Two catechin derivatives (C-1 and C-2) with potent antiallergic activity were isolated from Taiwanese oolong tea by HPLC techniques. From NMR and FAB-MS analyses, the structures of C-1 and C-2 were elucidated as (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate, respectively. The oolong tea leaves contained 0.34% (dry weight) C-1 and 0.20% C-2. Traces of C-2 were detected in only 1 of 15 varieties of green tea tested. C-1 was detected in 13 of 15 green tea varieties; C-1 was most concentrated in tea cultivars classified as Assam hybrids (0. 50-0.82% of dry weight). Quantitative analyses of green tea, oolong tea, and black tea manufactured from same batches of tea leaves showed that neither catechin derivative was produced during the fermentation process. Oral doses of C-1 and C-2 (5-50 mg/kg) significantly inhibited type I allergic (anaphylactic) reactions in mice sensitized with ovalbumin and Freund's incomplete adjuvant. These inhibitory effects exceeded that of the major tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, which has known antiallergic properties.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection was developed for the determination of twelve tea catechins including four major catechins: epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); four of their epimers at the C-2 position, C, GC, CG and GCG; and four methylated catechin derivatives, epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate, gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate, epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate and epicatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate. These catechins were separated on an ODS C18 reversed-phase column by isocratic elution with 0.1 M NaH2PO4 buffer (pH 2.5)-acetonitrile (87:13) containing 0.1 mM EDTA.2Na. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of these catechins were approximately 10-40 pmol ml-1 at an applied voltage of 600 mV. Extracting these catechins from tea leaf powder with H2O-acetonitrile (1:1) at 30 degrees C for 40 min inhibited the epimerization at C-2 significantly from these epicatechins compared to extraction with hot water at 90 degrees C. This analytical method is sensitive to and appropriate for the simultaneous determination of various biologically active catechins in green tea.

The inhibitory effects of tea catechins, the O-methylated derivatives of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), and the polyphenol extracts from tea leaves (Camellia sinensis L.) on oxazolone-induced type IV allergy in male ICR mice were investigated. Four major tea catechins and two O-methylated derivatives, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG3' 'Me) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG4' 'Me), showed significant inhibitory effects on mouse type IV allergy after a percutaneous administration at a dose of 0.13 mg/ear. Among tea catechins, the compounds including galloyl moieties, such as EGCG and (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG), showed the strongest inhibitory activities on mouse type IV allergy. The inhibitory activities of EGCG3' 'Me and EGCG4' 'Me were higher than that of EGCG at a dose of 0.05 mg/ear. Polyphenol extract from tea leaves of Benihomare cultivar, which includes EGCG3' 'Me, strongly inhibited mouse type IV allergy after percutaneous administration in comparison with that from Yabukita cultivar, which does not include EGCG3' 'Me, at doses of 0.05 and 0.13 mg/ear. EGCG3' 'Me is thought to contribute, at least in part, to the inhibitory ability of Benihomare tea leaves on mouse type IV allergy. EGCG and the polyphenol extracts from Benihomare and Yabukita tea leaves also inhibited mouse type IV allergy by oral administration at 1 h before the sensitization and at 1 h before the challenge with oxazolone. Therefore, daily intake of tea drinks could have potential to prevent type IV allergy.

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Epimerization at C-2 of O-methylated catechin derivatives and four major tea catechins were investigated. The epimeric isomers of (-)-epicatechin (I), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (II), (-)-epigallocatechin (III), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (IV), and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (V) in green tea extracts increased time-dependently at 90 degrees C. The epimerization rates of authentic tea catechins in distilled water are much lower than those in tea infusion or in pH 6.0 buffer solution. The addition of tea infusion to the authentic catechin solution accelerated the epimerization, and the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, disodium salt (Na(2)EDTA) decreased the epimerization in the pH 6.0 buffer solution. Therefore, the metal ions in tea infusion may affect the rate of epimerization. The proportions of the epimers to authentic tea catechins [III, IV, V, and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (VI)] in pH 6.0 buffer solution after heating at 90 degrees C for 30 min were 42.4%, 37.0%, 41.7%, and 30.4%, respectively. These values were higher than those of I and II (23.5% and 23.6%, respectively). The O-methylated derivatives at the 4'-position on the B ring of IV and VI were hardly epimerized. These results suggest that the hydroxyl moiety on the B ring of catechins plays an important role in the epimerization in the order 3',4',5'-triol type > 3',4'-diol type >> 3',5'-diol type.

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Lumbar kyphosis and the decreased mobility of the lumbar spine increase the risk of falls and impair both the quality of life and the ability to perform activities of daily living. However, in the elderly Japanese population, little is known about the age-related changes and sex-related differences in muscle strength, including of the upper and lower extremities and back extensors. An adequate kyphotic or lordotic angle has also not been determined. In this study, we evaluated the age-related changes in muscle strength and spinal kyphosis in 252 males and 320 females ≥50 years of age. Grip, back extensor, hip flexor, and knee extensor strength; thoracic and lumbar kyphosis; and spinal inclination in the neutral standing position were assessed, together with the range of motion of the thoracic and lumbar spine and spinal inclination. Grip strength, back extensor strength, and the strength of the hip flexors and knee extensors decreased significantly with aging, both in males (P<0.0001) and in females (P=0.0015 to P<0.0001). The lumbar but not the thoracic kyphosis angle decreased significantly with aging, only in females (P<0.0001). Spinal inclination increased significantly with aging in both males (P=0.002) and females (P<0.0001). Back extensor strength and the thoracic kyphosis angle were significant variables influencing the lumbar kyphosis angle in both sexes. Spinal inclination correlated significantly with both the lumbar kyphosis angle and hip flexor strength in males, as well as with the lumbar kyphosis angle in females.

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