Abstract
The antioxidative activity of green tea-derived polyphenols known as catechins has been extensively studied. However, the antioxidative activity of the non-polyphenolic fraction of green tea has been poorly elucidated and is the subject of the present study. The non-polyphenolic fraction of green tea showed a significant dose-dependent suppressive effect against the autooxidation of linoleic acid. The chlorophyll-related compounds pheophytins a and b showed similar antioxidative activities in the same assay, much higher than those of α-tocopherol and the green tea catechin (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The non-polyphenolic fraction of green tea and pheophytins a and b exhibited suppressive activities against superoxide anion (${\bf O}_{2}ˆ{-}$) generation in mouse macrophages induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, showing higher activities than that of EGCG. These results suggest that the non-polyphenolic fraction of green tea leaves has potent antioxidative activity and that this activity is associated with pheophytins a and b. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
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