EGCG是綠茶兒茶素中含量最高的成分,但其親水特性與易受環境影響,限制其應用性。本研究透過魚油萃出之ω-3 PUFA與EGCG經酯化反應製得之EGCG酯化物,評估EGCG酯化物於體外試驗、細胞試驗及人體試驗中的生物活性。結果顯示,EGCG酯化物在TEAC及DPPH清除能力試驗中皆顯著高於EGCG及EGCG-魚油混合物,抗醣化能力試驗則不及EGCG。在腸道細胞吸收試驗中,相較於EGCG組,EGCG酯化物組在24小時及48小時的吸收率均有顯著性提升,分別為18.73%和20.74%。而人體試驗方面,早餐組於食用酯化物後,在第2及第3小時的血漿EGCG濃度分別為850.85 ± 120.92 ng/mL及622.94 ± 109.60 ng/mL,皆顯著高於EGCG組,且最大血漿EGCG濃度(850.85 ± 120.92 ng/mL)約為EGCG組(439.72 ± 109.60 ng/mL)的2倍。血液生化數值方面,食用EGCG酯化物後有最小的血糖AUC0~2及Cmax。無早餐組部分,在食用EGCG酯化物後,有最大的血漿EGCG濃度曲線下面積和最大血漿EGCG濃度,並顯著高於其他兩組,而達到最大血漿EGCG濃度的時間,EGCG酯化物也早於其他兩組。血漿TBARS試驗部分,不管在早餐組或無早餐組,食用EGCG酯化物後的第1~3小時,血漿TBARS含量相較於EGCG組都顯著性降低。由本實驗可以得知,由魚油萃取出的EPA及DHA與EGCG合成的EGCG酯化物確實能增加EGCG在腸道上皮細胞及人體的吸收,未來將進行人體臨床試驗確認其保健功效。
EGCG is the most abundant of catechins in green tea. Its hydrophilic property and environmental sensitivity greatly limit its application. This study was to use EGCG and ω-3 PUFA extracted from fish oil to get EGCG ester. The bioactivities of EGCG ester in vitro, cell line and human were evaluated. EGCG ester significantly enhanced TEAC and DPPH scavenging ability when compared with EGCG and EGCG-fish oil complex. In C2BBe1 cell, EGCG ester showed the best cellular uptake of EGCG at 24 (18.73%) and 48 hours (20.74%). In human body, eating EGCG ester after breakfast, plasma EGCG concentration at 2 and 3 hours were 850.85 ± 120.92 ng/mL and 622.94 ± 109.60 ng/mL, respectively. The absorption of EGCG at 2 hours after eating EGCG ester was about two folds than EGCG alone. In blood glucose, EGCG ester showed the lowest AUC0-2 and Cmax. Eating EGCG ester without breakfast, higher AUC0-8, Cmax and earlier Tmax were found than other two treatments. In TBARS test, no matter with breakfast or without breakfast, from 1 to 3 hours after eating EGCG ester, showed significantly lower TBARS in plasma than eating EGCG. These findings demonstrated that EGCG esterified with EPA and DHA could increase the cellular uptake of EGCG in C2BBe1 cell and enhance EGCG absorption in human. In the future, the health benefits will be evaluated by using human clinical trials.