Estudo para a criação de um novo chá dos Açor

The Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation is the executor of the “Study to create a new tea from the Azores with a strong impact on reducing the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2” by Professor José António Batista. Under this provision of services, contracted with the Regional Directorate of Agriculture of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development to the FGF, the FGF was responsible for: a) Investigate the variability of the concentration of catechins and theaflavins throughout the harvest season, as well as their profile in the different zones of the plantations, in order to discover the zones with the highest levels, particularly of EGCG and theaflavin 3 ,3'- digalate and, therefore, with greater Mpro inhibitory activity and, consequently, with greater effect in reducing SARS-CoV-2, and other coronaviruses that eventually appear; b) Investigate the effect of leaf wilting, drying temperature and time, fermentation temperature and time, extraction methodology, in maximizing the content of theaflavins with greater inhibitory effect on SARS proteases (PLpro and 3CLpro or Mpro) -CoV-2, which are fundamental in the process of viral mediation, replication and transcription; c) Study the relationship between tea catechin content, particularly EGCG, and different edaphoclimatic conditions and processing techniques, and monitor the concentration of catechins and theaflavins by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). d) Study the influence of altitude and soil pH in order to enhance the action of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme and consequently increase the theaflavin content; e) Study the antioxidant activities of total polyphenols and flavonoids in the most promising zones of plantations. The signing ceremony of the service provision contract was attended by His Excellency the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Dr. José Manuel Bolieiro; the Magnificent Rector of the University of the Azores, Professor Susana Mira Leal; and the Investigator Responsible for the study, Professor José António Batista.