Catechin concentrates of garden tea leaves (Camellia sinensis L.): extraction/isolation and evaluation of chemical composition

BACKGROUND Solid–liquid (SLE) and liquid–liquid (LLE) extraction techniques were applied to extract catechins and caffeine from quick mechanically expelled tea leaf juice (QMETLJ) and freeze-dried (FD)-QMETLJ of Camellia sinensis L. The concentrates obtained were analyzed for total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (DPPH• inhibition, FRAP and phosphomolybdenum assay). Catechins were identified and quantified using HPLC. RESULTS Overall, 95% (v/v) ethanol was the best solvent system for extracting total polyphenols (355.26 ± 23.68 to 457.89 ± 28.94 g GAE kg−1 extractable solid yield (ESY)) and antioxidants (DPPH• inhibition, 16.97 ± 0.52 to 20.83 ± 3.11%; FRAP, 4.15 ± 0.32 to 6.38 ± 0.57 mmol TE g−1 ESY; Mo(V) reduction, 2.47 ± 0.19 to 3.84 ± 0.39 mmol AAE g−1 ESY) from FD-QMETLJ. Similarly, in LLE, ethyl acetate showed the best results for recovering polyphenols (960.52 ± 7.89 g GAE kg−1 ESY) and antioxidants (DPPH• inhibition, 42.39 ± 0.91%; FRAP, 11.39 ± 0.83 mmol TE g−1 ESY; Mo(V) reduction, 6.71 ± 1.14 mmol AAE g−1 ESY) from QMETLJ. CONCLUSION It was found that 95% ethanol can be used to increase the total polyphenols and antioxidants in extracts from FD-QMETLJ, while ethyl acetate can be effectively employed for concentrating catechins from QMETLJ. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry