for Food Analysis

Catechins

Catechins are a type of polyphenolic compound contained in tea leaves. Catechins have antibacterial, bactericidal, antiviral, active oxygen scavenging, anti-allergic, fat-burning and bad cholesterol-lowering effects.
The main tea-(green-tea)-catechins are (-)-Epicatechin, (-)-Epicatechin Gallate, (-)-Epigallocatechin, and (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate. In addition, in products such as canned beverages that undergo a heating process, the four types of catechins found in tea leaves may be present in their epimerized forms: (-)-Catechin, (-)-Catechin Gallate, (-)-Gallocatechin, and (-)-Gallocatechin Gallate.

Methods for quantifying catechins include high-performance liquid chromatography using a reverse-phase column, colorimetric quantification of tannins (polyphenols found in green tea), and analysis using capillary-column electrophoresis*1. In addition, a quantitative method for the (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-(3"-O-Methyl)gallate (methylated catechin) is specified in JAS 0002: Determination of the O-methylated Catechin in 'Benifuuki' Green Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)-High performance liquid chromatographic method. We offer a 11 Catechin Mixture Standard Solution and other catechin analytical standard that can be used for the simultaneous analysis of catechins.

Procyanidins (proanthocyanidins) are compounds in which multiple catechins or epicatechins are bonded. And procyanidins produce anthocyanidins by hydrolyzing. Foods containing procyanidins have been registered in Japan as foods with functional claims, such as "apple-derived procyanidins" and "pine bark-derived procyanidins."

Theaflavins are a type of polyphenolic compound contained in black tea leaves and are produced by the bonding of 2 catechin molecules during the fermentation (oxidation) process of black tea. Although its functions are similar to catechins, there are several differences such as anti-influenza activity etc.*2

  • 1:Yamamoto : Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Subsidy Program (Project to Promote Collaboration Between the Food and Agriculture Sectors) Manual for the Evaluation of Food Functional Properties, 1, 10 (2009).
  • 2:The Japan Food News (December 6, 2018).

11 Catechin Mixture Standard Solution

The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) and Shimadzu Corporation have developed a method for the simultaneous analysis of multiple catechins, including caffeine, using liquid chromatography, and are working toward the establishment of a Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS). This product is a mixture standard solution containing the following 10 types of catechins* and caffeine, each at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, and can be used as a standard solution for the analysis of these and other catechins.

*This product does not contain Gallocatechin 3-O-(3”-O-Methyl)gallate (GCG3’’Me).

Constituent

No. Constituent Abbreviations CAS RN®
1 Catechin C 154-23-4
2 Epicatechin EC 490-46-0
3 Gallocatechin GC 970-73-0
4 Epigallocatechin EGC 970-74-1
5 Catechin Gallate CG 130405-40-2
6 Epicatechin Gallate ECG 1257-08-5
7 Gallocatechin Gallate GCG 4233-96-9
8 Epigallocatechin Gallate EGCG 989-51-5
9 Epicatechin 3-(3”-O-Methyl)gallate ECG3’’Me 83104-86-3
10 Epigallocatechin 3-(3”-O-Methyl)gallate EGCG3’’Me 83104-87-4
11 Caffeine - 58-08-2

Analysis example

Analysis condition*

Column
Wakopak® Navi C18-5 4.6 mm×150 mm
Column temperature
55℃
Eluent
A) 0.2 vol% H3PO4 in H2O  B) CH3OH
Gradient
Time (min.) B conc. (%)
0-15 16
15-26 16-45
Flow rate
0.85 mL/min.
Detection
UV 272 nm

* For details on the sample preparation and simultaneous analysis methods developed by Shimadzu Corporation, please refer to Wako Junyaku Jiho, 94 (3), 5 (2026).

Analytical Standard for Catechins

(+)-Catechin (-)-Epicatechin (+)-Gallocatechin
00413_img01.png 00413_img02.png 00413_img03.png
CAS RN®:154-23-4 CAS RN®:490-46-0 CAS RN®:970-73-0
C15H14O6=290.27 C15H14O6=290.27 C15H14O7=306.27
(-)-Epigallocatechin (-)-Epicatechin Gallate (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate
00413_img04.png 00413_img05.png 00413_img06.png
CAS RN®:970-74-1 CAS RN®:1257-08-5 CAS RN®:989-51-5
C15H14O7=306.27 C22H18O10=442.37 C22H18O11=458.37
(-)-Epigallocatechin
3-(3''-O-Methyl)gallate
(Methylated Catechin)
00413_img07.png
CAS RN®:83104-87-4
C23H20O11=472.40
Procyanidin B1 Procyanidin B2 Procyanidin B3
00413_img08.png 00413_img09.png 00413_img10.png
CAS RN®:20315-25-7 CAS RN®:29106-49-8 CAS RN®:23567-23-9
C30H26O12=578.52 C30H26O12=578.52 C30H26O12=578.52
Theaflavin Theaflavin 3-Gallate Theaflavin 3'-Gallate Theaflavin 3,3'-Digallate
00413_img11.png 00413_img12.png 00413_img13.png 00413_img14.png
CAS RN®:4670-05-7 CAS RN®:30462-34-1 CAS RN®:28543-07-9 CAS RN®:30462-35-2
C29H24O12=564.49 C36H28O16=716.60 C36H28O16=716.60 C43H32O20=868.70

Procyanidins

Procyanidins (proanthocyanidins) are compounds in which multiple catechins or epicatechins are bonded. And procyanidins produce anthocyanidins by hydrolyzing. Apple-derived procyanidins have the function of reducing visceral fat, and mainly contain procyanidin B2.

In Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) 0024: Determination of the procyanidins in apple juice ― High performance liquid chromatographic method, which quantifying a series of peaks that match the retention time of procyanidin B2 as procyanidins, is defined.

Pine-bark-derived procyanidins have the function to lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, and mainly contain procyanidins B1 and B3.

Fujifilm Wako has analytical standards that can be used for various procyanidin analysis.

Product List

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Catechins Mixture Standard Solution

Catechins Analytical Standard

Procyanidins Analytical Standard

Theaflavins Analytical Standard

Other Catechin-Related Reagents

HPLC Column

Author: T. Murase

For research use or further manufacturing use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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