A review of recent studies in China on the possible beneficial health effects of tea

Tea is one of the most heavily consumed beverages in the world. The relationship between tea drinking and human health is becoming a subject of intense study by scientists throughout the world. In this paper, we first provide a comprehensive analysis of the medical literature on tea published in China during the past 20 years, and then highlight some recent studies in China on the relationship between tea and several human diseases. During the period 1982–2002, 691 research papers related to tea and health have been published in 290 Chinese journals. These studies showed that tea and tea constituents have various biological activities and suggested that tea drinking might be beneficial to human health. Tea has potential in the prevention or adjuvant treatment of several diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. The trend and future direction in medical research on tea in China are also briefly discussed.     

Berry antioxidants: small fruits providing large benefits

Small berry fruits are consumed because of their attractive colour and special taste, and are considered one of the richest sources of natural antioxidants. Their consumption has been linked to the prevention of some chronic and degenerative diseases. The term ‘berry fruits’ encompasses the so‐called ‘soft fruits’, primarily strawberry, currants, gooseberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry and cranberry. The objective of this review is to highlight the nutraceutical value of berries and to summarize the factors affecting berry fruit antioxidants. Particular attention is given to postharvest and processing operation factors that may affect fruit phytochemical content. The structure–antioxidant relationships for phenolic compounds – the main group of antioxidants in this fruit group – are presented and major areas for future research are identified. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Anthocyanin profiles of major red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties cultivated in Greece and their relationship with in vitro antioxidant characteristics

A range of fourty‐six red grape (Vitis vinifera spp.) samples, originating from six widely cultivated varieties and covering major parts of the Hellenic vineyard, were assayed for their content in six principal anthocyanin pigments. Representative in vitro antioxidant parameters were also determined, including antiradical activity (A_AR), reducing power (P_R) and hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity (SA_HFR). Quantitative determination using high performance liquid chromatography showed that the prevalent pigment was malvidin 3‐O‐glucoside (average content 82.53 mg per 100 g fresh berry weight), followed by its coumarate derivative (29.26 mg per 100 g), paeonidin 3‐O‐glucoside (10.84 mg per 100 g), petunidin 3‐O‐glucoside (7.80 mg per 100 g) cyanidin 3‐O‐glucoside (5.67 mg per 100 g) and delphinidin 3‐O‐glucoside (1.28 mg per 100 g). The richest variety was Syrah, with total average anthocyanin content of 186.02 mg per 100 g, whereas the Hellenic native variety Xinomavro had the lowest average anthocyanin level (38.70 mg per 100 g). The establishment of correlations of individual and total anthocyanin contents with the values from the antioxidant test was accomplished with linear regression. The links of total anthocyanins were significant with all antioxidant parameters (P < 0.001), but more importantly with SA_HFR (R² = 0.740). Malvidin 3‐O‐glucoside content had the higher correlation with SA_HFR compared with all other anthocyanins (R² = 0.698, P < 0.001).     

Influence of solvent and temperature on extraction of phenolic compounds from grape seed,antioxidant activity and colour of extract

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of solvent (water and ethanol in concentration: 50%, 70% and 96%) and extraction temperature (25–80) °C on polyphenols extraction of grape seed (Vitis vinifera L. cv. “Frankovka”) cultivated in Eastern Croatia. The best results were reached using 50% ethanol at 80 °C. The most abundant individual polyphenolic compound was catechin which makes the average of 45.11% of the total phenolic content followed by epicatechin (34.45%), procyanidin B₂ (12.90%), gallic acid (5.34%), gallocatechin (1.58%), epicatechin gallate (1.01%). The antioxidant activity of extracts was determined by DPPH‐method and it was highly dependent on extraction solvent and temperature. The total extractable proanthocyanidins content of extract had the highest positive correlation (r = 0.994) with antioxidant activity, which indicated that these compounds might be the most important antioxidant in examined grape seed extracts. Relationship between phenolic content and colour of extracts was observed.     

金属盐沉淀法提取茶多酚影响因素的研究

对金属盐沉淀法提取茶多酚进行了研究 探讨了茶叶量、浸提水量、浸提时间、浸提次数、浸提水温度、金属盐及其加入量、酸溶时酸的用量、萃取时间、萃取次数等各因素对茶多酚提取率的影响 研究表明 ,AlCl3 和ZnSO4 对茶多酚的沉淀具有协同作用 确定了最佳提取工艺条件 :10 g茶末 ,14 0mL水 ,10 0℃水中浸提 10min ,加入AlCl3 ·6H2 O 0 .60 g ,ZnSO4 ·7H2 O 1.0 7g ,用乙酸乙脂萃取 4次 ,其茶多酚的提取率可达 18%～ 2 0 %     

Morphological and qualitative characterisation of globe artichoke head from new seed‐propagated cultivars

BACKGROUND: Three new artichoke seed‐propagated hybrids (Tempo, Opal and Madrigal) were compared with two standard cultivated varietal types [Catanese and Violet du Provence (VP)] in terms of head morphology, processing performance, nutritional or technological qualitative traits, in order to define their best use. RESULTS: Compared to the other genotypes, Opal and Madrigal had more rounded, heavier, larger heads, higher processing yield (>400 g of heart kg^?1 raw head) and lower total phenol (TP) content (2.4 g of gallic acid equivalents kg^?1 FW). VP gave a higher processing yield than Catanese and showed the highest TP content (6.5 g kg^?1 FW). Tempo hearts were more similar to those of VP in biometrical and chemical terms (P, Na, K, Ca); they had the highest dry matter content (163 g kg^?1 FW) and the waste left after peeling had the highest TP content. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid artichokes, especially Opal and Madrigal, appear more suitable for the processing industry and also for fresh‐cut production due to their highest processing yield and lowest total phenol content. Because of its high total phenol content, Tempo waste represents a possible source of natural antioxidant in the pharmaceutical field and in the food industry (as a food additive). Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical and sensory analyses of spray- and freezedried extracts of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis)

Spray- and freeze-dried rooibos tea extracts were prepared, and the soluble solids which precipitated upon cooling of the concentrate were isolated. Their effect on composition and sensory qualities of the dried tea was determined. Preparation of soluble rooibos teas resulted in significant flavour differences, but no preference for freshly brewed tea was found. The method of dehydration and removal of precipitated solids did not affect the flavour of the dried tea extract significantly. Removal of the precipitate resulted in marked decreases in total polyphenol, flavonoid, tannin, flavanol and proanthocyanidin content of the dried soluble product.     

啤酒多酚的抗氧化性研究

通过TRAP值分析啤酒多酚抗氧化性，实验发现啤酒中( )-儿茶素和阿魏酸对抗氧化性贡献较大，花色苷类物质也有一定的贡献。并且酚类抗氧化能力一般都高于外加抗氧化剂，监测酿造过程氧化变化情况发现，TRAP值基本随多酚含量的变化而变。     

薄层层析后生物显影检测茶多酚组分的抑菌效果

用薄板在异丁醇 :醋酸 :水 ( 4:1:5 )的展开体系中层析分离茶多酚 ,得到茶多酚组分的四个色点 ,即茶多酚的主要成分EGCG、ECG、ECG、EC ,根据各组分的Rf值和标准品作对照 ,鉴定各色点对应的茶多酚组分 ;将完成分离的薄板覆盖于加有溴甲酚紫指示剂的大肠杆菌培养基上培养 ,观察到抑菌圈出现 ,其抑菌圈大小为EGCG >ECG >EGC >EC。     

茶多酚微球的制备及其抗氧化性能的研究

采用喷雾干燥法,以生物可降解高分子材料羟丙基甲基纤维素邻苯二甲酸酯(HPMCP)为骨架材料,制备茶多酚微球。制备茶多酚微球的最佳条件为：进风温度100℃,进料速度6．25mL/min,芯壁材比为2：1,总固形物含量为3%。茶多酚微球和未包埋的茶多酚有相似的相变峰,说明在微球制备过程中茶多酚未发生变性。茶多酚微球对食用油有较好的抗氧化效果,且随着添加量的增加效果更加明显。