Theaflavin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theaflavin
Preferred IUPAC name 3,4,5-Trihydroxy-1,8-bis[(2R,3R)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-2-yl]-6H-benzo[7]annulen-6-one
Identifiers
CAS number	4670-05-7
PubChem	114777
SMILES	c1c(cc(=O)c(c2c1c(cc(c2O)O)[C@@H]3[C@@H](Cc4c(cc(cc4O3)O)O)O)O)[C@@H]5[C@@H](Cc6c(cc(cc6O5)O)O)O
InChI InChI=1/C29H24O12/c30-11-3-17(32)15-8-21(36)28(40-23(15)5-11)10-1-13-14(7-20(35)27(39)25(13)26(38)19(34)2-10)29-22(37)9-16-18(33)4-12(31)6-24(16)41-29/h1-7,21-22,28-33,35-37,39H,8-9H2,(H,34,38)/t21-,22-,28-,29-/m1/s1
Properties
Molecular formula	C29H24O12
Molar mass	564.43 g mol-1
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Theaflavin (TF) and its derivatives, known collectively as theaflavins, are antioxidant polyphenols that are formed from the condensation of flavan-3-ols in tea leaves during the enzymatic oxidation (sometimes erroneously referred to as fermentation) of black tea. Theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3'-gallate, and theaflavin-3-3'-digallate are the main theaflavins. Theaflavins are types of thearubigins, and are therefore reddish in color. Those molecules contain a tropolone moiety.

Certain benefits of black tea containing TFs can include the ability to whiten skin in cosmetics and support antiobesity by affecting lipid metabolism. The radical scavenging function remains under investigation.