Phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity, and chromatographic study of Camellia sinensis

Abstract

Abstract Background: This study highlights the use of plants as a vital part of Iraq’s health care. One of the most significant plants for medicine is Camellia sinensis. Objectives: phytochemically and chromatographically evaluation of C. sinensis and its antibacterial activity. Materials and Methods: The phytochemical analysis revealed the occurrence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and phenols, but glycosides are not found in extracts of C. sinensis leaves. Antibacterial efficacy of the herbal extracts revealed that both aqueous and ethanol extracts showed some degree of inhibition of growth in Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Nine functional groups were identified through Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer, and 10 phytochemical compounds were identified through gas chromatography–mass spectrum in the ethanol extract. The antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic green tea extracts was tested. Both types of extracts showed clear biological activity against the studied bacterial species; the inhibitory effect increased with increasing concentration, with the highest activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts against Salmonella spp.(inhibition zone 40, 36 mm, respectively) at 200 mg/mL, but less inhibitory effect appears on S. pyogenes when using aqueous extract (12 mm) at 50 mg/mL and (18 mm) at 200 mg/mL. Conclusions: Various therapeutically active compounds are present in the aqueous and ethanolic extract of C. sinensis, which encourages its use in the treatment of microbial infections. Further investigations are needed for the chemical composition of green tea, and other techniques like HPLC may be used. Further tests are necessary for its antimicrobial activity, either in vitro or in vivo.