Catecholamines

Catecholamines are a group of substances that have important physiological significance. These include adrenaline, norepinephrine and dopamine. All of these substances play different roles (they are mainly neurotransmitters) in the functioning of the sympathetic and central nervous systems.

All catecholamines contain a benzene ring with adjacent hydroxyl groups (catechol) and an amine group in the side chain. This structure gives them the ability to influence the activity of receptors and enzymes.

Catecholamines are produced in the brain, adrenal glands and nervous tissue. They regulate many important physiological functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolism. Impaired production and metabolism of catecholamines underlies a number of diseases.

Catecholamines are important elements in the human body that perform various functions. They are a group of substances containing a benzene ring and two hydroxyl groups attached to it. Catecholamines include adrenaline (epinephrine), norepinephrine (norepinephrine), and dopamine (dopamine).

Catecholamines play an important role in the functioning of the central and sympathetic nervous systems. They are neurotransmitters, that is, substances that transmit signals between nerve cells. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released by the adrenal glands in response to stressful situations such as fear, anxiety, pain or injury. They increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels and increase blood pressure. Dopamine, on the other hand, is released in response to positive stimuli such as food, sex, or achieving a goal. It stimulates the pleasure center of the brain and produces feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

In addition, catecholamines are involved in the regulation of blood pressure, metabolism, thermoregulation and other physiological processes. They can also affect a person's mood and behavior, so their imbalance can lead to various diseases such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and other mental disorders.

Although catecholamines are important for human health, their excess or deficiency can lead to serious consequences. For example, adrenaline and norepinephrine can cause a hypertensive crisis, and their deficiency can lead to hypotension. Dopamine can be addictive, especially when it is in excess in the brain. Therefore, it is important to maintain the balance of catecholamines in the body to avoid possible health problems.

Catechins are antioxidants found in many plants. Some sources associate the anticarcinogenic properties of catechins with the activity of isolated catechisides.

Catechins are also found in a wider range of plants: herbs (for example, lanceolate lupine), flowering plants (tree buds, green tea), coniferous plants (pine, spruce), nuts (walnuts, peaches, apricots). Their prevalence in the plant world is amazing: catechins are found in some pteridophytes, representatives of the orchid family, monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, algae and marine species. They are especially widely represented in fruit trees, most often associated with the oxidation of polyphenolic compounds. A gene encoding the synthesis of catechic acid and green tea was discovered in the berries.

The most well-known group of catechinoid compounds are flavone derivatives. Flavones are present mainly in Mediterranean flora. They are five- and six-membered bilatene-chromones (cyclic chromotype systems). Flavone is a pink-colored essential oil that is found in numerous Mediterranean plants, such as buds, fruits, flowers, roots, leaves, shoots, branches of various types of hawthorn (Syrtenia erotica, S. jacobaea, S. coritroides, etc.), myrtle and henna, as well as marigolds, marigolds, wormwood, marjoram.

It is significant that most researchers believe the presence of flavonoids in wines made from grape seeds. The flavone molecules in the wine extract are completely separated