A. IFTIME, ANCA POPESCU, CONSTANŢA GANEA

Department of Biophysics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, 8, Eroii Sanitari Blvd, 050474, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) a natural antioxidant, belonging to the family of catechins, revealed itself as a potent drug having multiple medical applications. In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying its action at the cellular level, we have studied the modifications induced by EGCG on the electric properties, i.e. capacitance and conductance, of artificial lipid membranes, by means of the electrophysiological method Black Lipid Membrane (BLM). While the electrical conductance of the lipid bilayer has been not affected by EGCG in the concentration range studied, its capacitance evolved in a concentration dependent manner. Our results suggested a complex mechanism of insertion of EGCG in the lipid membrane.
Key words: EGCG, BLM, capacitance, conductance

Corresponding author’s e-mail: ai@biofizica-umfcd.ro

Full text: PDF