Quercetin vs Epigallocatechin gallate: what is the difference?

How they differ

Both are plant polyphenols with antioxidant reputations and they come from different chemical families. Quercetin is a flavonol with a flat, conjugated three-ring core and five hydroxyl groups, widespread in onions, apples, capers and tea. Epigallocatechin gallate is a flavan-3-ol from green tea specifically, much larger at 458.4 against 302.2, and its extra gallate ester is what makes it the most studied compound in green tea. EGCG is also the more unstable of the two, oxidising readily in warm water and in the gut, which complicates dose comparisons between studies. Both bind proteins and metal ions readily, which is part of why both interfere with the absorption of iron from a meal.

Side by side

Common questions

What is the difference between Quercetin and Epigallocatechin gallate?

Both are plant polyphenols with antioxidant reputations and they come from different chemical families. Quercetin is a flavonol with a flat, conjugated three-ring core and five hydroxyl groups, widespread in onions, apples, capers and tea. Epigallocatechin gallate is a flavan-3-ol from green tea specifically, much larger at 458.4 against 302.2, and its extra gallate ester is what makes it the most studied compound in green tea.

Is Quercetin bigger than Epigallocatechin gallate?

Epigallocatechin gallate is the heavier molecule, 458.4 g/mol against 302.23 g/mol for Quercetin. Quercetin is C15H10O7 and Epigallocatechin gallate is C22H18O11.