Comparison of chemical compositions of Ilex latifolia thumb and Camellia sinensis L.

Chemical composition of two beverage plant species, i.e. Ilex latifolia and Camellia sinensis were investigated. Fifteen and sixteen amino acids were detected in I. latifiolia and C. sinensis, respectively. Major amino acids were histidine. aspartic acid and glutamic acid in I. latifolia but theanin e, glutamic acid and histidin in C. sinenis. Ascorbic acid and polyphenols in I. latifiolia were 0.46 mg g(-1) and 90.1 mg g(-1), less than one fourth and one half of those in C. sinensis, respectively. Eight catechin compoun ds were found in C. sinensis but only four in I. latifolia, i.e. L-Catechin (C), L-epicatechin (EC), L-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and L-catechin gallat e (CG). Three flavonoids, i.e. rutin, mericetin and quercetin were detected and their total contents in I. latifolia and C. sinensis were 4781 mg kg(- 1) and 580 mg kg(-1), respectively. Caffeine was not detected in L latifoli a. The higher concentration of flavonoids in leaf of I. latifolia may be re lated to its value for a healthy beverage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.