Compound Monograph
Epicatechin Gallate (ECG)
Epicatechin gallate is a flavan-3-ol catechin ester abundant in green tea, one of the major tea catechins.
Where Does It Come From? (1)
Epicatechin Gallate (ECG) is a naturally occurring flavonoid (flavan-3-ol catechin), found in Green tea. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).
Research & Evidence
Epicatechin gallate (ECG) is one of the major catechins of tea, a flavan-3-ol in which epicatechin is esterified with gallic acid. Along with EGCG, EGC and epicatechin, it is part of the catechin mixture studied for the antioxidant and metabolic effects associated with green tea. Most evidence concerns tea catechins as a group rather than ECG in isolation.
Toxicity & Safety
As a normal constituent of brewed tea, ECG is regarded as low risk at dietary intakes. Concerns about high-dose concentrated green-tea catechin extracts (particularly liver effects) relate mainly to EGCG-rich preparations rather than ordinary tea drinking.