Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) from citrus genus have been of particular interest because of their broad spectrum of biological activities, including antiinflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antiatherogenic properties. There have been increasing interests in the exploration of health beneficial properties of PMFs in citrus fruits. Therefore, the isolation and characterization of PMFs from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel will lead to new applications of the byproducts from orange juice processes and other orange consumption in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. In our study, eight hydroxylated PMFs, six PMFs, one polymethoxyflavanone, one hydroxylated polymethoxyflavanone, and two hydroxylated polymethoxychalcones were isolated from sweet orange peel and their structures were elucidated by various MS, UV, and different NMR techniques. Some of the hydroxylated PMFs and chalcones are newly isolated from sweet orange peel.

Previous studies have demonstrated that reactive dicarbonyl compounds [e.g., methylglyoxal (MGO) and glyoxal (GO)] irreversibly and progressively modify proteins over time and yield advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are thought to contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus and its subsequent complications. Thus, decreasing the levels of MGO and GO will be an effective approach to reduce the formation of AGEs and the development of diabetic complications. In our studies to find nontoxic trapping agents of reactive dicarbonyl species from dietary sources, we found that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major bioactive green tea polyphenol, could efficiently trap reactive dicarbonyl compounds (MGO or GO) to form mono- and di-MGO or GO adducts under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). The products formed from EGCG and MGO (or GO), combined at different ratios, were analyzed using LC/MS. We also developed a method to purify the two major mono-MGO adducts of EGCG without derivatization, and their structures were identified as stereoisomers of mono-MGO adducts of EGCG based on their 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Our LC/MS and NMR data showed that positions 6 and 8 of the EGCG A-ring were the major active sites for trapping reactive dicarbonyl compounds. We also found that EGCG lost its trapping efficacy under acidic conditions (pH

Tea is the most popular flavored and functional drink worldwide. The nutritional value of tea is mostly from the tea polyphenols that are reported to possess a broad spectrum of biological activities, including anti-oxidant properties, reduction of various cancers, inhibition of inflammation, and protective effects against diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Tea polyphenols include catechins and gallic acid in green and white teas, and theaflavins and thearubigins as well as other catechin polymers in black and oolong teas. Accurate analysis of black tea polyphenols plays a significant role in the identification of black tea contents, quality control of commercial tea beverages and extracts, differentiation of various contents of theaflavins and catechins and correlations of black tea identity and quality with biological activity, and most importantly, the establishment of the relationship between quantitative tea polyphenol content and its efficacy in animal or human studies. Global research in tea polyphenols has generated much in vitro and in vivo data rationally correlating tea polyphenols with their preventive and therapeutic properties in human diseases such as cancer, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases etc. Based on these scientific findings, numerous tea products have been developed including flavored tea drinks, tea-based functional drinks, tea extracts and concentrates, and dietary supplements and food ingredients, demonstrating the broad applications of tea and its extracts, particularly in the field of functional food.

Anti-inflammatoryAnti-cancer Anti-atherogenic properties Bioavailability Permeability Solubility Absorption A B S T R A C T Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) and hydroxylated polymethoxyflavones exist exclusively in citrus genus, especially in the citrus peels which have been used as herbal medicine for several diseases for thousands of years. In this review, the natural occurrence, isolation and separation of PMFs; synthetic scheme of hydroxylated PMF preparation, especially the reaction mechanism of preparation of 5-hydroxylated PMFs; biotransformation and metabolic fate of PMFs; the preliminary study on PMF bioavailability and the close relationship among solubility, permeability, absorption and oral bioavailability are summarized.The published bioactivity data on anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-atherogenic properties of PMFs have also been detailed along with a report of new findings of hydroxylated PMFs and their potent biological activities.

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