Untargeted metabolomics and targeted quantification revealing polyphenol remodeling and gallic acid enrichment during storage of Wuyi rock tea Rougui
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Wuyi rock tea Rougui samples produced consecutively from 2016 to 2025 were analyzed using UHPLC-QTOF-MS untargeted metabolomics combined with UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS targeted quantification to characterize polyphenol variation. 17 catechin-gallic acid-related annotated features were retained, suggesting that storage-associated variation involved a broad range of polyphenolic constituents. Targeted quantification of eight representative catechins and gallic acid revealed that galloylated and non-galloylated catechins varied in trend and magnitude across years, with compositional redistribution between the two fractions and without a consistent increase or decrease. Gallic acid content was higher in the samples with longer storage time, with increases of 166.25% and 168.25% in RG16 and RG17 compared with RG25, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated positive associations between EGCG-GCG and ECG-CG, while GA showed near-zero linear correlations with EGCG and GCG. These findings suggest that long-term storage of Rougui is associated with polyphenol compositional remodeling involving catechin redistribution and gallic acid enrichment.
Source: Food Chemistry X
Authors: Yuansen Qi, Keqin Huang, Chunhua Ma, Yan Huang
Institutions: Wuyi University, Wuyi University
Language: English
Topic: Tea Polyphenols and Effects
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,330
Award: G3309893086
OpenAlex ID: W7221343161