2001 Volume 48 Issue 12 Pages 913-917
Among four tea catechins [(-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate (ECG)], gallate type catechins (EGCG and ECG) were specifically adsorbed to isolated soybean protein, which was prepared as water extract of homogenized tempe. The complex of catechins and tempe protein, which easily precipitated in the acidic water solution (pH 4.37), is also expected as a new food material by some bio-activities originated from both catechins and soybean protein. Catechin and tempe protein complex also released the catechin constituents (EGCG, ECG etc) in the extraction with 50% aqueous acetone. Tempe protein was a useful material for the isolation of gallate type catechins from the water extract of tea leaves.
