Antioxidant Activities of GMB 7 Variety of Tea at Different Altitude

Abstract
GMB 7 is a tea variety which has high productivity and a potential source of natural antioxidants, grow well at low, medium, and high altitude. The research aimed to analyze the effect of altitude on antioxidant activity, total phenolic and total flavonoids content of GMB 7 tea variety. The research was conducted at the Biopharmacy Laboratory, Bogor Agricultural University, from November 2014 to February 2015. The treatments tested were of tea shoots extracts taken from three different altitudes at PT Tambi tea plantations,Wonosobo, at 690, 1.280, and 1.890 m above sea level. The tea shoots (100 g) were mixed in aquades with the ratio of 1:10, extracted with hot water (90°C; 30 minutes). The extracts were then filtered and evaporated using rotary vacuum evaporator (50 rpm; 60°C) to obtain a raw dried extract. Total phenolic was tested with Follin-Ciocalteu method at a wavelength of 765 nm while the total flavonoids was tested using AlCl3 method at a wavelength of 510 nm. The antioxidant activity was determined by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl method (DPPH) at a wavelength of 517 nm. The results showed that total phenolics, total flavonoids, and IC50 at an altitude of 690 m asl is higher compared to those at 1.280, and 1.890 m above sea level , respectively by 19%; 290.62 GAE mg/g extract, 125 CE mg/g extract, and 5.48 ppm. The total phenolic and flavonoid content significantly correlated with the antioxidant activity (IC50).