Open Access
Review (Published online: 06-08-2017)
6. Therapeutic uses of epicatechin in diabetes and cancer
Layth Abdulmajeed Abdulkhaleq, Mohammed Abdulrazzaq Assi, Mohd Hezmee Mohd Noor, Rasedee Abdullah, Mohd Zamri Saad and Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap
Veterinary World, 10(8): 869-872

Layth Abdulmajeed Abdulkhaleq: Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Pathology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq.
Mohammed Abdulrazzaq Assi: Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Community Health, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Iraq.
Mohd Hezmee Mohd Noor: Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Rasedee Abdullah: Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Mohd Zamri Saad: Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.869-872

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Article history: Received: 15-03-2017, Accepted: 13-06-2017, Published online: 06-08-2017

Corresponding author: Rasedee Abdullah

E-mail: rasedee@upm.edu.my

Citation: Abdulkhaleq LA, Assi MA, Noor MHM, Abdullah R, Saad MZ, Taufiq-Yap YH (2017) Therapeutic uses of epicatechin in diabetes and cancer, Veterinary World, 10(8): 869-872.
Abstract

Epicatechin is a natural flavonoid found in green tea. It has been reported to possess an immense antioxidant effect which contributes to its therapeutic effect against a handful of ailments. In this review, we discuss its therapeutic role in the management of two of the most important human diseases; diabetes and cancer. The consumption of epicatechin has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, while is anticancer effect was attributed to its antioxidant properties, antiangiogenic and direct cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Although the exact mechanism of action of epicatechin is still being explored, there is no doubt that it is a promising candidate as an alternative. The significance of this review is to highlight the importance of the usage of natural products (in this case, epicatechin) as an alternative for the treatment of two potentially fatal diseases which is diabetes and cancer. The aim of this review is to educate the scientific community on the role of epicatechin in ameliorating the effects of diabetes and cancers on human while understanding the potential mechanisms of these aforementioned effects.

Keywords: angiogenesis, carcinoma, diabetes mellitus, epicatechin, oxidative stress.

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