• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.709-715
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• 2007

Korean green tea has been claimed to have health-promoting effects, which may be related to the antioxidant activity in vitro. Korean green teas (Woojeon, WJ ; Sejak, SJ ; Jungjak, JJ ; Daejak, DJ) were subjected to different harvested times and yet little research has examined their bioactive compounds. To assess the effect of this different harvested times on nutritional and health-related properties such as Korean green tea polyphenols, flavonoids, theanine and free amino acids, antioxidant activities and radical scavenging activities were determined. Total polyphenols in JJ (37.16 mg/g) was higher than in other products (WJ, 19.55 ; SJ 24.65 ; DJ, 23.28 mg/g). Contents of flavonol and flavone glycosides were the highest at DJ (350.83 mg%) as compared to WJ (220.81), SJ (256.88) and JJ (270.36 mg%). Contents of theanine and total free amino acids were the highest at WJ (14.11, 23.62 mg/g, respectively), but decreased thereafter. Antioxidant activities were higher in JJ and DJ, using the linoleic acid peroxidation, DPPH and ABTS free radical-scavenging activities. However, WJ and SJ had less active antioxidant activity and free radical-scavenging activity. Reducing powers were increased depend on the concentration of extracts. Antioxidant activity and free radical-scavenging activity of JJ and DJ seemed to relate with total polyphenol and flavonoid contents.