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Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cognitive functioning and the expression of APP and BDNF in the hippocampus of rats with streptozotocin -induced Alzheimer-like disease
Farnaz Ghayour Babaei, Ehsan Saburi, Fatemeh Forouzanfar, Mohadese Asgari, Zakieh Keshavarzi, Vahid Hajali. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 2025-01-31
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
We aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of the active substance of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), on behavioral phenotypes and markers of neurogenesis in an Alzheimer disease (AD) rat model. The groups included sham, AD, and three AD groups receiving orally EGCG with different doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The AD model was induced by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of streptozocin (STZ) at a dose of 3 mg/kg. Spatial learning and memory were evaluated in the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Real-time PCR assay was used for evaluating the expression of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of animals. STZ disrupted the function of animals in MWM acquisition phase by almost 65 % and all doses of EGCG could return the learning parameters to those of control animals. STZ also impaired the memory function (P < 0.05) and a dose of 25 mg/kg EGCG could significantly return it to the control level (29 % vs 53 %, P < 0.01). Hippocampal APP gene expression was increased in the AD group and EGCG with dose 25 mg/kg decreased it significantly (P < 0.05). AD animals had decreased levels of hippocampal BDNF and treating with dose 25 mg/kg of EGCG could significantly increase it (P < 0.05). EGCG with dose 25 mg/kg can improve spatial memory deficits in AD model rats. It may be due to the impact on the expression of hippocampal factors involved in AD pathology. These findings could provide a beneficial insight for developing novel, safe, and efficient natural compounds for preventing or alleviation AD symptoms in humans.
Key findings
- STZ also impaired the memory function (P < 0.05) and a dose of 25 mg/kg EGCG could significantly return it to the control level (29 % vs 53 %, P < 0.01).
- Hippocampal APP gene expression was increased in the AD group and EGCG with dose 25 mg/kg decreased it significantly (P < 0.05).
- AD animals had decreased levels of hippocampal BDNF and treating with dose 25 mg/kg of EGCG could significantly increase it (P < 0.05).
- These findings could provide a beneficial insight for developing novel, safe, and efficient natural compounds for preventing or alleviation AD symptoms in humans.
Why it matters
In a rat model of streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer-like disease, a 25 mg/kg dose of EGCG improved spatial memory deficits and returned APP and BDNF expression toward control levels. These findings are from an animal model only and do not show that EGCG treats or prevents Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports: journal h-index 58 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “rats”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 11 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Vahid Hajali: h-index 15 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Mashhad University of Medical Sciences: institution h-index 285 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39980585) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101930
- PubMed: 39980585
- Original source →
- Free full text: Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Babaei, F. G., Saburi, E., Forouzanfar, F., Asgari, M., Keshavarzi, Z., & Hajali, V. (2025). Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cognitive functioning and the expression of APP and BDNF in the hippocampus of rats with streptozotocin -induced Alzheimer-like disease. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101930
Vancouver
Babaei FG, Saburi E, Forouzanfar F, Asgari M, Keshavarzi Z, Hajali V. Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cognitive functioning and the expression of APP and BDNF in the hippocampus of rats with streptozotocin -induced Alzheimer-like disease. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101930. PMID: 39980585.
BibTeX
@article{babaei2025-39980585,
author = {Babaei, Farnaz Ghayour and Saburi, Ehsan and Forouzanfar, Fatemeh and Asgari, Mohadese and Keshavarzi, Zakieh and Hajali, Vahid},
title = {{Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cognitive functioning and the expression of APP and BDNF in the hippocampus of rats with streptozotocin -induced Alzheimer-like disease}},
journal = {Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101930},
pmid = {39980585},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101930}
}
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