Green tea infusions are one of the most popular beverages consumed across the world, especially is Asian countries. Green tea quality is primarily based on catechin content, however, the concentration of elements could also significantly influence its biological properties and thus quality and safety. The main purpose of the present study was the evaluation of catechin, antioxidant activity and metal content (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd and Ni) in different green tea types cultivated in Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, India, China and Japan. The chemical analysis of samples was performed using LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS for organic constituents and atomic absorption spectrometry (flame and electrothermal) method for inorganic ones. The obtained results were subjected to chemometric elaboration. EGC (213 mg/100 mL of the tea infusion in South Korean Jeoncha) and EGCG (124 mg/100 mL in Japanese Sencha) were the dominant catechins in all green tea samples. Chinese and Indian green tea samples contained the highest concentration of toxic heavy metals, however these values were far below appropriate limitations for green teas. PCA revealed significant similarities between Japanese samples and Korean Jeoncha. In general the latter one was evaluated to have the best quality based on the investigated parameters.

Studies on the cosmetic applications of plant extracts are increasingly appearing in the scientific literature, which is due to the growing popularity of skincare products around the world. In the light of the observed changes, a return to natural treatment and skincare with cosmetics free of harmful substances or toxic preservatives is visible. Currently, tea extracts, due to their rich composition and various biological actions, play an important role among the dietary supplements and cosmetics. This review is intended to collect the reports on the properties of the tea plant, its extracts and preparations in cosmetology: for skin care products and for the treatment of selected dermatological diseases. Particular attention is paid to its antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, anti-inflammatory, slimming, hair-strengthening, photoprotective and sealing blood vessels properties.

The usefulness of ginger in the food industry and pharmacotherapy is strictly related to its content of various components. The study elucidates the chemical composition of Zingiber officinale rhizomes cultivated on ecological plantations on Shikoku Island (Japan). GC-MS analysis of terpene content, LC-MS determination of phenolic content, and the determination of 12 elements using AAS spectrometry were performed to give more detailed insight into the samples. Ninety-five percent of terpene composition was elucidated, with zingiberene as the most abundant sesquiterpene (37.9%); the quantification of gingerols and shogaols was performed, showing the highest contribution of 6-gingerol (268.3 mg/kg); a significant K (43,963 mg/kg of dry mass) and Mn (758.4 mg/kg of dry mass) content was determined in the elemental analysis of the rhizomes and low concentration of toxic elements (Cd, Ni and Pb) remaining below the safe level values recommended by European Commission Directives. The main phenolic compound was (6)-gingerol, which is characteristic of fresh rhizomes and is responsible for their taste and aroma. Surprisingly, high amounts of (6)-shogaol were determined, even though this phenolic compound usually occurs in old or processed material and not in fresh rhizomes. Sesquiterpenes were the major fraction of volatiles. The highest concentrations were determined for α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, (E,E)-α-farnesene, geranial, and ar-curcumene. The volatiles composition of ginger cultivated on Shikoku Island is specific and strongly differs from plants cultivated in China, Nigeria, or Australia. The elemental composition of ginger rhizomes grown in ecological plantations is more beneficial for human health compared to products grown in normal cultivars, as the products contain high amounts of potassium and manganese and are characterized by low sodium content and lower levels of toxic heavy metals.

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Background: In the search for novel antidepressive drug candidates, bioguided fractionation of nonpolar constituents present in the oleoresin from ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) was performed. This particular direction of the research was chosen due to the existing reports on the antidepressive properties of ginger total extract. The search for individual metabolites acting as MAO-A inhibitors, which correspond to the apparent effect of the total extract, is the subject of this work. Methods: Hexane extracts from ginger rhizomes were fractionated by using column chromatography (including silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate) and semi-preparative high-performance chromatography. For the activity assessment, an in vitro monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibition luminescence assay was performed on 10 purified terpenes: 1,8-cineole, α-citronellal, geraniol, β-sesquiphellandrene, γ-terpinen, geranyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, (E,E)-α-farnesene, and α-zingiberene. Results: Geraniol and (−)-terpinen-4-ol were found to be the strongest enzyme inhibitors with inhibition of 44.1% and 42.5%, respectively, at a concentration of 125 µg/mL. No differences in the inhibition potential were observed for the different groups of terpenes: sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, or sesquiterpene alcohols; however, the two most active compounds contained a hydroxyl moiety. Conclusions: Terpene constituents from ginger’s extract were found to exhibit moderate inhibitory properties against the MAO-A enzyme in in vitro tests.