Epicatechin 90%

Epicatechin is a naturally occurring flavanol-class polyphenol compound, widely present in green tea, cocoa, and a variety of plant-based foods. It stands as a representative bioactive component within the tea polyphenol system. As the naturally existing (-)-Epicatechin configuration, its efficacy in areas including muscle metabolism, antioxidant activity, vascular health, and cell signal regulation has been validated by extensive research.

In recent years, with the rapid growth of products related to sports nutrition, healthy aging, and muscle function support, high-purity Epicatechin has garnered widespread attention due to its potential to regulate myostatin. It has thus emerged as a key active ingredient in functional dietary supplements.

Product Description

Appearance: Off-white to light yellow powder
Source: Green Tea Extract (Camellia sinensis)
Part Used: Leaf
Solubility: Soluble in ethanol and DMSO, slightly soluble in water
CAS Number: 490-46-0
Molecular Formula: C₁₅H₁₄O₆
Molecular Weight: 290.27

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Product Specifications

Test Items	Specifications	Test Method
Assay （Epicatechin，on dry basis)）	91.7% Min	HPLC
Caffeine	0.0% Max	HPLC
Loss on drying	0.3% Max	USP
Ash	0.1% Max	USP
Sieve analysis	95% pass 40 mesh	USP
Pb	1.0ppm Max	ICP-MS
As	1.0ppm Max	ICP-MS
Microbiology Control
Total Plate Count	1000cfu/g Max	USP
Yeast&Mold	100cfu/g Max	USP

Product Process and Advantages

·Advantages of Natural Plant Source: Sourced from green tea leaves, the product is obtained through extraction and refining processes precisely controlled by physical and solvent methods. This ensures the product retains the naturally occurring (-)-Epicatechin configuration, aligning with the application trends of natural extracts in the international market.
·High-Purity Active Ingredient Control: Through multi-step purification and fine separation techniques, the Epicatechin content is stably maintained at ≥90%, facilitating precise formula design and consistency in functional claims.
·Excellent Formulation Compatibility: With a fineness of 95% passing through a 40-mesh sieve, the powder is stable and easy to process, making it suitable for various dosage forms such as hard capsule filling, tablet pressing, and powder mixing.
·Outstanding Low-Caffeine Feature: Caffeine is strictly controlled to significantly reduce the risk of irritation, making it ideal for sports nutrition, healthy aging, and long-term consumption products.
·Quality System and Compliant Manufacturing: The product is manufactured entirely at AIDU Biotech's own production base, with the production system adhering to cGMP quality management standards. The raw materials meet Non-GMO, Solvent-free, and Gluten-free requirements. Each batch undergoes comprehensive physical-chemical and microbial testing, ensuring compliance for entry into mainstream markets such as the US and the EU.

Product Functions and Mechanisms

· Muscle Growth and Functional Support: For the first time, research has demonstrated in human populations that (-)-Epicatechin can participate in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and differentiation by downregulating Myostatin expression and upregulating related regulatory factors such as Follistatin, which is associated with improved muscle strength.
· Sports Nutrition and Metabolic Adaptation: Epicatechin has been found to influence signaling pathways related to mitochondrial function and oxidative metabolism, showing potential application value in supporting athletic performance and metabolic health.
· Antioxidant and Vascular Health: As a natural flavanol, Epicatechin can integrate into the body's antioxidant defense system and activate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), promoting the release of nitric oxide (NO). This mechanism contributes to vasodilation, improves hemodynamics, and provides robust support for cardiovascular health.

Scientific Evidence

1,Myostatin Inhibition and Muscle Strength Enhancement (Human Study)
In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Gutierrez-Salmeán et al. were the first to demonstrate in human populations that (-)-Epicatechin can significantly reduce serum Myostatin levels and improve the grip strength of subjects, providing key scientific support for its application in the fields of muscle health and sports nutrition.

Differences observed in SkM growth/differentiation and SA-β-Gal protein levels in young and old control or (−)-epicatechin treated mice. Panel A shows Western blot images observed in myostatin, follistatin, MEF2A, Myf5, MyoD, myogenin. Panel B plots the mean ± SEM densitometric units of the protein of interest normalized over GAPDH values. Panel C denotes differences observed in senescence associated-β-Gal protein levels. (n=5/group).

Differences observed in markers of muscle growth, in older vs. young human subjects, and effects of 1 week (−)-epicatechin treatment on strength and SkM growth markers in middle age subjects. Panel A shows Western blot images for myostatin, follistatin, MEF2A, Myf5, MyoD, myogenin protein levels in human quadriceps from young vs. old subjects. Panel B plots the mean ± SEM densitometric units of the protein of interest normalized over GAPDH values. Panel C denotes differences observed in senescence associated-β-Gal protein levels. (n=5/group).

*References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24314870/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.09.007;

2,Epicatechin and Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms in Skeletal Muscle
The study also demonstrates that Epicatechin can modulate multiple molecular signaling pathways associated with skeletal muscle growth and differentiation, lending robust support to the scientific rationale for its use as a muscle function nutrient.

*Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286313002076

Applications

·Dietary Supplements: Applied in formulations targeting muscle recovery, antioxidant support, healthy aging, and metabolic balance.
·Functional Foods and Sports Drinks: Empowering the development of ready-to-drink (RTD) powders, energy bars, and nutritional supplements tailored for endurance sports.
·Scientific Research and Cutting-edge Development: As a high-purity polyphenol derivative, utilized for exploring frontier topics in metabolic regulation and precision nutrition.

Formulation Combinations:

· Premium Muscle Growth & Performance
Target Audience: Bodybuilders and strength training enthusiasts.
Recommended Combination: Epicatechin + Phosphatidylserine (PA) + Leucine
Dosage Form Suggestion: Hard capsules or granules.

· Metabolic & Glycemic Support
Target Audience: Individuals focused on blood sugar health and fat reduction.
Recommended Combination: Epicatechin + Berberine / Dihydroberberine (DHB)
Dosage Form Suggestion: Tablets or enteric-coated capsules (to reduce the gastrointestinal irritation of Berberine).

· Nitric Oxide & Pump Matrix
Target Audience: Those needing pre-workout supplementation and cardiovascular maintenance.
Recommended Combination: Epicatechin + L-Citrulline + Grape Seed Extract / Pycnogenol
Dosage Form Suggestion: Pre-workout Powder.

· Healthy Aging & Mitochondria
Target Audience: People aged 35+ concerned with anti-aging and physical recovery.
Recommended Combination: Epicatechin + NMN / Coenzyme Q10 / Pterostilbene
Dosage Form Suggestion: Sustained-release capsules.

Packaging & Storage

Packaging Specifications: 1 kg/aluminum foil bag, 25 kg/fiber drum, or customized as per customer requirements
Storage Conditions: Store in a sealed manner in a cool, dry, and dark place
Shelf Life: 24 months