Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Activity, Functional Groups and Chemical Element Characterization Analysis of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) in East Javanese Green Tea Methanolic Extract: An Experimental In Vitro Study

Background: East Javanese green tea or Camellia sinensis is one of the biggest commodities with abundant health benefits. In Indonesia, people drink about 0.35 kg/capita/year green tea with approximately 2,781 tons produced in East Java. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), one of the main catechins in East Javanese green tea, has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial activities \r\nAim: To analyze EGCG in East Javanese green tea methanolic extract (GTME) using phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, screening functional groups, and chemical element characterization analysis. \r\nMaterials and Methods: The maceration method was conducted to obtain the extract of green tea (C. sinensis). Isolation of EGCG was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and verified with thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Phytochemical liquid chromatography analysis was done using alkaloid, saponin, flavonoid, triterpenoid, and steroid tests. The antioxidant activity test was evaluated with a UV-Vis spectrometer. Furthermore, Chemical element characterization analysis was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine functional groups and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) to characterize the chemistry element. \r\nResults and Discussion: There is 4.41% of EGCG isolated from East Javanese green tea. During the phytochemical analysis, discoloration appears in alkaloid, flavonoid, triterpenoid, and steroid. Meanwhile, saponin test shows an intense and consistent forth for all indicating positive samples. As EGCG has strong antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 36.71, this can restrain the reactive oxidative species activity and advanced glycation end products creation which are connected to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. FTIR and EDX analysis reveals that EGCG has hydroxyl bonds, double bonds C=O, single bond C-O, with carbon and oxygen as mostly the elemental composition, and no toxic substances. \r\nConclusion: EGCG in East Java GTME has flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenoids, and alkaloids compounds contained with strong antioxidant activity.