Chemical analysis of old tea trees in Bai-Ying-Shan mountain and the origin of cultivated tea.

The contents of dalichasu (1,2-di-O-galloyl-4,6-O-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-D-glucopyranose),catechins,theogallin,gallic acid,caffeine and theanine in old tea trees from Bai-Ying-Shan mountain were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC method,while their total polysaccharides and polyphenols were measured by an UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Based on the chemical composition and morphological variation,the germplasm resource diversity of tea trees in Bai-Ying-Shan Mountain and their relationship with wild Camellia taliensis and cultivated tea (C.sinensis var. assamica) were discussed. The results provided not only the scientific data of quality evaluation of the old tea trees in Bai-Ying-Shan Mountain,but also the chemical evidence for the origin of cultivated tea and the hypothesis that C.taliensis might be one of the origins of cultivated tea during the long natural variation and artificial breeding.