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Published on: September 28, 2022
Tea Is a Significant Dietary Source of Ellagitannins and Ellagic Acid
Xiao Yang1,2, Francisco A Tomás-Barberán1
1Research Group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Center for Applied Soil Science and Biology of the Segura (CEBAS) , Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) , Post Office Box 164, Espinardo, 30100 Murcia , Spain.
Abstract:
The ellagitannin composition and the total content of ellagitannins in different types of tea were studied by high-performance liquid chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry. Strictinin and seven other isomers, tellimagrandin I, and ellagic acid were identified from tea infusions. The ellagitannin content in tea infusions was determined after acid hydrolysis and ranged from 0.15 to 4.46 mg of ellagic acid equivalent/g of tea in the infusions. The intake of ellagic acid after drinking a cup of tea brewed with 4 g of tea could range between 0.59 and 17.89 mg. These results indicate that tea can be a significant contributor to the dietary intake of ellagitannins. Urolithins, the gut microbiota metabolites produced in vivo from ellagic acid and ellagitannins, were detected in human urine after dietary tea beverage intake. Urolithin metabotypes A, B, and 0 were identified in volunteers after tea intake. These results suggest that the daily intake of ellagitannins from tea can have a role in tea health effects.
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