PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT, AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF CAMELLIA SINENSIS

Like many other aromatic plants, green tea (Camellia sinensis), synthesizes some benefic bioactive molecules that can be used to cure certain diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, the antioxidant potential, and the in vitro antibacterial activity of C. sinensis infusion against two pathogenic bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae and Listeria monocytogéne). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannin, ellagic acid, proanthocyanidins, saponins, and polyphenols. Total polyphenol estimation reveals a level of 213±10 mg AGE/g. While the antioxidant activity evaluation reveals a significant ability to scavenge 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (IC50%=5.57±0.08 mg/mL). The inhibition tests carried out by the disk diffusion and agar well diffusion methods showed a strong antibacterial activity with diameters varying from 16.33±0.45 to 22.67±0.44 mm using the agar well method and from 10.00±0.44 to 12.33±0.89 mm using the disk method against E. cloacae and L. monocytogéne respectively. This study allowed us to conclude on the effectiveness of Camellia sinensis against these two pathogenic bacteria.