GC-MS Based Profiling, Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity Studies of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze Flower Extract

Camellia sinensis flowers are rich cradle of bioactive phytochemicals yet treated as waste biomass of the bush. However, flowers are used for the treatment of diverse health ailments since ages. Thus solvent free supercritical fluid extract of C. sinensis flowers was targeted to explore the phytochemical and bioactive potential. Parameters for the extraction were optimized at 300 bar pressure, temperature 45 degrees C, static time 15-20 minutes and dynamic time 90 minutes that yield 1.005% (1.005g/100g) extract. The chemical characterization of extract (Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis) resulted in the identification of eighteen non-polar compounds. Furthermore, derivatization (silylation) identified five unsaturated fatty acids and a terpene alcohol. The antimicrobial studies of C. sinensis flowers revealed strong antifungal (20-27 mm) and appreciable antibacterial (7-12 mm) potential at minimum concentrations (1 mg/mL). The cytotoxicity studies of tea flower extract against colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) showed cell death up to 80 +/- 0.80% that highlighted the importance of economically underutilized tea flowers. This also revealed wide scope for their utilization in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic sectors.