Formation of naphthoquinones and anthraquinones by carbonyl-hydroquinone/benzoquinone reactions: A potential route for the origin of 9,10-anthraquinone in tea

Evaluation of 9,10-anthraquinone contamination in tea products from Indonesian manufacturers and its carcinogenic risk to consumer health

This study aimed to determine 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) levels in Indonesian tea products from different manufacturers and assess the AQ's associated health risks. AQ levels increased significantly during withering and drying stages, using pinewood as a heat source. Generally, black tea was highly contaminated by AQ followed by green tea, oolong tea, and white tea. Out of a total of 116 samples from manufacturers using wood pellets as a heat source, 13% (15/116) of samples were contaminated with AQ exceeding the EU maximum residue level (MRL), and after accounting for measurement uncertainty, this value decreased to only 2% (2/116) that were deemed non-compliant. In contrast, 88% (57/65) and 50% (7/14) of tea samples were contaminated with AQ exceeding the EU MRL when manufacturers used pinewood and palm kernel shells as heat sources, respectively. However, based on our estimation, the risk level due to AQ exposure from Indonesian tea is still manageable, as indicated by calculating incremental lifetime cancer risk, <10⁻⁶ across all conditions studied (age group, type of tea, and heat source).

Anthraquinone as emerging contaminant: technological, toxicological, regulatory and analytical aspects

Anthraquinone (anthracene-9,10-dione) is a multifaceted chemical used in the paper industry, in the production of synthetic dyes, in crop protection against birds and is released from fossil fuels. Additionally, the anthraquinone scaffold, when substituted with sugars and hydroxyl groups is found in plants as metabolites. Because of these multiple applications, it is produced on a large scale worldwide. However, its toxicological aspects have gained interest, due to the low limits in the foods defined by legislation. Worrying levels of anthracene-9,10-dione have been detected in wastewater, atmospheric air, soil, food packaging and more recently, in actual foodstuffs. Recent investigations aiming to identify the anthracene-9,10-dione contamination sources in teas highlighted the packaging, leaves processing, anthracene metabolism, reactions between tea constituents and deposition from the environment. In this context, this review seeks to highlight the uses, sources, biological effects, analytical and regulatory aspects of anthracene-9,10-dione.

Graphical Abstract

Uptake and translocation of organic pollutants in Camellia sinensis (L.): a review

Camellia sinensis (L.) is a perennial evergreen woody plant with the potential for environmental pollution due to its unique growth environment and extended growth cycle. Pollution sources and pathways for tea plants encompass various factors, including atmospheric deposition, agricultural inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticide, uptake from soil, and sewage irrigation. During the cultivation phase, Camellia sinensis (L.) can absorb organic pollutants through its roots and leaves. This review provides an overview of the uptake and translocation mechanisms involving the absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, anthraquinone (AQ), perchlorate, and other organic pollutants by tea plant roots. Additionally, we summarize how fresh tea leaves can be impacted by spraying pesticide and atmospheric sedimentation. In conclusion, this review highlights current research progress in understanding the pollution risks associated with Camellia sinensis (L.) and its products, emphasizing the need for further investigation and providing insights into potential future directions for research in this field.

A systemic review on Liubao tea: A time-honored dark tea with distinctive raw materials, process techniques, chemical profiles, and biological activities

Liubao tea (LBT) is a unique microbial-fermented tea that boasts a long consumption history spanning 1500 years. Through a specific post-fermentation process, LBT crafted from local tea cultivars in Liubao town Guangxi acquires four distinct traits, namely, vibrant redness, thickness, aging aroma, and purity. The intricate transformations that occur during post-fermentation involve oxidation, degradation, methylation, glycosylation, and so forth, laying the substance foundation for the distinctive sensory traits. Additionally, LBT contains multitudinous bioactive compounds, such as ellagic acid, catechins, polysaccharides, and theabrownins, which contributes to the diverse modulation abilities on oxidative stress, metabolic syndromes, organic damage, and microbiota flora. However, research on LBT is currently scattered, and there is an urgent need for a systematical recapitulation of the manufacturing process, the dominant microorganisms during fermentation, the dynamic chemical alterations, the sensory traits, and the underlying health benefits. In this review, current research progresses on the peculiar tea varieties, the traditional and modern process technologies, the substance basis of sensory traits, and the latent bioactivities of LBT were comprehensively summarized. Furthermore, the present challenges and deficiencies that hinder the development of LBT, and the possible orientations and future perspectives were thoroughly discussed. By far, the productivity and quality of LBT remain restricted due to the reliance on labor and experience, as well as the incomplete understanding of the intricate interactions and underlying mechanisms involved in processing, organoleptic quality, and bioactivities. Consequently, further research is urgently warranted to address these gaps.

Uptake, translocation, and metabolism of anthracene in tea plants

The origin of 9, 10-anthraquinone (AQ) contamination in tea remains unclear at present. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that AQ could be produced from the precursor anthracene in tea plantations. To test this hypothesis, the uptake, translocation, and transformation of anthracene in tea (Camellia sinensis) seedlings using hydroponic experimentation was investigated. Anthracene concentrations in tea tissues rose with increased anthracene exposure, which in the roots were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in aboveground parts at the end of the exposure. These results indicated that anthracene tended to be adsorbed into tea seedling via the roots and accumulated largely within roots. The three main pathways of anthracene degradation in tea seedlings were suggested: oxygen was incorporated in the 9^th and 10^th positions of anthracene resulting in AQ (I) and anthrone (II), and naphthalene was formed by ring fission of anthracene via methylanthracene (III). The principal anthracene metabolites were AQ and anthrone. The concentrations of AQ, like anthrone, were markedly elevated in the roots than those in stems throughout the entire exposure period. Moreover, the translocation factors for anthracene and its primary metabolites AQ and anthrone from roots to stems were persistently lower than 0.1, demonstrating a poor translocation from roots to the aboveground regions. However, tea seedlings could take anthracene up from water and translocate it to the leaves. It was a possible risk for AQ contamination in tea leaves continuously exposed to anthracene for long periods of time because tea plants were perennial crops.