Radical Scavenging Activity of Tea Catechins and Their Related Compounds

Abstract

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate was found to be the most effective scavenger among tea catechins for the superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical. Examination of the scavenging effects of tea catechins and their glucosides on superoxide anion showed that the presence of at least an ortho-dihydroxyl group in the B ring and a galloyl moiety at the 3 position was important in maintaining the effectiveness of the radical scavenging ability. Stoichiometric factors of tea catechins were estimated to be 2 for (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, 5 for (-)-epigallocatechin, 7 for (-)-epicatechin gallate, and 10 for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate.

• tea
• catechin
• radical scavenging
• superoxide anion
• stoichiometric factor