Signal transduction pathways: targets for green and black tea polyphenols

J Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Jan 31;36(1):66-77.

Abstract

Tea is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the world and has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer activity in animal models. Research findings suggest that the polyphenolic compounds, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate found primarily in green tea, and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate, a major component of black tea, are the two most effective anti-cancer factors found in tea. Several mechanisms to explain the chemopreventive effects of tea have been presented but others and we suggest that tea components target specific cell-signaling pathways responsible for regulating cellular proliferation or apoptosis. These pathways include signal transduction pathways leading to activator protein-1 (AP-1) and/or nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). AP-1 and NF-kappaB are transcription factors that are known to be extremely important in tumor promoterinduced cell transformation and tumor promotion, and both are influenced differentially by the MAP kinase pathways. The purpose of this brief review is to present recent research data from other and our laboratory focusing on the tea-induced cellular signal transduction events associated with the MAP kinase, AP-1, and NF-kappaB pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Arsenic / toxicity
  • Biflavonoids*
  • Catechin*
  • Flavonoids*
  • Growth Substances / metabolism
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Proteins / drug effects
  • I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Phenols / metabolism*
  • Phenols / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Polymers / metabolism*
  • Polymers / pharmacology*
  • Polyphenols
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tea / chemistry*
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / drug effects
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / radiation effects
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Biflavonoids
  • Flavonoids
  • Growth Substances
  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • Phenols
  • Polymers
  • Polyphenols
  • Tea
  • Transcription Factor AP-1
  • Transcription Factors
  • theaflavin
  • Catechin
  • Arsenic