• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.327-331
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• 2002

Tea is a pleasant, popular and safe beverage in the world. During the past decade, epidemiological studies have shown that tea catechins intake is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Tea provides a dietary source of health-promoting components to help humans reduce a wide variety of cancer risks and chronic diseases. The antioxidative activity of tea-derived catchins has been extensively studied. The antioxidant effect is a synergistic action between catechins e.g. EGCG, EGC, ECG, EC, pheophytins a and b, and other components in tea leaves, which aye more bioavailable for human body. Green tea has a Higher content of catechins than other kinds of tea. Green tea extract with hot water has high potential and more efficiency to reduce cancer risk than any other tea products or pure EGCG. Protein, iyon, and other food components may interfere with the bioavailability of ten catechins. Interaction of catechins with drug affects the cancer-preventive activity of some cancer-fighting medication. Further studies are required to determine the bioavailability of tea catechins and cancer-preventive functionality.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2006

Despite several recent attempts to measure the concentration of individual catechins by HPLC, it has not been so easy to separate catechins accurately. The aim of the present work is to provide a proper condition for separating each component of catechins by HPLC analysis, and also to evaluate the experimental variables including color differences, and metal ion contents after dyeing and mordanting. Four kinds of Catechins, (-)-epicatechin(EC), (-)-epicatechin gallate(ECG), (-)-epigallocatechin(EgC), (-)-epigallocatechin gllate(EgCG) were isolated from the residues after dyeing. Catechins in Korean green tea leaves are richer when e tea leaves are younger. Higher concentration of catechins owes it to e way it is processed. The contents of catechins adsorbed in silk fabrics after dyeing were in order of EGCG>ECG>EGC>EC. We have found $68\%$ uptake of EGCG, and 116.8mg of EGCG in the silk fabrics after it was dyed with $1\%$ Korean green tea extracts. The absorbance intensity and K/S values of dyed silk fabrics were increased with dyeing temperature and time. Only the surface color of the silk fabric dyed with green tea extracts was yellowish red, but it changed from yellowish red to red with an increase in the mordant concentration. Post-mordanted silk fabrics with ferrous sulfate changed from yellowish red to red and purple color shade. In a practical evaluation, there is no significant change in color after twenty times of the continuous dry cleaning process. However, post-mordanted fabrics with ferrous sulfate faded the brightness of color after dry cleaning. Dyeing silk fabrics with a Korean tea extract reduced the metal ion contents in the silk fabrics when compared to the untreated silk fabrics. Metal contents in silk fabrics dyed and post-mordanted with $1\%$ each metal solution were 0.194 ppm for Aluminum, 1.601ppm for Copper, and 0.334 ppm for Iron. After the post-mordanting process, the heavy metal ion absorption increased, which was mainly attributed to the catechins and polyphenols in dyed silk fabrics.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1275-1280
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• 1997

The possible use of tea catechins as natural preservatives for kimchi was investigated in this study. Tea catechins separated from tea leaves had antimicrobial activity against microorganisms related to kimchi fermentation, such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus cerevisiae, Streptococcus faecalis. The degree of antimicrobial activity of catechins were different among microorganisms; that is 2 mg/mL to Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Pediococcus cerevisiae, 4 mg/mL to Streptococcus faecalis, and 5 mg/mL to Lactobacillus brevis; however, Saccharomyces cerevisiae can not be inhibited. The effect of tea catechins on retardation of kimchi fermentation was tested by measuring changes in pH and acidity. The changes of pH and acidity of baechu-kimchi and mul-kimchi were remarkably inhibited by adding the tea catechins at the level of 2 mg/g fresh baechu. These results suggest that the tea catechins can be successfully used for the extension of shelf-life of kimchi.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.11
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• 2012

Tea polyphenols especially catechins have long been studied for their antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. Scientists throughout the world have investigated the usefulness of the regular green tea consumption in several disease conditions. In-vitro and in-vivo experiments on catechins especially epigallocatechingallate have revealed a significant role in many ways. Reactive oxygen species have been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases and important biological processes. Toxic effects of these oxidants, commonly referred to as oxidative stress, can cause cellular damage by oxidizing nucleic acids, proteins, and membrane lipids. Oxidative stress has been related to aging and age related disorders. It is found that in a wide variety of pathological processes, including cancer, atherosclerosis, neurological degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, ageing and autoimmune disorders, oxidative stress has its implications. Catechins have been reported to be useful in combating aging and age related disorders like cancer, cardiovascular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In this mini review we will discuss such studies done across the globe.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2002

Tea catechins, the most important compounds in tea polyphenols, can efficiently scavenge superoxide anion free-radical ($O_2$.), hydroxyl radical. (.OH) The mechanism of scavenging active oxygen free radicals was investigated by ESR spin trapping technique and Chemiluminescence. Results showed that various tea catechins constitute an antioxidant cycle in accordance with the decreasing order of the first reductive potential, and produce the effect of cooperative strength each other. Esterificated catechins could scavenge active oxygen free radicals more effectively than the non-esterificated ones. When.OH and $O_2$.- were scavenged by (-)-epigallocatechin gallate [(-)- EGCG], the stoichiometric factors were 6, and the rate constants of scavenging reaction reached $7.71{\times}10^6$ and $3.52{\times}10^{11}$ L $mmol^{-1}s^{-1}$, respectively. In the mean time, tea catechins could scavenge superoxide anion fiee radical ($O_2$-.) and hydroxyl radical (.OH) in a dose dependent manner. But at higher concentration or pH value, tea catechins can induce the prooxidant.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2016

Objectives: Bacterial resistant infections have become a global health challenge and threaten the society's health. Thus, an urgent need exists to find ways to combat resistant pathogens. One promising approach to overcoming bacterial resistance is the use of herbal products. Green tea catechins, the major green tea polyphenols, show antimicrobial activity against resistant pathogens. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catechins, green tea extract, and methylxanthines in combination with gentamicin against standard and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the standard strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of different agents against bacterial strains were determined. The interactions of green tea extract, epigallate catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, two types of methylxanthine, caffeine, and theophylline with gentamicin were studied in vitro by using a checkerboard method and calculating the fraction inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Results: The MICs of gentamicin against bacterial strains were in the range of $0.312-320{\mu}g/mL$. The MIC values of both types of catechins were $62.5-250{\mu}g/mL$. Green tea extract showed insufficient antibacterial activity when used alone. Methylxanthines had no intrinsic inhibitory activity against any of the bacterial strains tested. When green tea extract and catechins were combined with gentamicin, the MIC values of gentamicin against the standard strains and a clinical isolate were reduced, and synergistic activities were observed (FICI < 1). A combination of caffeine with gentamicin did not alter the MIC values of gentamicin. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that green tea extract and catechins potentiated the antimicrobial action of gentamicin against some clinical isolates of S. aureus and standard P. aeruginosa strains. Therefore, combinations of gentamicin with these natural compounds might be a promising approach to combat microbial resistance.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.2 s.57
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• pp.117-121
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• 2006

Although many studies have been performed to elucidate the molecular consequence of factors that regulate skin aging, little is known about the effect of green tea catechins except EGCG. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), can degrade matrix proteins and results in a collagen deficiency in photodamaged skin, are known to play an important role in photoaging. This study, investigated the effects of green tea catechins on the UVA-induced MMP-1 expression, activity of MMP-2 and synthesis of type I procollagen in human dermal fibroblasts. We examined eight catechins that naturally exist in green tea leaves and compared their efficacies among them. Most of catechins inhibited the expression of MMP-1 in dose dependent manner, and the levels were reduced, especially, 57.4 and 68.2% by treatment with $1{\mu}M$ of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and gallocatechin-3-gallate (GCG), respectively. Also, catechins significantly suppressed the activities of MMP-2. Catechins also induced the expression of type I procollagen, however, they acted only at the concentration below $1{\mu}M$ interestingly. Furthermore, when EGCG:GCG:ECG had the ratio of 0.5:1.5:.1.3, they presented the most effective on procollagen synthesis. Therefore, we concluded that catechins significantly inhibited MMPs and induced collagen synthesis. Taken together, all these results suggested that green tea catechins might be good natural materials act as an anti-photoaging and a skin-aging improving agent.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.799-804
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• 2006

Ingestion of green tea has been shown to decrease prostaglandin $E_2$ levels in human colorectum, suggesting that tea constituents modulate arachidonic acid metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of four purified green tea catechins, (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), on the catalytic activity of cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$ ($cPLA_2$) and release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites from intact cells. At $50\;{\mu}M$, EGCG and ECG inhibited $cPLA_2$ activity by 19 and 37%, respectively, whereas EC and EGC were less effective. The inhibitory effects of these catechins on arachidonic acid metabolism in intact cells were much more pronounced. At $10\;{\mu}M$, EGCG and ECG inhibited the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites by 50-70% in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) and human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (KYSE-190 and 450). EGCG and ECG also inhibited arachidonic acid release induced by A23187, a calcium ionophore, in both HT-29 and KYSE-450 cell lines by 30-50%. The inhibitory effects of green tea catechins on $cPLA_2$ and arachidonic acid release may provide a possible mechanism for the prevention of human gastrointestinal inflammation and cancers.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.932-938
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• 2009

Browning of tea infusion is an obstructive factor influencing shelf life of ready-to-drink green tea. Effects of temperature and illumination on the browning of green tea infusion were investigated. It was shown that both elevated temperature and illumination led to the browning of green tea infusion, but temperature had greater effect on infusion color and level of catechins than illumination. The levels of unoxidized catechins such as (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg), (-)-epicatechin (EC), and total catechins remaining in the tea infusion were significantly correlated to color parameters of the tea infusion. Sodium ascorbate inhibited the infusion browning by suppressing the oxidation of tea catechins and it is considered to be a more suitable preservative for prolonging shelf life of ready-to-drink green tea than ascorbic acid because it has less effect on tea taste. The effects of temperature and illumination on the epimerization of catechins were also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.308-314
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• 2009

In this study, we examined the composition of catechins, theaflavins and alkaloids in leaves during processing to fermented black tea, which is produced by withering, roll breaking, and fermentation of Korean Yabukida tea plant. In addition, we determined the optimal conditions for the production of fermented black tea. The average moisture content in fresh leaves was 70.85%, which dropped to 3.07% in fermented black tea at the last stage of production. When the leaves were analyzed by HPLC, seven types of catechins, four types of theaflavins and three types of alkaloids were identified. The levels of catechins, theaflavins, and alkaloids were then evaluated after being processed into fermented tea. From these experiments, we found that the level of theaflavins, which determines the property of the tea, increased during fermentation. This effect resulted from the change in EGCG, ECG, EGC, EC during the process of fermentation. We also found that the maximal amount of theaflavins was created after 1-2 hours of fermentation. Thus, our results imply that the best condition for producing fermented black tea would be to ferment for 1-2 hours.