Green tea is one of the most important beverages consumed across the world and it possesses various phytotherapeutics. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, total polyphenols, catechins, amino acid content and enzymatic antioxidants are considered to be potential parameters in tea characterization. P/11/15 clone (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) was chosen to analyze the biochemical characterization and to analyze the gene expression pattern. The selected P/11/15 clone (C. sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) possess potent Polyphenol oxidase (49.62 U/mg of protein), sufficient catechin (20.75%), Polyphenol (20.01%), Peroxidase (450.08 μM of O2 formed min−1 g−1 dry weight), Catalase (1.20 μM H2O2 reduced min−1 mg−1 protein) and Super Oxide Dismutase (45.11 U/mg proteins). Flavonoid gene expression reveals ANR (1.66%) and F3H (1.02%) were up regulated in the selected P/11/15 clone. The results obtained suggest that P/11/15 clone showed adequate enzyme levels, thus an increased antioxidant activity.

Tea is an important economic crop in many Asian and African countries. In India tea is one of the major plantation crops (planted on an area of 5, 20,000 ha) and has been accepted as a healthy drink for all ages (1). Tea plantation is an agro-based, ecofriendly, labour intensive, employment generating and export oriented industry in our country (2,3). Presently, tea industry occupies significant position and plays a paramount role in the national economy and our country is the second largest producer of