Tissue specific changes of phytochemicals, antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of tea [ Camellia sinensis (L.)] extracted with different solvents

Abstract

Different parts of Camellia sinensis (L.) were extracted with solvents according to polarity, and the extracts' phytochemical profiling and biological activities were examined. The total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents increased with the increasing polarity of the solvent which met its maximum in polar solvents. The increasing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities were recorded with increasing polarity of solvents which showed hydroalcoholic as best solvent. The strong and significant correlation was among the TPC, TFC, DPPH, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities for different parts of tea. HPTLC study of individual phenolic acids, epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin and theaflavin met their maximum level of content with polar solvents like hydroalcohol, methanol and water mostly in mainly tea leaves. Our finding suggested that the polar solvents and young leaves of tea were beneficial for obtaining extracts. On the other hand, phenolics were found to be potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic agent.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory; antidiabetic; antioxidant; phytochemicals; solvents; tea.