Polymer-like polyphenols of black tea and their lipase and amylase inhibitory activities

Lipase and amylase inhibitory activities of black tea were examined. After solvent partitioning of a black tea extract with the ethyl acetate and n-butanol, the two soluble fractions showed comparable inhibitory activities. Activity in the ethyl acetate fraction was mainly attributable to polyphenols with low-molecular weights, such as theaflavin gallates. On the other hand, the active substance in the n-butanol layer was ascertained to be a polymer-like substance. H-1- and C-13-NMR spectra showed signals arising from the flavan A-ring and galloyl groups, although signals due to flavan B-rings were not detected, suggesting that the polymer-like substances were generated by oxidative condensation of flavan B-rings, a result which was previously deduced from our results of in vitro catechin oxidation experiments. Enzymatic oxidation of epicatechin 3-O-gallate produced a similar polymer-like substance and suggested that condensation between a B-ring and galloyl groups was involved in the polymerization reaction.