Tea polyphenols have been reported to decrease the rate of starch hydrolysis by inhibiting α-glucosidase. However, the effect of the tea harvesting season and the structure of catechin monomers on the inhibitory activity of α-glucosidase is not understood. In this study, the inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of four seasons of Dancong tea against α-glucosidase were investigated by in vivo and in vitro experiments, multi-spectroscope and molecular dynamic. The Dancong tea harvested in spring and winter showed a stronger inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase due to a higher content of catechin, especially EGCG ((-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate). The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that EGCG and ECG ((-)-epicatechin-3-gallate) with a higher content of gallate and hydroxyl groups exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on starch hydrolysis, rise of postprandial blood glucose and activities of α-glucosidase compared to EGC ((-)-epigallocatechin) and EC ((-)-epicatechin). These gallate and hydroxy groups were more effective in interacting with the amino acid residues in the active site of α-glucosidase, leading to structural changes in the enzyme. Certainly, the inhibitory effect of Dancong tea on α-glucosidase explains one of the mechanisms by which it helps alleviate diabetes; the other hypoglycaemic mechanisms of Dancong tea will be further explored.
Zhou Hua,Liao Jin,Ou Juanying,Lin Jiayu,Zheng Jie,Li Yifei,Ou Shiyi,Liu Fu
An α-glucosidase inhibition assay showed the ethanolic extract of Fenghuang Dancong tea had potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The most bioactive fraction, which was obtained via bioassay-guided isolation of the extract, was further purified to create five compounds, including three novel compounds (1–3). These compounds were analyzed and identified in detail using high-resolution-mass spectrometry and extensive one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy experiments. Among the compounds, compound 1 contained cis double bonds and showed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 7.51 μM, which is significantly lower than that of compound 2 with trans double bonds. Enzyme kinetic experiments showed that 1 was a reversible non-competitive α-glucosidase inhibitor.
Lingtou Dancong oolong tea is a famous Chinese oolong tea due to its special honey-like aroma. However, little is known about its specific aroma profile and key contributors. Furthermore, whether the aroma characteristics of Lingtou Dancong oolong tea are affected by the environmental conditions at different altitudes is unknown. In this study, the aromas in Lingtou Dancong oolong tea were extracted and analyzed by stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) combined with gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the aroma profiles of tea plants grown at different altitudes were compared. We detected 59 odor compounds in Lingtou Dancong oolong tea. Eight compounds with honey and floral odors were identified as key components on the basis of GC-O, GC-MS, odor activity value, and flavor dilution analyses. Differences in the contents of precursor geranyl diphosphate and transcript levels of structural genes were found to be responsible for the differential accumulation of linalool and hotrienol among plants grown at different altitudes. This is the first report on the aroma characteristics and key contributors of Lingtou Dancong oolong tea and their differences, as affected by altitude. These results provide details of the chemical basis of the aroma quality of Lingtou Dancong oolong tea.Keywords:Lingtou Dancong;stir-bar sorptive extraction;gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry;odorants;different altitudes