JP4785884B2 - Method for producing green tea extract - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a green tea extract in which catechin exhibits good dispersibility in fats and oils when used in the preparation of foods and drinks and various processed products that are required to be given antibacterial / antioxidant / deodorant properties, and a method for producing the same.

  Green tea beverages that are poured into teapots, etc., extracted with hot water, etc., and used for drinking have become more easily drinkable than conventional ones due to their widespread use as packaged beverage products. In addition, dried tea extract obtained by removing water from green tea from which tea leaves have been extracted with water or hot water is distributed as powdered tea, dissolved in water or hot water to prepare tea beverages, and when cooking foods and drinks. It can be used as an additive for adding a tea flavor to the tea.

  Furthermore, green tea is known to contain tea catechins, and it has been reported that tea catechins are effective in preventing heart disease and cancer. Beverages and other beverages with a high content are distributed on the market, and active intake of tea catechins is spreading. Various functional ingredients contained in tea extracts such as catechins are in high demand as ingredients for health foods and supplements due to increased health consciousness. A method of separating and purifying tea extract using an organic solvent or the like has also been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

Thus, the tea extract whose use is expanding is used not only in solid forms such as powders and in the form of aqueous liquids such as drinking water, but also in the form of oily liquids and pastes blended with fats and oils. In particular, oily liquids and pastes containing catechins are highly demanded not only for foods and drinks but also for the production of various processed products that are required to have antibacterial, antioxidant, and deodorizing functions. For this reason, a tea leaf fine powder dispersed in oil and fat is provided, but tea components such as catechin are water-soluble, and the amount of tea components that migrate from the fiber content of tea leaves to the oil phase is extremely small . In addition, when tea extract is blended with oil and fat, tea extract is a composition mainly composed of water-soluble components, and catechin is water-soluble. Is low. For this reason, for example, the following Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose that a tea extract is blended in fats and oils using an emulsifier, and an emulsifier is used to prepare catechin into an oily liquid or paste. It is common to prepare an emulsion by blending.
JP 2005-270094 A JP 2001-097968 A JP 2000-229118 A JP 2004-89146 A

  However, the use of emulsifiers tends to be avoided by consumers from the viewpoints of recent natural orientation and health considerations, and products using emulsifiers have low commercial value. For this reason, it is desired to eliminate the addition of artificial ingredients as much as possible, and it is possible to suitably disperse catechins in fats and oils with only the ingredients naturally contained in the tea extract without using an emulsifier. It is necessary to develop a method.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a green tea extract that can be easily mixed and dispersed in fats and oils of catechins without using an emulsifier, and can be widely used in the production of foods and drinks and processed products.

  The other subject of this invention is providing the manufacturing method of the green tea extract which can obtain easily and efficiently the green tea extract with high content of catechins and easy dispersion | distribution of catechin in fats and oils.

  Another problem of the present invention is that various catechins can be easily and inexpensively supplied with a green tea extract having a suitable green tea flavor and hue, and catechins dispersed in the fats and oils can be easily dispersed in the fats and oils. Is to promote the provision of antibacterial, antioxidant and deodorant products.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have conducted extensive research, and as a result, by devising the extraction conditions from green tea leaves, the content of catechin is high and the dispersibility of catechin in fats and oils is improved. The present inventors have found that it is possible to obtain a green tea extract, which has been completed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the method for producing a green tea extract extracts catechin and hexane soluble components from green tea leaves using aqueous ethanol having an ethanol concentration [volume / volume] of 60% or more as an extraction solvent. a method of manufacturing a green tea extract to a first extraction step of extracting green tea leaves with the first aqueous ethanol, second extraction step of extracting green tea leaves after the first extraction step with a second aqueous ethanol And a recovery step of collecting the extract contained in the extract obtained in the first extraction step and the extract obtained in the second extraction step together, and the ethanol concentration of the first hydrous ethanol is P [%, volume / volume], the second ethanol concentration of aqueous ethanol Q [%, v / v] when a, P and Q (where, P <Q) is less than the formula, P is When it is less than 75, (QP) Is 25 or more, when P is 75 or more is summarized in that it (Q-P) is 5 or more.

60 ≦ P ≦ 90, 80 ≦ Q ≦ 99.5
Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, the green tea extract contains catechin and 0.5% by mass or more of hexane-soluble component derived from green tea.

  The green tea extract has a total catechin content of 30% by mass or more and a hexane-soluble content of 3 to 24% by mass, and the catechin is well dispersed in the oil and fat when blended in the oil and fat.

  According to the present invention, a green tea extract having a high catechin content and good dispersibility of catechins in fats and oils can be produced in an appropriate yield by a simple method without using expensive equipment or special equipment. Can be offered. The green tea extract according to the present invention can be easily mixed with oils and fats, and catechins are suitably dispersed to easily prepare oily liquids and pastes. Very convenient above. In various fields, the use of green tea extract can be further expanded as a new material that can be used for processing products having antibacterial, antioxidant, and deodorizing functions.

  A general tea extract is mainly composed of water-soluble components and has low solubility in oils and fats and is difficult to disperse. For this reason, even if it mix | blends a green tea extract with fats and oils in order to obtain the fats and oils to which catechin disperse | distributes by high concentration, a catechin and a tea extract will isolate | separate easily from fats and oils. Even when a surfactant is used to improve this, the effect is not apparent at a use amount of less than 1%. However, when a green tea extract was obtained using a water-containing organic solvent as an extraction solvent, it was found that the dispersibility of the green tea extract in fats and oils was improved, and fats and oils in which a high concentration of catechins were dispersed were obtained. The present inventors examined the relationship between the components contained in the green tea extract obtained by extraction with a water-containing organic solvent and the dispersibility in fats and oils. The content of hexane solubles and the dispersion of catechins in fats and oils A correlation was found with the quantity. In other words, by setting the extraction solvent so that an appropriate amount of hexane-soluble matter is included in the extract, a green tea extract with high dispersibility of catechins in fats and oils can be obtained, and when the green tea extract is blended with fats and oils Oils and fats with high catechin dispersion can be obtained. The hexane-soluble component is a lipophilic component, but as a result of the extraction of the hexane-soluble component derived from green tea, which is familiar with catechin, together with the catechin, It is considered that the hexane-soluble component is dispersed in the fat and oil with catechin and acts amphotericly, thereby improving the dispersibility.

  Furthermore, when the extract was examined under various extraction conditions, it was possible to further improve the oil dispersibility of catechins by recovering the extract by combining extracts obtained in a plurality of extraction steps using water-containing organic solvents with different concentrations. It turned out to be possible. The reason for this is not clear, but extracts with different hydrophilic / lipophilic balance and different types and number of components are obtained by extraction with different concentrations of the organic solvent, and when these extracts are combined, It is conceivable that improvement in dispersibility due to the interaction between them and miniaturization due to suppression of aggregation coarsening are likely to occur. In addition, fine particles such as catechin / hexane soluble components that are paired with a combination of hydrophilic component / lipophilic component, or particles that are covered with hexane soluble components with catechin or hydrophilic component as the core are formed. Can be considered.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

  The green tea extract of the present invention is an extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves using a water-containing organic solvent and drying. The green tea leaf used as a raw material is a green tea leaf produced by a non-fermented tea making process from leaves, stems, etc. of Camellia genus tea, and is not particularly limited as long as it is generally classified as non-fermented tea. It is not limited by the non-essential differences in the parts and the manufacturing method.

  The green tea extract of the present invention is obtained under conditions where catechin can be suitably extracted, and contains catechin and a hexane-soluble component as components derived from green tea, and is generally provided as a powdered tea. It has the same flavor as green tea extract. The total catechin content of the green tea extract is 20% by mass or more, preferably 30% by mass or more, which is convenient for efficiently dispersing catechin into fats and oils, and suitable for the water-soluble component extracted together with catechin. Has a green tea flavor. The content of hexane-soluble component is about 0.5 to 29% by mass, preferably about 3 to 24% by mass of the green tea extract, and promotes dispersion of catechin into oils and fats at about 0.5% by mass or more. The effect is remarkable, and an excellent dispersion promoting effect is exhibited in this range, and the amount of green tea extract necessary for preparing an oil having a desired catechin content is reduced. However, in the range where the hexane-soluble content exceeds 30% by mass, it is difficult to obtain a further dispersion effect. Therefore, the content of hexane-soluble content of 0.5-29% by mass is obtained when the green tea extract contains catechin-containing fats and oils. This is an effective and efficient range for preparation. The hexane-soluble component of the green tea extract contains components such as lipids, fat-soluble vitamins, and chlorophyll, and components such as chlorophyll are considered to be particularly effective in promoting the dispersion of catechins into fats and oils.

  Such a green tea extract having a high catechin content cannot be obtained by extraction with an anhydrous organic solvent. Extraction with a high water content organic solvent to increase the content of catechin significantly reduces the extractability of hexane solubles, resulting in an extract containing hexane solubles as described above. Therefore, suitable dispersibility in fats and oils cannot be obtained. That is, in order to efficiently obtain the green tea extract of the present invention, it is important to use a water-containing organic solvent whose concentration is appropriately adjusted as an extraction solvent.

  Below, the manufacturing method for obtaining the green tea extract of this invention is demonstrated.

  The extraction solvent used in the method for producing the green tea extract of the present invention is a hydrous organic solvent that is a mixture of a hydrophilic organic solvent and water. As the organic solvent constituting the extraction solvent, water-soluble organic solvents such as alcohol and ketone are preferably used. Specifically, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, t -Low molecular weight aliphatic alcohols such as butanol, low molecular weight aliphatic ketones such as acetone, etc., methanol, ethanol and acetone are preferred, and ethanol is most suitable. The organic solvent may be a mixture of a plurality of water-soluble organic solvents.

  Catechin is extracted in an extraction using a water-containing organic solvent having an organic solvent concentration (v / v) of about 98% or less, and the extraction rate is the highest when a water-containing organic solvent having an organic solvent concentration of about 50 to 70% is used. Get higher. On the other hand, the extraction rate of the hexane-soluble component is higher as the organic solvent concentration of the water-containing organic solvent used is higher, and the increase in the extraction rate is remarkable especially at 80% or more, but the organic solvent concentration is less than about 70%. When the concentration is less than 60%, it is extremely low. For this reason, in order to extract both catechin and hexane soluble components by single extraction, a water-containing organic solvent having an organic solvent concentration of about 60 to 98%, preferably about 70 to 95% is used. However, since extraction efficiency is low, it is necessary to repeat extraction to obtain a certain yield.

  When performing two or more extractions, extraction efficiency can be improved by using two types of water-containing organic solvents with different water contents as the extraction solvent, and the extract can be obtained efficiently with high yield. Can do. When the solvent concentration is set with reference to the above so that the first extraction step focuses on the extraction of catechins, and the second extraction step focuses on the extraction of hexane, the extraction in the first extraction step The organic solvent concentration of the solvent is 20 to 90%, and the organic solvent concentration of the extraction solvent in the second extraction step is 80 to 99.5%. However, if the organic solvent concentration is less than 60%, the extraction amount of the hexane-soluble component is remarkably reduced, so the organic solvent concentration in the first extraction step is set to 60 to 90%. As a result, a green tea extract having a total catechin content of 30% by mass and a hexane soluble content of 0.5% by mass or more is obtained.

  In the above-mentioned multiple extraction steps, when collecting the extract obtained from each extraction step and recovering the extract, there is a case where the oil / fat dispersibility of the catechin in the extract is remarkably improved by the combination of the concentration of the extraction solvent. To do. Specifically, when the organic solvent concentration of the extraction solvent in the first extraction step is 70% or more and the average value of the organic solvent concentration in the first and second extraction steps exceeds 80%, the same organic solvent concentration is used. Compared with repeated extraction, the oil dispersibility of the catechin of the green tea extract is improved. That is, when the organic solvent concentration of the first hydrous organic solvent in the first extraction step is P [v / v%] and the organic solvent concentration of the second hydrous organic solvent in the second extraction step is Q [v / v%], Suitable concentrations P and Q (where P <Q) can be expressed by the following equation.

    70 ≦ P, 80 <(P + Q) / 2

  In particular, when the average value of the organic solvent concentrations P and Q of the first water-containing organic solvent and the second water-containing organic solvent is in the range of 82.0 to 95.0%, the oil and fat dispersibility of catechin is high. When the average value is in the range of 82.5 to 92.5%, the hexane-soluble component works most effectively to improve the oil dispersibility, and the maximum is a green tea extract having a hexane-soluble component content twice as large. It becomes possible to disperse catechins in fats and oils to the same extent.

  The reason for this is not clear, but one possible reason is that the composition of hexane-soluble components is complicated and diversified due to the difference in concentration between the first water-containing organic solvent and the second water-containing organic solvent. In general, lipophilic compounds tend to have a lower freezing point or freezing property (crystallinity) than hydrophilic compounds. However, if the composition is a complex composition, the freezing point lowers and the solidification becomes difficult. In the extraction of the present invention, it is considered that the composition of hexane solubles obtained by the concentration range of the extraction solvent is complicated and diversified, so that the coagulability of the lipophilic component is lowered, and the solvent is removed from the extract. In addition, due to the difference in coagulability between the hydrophilic component and the lipophilic component, the hydrophilic component is first solidified into fine particles, and the lipophilic component can coagulate on the surface. That is, the possibility that catechin covers the hexane-soluble component is reduced, and precipitation of a structure in which the hexane-soluble component covers catechin is likely to occur. Therefore, it is considered that the oil-and-fat dispersibility of catechin is improved by precipitation in which catechin and hexane-soluble components are paired and particles having a structure in which the hexane-soluble component partially covers catechin.

  The average value of the organic solvent concentration: (P + Q) / 2 and the difference of the organic solvent concentration: (Q−P) are factors that influence the extraction balance of catechin and hexane-soluble matter. Extraction of catechin is less if the soluble component is less extracted and the average value is larger. Moreover, if the density difference is large, the types of extraction components are widened.

  In the extraction of the present invention, the extraction amount of hexane-soluble matter changes rapidly in the region where the organic solvent concentration is 80% to 90%, and the kind and nature of the extracted component also change. It is considered that this is why the hexane-soluble content in the green tea extract of the present invention improves the oil dispersibility of catechin most effectively when the average value (P + Q) / 2 of the organic solvent concentration is around 85%. In this respect, the organic solvent concentrations P and Q satisfying 82.0 ≦ (P + Q) /2≦95.0 as described above are preferable, and more preferably 82.5 ≦ (P + Q) /2≦92.5. It is.

  Regarding the difference in organic solvent concentration, when the organic solvent concentration P of the first water-containing organic solvent is less than 75%, the difference: (Q−P) is set large in order to ensure the hexane-soluble content (preferably 25% or more), and in the range of 75 ≦ P, it is not necessary to set a large difference: (Q−P), and (Q−P) exceeds 0%, preferably about 5 to 10%. In the range, the oil dispersibility of catechin is effectively improved.

  By carrying out the first and second extraction steps using the water-containing organic solvents having the organic solvent concentrations P and Q according to the above, the green tea extract recovered from the combined liquids of both steps has a total catechin content of 30. When it is at least mass%, the hexane soluble content is at least 0.5 mass%, and the oil and fat dispersibility of catechin is very good.

  In the first extraction step and the second extraction step, the extraction composition in each extraction step varies depending on the order of execution. In particular, if extraction with an extraction solvent having a low water content is performed first, the familiarity between the extraction solvent and tea leaves is not good, so that the extraction of the lipophilic component is delayed and a good green tea extract can be obtained efficiently. It becomes difficult. On the other hand, if extraction with a solvent having a high moisture content is preceded, the organic solvent and tea leaves are easily adapted by the penetration of water into the green tea leaves. As a result, the subsequent extraction efficiency is improved and the extraction of the lipophilic component becomes easy. In other words, in order to allow water to permeate green tea leaves and improve familiarity with organic solvents, it is important that the extraction solvent first brought into contact with green tea leaves contains a certain amount of water. The concentration is 90% or less, preferably 85% or less.

  Therefore, the order of the first extraction step and the second extraction step is preferably set so that the second extraction step is performed after the first extraction step, and the organic solvent concentration P in the first extraction step is set. Is set to 70 to 90%, preferably 70 to 85%, more preferably 75 to 85%. By setting in this way, the penetration of water into the tea leaves and the familiarity with the solvent proceed appropriately, it can be carried out with good extraction efficiency in any step, and a green tea extract can be obtained efficiently. it can. In this regard, when the concentration P in the first extraction step is reduced from 60% to less than 70%, the improvement effect as described above is not obtained and the oil dispersibility of catechin is lower than in the above case, but hexane is acceptable. There is no difference in the amount of dispersion of catechins depending on the content of the solute.

  In addition, since the water-containing organic solvent having an organic solvent concentration of 80% or more can suitably extract a lipophilic color component, a solvent having an organic solvent concentration of 80% or more is used in the first and / or second steps. When used, the green tea extract becomes bright green.

  One or both of the first extraction step and the second extraction step may be repeated a plurality of times, or both steps may be alternately repeated a plurality of times. By increasing the number of first extraction steps, the yield can be improved by increasing the extraction amount of catechins, etc., and by increasing the number of extraction times or the extraction time of the second extraction step, the extraction rate of hexane-soluble matter is improved. To do.

  Although the organic solvent which comprises a 1st water-containing solvent and a 2nd water-containing solvent may be the same or different, it is preferable that it is the same solvent from the point of the homogenization when combining an extract.

  The amount of the water-containing organic solvent used in each extraction step is preferably about 2 to 10 ml / g with respect to the dry mass of the green tea leaves. The larger the amount of extraction solvent used for tea leaves, the greater the amount of extract, but the extraction rate per volume of solvent should be divided into multiple extractions rather than a single extraction. Since it is high, extraction efficiency can be improved by reducing the amount of solvent used per time and performing the first and / or second extraction steps a plurality of times. The ratio (volume / volume) between the extraction solvent amount (total amount) used in the first extraction step and the extraction solvent amount (total amount) used in the second extraction step is appropriately adjusted according to the target composition and yield. Generally, a range of about 1/2 to 2/1 is preferable.

  The extraction time, that is, the time for bringing the tea leaf into contact with the extraction solvent may be sufficient if the tea leaf components can be sufficiently and efficiently eluted, and is generally preferably about 60 to 180 minutes. The extraction temperature is preferably about 10 to 60 ° C., and if it is 10 ° C. or less, the target component is difficult to elute, and if it exceeds 60 ° C., the decomposition and alteration of the component are likely to proceed or the workability is improved. Problems arise.

  The extract obtained in the first and second extraction steps is combined and uniformly mixed, and then solidified by removing the extraction solvent and drying to prepare a powdery green tea extract. As the drying method, spray drying without heating, freeze-drying or distillation under reduced pressure, vaporization with heating, and the like can be used, and it is preferable that the heating is not accompanied by extreme heating.

  The green tea extract thus obtained contains a hexane-soluble component in a proportion of 0.5% by mass or more, and contains catechin in a proportion of 30% by mass or more, and retains the normal green tea flavor. By appropriately setting the concentration of the extraction solvent, a green tea extract having a hexane soluble content of 3 to 24% by mass is obtained in a yield of about 10% by mass or more (based on the mass of the dried tea leaves). It is possible to carry out the manufacturing method easily using a general extraction facility without requiring special equipment.

  The obtained green tea extract can be added to oils and fats and ground and dispersed to prepare oil liquids and pastes in which catechins are stably dispersed in oils and fats. Surfactants as dispersants and emulsifiers It is not necessary to use external additives such as. As fats and oils used in the preparation of the catechin-dispersed oil liquid, fats and oils having low viscosity are preferable for efficient grinding treatment, and fats and oils having high specific gravity are preferred for maintaining the dispersed state even in the centrifugal treatment. Preferably, fats and oils preferable for edible use include MCT (medium chain fatty acid triglyceride) and the like. As fats and oils used for dilution after preparation of oil liquid, particularly known oily components that are liquid at room temperature or in a warmed state used in the fields of food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other industrial products Can be used. Examples thereof include hydrocarbons, esters, animal and vegetable oils, waxes, goose fats, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, silicone compounds, sterols, resins, and those obtained by enzymatic treatment or chemical treatment. From the viewpoint of handling and chemical stability, those that are fluid at normal temperature are preferable. For example, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, sesame oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, falling raw oil, rice germ oil, wheat Germ oil, brown rice germ oil, pearl oil, garlic oil, coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, macadamian nut oil, avocado oil, castor oil, flaxseed oil, shiso oil, eucalyptus oil, pork fat, beef tallow, horse oil , Fish oil, egg oil, liquid paraffin, isoparaffin, petrolatum, squalane, squalene, turpentine oil, myristic acid isopropyl ester, myristic acid isopalmityl ester, myristic acid 2-octyldodecyl ester, 2-ethylhexanoic acid cetyl ester, tri-2 -Ethylhexanoic acid glyceryl ester, tricaprylic acid glyceryl ester, Mixed fatty acid triglyceride of diric acid and capric acid, di-2-ethylhexanoic acid neopentyl glycol ester, malic acid diisostearyl ester, isononanoic acid isononyl ester (3,5,5-trimethylhexyl-3 ', 5', 5 '-Trimethylhexanoate), 12-hydroxystearic acid cholesteryl ester, mono-hexaester of higher fatty acid and dipentaerythritol, glycerin ester of paramethoxycinnamic acid or 2-ethylhexanoic acid, paramethoxycinnamic acid isooctyl ester, etc. Examples include liquid oils and fats. Also, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, fish oil, glyceryl tristearate, rosin, cholesterol, phytosterol (for example, campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, etc.), orange luffy oil, lanolin, myristin Acid, palmitic acid, isopalmitic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, ricinoleic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, 10-hydroxystearic acid, behenic acid, erucic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaene Acid, docosahexaenoic acid, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax , Ceresin wax, beeswax, petrolatum, hard fat, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, rice wax, rice bran wax, Japan wax shellac, dimethylpolysiloxane, can be used such as methylphenyl polysiloxane, essential oil components derived from plants and animals. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. A medium-chain saturated fatty acid having about 6 to 10 carbon atoms has good oxidation stability and is preferable as a dispersion medium for effectively exhibiting the function of catechin.

  The green tea extract of the present invention can be blended with the oils and fats as described above to prepare fats and oils in which catechin is stably dispersed at a ratio of 0.2% by mass or more. Used as a raw material for manufacturing health supplements such as products and supplements, blended with other liquids in the form of a solution or dispersion, or absorbed or included in a multi-rigid material or hollow particles, It can be used as an element of various products. For example, it can be used in cosmetics, amenity products, etc. as antibacterial, deodorant, antioxidant sheets or beads. Moreover, it can utilize also as coloring agents, such as food / beverage products and a supplement, using the vivid green.

  Extracts extracted from tea leaves of green tea were collected according to the procedures of Examples and Comparative Examples described below, and filtered and dried to obtain a green tea extract.

  After measuring the yield of the obtained green tea extract, 50 mg of the green tea extract was weighed into a 100 ml volumetric flask and dissolved with water, and the solution was made up to a volume of 100 ml. The total catechin was quantified according to the following procedure using the solution passed through a 0.45 μm Versapore filter as an analysis sample.

  In addition, 25 ml of water and 25 ml of n-hexane were added to 250 mg of green tea extract and mixed vigorously to dissolve the green tea extract, and then the n-hexane phase was separated and the solvent was distilled off to remove the hexane-soluble matter. Obtained. This yield was measured to determine the content of hexane solubles in the green tea extract.

  Further, 1.5 g of green tea extract was added to 5 g of medium chain fatty acid fat (trade name: Actor M-4, manufactured by Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd.) and heated at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes, and then a grinding machine (trade name: POLYTRON PT10 -35, manufactured by KINEMATICA) for 90 seconds, centrifuged at 10000 G using a centrifuge to remove the supernatant oil and fat solution, 500 mg of which was mixed solvent (chloroform: methanol = 2: 1). ) Dissolve in 25 ml and add 5 ml of distilled water. This was stirred for 10 minutes and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes to recover the supernatant. The same treatment with a mixed solvent was repeated twice, and the recovered supernatant was collected and concentrated to a volume of 5 ml. Using this as a measurement sample, the amount of catechin dispersed (mass percentage of the amount of catechin contained in the catechin-dispersed oil / fat liquid) was determined by performing analysis by HPLC under the following conditions.

<Quantitative method for total catechin>
10 mg each of (-)-catechin, (-)-Cg, (-)-EC, (-)-ECg, (-)-GC, (-)-GCg, (-)-EGC and (-)-EGCg Each was weighed into a 100 ml volumetric flask, dissolved with 0.5 mass% ascorbic acid-0.01 mass% disodium EDTA aqueous solution, and the volume was adjusted to 100 ml. Using a part of this solution, a diluted solution diluted with the ascorbic acid-EDTA disodium aqueous solution 2 times or 5 times was prepared, and used as standard solutions of 1 time, 2 times and 5 times.

  Each of the above three standard solutions was passed through a 0.45 μm Versapore filter, and then HPLC analysis was performed under the following conditions. The peak areas of each component in the obtained chromatogram were measured, A calibration curve was prepared from the concentration of each component.

  Using the above calibration curve, the concentration of each component by HPLC analysis of the analytical samples obtained in Examples and Comparative Examples was determined, and the total content of 8 components was calculated as the total catechin amount of the tea extract. .

<Analysis conditions for HPLC>
HPLC system: Shimadzu LC-10AD two-component high-pressure gradient system Column: YMC J'sphere ODS-H80 250 x 3.0 mm I.D.
Mobile phase A: water: acetonitrile: phosphoric acid = 94.9: 5.0: 0.1
Mobile phase B: water: acetonitrile: phosphoric acid = 49.9: 50.0: 0.1
Detection: UV detector 280nm
Sample injection volume: 5 μL
Liquid feed rate: 0.43 ml / min
(Liquid feeding gradient)
Time Mobile phase A Mobile phase B
0 minutes 95% 5%
5 minutes 95 minutes 5 minutes 10 minutes 90% 10%
15 minutes 90% 10%
25 minutes 80% 20%
40 minutes 80% 20%
45 minutes 20% 80%
50 minutes 20% 80%
51 minutes 95% 5%
65 minutes 95 minutes 5 minutes

(Examples 1 to 16)
60 g of green tea leaves are put into a glass column having an inner diameter of 5 cm and a height of 40 cm, and 240 ml of hydrous ethanol having a solvent concentration P shown in Table 1 is poured into the glass column and left to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. It was. Next, 240 ml of water-containing ethanol having a solvent concentration Q shown in Table 1 was poured into the extraction residue moistened with the pre-extraction solvent, and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 3 hours. Extracts 1 and 2 were combined and mixed, filtered through No. 2 filter paper, the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure at 40 ° C., and the resulting viscous liquid was dried under reduced pressure to obtain a solidified green tea extract. Yield of the obtained extract (mass percentage of the obtained extract relative to the raw green tea leaf), catechin content (mass percentage), hexane soluble content (mass percentage), and oil and fat to green tea extract Table 2 shows the amount of catechin dispersion (mass percentage) when.

(Table 1)
Example Solvent concentration P (v / v) Solvent concentration Q (v / v)
1 60.0% 80.0%
2 60.0% 90.0%
3 60.0% 99.5%
4 70.0% 80.0%
5 70.0% 90.0%
6 70.0% 95.0%
7 70.0% 99.5%
8 80.0% 80.0%
9 80.0% 90.0%
10 80.0% 95.0%
11 80.0% 99.5%
12 85.0% 85.0%
13 90.0% 90.0%
14 90.0% 95.0%
15 90.0% 99.5%
16 95.0% 95.0%

(Table 2)
Dispersibility of green tea extract catechins in fats and oils
Green tea extract in fats and oils
Example Hexane soluble content Total catechin amount Yield catechin dispersion amount
(%) (%) (%) (%)
1 0.16 35.4 28.7 0.14
2 0.96 35.4 28.1 0.32
3 6.84 33.8 29.6 0.76
4 0.88 35.8 27.0 0.41
5 3.28 35.1 27.9 0.56
6 3.92 36.5 27.6 1.76
7 7.48 36.2 27.5 2.24
8 4.00 39.7 26.1 1.07
9 9.04 36.7 23.3 2.46
10 10.48 37.9 23.6 2.35
11 12.32 37.6 23.2 1.93
12 10.80 40.5 21.5 1.51
13 17.36 39.8 13.7 1.78
14 21.60 36.5 11.2 2.29
15 23.52 35.0 10.0 2.12
16 28.40 34.5 6.2 2.10

(Comparative Example 1)
Using commercially available green tea extracts (Teafuran 30F, ITO EN hot water extract, 8 types of catechin: 30.38%, hexane soluble content: 0.17%), Examples 1 to 16 and Similarly, when the fat dispersion amount of catechin was measured, it was 0.07%.

(Comparative Example 2)
In the same manner as in Examples 1 to 16, using a commercially available green tea extract (teafuran 30A, hot water extract manufactured by ITO EN Co., Ltd., content of 8 types of catechin: 30.38%, hexane soluble content: 0%) It was 0.06% when the fat dispersion amount of catechin was measured.

(Comparative Example 3)
Medium chain fatty acid glycerides (trade name: Actor) with commercially available green tea extract (Teafuran 30F, hot water extract made by ITO EN Co., Ltd., content of 8 types of catechin: 30.38%, hexane soluble content: 0.17%) M-4 (manufactured by Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed so as to be 3% by mass of the total amount, water-containing ethanol (ethanol 80%) was added and dissolved, and then concentrated and dried under reduced pressure. Using the obtained dried product, the oil and fat dispersion of catechin was measured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 16, and it was 0.024%.

(Comparative Example 4)
Medium-chain fatty acid glycerides (trade name: Actor) M-4 (manufactured by Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed so as to be 10% by mass of the total amount, water-containing ethanol (ethanol 80%) was added and dissolved, and then concentrated and dried under reduced pressure. Using the obtained dried product, the oil and fat dispersion amount of catechin was measured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 16, and it was 0.025%.

  According to Table 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, it is clear that the amount of catechins dispersed in fats and oils increases according to the content of hexane-soluble matter in the green tea extract. In particular, the amount of catechin dispersed in Examples 6 to 12 is large. In these Examples, the organic solvent concentration P of the first hydrous solvent is 70% or more and the organic solvent concentrations P and Q of the first and second hydrous solvents are in these examples. The average value is 82.5% or more, and these ranges can be regarded as requirements for obtaining a green tea extract having excellent catechin oil dispersibility.

  In Examples 13-16, the solvent concentration P in a 1st extraction process is high, and the yield of a green tea extract is low. In terms of production efficiency, it can be said that the solvent concentration P in the first step is preferably 85% or less.

  In Comparative Examples 3 and 4, fats and oils were intentionally blended with the aqueous extract of green tea, but due to the fact that the fat and oil dispersibility of these catechins is low, not all lipophilic components are effective. The lipophilic green tea-derived component extracted by the water-containing organic solvent can be regarded as effective. Oils and fats not derived from green tea are considered to be easily separated because of their low affinity with components derived from green tea such as catechins.

Claims (3)

A method for producing a green tea extract in which catechin and hexane soluble components are extracted from green tea leaves using hydrous ethanol having an ethanol concentration [volume / volume] of 60% or more as an extraction solvent,
A first extraction step of extracting green tea leaves with the first aqueous ethanol, and a second extraction step of extracting green tea leaves after the first extraction step with a second aqueous ethanol, extraction obtained in the first extraction step And a recovery step of collecting the extract and the extract contained in the extract obtained in the second extraction step together, wherein the ethanol concentration of the first hydrous ethanol is P [%, volume / volume], the first the ethanol concentration of the second aqueous ethanol Q [%, v / v] when a, P and Q (where, P <Q) is less than the formula, when P is less than 75, (Q-P ) Is 25 or more, and when P is 75 or more, (QP) is a method for producing a green tea extract wherein 5 or more .
60 ≦ P ≦ 90, 80 ≦ Q ≦ 99.5 The method for producing a green tea extract according to claim 1, wherein the ethanol concentrations P and Q satisfy the following formula.
70 ≦ P, 82.5 ≦ (P + Q) /2≦95.0 The said collection | recovery process has a mixing process which prepares the mixture of the extract obtained by the said 1st extraction process, and the extract obtained by the said 2nd extraction process, and the drying process which dries the said mixture. The method for producing a green tea extract according to any one of 2 above.