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

Introduction/backgroundGreen tea leaf produced from camelia sinensis is a popular beverage and is consumed worldwide. Green tea produced from camellia leaves atomic number 18 mainly consumed in East Asian countries including China, Japan and Taiwan whereas in western parts and south Asian countries, black tea is relatively popular (Chan, et.al. 2011). Green tea produced from Camellia is believed to have some(prenominal) wellness benefits. The tea from Camellia mainly contains flavanols or catechins, epigallocatechins, epicatechin gallate and epicatechin. The tea is manufactured in such a way that the catechin oxidation by polyphenol oxidase is prevented (Chan, et.al. 2011). Although all of these components in verdure tea ar reported to have several wellness benefits, in this theme only the component part of epicatechin in green tea from Camellia has been extensively reviewed. Epicatechin is a strong antioxidant, which has been suggested to have several wellness benefits (Ra vindranath, et.al. 2009).1.1. Project Aims Considering the antioxidant activities of epicatechin content in Camellia sinensis, and having reviewed available literature on the subject atomic number 18a, this project therefore aims toIdentify and quantify epicatechin content in herbal tea tea tea supplements by using standard compound. Understand and evaluate the antioxidant belongings of the standard compound that has been reported to be the antioxidant activity of the supplements.These aims were targeted with the views to providing clearer understanding of the role of antioxidants, present in green tea, as well as the health benefits associated to it.1.2 Standardization of comprise extractsHerbal supplements are the complex mixtures containing organic chemicals derived from different lay sources including leaves, stems, flowers, roots and seeds. Although most herbal supplements and their compounds present in them are safe, many another(prenominal) have been reported to have bi ologically dynamic compounds that can garble several physiological processes within the proboscis, as well as may interact with drugs. Thus, it is important to know the presence of wide awake ingredients in the herbal supplement (Bent, 2008). Moreover, plant extracts are found to be rich in free radical and oxidizable oxygen species thatare implicated in the alterations of divers(a) metabolic processes, and may lead to valet diseases (Cases, et.al. 2010). Information on the biologically active compounds in herbal products will also sponsor consumers in many aspects. Higher therapeutics set up can be seen in standardized extracts compared to the whole herb or non-standardized extracts this is because, active principal is strong to a much higher 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 commonly derived from enzymes such as superoxide anion dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase from minerals such as selenium, manganese, copper 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 diet including carotenoids and phenolic compounds.Moreover, plants contain high concentrations of numerous antioxidants that include polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, glutathione and ascorbic back breaker (Charles, 2013).Their most important role in the body is to protect cells against the effects of free radicals. Free 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 involved in many human diseases include hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen singlet, hypochlorite, nitric oxide radical, and peroxynitrite radical. Increased levels of these reactive species in the body cells induce damage of the DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Thus, a balance between free radicals and antioxidants is inevitable for proper physiological function (Lobo, et.al. 2010). Any dis-balance in this may consequence the initiation of various diseases including cancer, vascular diseases and degenerative diseases. Hence, the study of antioxidants and their sources have been the center on of intense research.1.4. Brief information on herbal supplements to use in the projectThis 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 abundantly found in Camellia sinensis herbal s upplement. 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 universe 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, around studies suggest their anticancer role by enchaining apoptosis (Ravindranath, et.al. 2009). With findings emerging from several new studies regarding the health benefits of the green tea from Camellia sinensis, it is being progressively 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 repair the biologically active compounds present in the test supplement (herbal capsules from Camellia sinensis). This will be confirmed by NMR analysis. NMR analysis will be done to confirm that determination of correct biological compound including antioxidants from Camellia sinensis. Crude extract will be made from the material extracted from herbal capsules using a suitable solvent under reflux, which will consequently be run on thin layer chromatography (TLC) to see if a corresponding 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 rule will be employed while evaporating the solvent. Reverse phase analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will be used to signalize the standard compound in the extract and then to quantify the measure of compound in it. Finally, 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). 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