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Danforth Center Researcher Finds Potential Therapy for a Rare Insulin
Disorder in Green Tea
Wednesday February 15, 10:39 am ET
A research team led by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has discovered
that green tea could provide a potential new therapy for a rare and often fatal insulin
disorder. As published today in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dr. Thomas
Smith, Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Dr. Charles
Stanley of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Franz Matschinsky of the
Department of Biochemistry and Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School
of Medicine, has determined that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin
gallate (ECG), two polyphenols found in green tea, can play a significant role in
modulating human insulin production. The team determined that the polyphenols are
responsible for regulating the production of the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase
(GDH).
"The release of insulin from the pancreas is similar to an automobile manufacturing
plant in which specific parts and processes are needed at the right time and in the
proper amounts to assemble a complete car. In people producing too little or too much
insulin, the pancreas does not contain all the right parts to produce the right amounts
of insulin. We've found that green tea polyphenols impact sections of this
insulin-production line," Dr. Smith explained.
"Previous research conducted by Dr. Stanley on hyperinsulin/hyperammonemia
(HI/HA) syndrome has shown that GDH plays a regulatory role in the process of insulin
secretion by pancreatic beta-cells," said Dr. Smith. "Children born with this disease
have lost the ability to turn off this enzyme. In most children, this often leads to low
blood sugar, coma, and eventually death."
"Our new research supports the hypothesis that GDH plays a role in insulin regulation
and demonstrates that these safe and non-toxic compounds found in green tea can
help to turn off this uncontrollable enzyme and may eventually lead to a new family of
therapeutics," Dr. Smith explained.
"Dr. Smith's research is an example of how research can lead in unanticipated
directions; in this case, Dr. Smith identified a chemical in plant leaves that can impact
a human condition. While the results were not anticipated, they are logical and, now,
can be explained by experimental results. Such discoveries are the tip of the iceberg
that awaits as plant biologists work together with scientists in other disciplines to
identify areas of common interest and potential applications," explained Danforth
Center President, Dr. Roger N. Beachy. "The first phase of plant science focused on
disease resistance to increase yields; the next phase of research is focused on
developing new plant varieties that will contain enhanced nutritional and other
compounds that will improve human health and address chronic diseases such as
diabetes."
The research partnership that led to these findings was created by coincidence in
1998 when Dr. Smith published the first structure of mammalian GDH and Dr. Stanley
announced that GDH plays a regulatory role in insulin secretion. When the
researchers read each other's papers, they began their collaboration.
About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit
research institute with a global vision to improve the human condition. Research at the
Danforth Center will enhance the nutritional content of plants to improve human
health, increase agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply, and build
scientific capacity to generate economic growth in the St. Louis region and throughout
Missouri.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Disorder in Green Tea
Wednesday February 15, 10:39 am ET
A research team led by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has discovered
that green tea could provide a potential new therapy for a rare and often fatal insulin
disorder. As published today in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dr. Thomas
Smith, Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Dr. Charles
Stanley of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Franz Matschinsky of the
Department of Biochemistry and Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School
of Medicine, has determined that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin
gallate (ECG), two polyphenols found in green tea, can play a significant role in
modulating human insulin production. The team determined that the polyphenols are
responsible for regulating the production of the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase
(GDH).
"The release of insulin from the pancreas is similar to an automobile manufacturing
plant in which specific parts and processes are needed at the right time and in the
proper amounts to assemble a complete car. In people producing too little or too much
insulin, the pancreas does not contain all the right parts to produce the right amounts
of insulin. We've found that green tea polyphenols impact sections of this
insulin-production line," Dr. Smith explained.
"Previous research conducted by Dr. Stanley on hyperinsulin/hyperammonemia
(HI/HA) syndrome has shown that GDH plays a regulatory role in the process of insulin
secretion by pancreatic beta-cells," said Dr. Smith. "Children born with this disease
have lost the ability to turn off this enzyme. In most children, this often leads to low
blood sugar, coma, and eventually death."
"Our new research supports the hypothesis that GDH plays a role in insulin regulation
and demonstrates that these safe and non-toxic compounds found in green tea can
help to turn off this uncontrollable enzyme and may eventually lead to a new family of
therapeutics," Dr. Smith explained.
"Dr. Smith's research is an example of how research can lead in unanticipated
directions; in this case, Dr. Smith identified a chemical in plant leaves that can impact
a human condition. While the results were not anticipated, they are logical and, now,
can be explained by experimental results. Such discoveries are the tip of the iceberg
that awaits as plant biologists work together with scientists in other disciplines to
identify areas of common interest and potential applications," explained Danforth
Center President, Dr. Roger N. Beachy. "The first phase of plant science focused on
disease resistance to increase yields; the next phase of research is focused on
developing new plant varieties that will contain enhanced nutritional and other
compounds that will improve human health and address chronic diseases such as
diabetes."
The research partnership that led to these findings was created by coincidence in
1998 when Dr. Smith published the first structure of mammalian GDH and Dr. Stanley
announced that GDH plays a regulatory role in insulin secretion. When the
researchers read each other's papers, they began their collaboration.
About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit
research institute with a global vision to improve the human condition. Research at the
Danforth Center will enhance the nutritional content of plants to improve human
health, increase agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply, and build
scientific capacity to generate economic growth in the St. Louis region and throughout
Missouri.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
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