Abstract: As main polyphenolic components in tea, catechins have various pharmacological functions and are widely used in various fields such as the food, medicine, and daily chemical industries. However, weak liposolubility and stability as well as low bioavailability limit their application in practice. As a result, structural modification of catechins comes into being. This review focuses on the synthesis mainly by enzymatic or chemical modification and biological activities of catechin derivatives. Moreover, their application prospects are forecasted.

Key words: catechin derivatives, synthesis, pharmacological effects, progress