First-derivative spectrophotometric and gas-liquid chromatographic determination of caffeine in foods and pharmaceuticals. I. Rapid determination of caffeine in coffee, tea and soft drinks

Chemical Analysis, Toxicity Study, and Free-Radical Scavenging and Iron-Binding Assays Involving Coffee (Coffea arabica) Extracts

We aimed to analyze the chemical compositions in Arabica coffee bean extracts, assess the relevant antioxidant and iron-chelating activities in coffee extracts and instant coffee, and evaluate the toxicity in roasted coffee. Coffee beans were extracted using boiling, drip-filtered and espresso brewing methods. Certain phenolics were investigated including trigonelline, caffeic acid and their derivatives, gallic acid, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and their derivatives, p-coumaroylquinic acid, p-coumaroyl glucoside, the rutin and syringic acid that exist in green and roasted coffee extracts, along with dimethoxycinnamic acid, caffeoylarbutin and cymaroside that may be present in green coffee bean extracts. Different phytochemicals were also detected in all of the coffee extracts. Roasted coffee extracts and instant coffees exhibited free-radical scavenging properties in a dose-dependent manner, for which drip coffee was observed to be the most effective (p < 0.05). All coffee extracts, instant coffee varieties and CGA could effectively bind ferric ion in a concentration-dependent manner resulting in an iron-bound complex. Roasted coffee extracts were neither toxic to normal mononuclear cells nor breast cancer cells. The findings indicate that phenolics, particularly CGA, could effectively contribute to the iron-chelating and free-radical scavenging properties observed in coffee brews. Thus, coffee may possess high pharmacological value and could be utilized as a health beverage.

Effects of shooting period, times within shooting periods and processing systems on the extract, caffeine and crude fiber contents of black tea

The extract, caffeine and crude fibre contents of black tea, from different shooting periods, different times within each shooting period and processed by five different commercial rolling methods, were examined. The extract and crude fibre contents of black tea were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by all these factors and their interactions. The caffeine content of black tea was affected by the shooting period and times within the shooting period. It was determined that processing methods did not have a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the caffeine content. The amount of extract and caffeine decreased from the first shooting period to the third, and also from the beginning of each shooting period to the end. However, the crude fibre content of the black tea increased, especially from the beginning of each shooting period to the end of each shooting period.