EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) / ROS Cancer Research Results

EGCG, EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate): Click to Expand ⟱
Features:

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate — EGCG is a naturally occurring galloylated flavan-3-ol and the quantitatively dominant catechin in green tea leaves from Camellia sinensis. It is formally classified as a dietary polyphenol, catechin and investigational pleiotropic bioactive compound. EGCG has concentration-, oxidation-, metal- and cellular-context-dependent activity: it can function as an antioxidant and NRF2-associated cytoprotective agent in normal tissues, but may generate reactive oxygen species and induce stress-mediated death in susceptible cancer cells. It is not an approved anticancer drug, and purified high-dose extracts are pharmacologically and toxicologically distinct from brewed green tea.

Primary mechanisms (ranked):

  1. Biphasic redox modulation, including direct radical scavenging and metal chelation at lower exposure, but auto-oxidation, hydrogen-peroxide generation and pro-oxidant stress under permissive cancer-cell culture conditions.
  2. Suppression of proliferative and survival signalling, particularly PI3K–AKT–mTOR, NF-κB, receptor tyrosine kinase, STAT and context-dependent MAPK pathways.
  3. Mitochondrial dysfunction and intrinsic apoptosis through mitochondrial membrane-potential loss, cytochrome-c release and caspase activation.
  4. Cell-cycle arrest through modulation of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, p21, p27 and p53-associated signalling.
  5. Inhibition of invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and extracellular-matrix degradation through reduced FAK, MMP-2, MMP-9, uPA and related motility pathways.
  6. Suppression of HIF-1α–VEGF signalling, angiogenesis and hypoxia adaptation.
  7. Metabolic disruption involving reduced glycolysis, glucose transport and context-dependent mitochondrial energy production.
  8. Epigenetic modulation, including experimental inhibition or altered expression of DNMTs, HDACs and EZH2.
  9. Modulation of proteostasis, autophagy, endoplasmic-reticulum stress and unfolded-protein responses.
  10. NRF2 activation as a secondary adaptive mechanism, generally cytoprotective in normal cells but potentially protective or treatment-resistant in some cancers.
  11. Chemosensitization or radiosensitization in selected experimental models; treatment protection, antagonism or normal-tissue radioprotection can also occur depending on dose, schedule and therapy.

Bioavailability / PK relevance: Oral bioavailability is low and highly variable because EGCG is chemically unstable near neutral or alkaline pH, has limited intestinal permeability, undergoes extensive methylation, glucuronidation and sulfation, and is influenced by food and microbiota. Plasma concentrations after tea consumption are usually submicromolar, while large supplemental doses may transiently produce low-micromolar exposure. Fasting can increase systemic exposure but may also increase hepatic toxicity risk. Nanoencapsulation, lipid carriers and other delivery systems improve exposure experimentally but are not established anticancer treatments.

In-vitro vs systemic exposure relevance: Many anticancer experiments use approximately 10–100 µM EGCG, whereas conventional oral administration generally produces submicromolar to low-micromolar plasma concentrations. Thus, many direct cytotoxic, glycolytic, mitochondrial and kinase effects occur at concentrations substantially exceeding typical achievable systemic exposure. EGCG can also oxidize in culture media and generate extracellular hydrogen peroxide, creating experimental effects that may not translate directly in vivo.

Clinical evidence status: Extensive preclinical evidence; multiple small human biomarker, prevention and early-phase studies; limited randomized evidence for selected premalignant or recurrence-prevention settings; no established therapeutic efficacy against active cancer and no regulatory approval as an anticancer agent. A recent randomized colorectal adenoma study reported reduced recurrence, but this does not establish treatment efficacy for invasive colorectal cancer. Ongoing clinical studies continue to investigate prevention and adjunctive applications.

Safety and interactions: Brewed green tea is generally well tolerated, whereas concentrated green-tea extracts and purified EGCG have been associated with dose-dependent aminotransferase elevations and rare clinically significant liver injury. Doses around 800 mg EGCG per day have generated a regulatory safety signal, and a universally safe supplemental dose has not been established. Risk may be higher with fasting administration, pre-existing liver disease or multi-ingredient weight-loss products. EGCG can bind non-heme iron, alter drug transporters or metabolic enzymes, and modify exposure to some medications; oncology use should therefore be reviewed for drug-specific interactions.



EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) is found in green tea. 100 times more effective than Vitamin C and 25 times more effective than Vitamin E at protecting cells from damage associated with oxidative stress.
EGCG Epigallocatechin Gallate (Green Tea) -Catechin
Summary:
1. Concentration is a factor that could determine whether green tea polyphenols act as antioxidants or pro-oxidants.
2. Poor bioavailability: taking EGCG capsules without food was better.
3. Cancer dosage 4g/day (2g twice per day)? with curcumin may help (another ref says 700–2100 mg/d). FDA says <800mg/day (hepatotoxicity)
4. EGCG is susceptible to oxidative degradation.
5. “As for the pH level, the acidic environments enhance the stability of EGCG”.
6. “EGCG may enhance nanoparticle uptake by tumor cells”
7. Might be iron chelator (removing iron from cancer cells)
8. Claimed as synergistic effect with chemotherapy ( cisplatin, bleomycin, gemcitabine.
9. May suppress glucose metabolism, interfere with VEGF, downregulate NF-κB and MMP-9, down-regulation of androgen-regulated miRNA-21.
10. Take with red pepper powder, Capsicum ratio 25:1 (based on half life, they did every 4 hr) (chili pepper vanilloid capsaicin).
11. EGCG mediated ROS formation can upregulate CTR1 expression via the ERK1/2/NEAT1 pathway, which can increase the intake of chemotherapeutic drugs such as cisplatin in NSCLC cells and act as a chemosensitizer [58]
12. Matcha green tea has highest EGCG (2-3X) because consuming leaf.
13. EGCG is an ENOX2 inhibitor.
14. Nrf2 activator in both cancer and normal cells. This example of lung cancer show both directions in different cell lines, but both toward optimim level.
Biological activity, EGCG has been reported to exhibit a range of effects, including:
    Antioxidant activity: 10-50 μM
     Anti-inflammatory activity: 20-50 μM
     Anticancer activity: 50-100 μM
     Cardiovascular health: 20-50 μM
     Neuroprotective activity: 10-50 μM

Drinking a cup (or two cups) of green tea (in which one might ingest roughly 50–100 mg of EGCG from brewed tea) generally results in peak plasma EGCG concentrations in the range of approximately 0.1 to 0.6 μM.

With higher, supplement-type doses (e.g., oral doses in the 500 mg–800 mg range that are sometimes studied for clinical benefits), peak plasma concentrations in humans can reach the low micromolar range, often reported around ~1–2 μM and in some cases up to 5 μM.

Reported values can range from about 25–50 mg of EGCG per gram of matcha powder.
In cases where the matcha is exceptionally catechin-rich, the content could reach 200–250 mg or more in 5 g.

-Peak plasma concentration roughly 1 to 2 hours after oral ingestion.
-Elimination half-life of EGCG in plasma is commonly reported to be in the range of about 3 to 5 hours.

Supplemental EGCG
Dose (mg)   ≈ Peak Plasma EGCG (µM)
~50 mg          ≈ 0.1–0.3 µM
~100 mg         ≈ 0.2–0.6 µM
~250 mg         ≈ 0.5–1.0 µM
~500 mg         ≈ 1–2 µM
~800 mg or higher  ≈ 1–5 µM

50mg of EGCG in 1g of matcha tea(1/2 teaspoon)

Studies on green tea extracts have employed doses roughly equivalent to 300–800 mg/day of EGCG. Excessive doses can cause liver toxicity in some cases.

Methods to improve bioavailability
-Lipid-based carriers or nanoemulsions
-Polymer-based nanoparticles or encapsulation
-Co-administration with ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
-Co-administration of adjuvants like piperine (perhaps sunflower lecithin and chitosan) -Using multiple smaller doses rather than one large single dose.
-Taking EGCG on an empty stomach or under fasting conditions, or aligning dosing with optimal pH conditions in the GI tract, may improve its absorption.(acidic environment is generally more favorable for its stability and absorption).
– EGCG is more stable under acidic conditions. In the stomach, where the pH is typically around 1.5 to 3.5, EGCG is less prone to degradation compared to the more neutral or basic environments of the small intestine.
- At neutral (around pH 7) or alkaline pH, EGCG undergoes auto-oxidation, reducing the effective concentration available for absorption.
– Although the stomach’s acidic pH helps maintain EGCG’s stability, most absorption occurs in the small intestine, where the pH is closer to neutral.
– To counterbalance the inherent instability in the intestine, strategies such as co-administration of pH-modifying agents (like vitamin C) are sometimes used. These agents help to maintain a slightly acidic environment in the gut microenvironment, potentially improving EGCG stability during its transit and absorption.
– The use of acidifiers or buffering agents in supplements may help preserve EGCG until it reaches the absorption sites.

-Note half-life 3–5 hours.
- low BioAv 1%? despite its limited absorption, it is rapidly disseminated throughout the body
Pathways:
- induce ROS production
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓, Prx,
- Does NOT Lower AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↑, TrxR↓**, SOD, GSH Catalase HO1 GPx
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓">ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, uPA↓, VEGF↓, FAK↓, RhoA↓, NF-κB↓, TGF-β↓, α-SMA↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓, DNMTs↓, EZH2↓, P53↑, HSP↓, Sp proteins↓,
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓, TOP1↓,
- inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PFKs↓, ECAR↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, Glucose↓, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, FGF↓, PDGF↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓,
- inhibits Cancer Stem Cells : CSC↓, Hh↓, GLi↓, GLi1↓, CD133↓, CD24↓, β-catenin↓, n-myc↓, Notch↓, OCT4↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK, - SREBP (related to cholesterol).
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective(possible damage at high dose), CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

EGCG Mechanistic Profile

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 Biphasic redox modulation ↑ ROS or ↓ ROS (dose-dependent) (context-dependent) ↓ ROS; ↑ antioxidant buffering P–R Oxidative stress or antioxidant protection Auto-oxidation and metal-catalysed peroxide formation may drive cancer-cell toxicity; culture-medium oxidation can exaggerate this mechanism.
2 PI3K AKT mTOR survival signalling ↓ PI3K; ↓ AKT; ↓ mTOR ↔ or adaptive modulation R–G Reduced proliferation and survival Frequently reported across models, but direct target engagement at physiologically achievable concentrations remains uncertain.
3 Mitochondrial apoptosis ↓ ΔΨm; ↑ cytochrome c; ↑ caspase-9; ↑ caspase-3; ↑ PARP cleavage ↔ or preserved mitochondrial function R–G Intrinsic apoptotic death Usually downstream of redox stress, calcium disturbance or survival-pathway inhibition.
4 NF-κB inflammatory survival signalling ↓ NF-κB; ↓ COX-2; ↓ inflammatory cytokines ↓ pathological inflammation R–G Reduced inflammatory and anti-apoptotic transcription Potentially relevant to tumour-promoting inflammation and treatment resistance.
5 Cell-cycle regulation ↓ cyclin D1; ↓ cyclin E; ↓ CDK2; ↓ CDK4; ↓ CDK6; ↑ p21; ↑ arrest ↔ or transient arrest G Cytostatic growth inhibition Arrest may occur at G1, S or G2/M depending on tumour type and concentration.
6 Invasion EMT and matrix remodelling ↓ EMT; ↓ FAK; ↓ uPA; ↓ MMP-2; ↓ MMP-9; ↓ migration ↔ G Reduced invasion and metastatic phenotype Predominantly supported by cellular and animal models.
7 HIF-1α VEGF angiogenesis axis ↓ HIF-1α; ↓ VEGF; ↓ angiogenic signalling ↔ or context-dependent vascular protection G Reduced hypoxia adaptation and angiogenesis Responses depend on oxygen tension, cell type and exposure.
8 Glycolysis and energy metabolism ↓ GLUT1; ↓ HK2; ↓ PKM2; ↓ LDHA; ↓ ECAR; ↓ ATP (model-dependent) ↔ or improved metabolic homeostasis R–G Metabolic stress Many metabolic findings use concentrations above typical human plasma exposure.
9 Calcium ER stress and proteostasis ↑ Ca²⁺; ↑ ER stress; ↑ UPR; ↑ GRP78 (context-dependent) ↔ or ↓ pathological ER stress P–G Proteotoxic stress and apoptosis GRP78 and UPR activation may promote death or adaptation depending on intensity and duration.
10 Epigenetic regulation ↓ DNMT activity; ↓ HDAC signalling; ↓ EZH2 (model-dependent) ↔ G Re-expression of suppressed genes Biochemical inhibition and intracellular effects may require different concentrations.
11 NRF2 antioxidant response ↑ NRF2 or ↔ (context-dependent) ↑ NRF2; ↑ HO-1; ↑ GSH; ↑ antioxidant enzymes R–G Secondary adaptive cytoprotection NRF2 can protect normal tissue but may also counteract EGCG-induced oxidative injury or support resistant cancer cells.
12 Cancer stemness signalling ↓ Wnt β-catenin; ↓ Hedgehog GLI; ↓ Notch; ↓ stem-cell markers ↔ G Reduced self-renewal phenotype Evidence remains predominantly preclinical and model-dependent.
13 Chemosensitization ↑ treatment response or ↓ resistance (drug-dependent) ↔ or ↑ tissue protection R–G Adjunctive modulation Reported with several cytotoxic and targeted agents, but EGCG can also alter drug absorption, transport or stability; combinations require individual evaluation.
14 Radiosensitization and radioprotection ↑ radiosensitivity or ↔ (schedule-dependent) ↓ radiation injury in some models R–G Context-dependent radiation modulation Opposing tumour and normal-tissue effects are possible; clinical evidence is insufficient for routine supplementation during radiotherapy.
15 Clinical Translation Constraint Effective experimental exposure often not systemically achievable ↑ hepatic risk with concentrated high-dose extracts G Limited clinical translation Poor oral bioavailability, rapid metabolism, instability, formulation heterogeneity, fasting-related exposure, liver toxicity and limited definitive oncology trials constrain deployment.

P: 0–30 min    R: 30 min–3 hr    G: >3 hr



Alzheimer’s disease relevance: EGCG has substantial preclinical neuroprotective evidence but no established clinical efficacy for Alzheimer’s disease. Proposed actions include inhibition or remodelling of amyloid-β aggregation, altered amyloid precursor protein processing, metal chelation, reduced tau-associated injury, suppression of neuroinflammation, mitochondrial protection and activation of NRF2-associated antioxidant defences. Most positive findings derive from biochemical, cellular or animal models, and brain exposure after conventional oral administration is uncertain. EGCG should therefore be classified as preclinical or exploratory for Alzheimer’s disease rather than as a validated disease-modifying therapy.

EGCG in Alzheimer’s Disease

Rank Pathway / Axis Modulation Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 Amyloid beta aggregation ↓ fibril formation; ↑ non-toxic aggregate remodelling Reduced amyloid-associated toxicity Strong biochemical and preclinical rationale; effective brain exposure in humans remains uncertain.
2 Amyloid precursor protein processing ↑ non-amyloidogenic processing; ↓ amyloidogenic burden (model-dependent) Reduced amyloid generation Primarily demonstrated in cellular and animal systems.
3 Neuroinflammation ↓ NF-κB; ↓ NLRP3; ↓ inflammatory cytokines; ↓ microglial activation Reduced inflammatory neurotoxicity Inflammatory effects are context-, model- and dose-dependent.
4 Oxidative stress and NRF2 ↓ ROS; ↑ NRF2; ↑ HO-1; ↑ endogenous antioxidant defence Neuronal cytoprotection Antioxidant signalling is more relevant at achievable exposure than many direct cytotoxic cancer mechanisms.
5 Mitochondrial function ↑ membrane stability; ↑ ATP preservation; ↓ mitochondrial ROS Improved neuronal bioenergetics Supported mainly by experimental injury and transgenic models.
6 Tau pathology ↓ tau phosphorylation or aggregation (model-dependent) Reduced cytoskeletal and synaptic injury Less developed evidence base than amyloid-related mechanisms.
7 Metal homeostasis ↓ redox-active iron and copper interactions Reduced metal-promoted aggregation and oxidative injury Chelation may contribute mechanistically but could also impair dietary non-heme iron absorption.
8 Clinical Translation Constraint ↓ oral and brain exposure; ↑ formulation variability Uncertain human efficacy No convincing evidence currently establishes EGCG as an Alzheimer’s disease-modifying treatment.


ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: HalifaxProj (inhibit)
Type:
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules that contain oxygen and can lead to oxidative stress in cells. They play a dual role in cancer biology, acting as both promoters and suppressors of cancer.
ROS can cause oxidative damage to DNA, leading to mutations that may contribute to cancer initiation and progression. So normally you want to inhibit ROS to prevent cell mutations.
However excessive ROS can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, potentially limiting tumor growth. Chemotherapy typically raises ROS.
-mitochondria is the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (and the ETC is heavily related)

"Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are two electron reduction products of oxygen, including superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, lipid peroxides, protein peroxides and peroxides formed in nucleic acids 1. They are maintained in a dynamic balance by a series of reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions in biological systems and act as signaling molecules to drive cellular regulatory pathways."
"During different stages of cancer formation, abnormal ROS levels play paradoxical roles in cell growth and death 8. A physiological concentration of ROS that maintained in equilibrium is necessary for normal cell survival. Ectopic ROS accumulation promotes cell proliferation and consequently induces malignant transformation of normal cells by initiating pathological conversion of physiological signaling networks. Excessive ROS levels lead to cell death by damaging cellular components, including proteins, lipid bilayers, and chromosomes. Therefore, both scavenging abnormally elevated ROS to prevent early neoplasia and facilitating ROS production to specifically kill cancer cells are promising anticancer therapeutic strategies, in spite of their contradictoriness and complexity."
"ROS are the collection of derivatives of molecular oxygen that occur in biology, which can be categorized into two types, free radicals and non-radical species. The non-radical species are hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2 ), organic hydroperoxides (ROOH), singlet molecular oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), electronically excited carbonyl, ozone (O3 ), hypochlorous acid (HOCl, and hypobromous acid HOBr). Free radical species are super-oxide anion radical (O 2•−), hydroxyl radical (•OH), peroxyl radical (ROO•) and alkoxyl radical (RO•) [130]. Any imbalance of ROS can lead to adverse effects. H2 O 2 and O 2 •− are the main redox signalling agents. The cellular concentration of H2 O 2 is about 10−8 M, which is almost a thousand times more than that of O2 •−".
"Radicals are molecules with an odd number of electrons in the outer shell [393,394]. A pair of radicals can be formed by breaking a chemical bond or electron transfer between two molecules."

Recent investigations have documented that polyphenols with good antioxidant activity may exhibit pro-oxidant activity in the presence of copper ions, which can induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines but not in normal cells. "We have shown that such cell growth inhibition by polyphenols in cancer cells is reversed by copper-specific sequestering agent neocuproine to a significant extent whereas iron and zinc chelators are relatively ineffective, thus confirming the role of endogenous copper in the cytotoxic action of polyphenols against cancer cells. Therefore, this mechanism of mobilization of endogenous copper." > Ions could be one of the important mechanisms for the cytotoxic action of plant polyphenols against cancer cells and is possibly a common mechanism for all plant polyphenols. In fact, similar results obtained with four different polyphenolic compounds in this study, namely apigenin, luteolin, EGCG, and resveratrol, strengthen this idea.
Interestingly, the normal breast epithelial MCF10A cells have earlier been shown to possess no detectable copper as opposed to breast cancer cells [24], which may explain their resistance to polyphenols apigenin- and luteolin-induced growth inhibition as observed here (Fig. 1). We have earlier proposed [25] that this preferential cytotoxicity of plant polyphenols toward cancer cells is explained by the observation made several years earlier, which showed that copper levels in cancer cells are significantly elevated in various malignancies. Thus, because of higher intracellular copper levels in cancer cells, it may be predicted that the cytotoxic concentrations of polyphenols required would be lower in these cells as compared to normal cells."

Majority of ROS are produced as a by-product of oxidative phosphorylation, high levels of ROS are detected in almost all cancers.
-It is well established that during ER stress, cytosolic calcium released from the ER is taken up by the mitochondrion to stimulate ROS overgeneration and the release of cytochrome c, both of which lead to apoptosis.

Note: Products that may raise ROS can be found using this database, by:
Filtering on the target of ROS, and selecting the Effect Direction of ↑

Targets to raise ROS (to kill cancer cells):
• NADPH oxidases (NOX): NOX enzymes are involved in the production of ROS.
    -Targeting NOX enzymes can increase ROS levels and induce cancer cell death.
    -eNOX2 inhibition leads to a high NADH/NAD⁺ ratio which can lead to increased ROS
• Mitochondrial complex I: Inhibiting can increase ROS production
• P53: Activating p53 can increase ROS levels(by inducing the expression of pro-oxidant genes)
• Nrf2 inhibition: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting Nrf2 can increase ROS levels
• Glutathione (GSH): an antioxidant. Depleting GSH can increase ROS levels
• Catalase: Catalase converts H2O2 into H2O+O. Inhibiting catalase can increase ROS levels
• SOD1: converts superoxide into hydrogen peroxide. Inhibiting SOD1 can increase ROS levels
• PI3K/AKT pathway: regulates cell survival and metabolism. Inhibiting can increase ROS levels
• HIF-1α inhibition: regulates genes involved in metabolism and angiogenesis. Inhibiting HIF-1α can increase ROS
• Glycolysis: Inhibiting glycolysis can increase ROS levels • Fatty acid oxidation: Cancer cells often rely on fatty acid oxidation for energy production.
-Inhibiting fatty acid oxidation can increase ROS levels
• ER stress: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can increase ROS levels
• Autophagy: process by which cells recycle damaged organelles and proteins.
-Inhibiting autophagy can increase ROS levels and induce cancer cell death.
• KEAP1/Nrf2 pathway: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes.
    -Inhibiting KEAP1 or activating Nrf2 can increase ROS levels and induce cancer cell death.
• DJ-1: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting DJ-1 can increase ROS levels
• PARK2: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting PARK2 can increase ROS levels
• SIRT1 inhibition:regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting SIRT1 can increase ROS levels
• AMPK activation: regulates energy metabolism and can increase ROS levels when activated.
• mTOR inhibition: regulates cell growth and metabolism. Inhibiting mTOR can increase ROS levels
• HSP90 inhibition: regulates protein folding and can increase ROS levels when inhibited.
• Proteasome: degrades damaged proteins. Inhibiting the proteasome can increase ROS levels
• Lipid peroxidation: a process by which lipids are oxidized, leading to the production of ROS.
    -Increasing lipid peroxidation can increase ROS levels
• Ferroptosis: form of cell death that is regulated by iron and lipid peroxidation.
    -Increasing ferroptosis can increase ROS levels
• Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP): regulates mitochondrial permeability.
    -Opening the mPTP can increase ROS levels
• BCL-2 family proteins: regulate apoptosis and can increase ROS levels when inhibited.
• Caspase-independent cell death: a form of cell death that is regulated by ROS.
    -Increasing caspase-independent cell death can increase ROS levels
• DNA damage response: regulates the repair of DNA damage. Increasing DNA damage can increase ROS
• Epigenetic regulation: process by which gene expression is regulated.
    -Increasing epigenetic regulation can increase ROS levels

-PKM2, but not PKM1, can be inhibited by direct oxidation of cysteine 358 as an adaptive response to increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)

ProOxidant Strategy:(inhibit the Mevalonate Pathway (likely will also inhibit GPx)
-HydroxyCitrate (HCA) found as supplement online and typically used in a dose of about 1.5g/day or more
-Atorvastatin typically 40-80mg/day, -Dipyridamole typically 200mg 2x/day Combined effect research
-Lycopene typically 100mg/day range (note debatable as it mainly lowers NRF2)

Dual Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and their Application in Cancer Therapy 
ROS-Inducing Interventions in Cancer — Canonical + Mechanistic Reference
-generated from AI and Cancer database
ROS rating:  +++ strong | ++ moderate | + weak | ± mixed | 0 none
NRF2:        ↓ suppressed | ↑ activated | ± mixed | 0 none
Conditions:  [D] dose  [Fe] metal  [M] metabolic  [O₂] oxygen
             [L] light [F] formulation [T] tumor-type [C] combination




Item ROS↑ NRF2 Condition Mechanism Class Remarks 



ROS">Piperlongumine
+++ ↓ [D][T] ROS-dominant






ROS">Shikonin
+++↓/±[D][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Vitamin K3 (menadione)
+++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Copper (ionic / nano)
+++↓[Fe][F]ROS-dominant






ROS">Sodium Selenite
+++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Juglone
+++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Auranofin
+++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
+++0[L][O₂]ROS-dominant






ROS">Radiotherapy / Radiation
+++0[O₂]ROS-dominant






ROS">Doxorubicin
+++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Cisplatin
++↓[D][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Salinomycin
++↓[D][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Artemisinin / DHA
++↓[Fe][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Sulfasalazine
++↓[C][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">FMD / fasting
++↓[M][C][O₂]ROS-dominant






ROS">Vitamin C (pharmacologic)
++↓[Fe][D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Silver nanoparticles
++±[F][D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Gambogic acid
++↓[D][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Parthenolide
++↓[D][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Plumbagin
++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Allicin
++↓[D]ROS-dominant






ROS">Ashwagandha (Withaferin A)
++↓[D][T]ROS-dominant






ROS">Berberine
++↓[D][M]ROS-dominant






ROS">PEITC
++↓[D][C]ROS-dominant






ROS">Methionine restriction
+↓[M][C][T]ROS-secondary






ROS">DCA
+±[M][T]ROS-secondary






ROS">Capsaicin
+±[D][T]ROS-secondary






ROS">Galloflavin
+0[D]ROS-secondary






ROS">Piperine
+±[D][F]ROS-secondary






ROS">Propyl gallate
+↓[D]ROS-secondary






ROS">Scoulerine
+?[D][T]ROS-secondary






ROS">Thymoquinone
±±[D][T]Dual redox






ROS">Emodin
±±[D][T]Dual redox






ROS">Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)
±↑[D][M]NRF2-dominant






ROS">Curcumin
±↑/↓[D][F]NRF2-dominant






ROS">EGCG
±↑/↓[D][O₂]NRF2-dominant






ROS">Quercetin
±↑/↓[D][Fe]NRF2-dominant






ROS">Resveratrol
±↑[D][M]NRF2-dominant






ROS">Sulforaphane
±↑↑[D]NRF2-dominant






ROS">Lycopene
0↑—Antioxidant






ROS">Rosmarinic acid
0↑—Antioxidant






ROS">Citrate
00—Neutral


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
641- EGCG,  Se,    Antioxidant effects of green tea
ROS↑, H2O2↑, ROS⇅,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress(tgid=1) ⓘ

H2O2↑, 1,   ROS↑, 1,   ROS⇅, 1,  
Total Targets: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:73  Target#:275  State#:%  Dir#:3
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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