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Epicatechin Powder CAS 490-46-0 Tea Extract
Characteristics and Sources of Epicatechin
Chemical Properties and Classification
Epicatechin (EC) is a naturally occurring flavanol compound, classified as a subclass of flavonoids and is an isomer of catechin. Its chemical characteristics include:
● Solubility: Easily soluble in water and methanol, but has lower solubility in certain organic solvents
● Stability: Requires storage at -20°C and protection from moisture
Natural Sources
Epicatechin is widely found in various plant-based foods, primarily including:
● Tea leaves (especially green tea)
● Apples
● Cocoa products (such as dark chocolate)
● Red wine
As a key plant-derived bioactive compound, epicatechin is valued for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and shows broad application potential in the food, dietary supplement, and pharmaceutical industries.
Physiological Mechanisms of Epicatechin
Promoting Vasodilation and Blood Circulation
Epicatechin inhibits the breakdown of nitric oxide (NO), increasing its concentration in the blood. Nitric oxide is a key vasodilation signaling molecule that can:
● Relax vascular smooth muscles and improve overall blood flow
● Enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery, boosting athletic performance
● Promote muscle endurance, strength, and recovery, optimizing training results
Regulating Muscle Growth Pathways
Epicatechin influences muscle anabolic metabolism by modulating myokines (muscle-derived factors):
● Inhibiting Myostatin:
Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle growth that limits excessive muscle development
● Upregulating Follistatin:
Follistatin promotes muscle growth by blocking myostatin signaling
Synergistic Effect: The dynamic balance between myostatin and follistatin is regulated by epicatechin, which potentially promotes muscle hypertrophy and strength development.
Epicatechin's Multi-Field Application Value
Innovative Applications in the Food Industry
(1) Natural Food Additives:
● Used as an efficient antioxidant in meat product processing systems
● Extends product shelf life by inhibiting lipid peroxidation reactions
● Improves flavor profile and nutrient retention in products like beef broth
(2) Functional Ingredient Research:
● Significantly increases the retention of water-soluble proteins in boiled meat products (up to 15-20%)
● Optimizes fatty acid composition, reducing the proportion of saturated fatty acids
● Maintains bioavailability of mineral elements
Sports Nutrition and Health Management
(1) Vascular Function Regulation:
● Enhances vasodilation capacity by 30-40% via the NO-cGMP pathway
● Improves muscle microcirculation efficiency during exercise
(2) Muscle Metabolism Regulation:
● Reduces myostatin expression by 25-35%
● Increases follistatin activity by 15-25%
● Promotes muscle fiber recovery rate post-exercise
Skin Health Maintenance
(1) Anti-Allergic Mechanism:
● Cleanses reactive oxygen species (ROS) 3-5 times more effectively than regular Vitamin C
● Inhibits the release of inflammatory factors related to histamine release (e.g., IL-6) by 40-50%
(2) Clinical Assistance:
● Shortens the duration of skin allergy symptoms by 2-3 days when used alongside conventional treatments
● Does not alter the fundamental immune response to allergens.
