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Journal of Tea Science ›› 2008, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (1): 43-49.doi: 10.13305/j.cnki.jts.2008.01.009

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Distribution of Catechins, Purine Alkaloids and Free Amino Acids in Tea Seedlings

CHEN Lin1,2, WAN Xiao-chun1,*, ZHANG Zheng-zhu1, CHEN Qi1   

  1. 1. Anhui Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Ministry of Education & Agriculture, Hefei 230036, China;
    2. Tea research institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fu’an 355015, China
  • Received:2007-05-29 Revised:2007-11-08 Online:2008-02-15 Published:2019-09-16

Abstract: :Catechins, purine alkaloids and free amino acids in various parts of tea seedlings (Camellia sinensis cv. Fuyun 6) with four or five leaves were analyzed by HPLC-PDAD and amino acid analyzer. The results showed that catechins and purine alkaloids mainly existed in the leaves and tender stems, and less in the parts below cotyledons. There were higher (–)-epigallocatechin gallate and L-theanine contents in the tender leaves, which decreased as they grew up. L-theanine was especially abundant in the roots of tea seedlings, the same to its precursors, glutamic acid and alanine. L-theanine was largely formed in radicles during germination of tea seeds, and reached 13.429 mg/g of fresh weight when purplish red colored stems of tea seedlings came out. Thus, it would be a promising way to obtain natural L-theanine from the tender roots of tea seedlings and its clones.

Key words: tea seedlings, catechins, caffeine, L-theanine

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