Enhanced Bioavailability of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) after Esterification and Complexation with Fish Oil

Background and Objective: Green tea is rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is responsible for various biological functions but its bioavailability is limited. The objective of the present study was to check the beneficial efficacy of EGCG esterified with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil (ester derivatives) and EGCG-Fish oil complexon C2BBe1 cells. Materials and methods: The EGCG and DHA/EPA (fish oil) esterification/complexation was confirmed by various techniques including Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as well as antioxidant and antiglycation activity was checked using 3 different experimental samples (EGCG, EGCG-ester and EGCG-Fish oil complex). Results:Theantioxidant activity (TEAC, DPPH scavenging activity) of EGCG-ester (DHA/EPA) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the EGCG-fish oil complex and EGCG alone group. In the cell model, both EGCG-ester (DHA/EPA) and EGCG-Fish oil complex did not show any significant changes in viability (cytotoxicity) with no morphological changes and thus implication its safety. The best EGCG permeability coefficient (cell uptake) was observed in EGCG-ester (DHA/EPA) group at 24 hrs (18.73%) and 48 hrs (20.74%) as compared to the EGCG-Fish oil complex and EGCG alone. Also, EGCG-ester (DHA/EPA) ester showed good anti-glycation activity by significantly inhibiting (p<0.05) the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) production (BSA-MGO, BSA-Fructose) in C2BBe1 cells as compared to the EGCG-Fish oil complex group. Conclusion: Overall, current study indicated that EGCG-ester (DHA/EPA) showed potent antioxidant activity by improving EGCG bioavailability (cellular uptake) and followed by the improved anti-glycation property through inhibiting AGEs production.