Epicatechin content in green tea (Camellia sinensis) supplements and their antioxidant activities

Introduction/background discolour afternoon tea produced from camellia sinensis is a everyday beverage and is consumed worldwide. Green tea produced from camellia leaves argon in general consumed in East Asian countries including China, Japan and Taiwan whereas in western sandwich parts and s forthh Asian countries, black tea is relatively ordinary (Chan, et.al. 2011). Green tea produced from camelia is believed to take for several(prenominal) health benefits. The tea from Camellia mainly contains flavanols or catechins, epigallocatechins, epicatechin gallate and epicatechin. The tea is manufactured in much(prenominal) a way that the catechin oxidation by polyphenol oxidase is prevented (Chan, et.al. 2011). Although all of these components in jet-propelled plane tea atomic number 18 reported to have several health benefits, in this study only the role of epicatechin in gullible tea from Camellia has been extensively reviewed. Epicatechin is a strong antioxidant, which has been counseled to have several health benefits (Ravindranath, et.al. 2009).1.1. compute Aims Considering the antioxidant activities of epicatechin content in Camellia sinensis, and having reviewed available literature on the discomfit argona, this jut therefore aims toIdentify and quantify epicatechin content in herb tea tea adjuncts by apply tired flux. Understand and evaluate the antioxidant decentty of the measurement compound that has been reported to be the antioxidant performance of the supplements.These aims were targeted with the views to providing clearer understanding of the role of antioxidants, return in green tea, as well as the health benefits associated to it.1.2 calibration of plant extractsHerbal supplements are the complex mixtures containing entire chemicals derived from different plant sources including leaves, stems, flowers, grow and seeds. Although about herbal supplements and their compounds stick in them are safe, many have been reported t o have biologically alive(p) compounds that can alter several physiological processes within the body, as well as whitethorn interact with drugs. Thus, it is important to know the presence of active ingredients in the herbal supplement (Bent, 2008). Moreover, plant extracts are found to be rich in alleviate radical and reactive oxygen species thatare implicated in the alterations of conglomerate metabolic processes, and may lead tohuman diseases (Cases, et.al. 2010). Information on the biologically active compounds in herbal products lead also help consumers in many aspects. Higher therapeutics effects can be seen in regularize extracts compared to the whole herb or non-standardized extracts this is because, active principal is concentrated to a much spiriteder level in the extracts than in the plant itself. Thus, purchasers of herbal products will get health benefits if extracts are standardized (Cases, et.al. 2010). 1.3 AntioxidantsAntioxidants are the compounds that are com monly derived from enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase from minerals such as selenium, manganese, pig and zinc as well as naturally from A, C and E vitamins (Lobo, et.al. 2010). Natural antioxidants are commonly found in plants consumed in the pabulum including carotenoids and phenolic compounds.Moreover, plants contain high concentrations of numerous antioxidants that include polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, glutathione and ascorbic acid (Charles, 2013).Their most important role in the body is to protect cells against the effects of surrender radicals. bountiful radicals are the unstable molecular species containing an unpaired electron that are able to exist independently. Most of these species are highly reactive and are potentially damaging to the cells (Lobo, et.al. 2010).Some of the common oxygen- free radicals that are snarly in many human diseases include hydroxyl radical, superoxide an ion radical, enthalpy peroxide, oxygen singlet, hypochlorite, nitric oxide radical, and peroxynitrite radical. Increased levels of these reactive species in the body cells wee damage of the DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Thus, a balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function (Lobo, et.al. 2010). Any dis-balance in this may result the innovation of various diseases including cancer, vascular diseases and degenerative diseases. Hence, the study of antioxidants and their sources have been the focus of severe research.1.4. Brief information on herbal supplements to use in the designThis project studies the presence of epicatechin content in Camellia sinensis thus, the project uses herbal capsules from Camellia sinensis as herbal supplements. Camellia sinenis is taken as green tea and contains antioxidants in it, which is why it is commonly used in herbal medicine. Epicatechin is copiously found in Camellia sinensis herbal sup plement. Cameillia sinensis also contains various active compounds as extracts. Some of the major active compounds found in Camellia sinensis include catechins, caffeine, flavonols and proanthocyanidins (Charles, 2013). The health benefits of green tea (Camellia sinensis) epicatechins are being extensively studied and explained . Endothelial cells are associated to vascular function and homeostasis whose dysfunction may have implication in cardiovascular disease including atherogenesis. (Moore, et.al. 2009). Moreover, some studies suggest their anticancer role by enchaining apoptosis (Ravindranath, et.al. 2009). With findings emerging from several newborn studies regarding the health benefits of the green tea from Camellia sinensis, it is being increasingly popular among the people. MethodsSimple and reliable techniques will be chosen in this project to investigate epicatechin content in Camellia sinenis. Experiments will be carried out using reflux extraction to determine the biol ogically active compounds present in the test supplement (herbal capsules from Camellia sinensis). This will be affirm by NMR analysis. NMR analysis will be do to confirm that determination of correct biological compound including antioxidants from Camellia sinensis. pure(a) extract will be make from the material extracted from herbal capsules using a suitable solvent under reflux, which will then be run on thin layer chromatography (TLC) to see if a synonymic band for the standard also appears in the extract. This will tell whether or not the compound is present in the extract, as the study of organic compounds present in the supplement of Camellia sinensis can be made using this technique. To cut of the evaporation time, rotary evaporation method will be employed while evaporating the solvent. Reverse phase analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will be used to identify the standard compound in the extract and then to quantify the amount of compound in it. Fi nally, the antioxidant assay will be carried out to determine the antioxidant activity of the extracted compound as a control, plant Flavonoid quercetin, which has antioxidant activity, will be used.REFERENCESCharles, J.D. (2013). Antioxidant Properties of Spices, Herbs and new(prenominal) Sources. Natural Antioxidants. 39-64.Chan, E.W.C, Eu, Y.S, Tie, P.P, Law, Y.P. (2011). Pharmacognosy Research. 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