Recent progress in the preparation of theaflavins:" Synthesis, extraction and purification"

Theaflavins (TFs) are a kind of bioactive compound that formed during the fermentation stage of black tea. TFs play a vital role both in the sensory quality and the biological activity of black tea. However, the complex composition of black tea and the low content of TFs in black tea (0.3%-0.7%) make the technology for the preparation of high-purity TFs a great challenge. This review provides an updated overview for extracting, synthesizing and purifying of TFs. Molecular imprinting technology, an efficient method for extracting bioactive compounds, will be a promising method for the preparation of TFs with high purity. Overall, this review can provide a scientific basis and technical support for the preparation of TFs with high purity and will be helpful for the in-depth development and further research of TFs. Schematic representation of the synthesis, extraction, and purification method of TFs from black tea and the extraction principle of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) for bioactive compounds. MMIPs will be a promising method for the preparation of TFs with high purity. image