In recent years, phytochemicals have offered promising new
options for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Several
flavonoids, includ-inggreen tea catechins, which are ubiquitously present in foodsof plant origin, are believed to play important roles in the cardio-vascular system.
Epidemiological studies have suggested that
consumption of green tea might prevent the incidence of various
cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis.
EGCG, the major constituent found in green tea leaves, is known to exert a variety of cardiovascular bene
ficial eff
ects. EGCG increases the
antioxidant capacity in local vascular tissue and systemic circula-
tion, reduces progressive atherosclerotic lesions in the apolipo-
protein E-null mice, restrains invasive activity of cultured human
VSMC, represses VSMC adhesion and migration in rat, and
inhibits angiotensin II-stimulated VSMC proliferation.