Theaflavins are a group of polyphenol pigments found in both black and oolong teas. They are obtained by the oxidation and dimerization of green tea catechins during the manufacture of black tea and oolong tea. Theaflavins contribute to the characteristic bright orange-red color of black tea. Theaflavins include theaflavin, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3'-gallate and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate.
Theaflavins are used to manage cholesterol and used to support the heart and digestive system. They could be used as protective agents against cardiovascular disease and cancer. It is also believed that they have a wide range of other pharmaceutical benefits, including antihypertensive, antioxidative and hypolipidemic activities. It is suggested that theaflavins have a potential to be developed as a safe and affordable topical microbicide for preventing sexual transmission of HIV.
Theaflavin is a polyphenolic compound found in black tea. Theaflavin derivatives show anti-HIV-1 activity by targeting gp41. Theaflavin is a potent inhibitor of amyloid-β (Aβ) and α-synuclein (αS) fibrillogenesis. Theaflavin also shows potent anti-tumor and and antoxidant activities.
ChEBI: Theaflavin is a biflavonoid that is 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzocyclohepten-6-one which is substituted at positions 1 and 8 by (2R,3R)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl groups. It is the main red pigment in black tea. It has a role as an antioxidant, a chelator, a plant metabolite, a radiation protective agent and an antibacterial agent. It is a polyphenol and a biflavonoid.
Theaflavin is a polyphenolic flavonoid that has been found in black tea and has diverse biological activities, including antineoplastic, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol lowering and antiviral properties.
Theaflavin is a suitable natural inhibitor against influenza A (H1N1) neuraminidase.
Weigh 100g of tea leaves, add 1000ml of deionized water (90) and extract for 30min, take out the extract; then add 500ml of deionized water (90) and extract for 30min; combine the extracts, and then filter it through 300 mesh cloth and 0.05um ceramic membrane to get the microfiltrate of theaflavin.
The theaflavin microfiltrate was pumped from the heavy-phase inlet into a two-stage tandem centrifugal extractor, and ethyl acetate solution with 1/2 the volume of the theaflavin microfiltrate was pumped in at the same time, and the rotational speeds of the two tandem centrifugal extractors were all 3000 rpm, the light-phase outlet solution (i.e., ester-phase solution) was collected, and then the the theaflavin extract was obtained by low-temperature vacuum concentration at 40 , and spray-drying, and the the purity of theaflavin was 21.35%.
[1] Lai Kwok Leung, Yalun Su, Ruoyun Chen, Zesheng Zhang, Yu Huang, Zhen-Yu Chen (2001) Theaflavins in Black Tea and Catechins in Green Tea Are Equally Effective, J. Nutr., 131, 2248-2251
[2] Yang J, Li L, Tan S, Jin H, Qiu J, Mao Q, Li R, Xia C, Jiang ZH, Jiang S, Liu S (2012) A Natural Theaflavins Preparation Inhibits HIV-1 Infection by Targeting the Entry Step: Potential Applications for Preventing HIV-1 Infection, Fitoterapia, 83, 348-355
[3] http://www.xtend-life.com/information/ingredients/theaflavins
