title: Complexing of Green Tea Catechins with Food Constituents and Degradation of the Complexes by Lactobacillus plantarum.
abstract: Complexing of green tea catechins with food constituents and their hydrolysis by tannase-producing Lactobacillus plantarum strains, were investigated. Our observations indicated that 1) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and other catechin galloyl esters bound with food ingredients (i.e., proteins) to form a complex that is likely to be unabsorbable through the intestinal wall, whereas most catechins not esterified with gallic acid (GA) remain in free form, not complexing with food ingredients; 2) tannase activity of L. plantarum is strain dependent, possibly grouped into those with high tannase activity hydrolyzing EGCg to epigallocatechin and GA and those with the low activity; and 3) L. plantarum strains with high tannase activity are capable of hydrolyzing not only intact EGCg but also EGCg and other catechin galloyl esters complexed with dietary proteins to free non-galloyl ester catechins and GA. The evidence suggests that L. plantarum with high tannase activity, if it colonizes the human intestine, would release free non-galloyl-ester catechins and GA that are readily absorbed through the human intestinal epithelia from the complexes, thereby ensuring maximum delivery of the bioactive polyphenols of green tea to the host.
authors.affiliation: Research Development Division, Maruzen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., 14703-10 Mukaihigashi-cho, Onomichi 722-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Taeko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokko-dai, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan.
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Structural Science, Center for Collaborative Research and Technology Development, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokko-dai, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.affiliation: Research Development Division, Maruzen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., 14703-10 Mukaihigashi-cho, Onomichi 722-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokko-dai, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan.
authors.forename: Ro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osawa
keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum; epigallocatechin; epigallocatechin gallate; gallic acid; tannase