Factors Influencing the Effects of Theabrownin in Pu-erh Tea on Scavenging DPPH Radicals

[Objective] This study aimed to explore factors influencing the effects of theabrownin in Pu-erh tea on scavenging DPPH radicals. [Method] Taking Pu-erh tea as main research object, theabrownin in Pu-erh tea from tea piles with different times of mixture, stored for different years and processed by both the old and new techniques were extracted and isolated. And DPPH method was used to study the effects of theabrownin solution and tea liquor on scavenging radicals and their antioxidant activity. [Result] The result showed that the theabrownin content in Pu-erh tea from tea piles with one to four times of mixture revealed a first declining and subsequently rising trend. Under different pH conditions, the rates of DPPH radical scavenging of 1 mg/ml theabrownin solution made from tea piles with different times of mixture decreased gradually with the increase of pH, and all the rates were lower than that of the control vitamin C solution; the rates of DPPH radical scavenging of theabrownin from tea samples stored for different years and produced by different techniques dropped slowly within pH range 3.0-6.0; when pH was higher than 6.0, the rates of DPPH radical scavenging of theabrownin from tea samples produced by both new and traditional techniques in 2001 declined obviously, while the declining trend was not obvious in either the black tea or the Pu-erh tea produced by new technique in 2005. Under different theabrownin concentrations, the rates of DPPH radical scavenging of theabrownin solution made from tea piles with different times of mixture ascended as the concentration increased and the highest rate occurred in tea pile with four times of mixture, reaching up to 46.56%±0.88%; for tea samples stored for different years and produced by different techniques, the rates of DPPH radical scavenging of theabrownin rose gradually with the increase of the theabrownin concentration; the rate of radical scavenging of theabrownin in the black tea ascended obviously and that in Pu-erh tea was decreasing within the concentration range of 0.04 -0.06 mg/ml. At pH6.0, the DPPH radical scavenging ability of theabrownin in 0.1 mg/ml theabrownin solution and tea liquor containing 0.1mg/ml theabrownin from tea piles with different times of mixture ascended with the time of mixture; solution made from tea samples produced by different techniques in different years, the DPPH radical scavenging ability of theabrownin solution and tea liquor followed： Pu-erh tea produced by the new technique in 2001 ﹥ Pu-erh tea produced by the old technique in 2001﹥ Pu-erh tea produced by the new technique in 2005. And the DPPH radical scavenging ability of theabrownin in tea liquor containing 0.1 mg/ml theabrownin was higher than that in 0.1 mg/ml theabrownin Solution made from tea samples either with different times of mixture or produced by different techniques in different years. The above results indicated that many factor influenced the effects of theabrownin on eliminating DPPH radicals, including the time of fermentation, fermentation technique, years of storage, concentration and pH all had great influence on the effects of theabrownin on eliminating radicals. To ensure a good effect on scavenging radicals, it is better to prepare theabrownin at pH6.0 with concentration between 0.08 and 0.1 mg/ml for drinking. [Conclusion] Results of this study provide a basis for developing functional products of theabrownin from Pu-erh tea in the future.

Detection of composition of functional component theabrownins in Pu-erh tea by degradation method

Habitual tea consumption can reduce the risk of ASCVD morbidity and mortality and all-cause mortality in China,and long-term adherence to this habit can provide greater protection.Pu-erh tea is one of the representatives of post-fermented teas,and the polymers in Pu-erh tea have anti-cancer and anti-hyperlipidemic activities,but their chemical composition is still unknown.In this study,the chemical composition of Pu-erh tea was investigated in detail and eight(1–8)known compounds were isolated.The polymers in Pu-erh tea were also degraded by thiol degradation,and the fragments of quercetin and(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate were found in the thiol degradation products of Pu-erh tea polymers by UPLC observation and separation and purification.This is the first time that this fragment was obtained in Pu-erh tea polymer.

Inhibitory Effects of Pu-erh Tea Leaves on Mouse Type IV Allergy

Pu-erh tea is one of post fermented tea manufactured through oxidative maturing by microorganisms. We investigated the preventive effects of pu-erh tea extract on oxazolone-induced type IV allergy in male (ICR) mice. Oral administration of 50 mg/kg water extract of pu-erh tea leaves resulted in significant preventive effects against mouse type IV allergy. The hydrophilic Theabrownin-like fraction (TBW-ND), with a high molecular weight of approximately 12,000 or higher, was prepared from pu-erh tea leaves by a solvent-extraction method, followed by Diaion HP-20 column chro-matography and dialysis. Oral and percutaneous administrations of TBW-ND at doses of 18.7 mg/kg and 0.037 mg/ear also resulted in significant preventive effects, which included preventing increases in levels of the proinflam-matory cytokine interleukin-12. The anti-allergic ingredients in TBW-ND were predicted to be highly complex compounds containing of polyphenols, polysaccharides and/or proteins. The results suggest pu-erh tea leaves could be a beneficial food for protecting against delayed-type allergy.

Study on Extraction Technology of Theabrownine from Liubao Tea and Its Antioxidant Activity

[ Objective] This study aimed to provide theoretical reference for the extraction of theabrownine from Liubao tea, determination of the biological activity, and development and utilization of theabrownine. [Method] Orthogonal experimental design was adopted to investigate the effects of solid-liquid ratio, extraction temperature, extraction duration, and extraction frequency on the yield of theabrownine extracted from Liubao tea. The extraction technology was optimized, and the antioxidant activity of theabrownine was analyzed. [ Result] The results showed that extraction frequency and extraction temperature had significant effects on the yield of theabrownine extracted from Liubao tea, while solid-liquid ratio and extraction duration had no significant effect. The optimal conditions for extracting theabrownine from Liubao tea were determined as follows ： solid-liquid ratio was 1 ： 30, extraction temperature was 100℃, extraction duration was 80 min, and extraction frequency was 4 times. Under these conditions, the yield of theabrownine reached 22.92%. Results of antioxidant activity determination showed that hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity of theabrownine was as high as 74%, and the scavenging effects was significantly higher than that of Vitamin C under low concentrations; nitroso-scavenging activity of theabrownine reached 73%, with no significant difference from that of Vitamin C; superoxide anion free radical-scavenging activity of theabrownine could be above 60%, which was lower than that of Vitamin C. [Condusion] Liubao tea contains abundant theabrownine that has relatively high antioxidant activity with good prospects in antioxidant application, which lays solid foundation for in-depth development of Liubao tea.

Pu-erh tea: A review of a healthful brew

Pu-erh tea has been used for thousands of years to treat metabolic diseases.Recognized in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic,a compendium kept by the first traditional Chinese practitioners,it is still highly valued for its hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects.This review reports the processing and bioactive components of pu-erh tea.Recent human and animal studies of pu-erh tea and its potential therapeutic mechanisms have also been summarized.The interaction of liver and gut microbiome regulates the puerh tea biotransformation and endogenous metabolism,and thus contributes to the health benefits.

Physicochemical properties and antibacterial mechanism of theabrownins prepared from different catechins catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase

Theabrownins(TBs)are the characteristic functional and quality components of dark teas such as Pu’er tea and Chin-brick tea.TBs are a class of water-soluble brown polymers with multi-molecular weight distribution produced by the oxidative polymerisation of tea polyphenols during the fermentation process of dark tea,both enzymatically and non-enzymatically.TBs have been extracted and purified from dark tea all the time,but the obtained TBs contain heterogeneous components such as polysaccharides and caffeine in the bound state,which are difficult to remove.The isolation and purification process was tedious and required the use of organic solvents,which made it difficult to industrialise TBs.In this study,epigallocatechin(EGC),epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG),epigallocatechin gallate(ECG),EGC/EGCG(mass ratio 1:1),EGCG/ECG(mass ratio 1:1),EGC/ECG(mass ratio 1:1)and EGC/EGCG/ECG(mass ratio 1:1:1)as substrates and catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase(PPO)and peroxidase(POD)in turn to produce TBs,named TBs-dE-1,TBs-dE-2,TBs-dE-3,TBs-dE-4,TBs-dE-5,TBs-dE-6 and TBs-dE-7.The physicochemical properties and the antibacterial activity and mechanism of TBs-dE-1–7 were investigated.Sensory and colour difference measurements showed that all seven tea browning samples showed varying degrees of brownish hue.Zeta potential in aqueous solutions at pH 3.0–9.0 indicated that TBs-dE-1–7 was negatively charged and the potential increased with increasing pH.The characteristic absorption peaks of TBs-dE-1–7 were observed at 208 and 274 nm by UV-visible(UV-vis)scanning spectroscopy.Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR)spectra indicated that they were phenolic compounds.TBs-dE-1–7 showed significant inhibition of Escherichia coli DH5α(E.coli DH5α).TBs-dE-3 showed the strongest inhibitory effect with minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)of 1.25 mg mL–1 and MBC of 10 mg mL–1,followed by TBs-dE-5 and TBs-dE-6.These three TBs-dEs were selected to further investigate their inhibition mechanism.The TBs-dE was found to damage the extracellular membrane of E.coli DH5α,causing leakage of contents,and increase intracellular reactive oxygen content,resulting in abnormal cell metabolism due to oxidative stress.The results of the study provide a theoretical basis for the industrial preparation and product development of TBs.