Procyanidin C1 (Synonyms: Proanthocyanidin C1, Procyanidol C1)

Procyanidin C1 is a polyphenolic compound, it is found in a variety of vegetables and fruits and has a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory anticancer roles^[1,2]

Procyanidin C is a catechin trimer purified from Cinnamomi Cortex and it showed inhibitory activity against TGF-β-induced EMT[3]. Treatment with procyanidin C1 in BMDMs resulted in a significant decrease in prostaglandin E2 and cyclooxygenase-2 levels, as well as the expression of cell surface molecules (CD80, CD86, and MHC class II), which was induced by LPS[1]. procyanidin C1 induced cell cycle arrest at S-phase and activated check point kinases, Chk1 and 2 in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB- 231 cells. At 48 h treatment procyanidin C1 induced DNA damage. In addition, procyanidin C1 decreased the Bcl2 levels and increased the BAX levels in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB- 231cells, which indicate that the procyanidin C1 inhibits breast cancer cell growth by inhibiting proliferation and by inducing apoptosis^[2]

Procyanidin C1, a polyphenolic component of grape seed extract, increases the healthspan and lifespan of mice through its action on senescent cells[4]. In vivo, zebrafish larvae (AB strain) 3 days post-fertilization were incubated with NAC or procyanidins (C, EC, ECG, B1, B2, B3, B4, B1-G, B2-G, C1) in 300 µM H₂ O₂ for 4 days. Different grape seed procyanidins increased the survival of PC12 cells challenged with H₂ O₂ , improved the movement behavior disorder of zebrafish caused by H₂ O₂ , inhibited the increase of ROS and MDA and the decrease of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD activities, and up-regulated the Nrf2/ARE pathway. The neuroprotective effects of the procyanidin trimer C1 treatment group were greater than the other treatment groups^[5]

References:
[1].Byun EB, Sung NY, et al. The procyanidin trimer C1 inhibits LPS-induced MAPK and NF-κB signaling through TLR4 in macrophages. Int Immunopharmacol. 2013;15(2):450-456.
[2].Koteswari LL, Kumari S, et al. A comparative anticancer study on procyanidin C1 against receptor positive and receptor negative breast cancer. Nat Prod Res. 2020;34(22):3267-3274.
[3].Kin R, Kato S, et al. Procyanidin C1 from Cinnamomi Cortex inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the A549 lung cancer cell line. Int J Oncol. 2013;43(6):1901-1906.
[4].Xu Q, Fu Q, Li Z, et al. The flavonoid procyanidin C1 has senotherapeutic activity and increases lifespan in mice. Nat Metab. 2021;3(12):1706-1726.
[5].Nakano N, Nishiyama C, Tokura T, et al. Procyanidin C1 from apple extracts inhibits Fc epsilon RI-mediated mast cell activation. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2008;147(3):213-221.