Interaction mechanisms between caffeine and polyphenols in infusions of Camellia sinensis leaves

Black tea infusions of Camellia sinensis leaves were studied for the influence of water composition, especially calcium content, on the amount of extracted organic matter and on the interactions between caffeine and polyphenols. The higher the calcium content, the lower the extraction of caffeine and polyphenols in acidic media. In alkaline media, besides the calcium effect, polyphenols are oxidized. Caffeine NMR chemical shifts varied depending on the water used showing modified interactions. Using model solutions, polyphenols seem to be responsible for these changes in the case of ultra pure water, but in the case of alkaline solutions, the data in model solutions are different from tea infusions implying that other compounds should interact. Moreover, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and epigallocatechin are the polyphenols interacting most strongly with caffeine in infusions and not EGCg and epicatechin gallate as thought before.