Beauty Glossary E-G

EGCG
EGCG stands for Epigallocatechin Gallate. 
There are four primary polyphenols in green tea , the most important polyphenols, called catechins (sometimes referred to as tea flavonoids). The family of catechins are; Gallocatechin (GC), Epigallocatechin (EGC), Epicatechin (EC), and Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). All catechins are beneficial. EGCG is the most abundant catechin in tea and is considered the main active ingredient in green tea. 
Catechins were initially discovered in the 1970s, when medical researchers were looking for the reason: why Japanese in Shizuoka district, a major tea growing area, had much lower rates of cancer than other Japanese, even they were very heavy smokers. Numerous studies found EGCG to be effective in preventing and inhibiting cancer growth. EGCG converts carcinogens into benign substances. 
Epigallocatechin gallate possess the most potent antioxidant activity of the catechins - yet discovered. EGCG is 100 more powerful than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E.  
 
Estrogen
A female sex hormone produced mainly by the ovaries. During puberty, estrogen stimulates the development of adult sex organs and the adult female breasts, hips, and buttocks. Synthetic forms of estrogen are used in oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy.
 
Free radicals:
Oxidants, commonly known as free radicals. 

 Free radicals are atoms with unpaired number of electrons, and then their chemical structures are very unstable. To gain stability, free radicals react quickly with other molecules by attacking the nearest stable molecule and stealing its electron. When the "attacked" molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, these highly reactive radicals beginning a chain reaction, like dominoes. Once the process is started, it can cascade, finally causing cell damage. Cell disruption from free radicals contribute to aging and many chronic disease. 
 
Ginseng
Ginseng was used in Chinese medicine as early as the first centuries A.D. It has a rejuvenating reputation in the Far East. Ginseng is efficient as a counter to skin aging. It activates the blood circulation, nourishes and stimulates cutaneous cells, equilibrates moisturizing and tissue suppleness. Ginseng is widely used in cosmetics for dermal tone-ups, to combat wrinkles and as a hair and dermis stimulant. The reputation as a general tonic. Its saponosides enable it to reduce capillary permeability in experimental inflammations. These saponosides properties can explain for its anti-oxidizing action, a free-radical restricting activity which has been proved in vitro and in vivo. Some studies also showed that ginseng has anti-inflammatory properties from its polysaccharides.

Green tea
Green Tea - one of the best source of antioxidants  
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis).
Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and that it contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, natural antioxidant. Black tea leaves have a much lower content of polyphenols because black tea leaves undergo extensive fermentation during which many of the cathechins are oxidized to darker coloured molecules (theaflavin and thearubigen).
 
Growth hormone
Human growth hormone (HGH) is a substance secreted by the somatotroph cells of pituitary gland. It stimulates growth during childhood and adolescence. Somatotrophin refers to the growth hormone produced natively and naturally in animals.
Presently replacement therapies with human growth hormones (HGH) have become popular in the battle against aging and weight management. Reported effects include decreased body fat, increased muscle mass, increased bone density, increased energy levels, improved skin tone and texture, increased sexual function and improved immune system function. 
HGH is useful for treating growth hormone deficiency in children and adults and has several other proven (FDA-approved) uses. But the the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has warned that the clinical use of growth hormone as an anti-aging treatment or for patients with ordinary obesity is not recommended.