(-)-Epicatechin-3-gallate (a polyphenol from green tea) potentiates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in H9C2
Yi Cai1, Hui-Qi Hong2, Li Zhao3
1Guangzhou Research Institute of Snake Venom, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. yicaisysu@163.com.
Objective:
The effect of epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), a polyphenol that is present in green tea, on doxorubicin (DOX) cytotoxicity in H9C2 cardiomyocytes and its underlying mechanisms were investigated.
Results:
Pretreatment with ECG (20 and 30 μM) significantly increased DOX-induced apoptosis to 16-18% in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased significantly after 1 h pretreatment with ECG. ECG also enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which was induced by DOX in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion:
Pretreatment with ECG sensitized H9C2 cells to DOX-mediated apoptosis through modulation of proteins involved in apoptosis and AMPK.
