Category: flavonoid
Aliases: (−)-Epicatechin, L-Epicatechin, (2R,3R)-Epicatechin
(2R,3R)-Flavan-3-ol aglycone — the most abundant flavanol monomer in cocoa and a major one in green tea. Extensively conjugated after intestinal absorption: systemic circulation is >97% sulfates, glucuronides, and methyl-sulfates (SREMs — structurally-related epicatechin metabolites; Actis-Goretta 2012). Cmax ~1 µM total SREM at Tmax 2 h, t½ ~3–4 h. Stimulates endothelial NO via eNOS activation, improves mitochondrial biogenesis / follistatin–myostatin balance (rationale for muscle-performance research), and is the dominant mediator of cocoa-flavanol-driven FMD improvements.
PO: 3h