Therapeutic and nutritional potential of some samples of green tea consumed in the Dakar region of Senegal; [Potentiel thérapeutique et nutritionnel de quelques échantillons de thé vert consommé dans la région de Dakar au Sénégal]

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a drink widely consumed in Senegal on many occasions such as religious or political meetings, family ceremonies (marriage, baptism, funeral, etc.). Thus the general objective of this study was to contribute to a better knowledge of the nutritional quality and the therapeutic potential of green tea sold in the Dakar market. The contents of mineral elements, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids of eight green tea samples were determined by spectrophotometry. The AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) method (1990) was also used. In addition, an evaluation of the antioxidant power of extracts of tea samples was made according to the DDPH method. The results of the analyzes showed that in all the samples potassium was the major mineral element with a content of 1351.34 ± 0.052 mg/100 g while the lowest value was obtained with copper (0.17 ± 0.004 mg /100 g). The contents of total alkaloids varied between 0.71 ± 0.0010 g and 0.32 ± 0.0020 g while those of total polyphenols were between 103.18 mg and 67.14 mg. The highest total flavonoid content in green tea was 49.31 mg and the lowest was 33.68 mg. Tea extracts showed moderate antioxidant activity with a minimum IC₅₀ of 3.1 ± 0.016 mg/mL compared to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 0.09 ± 0.002 mg/mL) used as a standard. This study allowed us to show that our green tea samples are rich in mineral elements (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper) and in phytochemicals (alkaloids, flavonoids, total polyphenols). This could explain their wide consumption in the Dakar region and their high antioxidant quality. © 2023 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.