One-step purification of epigallocatechin gallate from crude green tea extracts by mixed-mode adsorption chromatography on highly cross-linked agarose media

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was purified in one step from a green tea polyphenol (GTP) crude extract by adsorption chromatography on a Superose 12 HR 10/30 column. The mobile phase used was a mixture of acetonitrile and water with an optimum mobile phase compositions regarding purity, recovery and separation time of 78/22 (v/v). Maximum practical sample loading was 100 mg GTP per run (corresponding to 4.2 mg/ml Superose). An EGCG purity of 99% with recoveries in the range 60–65% was achieved in one step directly from the crude GTP extract. Full column regeneration was obtained using solvents in the following order: 0.5 M NaOH, distilled water and 30% acetic acid.