FT-IR analysis and correlation studies on the antioxidant activity, total phenolics and total flavonoids of Indian commercial teas (Camellia sinensis L.) - A novel approach

摘要

Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra were recorded to analyse the phytochemicals in six commercial green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) samples acquired from diverse locations in India. Main focus was made on the absorbance (%) of selected prominent vibrational bands relevant to the chemical compounds with antioxidant properties (polyphenols, flavonoids). The colorimetric data of the green tea samples such as antioxidant activity assayed by 1,1-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) - radical scavenging activity (RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and total phenolic content (TPC) assayed by Folin-ciocalteu method and total flavonoids (TF) assayed by aluminium chloride method were used in the present study (Authors- work communicated elsewhere). A novel attempt has been made to correlate the FT-IR data and the colorimetric data of the green tea samples without using advanced chemometric procedures. Very interestingly excellent correlations were observed among the studied parameters with higher values of correlation coefficients (R2 > 0.9). This implies that FT-IR analysis may be used in a simple way to rapidly estimate antioxidant potentials of plant extracts.