The potential and diverse health benefits of green tea range from weight control to cancer prevention. Studies have argued that green teas like matcha (a popular powdered form) support metabolic health, but the mechanism underlying these claims remains elusive. In order to better understand how matcha might influence human health, we studied its effects on metabolism in a cell culture model system. Immortalized mammalian cells typically operate under aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, wherein they metabolize glucose to lactate even in the presence of oxygen. Enhanced glucose uptake is thought to produce sufficient ATP while also allowing production of biomass needed for cell proliferation. However, cells can be forced to use different nutrients and metabolic pathways by varying the media composition. Commercially available matcha was dissolved in water and titrated on mammalian cells for various times. Carbon sources in the media such as amino acids and the type/concentration of sugar were varied to alter metabolic pathways being utilized. ATP production was measured using the CellTiterGlo<sup>TM</sup>assay from Promega. The well-known metabolic inhibitors 2-deoxyglucose (2DG; inhibits glycolysis) and rotenone (inhibits complex I of the electron transport chain) were used as controls. Results suggest that matcha inhibits the first step in glycolysis where glucose coming into the cell is phosphorylated by hexokinase. These results provide further insight into how matcha might provide health benefits (weight loss, cancer prevention) via modulation of glucose metabolism.<br/>

Green tea regulation of sugar metabolism

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.