Molecule in Green Tea Reduces Swelling in RA

Green tea has long been a favorite of the alternative medicine crowd. Now there is new evidence showing that a molecule in green tea can make a big difference when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The work, done by researchers at Washington State University (WSU) in Spokane, evaluated a phytochemical called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).

“Existing drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are expensive, immunosuppressive and sometimes unsuitable for long-term use, ” said Salah-uddin Ahmed, Ph.D., the lead WSU researcher on the project, in the February 16, 2016 news release.

“This study has opened the field of research into using EGCG for targeting TAK1—an important signaling protein—through which proinflammatory cytokines transmit their signals to cause inflammation and tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis, ” said Dr. Ahmed.

As indicated in the news release, “The researchers confirmed their findings in a pre-clinical animal model of human rheumatoid arthritis, where they observed that ankle swelling in animals given EGCG in a 10-day treatment plan was markedly reduced.”

Dr. Ahmed told OTW, “This study provides rationale for targeting a signaling protein called ‘TAK1’ to inhibit the inflammation and tissue destruction caused by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. In this study we also found that EGCG, a potent anti-inflammatory molecule found in green tea, inhibits TAK1 protein to reduce the production of downstream proteins that are responsible for inflammation and bone/cartilage destruction.”

Asked about anything that might hinder this work, he noted, “There are several challenges that we still have to overcome or address in pre-clinical testing such as its potential bioavailability and possible EGCG-drug interactions, before successfully taking this molecule or developing EGCG analogs for the clinical testing of its efficacy in patient with RA.”