Isolation and chemical characterisation of a polysaccharide from green tea (Camellia sinensis L.)

BACKGROUND: To contribute towards understanding the relationship of structure and bioactivity, a protein‐bound acidic polysaccharide named TPC3‐1 was isolated and purified from low‐grade green tea (Camellia sinensis L.). The homogeneity and weight average molecular weight of TPC3‐1 was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis and high‐performance gel permeation chromatography. The monosaccharide and amino acid composition of TPC3‐1 were analysed by gas chromatography and an amino acid analyser. The molecular structure of TPC3‐1 was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. RESULTS: Based on the data obtained, the average peak molecular weight of TPC3‐1 was about 120 kDa. TPC3‐1 was composed of L ‐arabinose, D ‐ribose, D ‐xylose, D ‐glucose and D ‐galactose with a molar ratio of 4.9:2.2:3.1:1.8:1.0. Fifteen amino acids were identified as components of the polymer. The TPC3‐1 molecule was found to have an anomeric carbon sign of both α and β configurations and high‐branched chains. The network structure of TPC3‐1 was observed. CONCLUSION: The tea polysaccharide TPC3‐1 was an acid protein‐bound polysaccharide with an image of network structure. The results presented here will facilitate further study of the relationship between the chemical structure and biological role of tea polysaccharide. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Utilization of adzuki bean extract as a natural antioxidant in cured and uncured cooked pork sausages

A commercial adzuki bean extract (AE) was evaluated for antioxidant effectiveness in cured and uncured cooked pork sausages. TBARS values, instrumental color evaluation and sensory panel scores were assessed. For uncured sausages, AE at 0.2% was equally effective as 0.1% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in reducing TBARS values. Similarly, AE at 0.2% significantly (P<0.01) reduced the TBARS in cured sausages. Incorporation of 0.2% AE into sausages produced higher (P<0.05) CIE lab color a* value and lower (P<0.05) L* and b* values. Sensory panels did not detect any difference in color, odor, taste, flavor, and overall acceptance in uncured pork sausages with addition of 0.2% AE. However, there were adverse changes in the color and odor of cured sausages, even though the taste, flavor, and overall acceptance were similar. Therefore, the results suggest that AE is a potential antioxidant.     

Comparison of catechins and purine alkaloids in albino and normal green tea cultivars (Camellia sinensis L.) by HPLC

The variations in the contents of catechins and purine alkaloids in relation to the chlorophyll contents in albino tea cultivar ‘Anji baicha’ and normal cultivar ‘Longjing 43’, grown in Anji and Guilin, were determined. The results showed that, compared to ‘Anji baicha’, ‘Longjing 43’ had significantly higher (?)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (?)-epicatechin (EC), (?)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), theobromine and caffeine contents in Anji, and significantly higher (+)-catechin (C), ECG and caffeine contents in Guilin. ‘Anji baicha’ only had C content significantly higher than ‘Longjing 43’ in Anji. Correlation analysis indicated that C, EGC and (?)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were significantly and negatively correlated with chlorophyll contents, suggesting that chlorophylls might play vital roles in the regulation of catechin biosynthesis. Moreover, no significant correlation was observed between purine alkaloids and chlorophylls, indicating that the biosynthesis of purine alkaloids might be affected by genotypic factors other than chlorophyll biosynthesis.     

Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) – A review

The medicinal effects of tea have a history dating back almost 5000 years. The chemical components of green tea chiefly include polyphenols, caffeine and amino acids. Tea also contains flavonoids, compounds reported to have anti-oxidant properties having many beneficial effects. Tea flavonoids reduce inflammation, have antimicrobial effects and prevent tooth decay. Consumption of tea may have diuretic effects due to the caffeine. A related compound found in tea is theophylline, a licensed medicine for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Today’s computer-driven world can generate complicated lifestyle-related disorders and consumption of certain natural product like tea may very well replace the ill-effects of chemical drugs leading to a safer world with happier life. The paper is an overview of revealing all such ethno medicinal research efforts throughout the world over the times.     

Antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) seed and its pericarp

The present study evaluates antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities of seed and its pericarp of tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.). Water and methanol extracts of tea seed and pericarp were prepared in a shaking incubator overnight at room temperature. The highest total phenolic contents, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, reducing power, β-carotene bleaching inhibition activity, highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and AChE inhibitiory activity were found in the methanol extracts of pericarp. Caffeine, gallic acid, several phenolic compounds, hydroxymethyl furfural, and fatty acid derived compounds were detected in the extract of tea seed and pericarp. The results indicate that seed and pericarp could be utilized as the potential resources for antioxidant ingredients in food industry. In addition, these compounds may protect Alzheimer’s disease as they had inhibitory activity of acetylcholine esterase.     

Changes in the ethanol-insoluble material of tea leaves (Camellia sinensis L.) during maturation

The ethanol-insoluble material (e.i.m.) of immature and mature tea leaves was fractionated into hot-water-soluble polysaccharides and proteins, ammonium oxalate-soluble pectic acid, hemicelluloses A and B and α-cellulose, by successive extraction with hot water, ammonium oxalate, sodium hypochlorite and cold alkali. The final residue was termed α-cellulose. The hot-water extract and the hot-water-insoluble residue were found to contain appreciable quantities of protein nitrogen. Each fraction was hydrolysed and the mixture of sugars was separated on paper chromatograms and estimated. It appeared that each stage of the extraction procedure removed from the e.i.m. a complex mixture of polysaccharides. The sugars produced on hydrolysis of the arbitrary fractions from immature and mature leaves were qualitatively similar, although there were quantitative differences and were glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid and an unidentified uronic acid. Maturation was mainly accompanied by an increase in the content of lignin, hemicelluloses and α-cellulose.     

In vivo assay of nitrate reductase in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) leaf and root

Assay conditions in vivo for determination of nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in leaf and feeder root tissues of tea bushes (Camellia sinensis L.) were studied. The composition of the incubation mixture, pH, temperature, period of incubation and tea shoot components were varied. Maximum NRA was obtained in leaf with a medium containing 300 mg Polyclar AT with 300 mg leaf disc in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7-5, 0.02 M KNO₃ in a total volume of 5 ml and incubated for 4 hat 30°C in the dark. Propan-1-ol inhibited NRA in tea leaf and root. Highest activity was found in the first leaf.     

Lead contamination in different varieties of tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) and factors affecting lead bioavailability

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing concern in recent years about the concentration of lead (Pb) in tea. However, little research has been done to address questions concerning the distribution of Pb in different varieties of tea plant and the differences among tea plant varieties in their uptake and accumulation of Pb from the soil. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation of Pb in different tea plant varieties and the factors affecting Pb bioavailability. RESULTS: Three patterns of Pb distribution could be observed in different plant parts among the eight tea varieties surveyed, as well as a linear relationship between the Pb concentration in fine roots and the exchangeable Pb fraction in the corresponding soil. The uptake of Pb by fine roots increased significantly as the soil pH decreased. The average ratios of Pb concentration in fine roots to those in young stems and young leaves were 5.18 and 31.80 respectively. In fine roots the Pb concentration varied from 22.7 to 61.6 mg kg^?1. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the uptake, transport and accumulation of Pb by tea plant organs were strongly governed by soil conditions and tea variety, thus providing tea producers with useful information on variety selection for the production of quality teas containing low levels of Pb. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Maofeng tea processing on leaf trichomes of tea (Camellia sinensis L)

Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the ultrastructure of trichomes on Maofeng, a special Chinese green tea. The trichomes were cylindrical in appearance with a length of 0.6–1 mm, wall thickness of 0.2–0.3 μm and a mid-point diameter of 9–10 μm. The angles between the trichomes and the leaf under-surface were below 30° in Maofeng tea though they were 45–75° in fresh green leaf. The trichome wall consisted mainly of fibre and its outer-surface was unevenly covered with waxy substances and striped. The trichome joint, by which the trichome was attached to the leaf tower epidermis, was expanded and filled with essential oil droplets. The undeveloped trichomes assumed a flattened form because of the action of pressing during rolling and shrank during the tea drying process. During the Maofeng tea processing, trichome shedding was caused by disruption of its expanded joint structure and breakdown at the cylindrical wall above the expanded joint.     

Human exposure assessment of fluoride from tea (Camellia sinensis L.): A UK based issue?

Fluoride concentrations in UK tea, including the leading supermarket economy labelled products, were determined. Fluoride ranged from 93 to 820 mg/kg in the products and 0.43 to 8.85 mg/L in the infusions. The UK supermarket economy teas contained elevated fluoride, ranging from 3.60 to 7.96 mg/L in a 2 minute brewing infusion, comparable to Chinese brick tea, indicating the use of mature leaves in their manufacture. Considering the dietary reference intake (DRI) of 4 mg/day of fluoride for an adult consuming 1 L of tea, prepared from an economy tea, containing 6.0 mg/L fluoride, 75–120% of the DRI fluoride is available for absorption by the human system in the presence of food, increasing to 150% when fasting. Excess fluoride in the diet can lead to detrimental health effects such as fluorosis of the teeth and skeletal fluorosis and consuming economy branded tea will lead to exposure.     

The in vivo antioxidant and antifibrotic properties of green tea (Camellia sinensis,Theaceae)

The in vivo antioxidant and antifibrotic properties of green tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) were investigated with a study of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis in male ICR mice. Oral administration of green tea extract at doses of 125, 625 and 1250 mg/kg for 8 weeks significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls in the liver by at least 28% compared with that was induced by CCl₄ (1 mL/kg) in mice. Moreover, green tea extract administration significantly increased (p < 0.05) the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) in the liver. Our study found that oral administration of green tea extract prevented CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis, as evidenced by a decreased hydroxyproline level in the liver and a reduced incidence of hepatic fibrosis by histological observations. These results indicate that green tea exhibits potent protective effects against CCl₄-induced oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting oxidative damage and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities.     

Molecular evidence for maternal inheritance of the chloroplast genome in tea,Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

BACKGROUND: Tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide after water. Yet very little is known about the genetics of tea in comparison with other crop species. Here we have taken advantage of the polymorphic nature of microsatellite DNA to investigate the mode of chloroplast inheritance in tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze. This is important for the correct interpretation of phylogeny and introgression data as well as assessing the suitability of chloroplast transformation as a means for transgene containment in tea. RESULTS: The study was based on six Japanese tea cultivars, namely Aj2, CK23, Hatsumomiji, Nka05, Yamanoibuki and Kanayamidori used to generate four informative families. The parental pairs in the crosses differed at a single chlroroplast locus with respect to an imperfect microsatellite repeat of 16 nucleotide bases. In agreement with earlier cytological studies, all 61 progeny displayed a cpDNA profile that was consistent with the maternal inheritance of chloroplasts in tea. CONCLUSIONS: The data generated here provide the first molecular evidence of the plastid inheritance in tea. However, we suggest that additional families and polymorphic markers be screened for increasing the confidence in the observed maternal inheritance of chloroplasts in this important crop species. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Seasonal and clonal variations in some major glycosidic bound volatiles in Kangra tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)

Seasonal and clonal variations in glycosidic bound volatile compounds were studied in tea clones representing the three different varieties viz. sinensis, assamica and cambodiensis grown in Kangra region. Glycosidic bound volatile compounds were characterised by GC–MS and quantification of major volatiles was done by GC. (E)-2-hexenal, benzyl alcohol, phenylethanol, linalool, linalool oxides, geraniol and methyl salicylate were the major glycosidic bound volatiles identified in tea shoot. Clonal variations in the quantity were observed in these bound volatiles. Seasonal variations were also observed in the quantity of bound volatiles in regional Kangra clone during three different growth flushes of tea. These variations in glycosidic precursors of volatile compounds were studied in context with orthodox made tea and its quality. These seasonal and clonal variations in precursors of volatile compounds can be directly correlated to the difference in the quality of tea made from these cultivars.     

Effect of extraction temperature on cream and extractability of black tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

Summary Tea cream and haze in black tea infusions increased with the rise in the tea extraction temperature. The temperature at which substances involved in cream and haze formation began to be extensively extracted into the tea infusion was between 50 and 60 °C. The tea cream particle volume concentration in infusions extracted at 50 °C or below formed less tea cream particles, and their particle sizes were larger and more heterogeneous than those extracted at 60 °C and second infusions extracted at 90 °C from the residual leaves that were previously extracted at 40–50 °C. High‐performance liquid chromatography confirmed that constituents with pyrogallol groups are involved in tea creaming, and the effect of caffeine on tea cream and haze depends on whether these constituents are sufficiently present. The extractability of tea increased with the rise in extraction temperature. Two‐stage extraction of tea in ready‐to‐drink tea processing and its effects on colorimetric indicators were also examined.