Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring organic compounds, consisting many phenol rings. Anti-carcinogenic health benefits of polyphenols have been observed due to their antioxidants properties and ability to modulate enzyme activity and cell signals. The intake of polyphenols activates enzymes for detoxification, therefore, inducing defenses within toxic environment. Polyphenols were collected from several Peruvian tea mixtures that are made to treat medical problems using a mixture of ethanol and acetone. The polyphenols were extracted using a Soxhlet setup that ran for four hours. The samples were then washed with chloroform to remove caffeine and pigments, then with ethyl acetate, to separate the polyphenols. The samples were further concentrated, filtered and subjected to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis after re-suspension in a solvent. An MTT assay was also performed on the same samples to analyze the effects of the different individual tea extractions. It was found that the tea mixture specifically made to alleviate nervous system cancer (Tea 1EA), demonstrated the most accurate correlation and was consequently chosen for further analysis. This tea extract was then fractioned using flash column chromatography using a solvent gradient, non-polar to polar. GC-MS analysis and a 24-hour incubation of MTT assay on the HeLa cells was repeated on all 8 fractions obtained from Tea 1EA. Our results show that only one fraction, from Tea 1EA displayed a trend for lowering cell viability in HeLa cells as the concentration of the fraction increased. A compound table provided by the GC-MS showed the presence of polyphenol derivatives in fraction six as well as the presence of a common PAH, Naphthalene. Currently, the effects of fractions from teas dissolved in water are being analyzed. In future experiments, standards of polyphenols found in fraction six will be inserted into the HeLa cells to analyze their effects.

Biological effects and chemical aspect of Peruvian teas

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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