Uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted polymers for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, -epicatechin gallate and -gallocatechin gallate by multi-step swelling and polymerization method

J Chromatogr A. 2007 Jul 13;1156(1-2):45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2006.10.026. Epub 2006 Oct 27.

Abstract

Uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), -epicatechin gallate (ECg) and -gallocatechin gallate (GCg) were prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method using 2-vinylpyridine as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker and cyclohexanol as a porogen. Molecular recognition abilities of the obtained MIPs were evaluated in liquid chromatography using a mixture of ethanol and water, or ethanol as the eluent. Each MIP gave the highest molecular recognition ability for the respective template molecule. In addition, (-)-EGCg and -ECg had the same configuration (2R,3R) at positions 2 and 3, and therefore resulting in high cross reactivity each other. However, (-)-GCg, which has different configuration at position 2 with (-)-EGCg and -ECg, showed low cross reactivity with them. On the other hand, those MIPs showed no molecular recognition against (-)-epigallocatechin and -epicatechin, which have no gallate group at position 3. These results indicate that the MIPs prepared can recognize configuration at position 2 and a gallate group at position 3. Furthermore, the MIP for (-)-GCg could be successfully used for isolating (-)-EGCg and -ECg from green tea extract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Catechin / isolation & purification
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Tea / chemistry

Substances

  • Tea
  • gallocatechin gallate
  • Catechin
  • epicatechin gallate
  • epigallocatechin gallate