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Li MY, Liu HY, Wu DT, Kenaan A, Geng F, Li HB, Gunaratne A, Li H, Gan RY. L-Theanine: A Unique Functional Amino Acid in Tea ( Camellia sinensis L.) With Multiple Health Benefits and Food Applications. Front Nutr 2022; 9:853846. [PMID: 35445053 PMCID: PMC9014247 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.853846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is a very popular health drink and has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to its various bioactive substances. Among them, L-theanine, a unique free amino acid, is one of the most important substances in tea and endows tea with a special flavor. Moreover, L-theanine is also a bioactive compound with plenty of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, metabolic regulatory, cardiovascular protective, liver and kidney protective, immune regulatory, and anti-obesity effects. Due to the unique characteristics and beneficial functions, L-theanine has potential applications in the development of functional foods. This review summarized the influencing factors of L-theanine content in teas, the main health benefits and related molecular mechanisms of L-theanine, and its applications in food, understanding of which can provide updated information for the further research of L-theanine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yue Li
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering & Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industrialization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China.,Research Center for Plants and Human Health, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong-Yan Liu
- Research Center for Plants and Human Health, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Ding-Tao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering & Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industrialization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ahmad Kenaan
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Fang Geng
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering & Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industrialization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hua-Bin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anil Gunaratne
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka
| | - Hang Li
- Research Center for Plants and Human Health, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Ren-You Gan
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Engineering & Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industrialization, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China.,Research Center for Plants and Human Health, Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
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Zhang R, Zheng S, Guo Z, Wang Y, Yang G, Yin Z, Luo L. L-Theanine inhibits melanoma cell growth and migration via regulating expression of the clock gene BMAL1. Eur J Nutr 2022; 61:763-777. [PMID: 34542664 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02677-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE L-Theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid found in green tea, which has been identified as a safe dietary supplement. It has been reported that L-theanine exerts various biological activities. In this study, we explored the anti-cancer effects of L-theanine on melanoma cells. METHODS A375, B16-F10, and PIG1 cell lines were used in the present study. EdU labeling, TUNEL and Annexin V/PI staining, wound-healing, and transwell migration assay were performed to detect the effects of L-theanine on melanoma cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Brain and muscle Arnt-like protein 1 (BMAL1) was knocked down in melanoma cells to evaluate if L-theanine plays the anti-cancer role through regulating circadian rhythm of melanoma cells. The western blot, qRT-PCR, and dual luciferase assay were performed to explore the mechanism involved in the effects of L-theanine on melanoma cells. RESULTS L-Theanine apparently reduced the viability of melanoma cells. Further experiments showed that L-theanine attenuated the proliferation and migration, and promoted apoptosis of melanoma cells. L-Theanine significantly enhanced the expression of BMAL1, a clock gene in melanoma cells. Down-regulation of BMAL1 suppressed the anti-cancer effects of L-theanine on melanoma cells. Further experiments indicated that the p53 transcriptional activity raised by L-theanine was dependent on BMAL1 expression in melanoma cells. CONCLUSION L-Theanine exerts the anti-cancer effect on melanoma cells through attenuating the proliferation and migration, and promoting apoptosis of them, which is dependent on the regulation of the clock gene Bmal1 in melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuangning Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guocui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhimin Yin
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
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