On the Locaiization of theine in the tea leaves. 



By 



U. Suzuki. 



Thus far nobody has succeeded in localizing the theine 

 in the tea leaves, while in regard to many other alcaloids, the 

 investigations of Errera, (1) Maistriau and Clautriau, have shown 

 that they are localized 1st. in the very active tissues : the 

 vegetative tissues and the embryo. 2nd. Along the fibrovascular 

 bundles (sourtout pres de la region liberienne et dans cette 

 region meme ;) 3rd. in the epidermis : cortical layers and the 

 shell of fruits etc. and generally all the outer tissues for pro- 

 tection. 4th. in the special secretary organs. In regard to 

 theine, Clautriau has not arrived at any satisfactory conclusion. 



This author says (2) "J'ai en recours d'abord a la micro- 

 chimie, et j'ai tente de determiner la localisation de la cafeine 

 dans le cafeier ou le The. Malgre de nombreux essais sur un 

 materiel tres abondant, je ne suis pas arrive a mon but." and 

 he says again " 11 n'en resulte pas que je considere la localisation 

 microchimique de la cafeine comme impossible, mais elle 

 presente de grandes difncultes et demande encore de longues 

 etudes preliminaires." I have undertaken the same question as 

 Clautriau and have solved it satisfactority in the following 

 manner : At first I applied phosphotungstic acid upon sections 

 of the leaves, but this produced more or less precipitate in all the 

 cells, but decidely more in the epidermal cells. Since proteids are 

 thus precipitated just as well as alkaloids, this reaction gave no 

 decisive answer, I afterwards applied a concentrated solution of 

 iodine in potassium iodide, but also in this case no decision 

 could be reached. This reagent however acts decidely better 



(!) Errera : Akademie Royale de Belgique. Bull. No. 3. 1887. 



( 2 ) Nature et signification des Alkaloids Vegetaux Brussells 1900. p. 55 & 56. 



