Phenolic content in tea green tea. Catechins constitute about 25% of the dry mass of a fresh tea leaf, although total catechin content varies widely depending on species, clonal variation, growing location, season, light variation, and altitude. They are present in nearly all teas made from "Camellia sinensis", including white tea, green tea, black tea and oolong tea. Of all the catechins in tea, EGCG is the main subject of scientific study with regard to its potential health effects. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-hippuric acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (vanillic acid) are the main catechins metabolites found in humans after consumption of green
Camellia sinensis there is no high-quality evidence that tea confers significant benefits. In clinical research over the early 21st century, tea has been studied extensively for its potential to lower the risk of human diseases, but none of this research is conclusive as of 2017. Caffeine is a molecule produced in "Camellia sinensis" and functions as a secondary metabolite. Caffeine is a purine alkaloid and its biosynthesis occurs in young tea leaves and is regulated by several enzymes. The biosynthetic pathway in "C. sinensis" differs from other caffeine producing plants such as coffee or guyausa. Analysis of the pathway was carried out