Indian male volunteers for this study to collect the blood and categorised them into four groups; control group individuals (Controls), smokers, healthy control individuals consuming green tea, and smokers consuming green tea. Smokers group subjects have been smoking an average 16-18 cigarettes per day for the last 7 years or more. The subjects (green tea consumed groups) consumed 100 mL of green tea each time, thrice a day for a one-year period.

Results: LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of multiple phytocompounds along with catechins in green tea extract. Increased plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyls, cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol with decreased HDL-cholesterol levels were observed in smokers compared to the control group and the consumption of green tea showed beneficial effect. Furthermore, docking studies revealed that natural compounds of green tea had high binding energy with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA) when compared to their positive controls, whereas (-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and (-) epicatechin-gallate (ECG) had high binding energy with sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP1c). Further, our ex vivo studies showed that green tea extract (GTE) significantly inhibited platelet aggregation and increased thrombolytic activity in a dose dependent manner.

Conclusion: In conclusion, in smokers, catechins synergistically lower oxidative stress, platelet aggregation and modify an aberrant lipid profile. Furthermore, molecular docking studies supported green tea catechins' antihyperlipidemic efficacy through strong inhibitory activity on HMG-CoA reductase and SREBP1c. The mitigating effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors in smokers that have been reported can be attributed majorly to catechins or to their synergistic effects.

Keywords: Cigarette smoking; Green tea; Hyperlipidemia; Platelet Aggregation.