Catechins are well-known antioxidants naturally found in tea and other plants. The four most abundant catechins found in tea are (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and (−)-epicatechin (EC), accounting for up to 30-40% of solid green tea extract. Studies have shown that catechins have numerous health benefits when consumed, such as a lower risk of mortality, reduced risk of cognitive impairment, and a reduced risk of psychological distress. Due to these beneficial health properties, catechins are widely studied by researchers. A defining characteristic of catechins is their ability to epimerize, especially at higher temperatures. However, the epimerization of catechins is not always desired, and can be quite difficult to prevent. As research into catechins continues to grow, there will be an increasing desire to focus on the specific enantiomeric forms of catechins included in biological studies. Silylation is a common technique used to stabilize compounds for analysis, often via GCMS. Our research focuses on the silylation of catechins and how silylation might affect epimerization at various temperatures. In this presentation, we will describe the characterization of silylated catechins and their rate of epimerization under biologically relevant conditions.

Studying the epimerization of silylated catechins

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.