Recent insights on tea metabolites, their biosynthesis and chemo-preventing effects: A review.

Tea manufactured from the cultivated shoots of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze is the most commonly consumed nonalcoholic drink around the world. Tea is an agro-based, environmentally sustainable, labor-intensive, job-generating, and export-oriented industry in many countries. Tea includes phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, vitamins, enzymes, crude fibers, protein, lipids, and carbohydrates, among other biochemical constituents. This review described the nature of tea metabolites, their biosynthesis and accumulation with response to various factors. The therapeutic application of various metabolites of tea against microbial diseases, cancer, neurological, and other metabolic disorders was also discussed in detail. The seasonal variation, cultivation practices and genetic variability influence tea metabolite synthesis. Tea biochemical constituents, especially polyphenols and its integral part catechin metabolites, are broadly focused on potential applicability for their action against various diseases. In addition to this, tea also contains bioactive flavonoids that possess health-beneficial effects. The catechin fractions, epigallocatechin 3-gallate and epicatechin 3-gallate, are the main components of tea that has strong antioxidant and medicinal properties. The synergistic function of natural tea metabolites with synthetic drugs provides effective protection against various diseases. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnologies enhanced bioavailability, enhancing the therapeutic potential of natural metabolites against numerous diseases and pathogens.

Soybean Processing Wastes: Novel Insights on Their Production, Extraction of Isoflavones, and Their Therapeutic Properties.

Soybean processing waste (SPW) has potential as a sustainable source of phytochemicals and functional foods. A variety of phytochemicals, nutrients, and minerals have been characterized from SPW using various analytical methods. SPW utilization strategies may provide a new way to increase production of bioactive compounds, nutritional supplements, and cosmetic ingredients. SPW has the potential for value-added processing, to improve commercial use, and to lower environmental pollution through proper use. Okara, a byproduct generated during soybean processing of tofu and soy milk, is rich in dietary fiber, isoflavones, and saponins. Isoflavones, an important class of biologically active compounds owing to their multifunctional and therapeutic effects, are extracted from SPW. Further, studies have shown that okara has potential prebiotic and therapeutic value in lowering the risk of noncommunicable diseases. Therefore, in this review, we focus on several extraction methods and pharmacotherapeutic effects of different SPWs. Their effective uses in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and health applications, as biocatalysts, and as value-added resources have been discussed.

Biochemical and molecular analysis of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze tea from the selected P/11/15 clone.

Green tea is one of the most important beverages consumed across the world and it possesses various phytotherapeutics. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, total polyphenols, catechins, amino acid content and enzymatic antioxidants are considered to be potential parameters in tea characterization. P/11/15 clone (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) was chosen to analyze the biochemical characterization and to analyze the gene expression pattern. The selected P/11/15 clone (C. sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) possess potent Polyphenol oxidase (49.62 U/mg of protein), sufficient catechin (20.75%), Polyphenol (20.01%), Peroxidase (450.08 µM of O2 formed min-1 g-1 dry weight), Catalase (1.20 µM H2O2 reduced min-1 mg-1 protein) and Super Oxide Dismutase (45.11 U/mg proteins). Flavonoid gene expression reveals ANR (1.66%) and F3H (1.02%) were up regulated in the selected P/11/15 clone. The results obtained suggest that P/11/15 clone showed adequate enzyme levels, thus an increased antioxidant activity.