Phytochemical characterization and biological activities of green tea (Camellia sinensis) produced in the Azores, Portugal

Abstract Background Green tea is not only one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, but also known for its health promoting and therapeutic effects. cultivated in areas with high humidity acidic soils China, Indonesia Japan. Those places have well-marked dry rainy seasons. In opposite, Azores a climate constant average annual rainfall and, unlike eastern regions, relatively air throughout year. While brand implemented on Portuguese market, quality green produced must be guaranteed. Quality control measures based phytochemical determination chemical composition biological activities are needed order to address whenever changes interferes significantly Purpose Make characterization various extracts leaves coming from evaluate anti-cancer compare obtained results those teas regions. Methods Phytochemical (catechins, oxyaromatic acids, flavonols, alkaloids theanine) total catechins contents (TCC) was performed by using HPLC-DAD analysis, infusions (5–7 min 30 min), maceration methanolic Camellia sinensis samples Azores, Portugal. The antioxidant activity measured DPPH assay phenolics (TPC) were estimated Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. cytotoxic towards drug sensitive multidrug-resistant leukemia cell lines determined resazurin assay. Results TCC higher lower maceration, as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) epicatechin (ECG) concentrations residual extracts. Maceration showed highest content gallic acid, indicating that methanol contained more flavonols molecular weight and/or may lead degalloylation catechins. amount o-caffeoylquinic acid extracted samples. Short-term extraction at temperatures resulted amounts neochlorogenic acid. glycosylated quercitin-3- d -galactoside kaempferol-3-glucoside small Caffeine easily (99%) compared water, while amino-acid l -theanine unattainable methanol. TPC values correlated linearly DPPH• IC50, infusion showing best capacities. aqueous methanol/water active cancer cells. Conclusion Despite these climatic differences, revealed compares well China addition, can without fungicides pesticides pests appear during This allows production high-quality bioorganic tea. Aqueous Azorean useful targeting drug-resistant tumor