I have studied the chemical components, especially polyphenolic substances and caffeine in the leaves of Camellia sasanqua and C. japonica by paper-chromatographic method.
As the results of the study, it was found that paper-chromatogram of C. sasanqua was very resemble to that of C. japonica while it was remarkably different from that of Thea. Only l-epicatechin was a common substance among them. However, the same kinds of flavonoids contained in the tea leaves were detected in C. sasanqua.
It seemed to be the first time that the existence of caffeine in C. sasanqua and C. japonica was acknowledged by paper-chromatographic detection.