Studies on the Nucleotides in Tea

Part II. Nucleotides in black tea

Abstract

Distributions of nucleotides in black tea of Japan and abroad were investigated by means of ion exchange chromatography on a Dowex 1-X8 column.
As the results of column chromatography of the aqueous extracts, it was found that distribution patterns of nucleotides in several kinds of black tea resembled each other, but were extremely different from those of green tea; 2'- and 3'-isomers of AMP, CMP, GMP and UMP were detected in addition to 5'-ribonucleotides. The presence of guanosine was also recognized.
The result indicates that enzymic degradation of RNA takes place during the process of manufacture.