Potent inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor from green tea
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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Study on the Metabolism of Six Systemic Insecticides in a Newly Established Cell Suspension Culture Derived from Tea (Camellia Sinensis L.) Leaves
Published on: June 15, 2019
Isabella Dell'Aica1, Massimo Donà, Fiorella Tonello
1Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Padova, Viale G Colombo 3, 35121 Padua, Italy.
Abstract:
The anthrax lethal factor (LF) has a major role in the development of anthrax. LF is delivered by the protective antigen (PA) inside the cell, where it exerts its metalloprotease activity on the N-terminus of MAPK-kinases. PA+LF are cytotoxic to macrophages in culture and kill the Fischer 344 rat when injected intravenously. We describe here the properties of some polyphenols contained in green tea as powerful inhibitors of LF metalloproteolytic activity, and how the main catechin of green tea, (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate, prevents the LF-induced death of macrophages and Fischer 344 rats.
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