Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity of 27 cultivars of tea

Tea, rich in phytochemicals, has been suggested to have human health benefits. The phenolic profiles, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of 27 tea cultivars were determined. Wide ranges of variation were found in analyzed cultivars for the contents of water-soluble phenolics (121.6-223.7mg/g dry weight (DW)), total catechins (TC) (90.5-177.2mg/g DW), antioxidant activities (PSC values 627.3-2332.3mol of vitamin C equiv/g DW, ORAC values (1865.1-3489.3mol of vitamin C equiv/g DW), CAA values (37.7-134.3mol of QE/g DW without PBS wash and 25.3-75.4mol of QE/g DW with PBS wash) and antiproliferative activity (53.0-90.8% at the concentration of 400g/mL extracts). The PSC, ORAC and CAA values were significantly correlated with phenolics, epicatechin gallate (ECG), CC and TC. Knowledge of specific differences among tea cultivars is important for breeding tea cultivars and gives sights to its potential application to promote health.