V.Ivanov, S. Ivanova, M. W. Roomi, A. Niedzwiecki, M. Rath
Matthias Rath BV, Research Institute, Santa Clara, CA, USA

Presented at

12th International Congress of Endocrinology, Lisbon, Portugal, August 31-September 4, 2004.

Published in 

Conference proceedings, Abstract #1166, pg 360.

Comment

Disturbances in hormone regulation and inflammation-related processes have been shown to play roles in abnormal uterine contractility, which causes preterm delivery and can lead to perinatal morbidity and mortality. We used an in vitro model of collagen I gel contraction driven by embedded cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells to study the effect of various nutrients on uterine contraction. Among the bioflavonoids and plant extracts tested, we found that green tea leaf extract and epigallocatechin gallate showed the strongest ability to counteract uterine smooth muscle cell contraction. Furthermore, addition of ascorbic acid and amino acids lysine, arginine, cysteine and proline to green tea extract further increased its effectiveness. A reduction in gel contraction correlated with decreased MMP. The results of this study are significant since they demonstrate the great potential of nutrients in preventing preterm delivery and its sequelae.