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While olive fruit has been processed and consumed as food in different ways for centuries; Its leaves are also used for their therapeutic effects. Today, olive leaf, which has been the subject of many studies in terms of its health benefits, is most commonly consumed as tea. In this study, particle size and different infusion temperatures were used to determine some physical properties of infused tea, total phenolic substance (Folin-Ciocalteu method) and flavonoid amount, antioxidant capacity (ABTS•+, DPPH, FRAP) and its effects on sensory properties were investigated. Particle size and infusion methods had a statistically significant effect on all analyzed properties (p<0.01). It has been determined that grinding olive leaves increases the L* and b* values and decreases the a* value in the infusion. It was determined that the total phenolic substance amounts of infused teas varied between 128.87 and 58.04 mg GAE/L, and the total flavonoid substance amount was highest in hot infused tea (491.54 mg QE/L). It has been determined that teas infused from ground leaves have higher antioxidant activity than those infused whole. In sensory evaluation, it was determined that the overall acceptability of teas infused from whole leaves on ice and at room temperature was highest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple sensor for the quantitation of tryptophan (Trp) has been developed using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with electro-synthesized carbon dots functionalized with glycine (Gly@CDs). The surface functionalization with an amino acid led to the formation of large clusters of nanostructures. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which a Gly@CDs clusters modified GCE is used for the analysis of Trp. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) are the techniques used to study Trp electrochemical behavior in an alkaline solution using such an electrode. A linear concentration range was found for Trp from 5 × 10−6 to 5 × 10−3 mol L−1 with a detection limit (LOD) of 5 × 10−6 mol L−1. The reproducibility and repeatability data were satisfactory in terms of RSD%. Moreover, the stability during the time of the modified electrode was considered, evidencing interesting results. The described sensor was used for the determination of Trp in herbal tea and a dietary supplement, and the results were compared with those obtained with HPLC-ESI-MS in the Selected Ion Recording (SIR) mode as an independent method. The electrochemical sensor presents significant advantages in terms of low cost, portability, ease of handling and not requiring skilled personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea, a culturally significant beverage, originated around 2700 B.C. in ancient Chinese civilization, with a profound understanding of its therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines from diverse plant sources have been esteemed for their phytochemical content. Today, tea's appeal spans the globe, with various processing techniques creating distinct tea varieties. This review article comprehensively explores tea and herbal teas, encompassing their origins, types, trade history, health benefits, chemical composition, and market and future dynamics. This review examines tea's evolution from ancient China to its global significance and analyzes the impact of tea trade routes on cultural exchanges and trade dynamics. The review covers conventional teas (black, green, and oolong), blended teas, and herbal teas. It primarily focuses on herbal beverages' chemical composition and active components derived from diverse plants and botanicals, highlighting their traditional uses and health‐promoting applications. The review provides valuable insights into the dynamic herbal tea market, growth, consumer preferences, industry trends, and future aspects of the herbal beverage. Additionally, it explores the proper classification and preparation of herbal drinks for maximum benefits, shedding light on tea manufacturing and preparation processes. This review is a valuable resource for tea enthusiasts, health‐conscious individuals, and industry stakeholders, offering profound insights into teas and their multifaceted allure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the world has continued to be plagued by type 2 diabetes (T2D). As a lifestyle disease, obese individuals are at higher risk of developing the disease. Medicinal plants have increasingly been utilized as remedial agents for managing metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic potential of Croton gratissimus herbal tea infusion. The inhibitory activities of C. gratissimus on carbohydrate (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and lipid (pancreatic lipase) hydrolyzing enzymes were determined, and the mode of inhibition of the carbohydrate digestive enzymes was analyzed and calculated via Lineweaver–Burk plots and Michaelis Menten's equation. Its effect on Advanced Glycation End Product (AGE) formation, glucose adsorption, and yeast glucose utilization were also determined. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the possible phenolic compounds present in the herbal tea infusion, and the compounds were docked with the digestive enzymes. C. gratissimus significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited α-glucosidase (IC50 = 60.56 ± 2.78 μg/mL), α-amylase (IC50 = 35.67 ± 0.07 μg/mL), as well as pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 50.27 ± 1.51 μg/mL) in a dose-dependent (15–240 µg/mL) trend. The infusion also inhibited the non-enzymatic glycation process, adsorbed glucose effectively, and enhanced glucose uptake in yeast cell solutions at increasing concentrations. Molecular docking analysis showed strong binding affinity between HPLC-quantified compounds (quercetin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and catechin) of C. gratissimus herbal tea and the studied digestive enzymes. Moreover, the herbal tea product did not present cytotoxicity on 3T3-L1 cell lines. Results from this study suggest that C. gratissimus herbal tea could improve glucose homeostasis and support its local usage as a potential anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obesogenic agent. Further in vivo and molecular studies are required to bolster the results from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Herbal teas are blends of leaves, seeds, fruits, and flowers from various plants that provide relaxation, anti-inflammatory benefits, and immune system support for conditions such as diabetes and asthma. Despite their health benefits, comprehensive lipidomic data on herbal teas are limited in the literature. We used non-targeted liquid chromatography–linear ion trap orbitrap mass spectrometry to identify and correlate the lipid species in the following six herbal tea samples: fennel, ginger, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, and rosehip. A total of 204 lipid molecular species were identified, and multivariate analysis revealed a significant difference between lipid species in herbal teas. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are significantly abundant in juniper, including ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, followed by fennel. Cluster correlations showed that ginger contained mainly sphingolipids and lysophospholipids, whereas fennel was rich in phospholipids. No significant variations in the content of triacylglycerols were observed in any of the herbal teas analyzed. The ratio of PUFAs to SFAs in herbal teas showed that orange peel had the highest ratio, followed by lemon peel and fennel, indicating their potential health benefits. In addition, using high-resolution mass spectrometry, various lipids such as fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids and N-acyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamines were identified and characterized in these herbal teas. This study provides a comprehensive lipid analysis and detailed characterization of lipids in six herbal teas, highlighting their plausible applications in the field of nutrition and various food industries for the development of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily consumption of various teas is a popular tradition in many countries especially in Turkey and although it shouldn’t be in tea, carbonate can be added to obtain more brew from teas especially in local coffeehouses. In this study, the effect of carbonate addition on the essential element concentrations of some black teas (black, earl grey and green tea), herbal teas (fennel, mint and sage tea) and fruit teas (apple, lemon and rosehip) is analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), after the infusion process of tea brewing with carbonate. Afterwards, the total element contents of the tea grains in are determined by again ICP-OES prior to microwave digestion process. Considering the data obtained from the experiments, carbonate addition increased or decreased some elements with respect to the tea types. According to the results obtained after the microwave digestion method, although the major elements in all types of teas are found as Ca, K, P, Mg and Mn, which do not reach 2% brewing from the tea grains, carbonated infusion is not recommended due to its increasing effect on the concentration of the major elements contained in teas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has demonstrated the positive impact of herbal tea consumption on postprandial blood glucose regulation. This study conducts a comparative analysis of aqueous and ethanol extractions on four herbal teas (Mallotus, Cyclocarya, Rubus, and Vine) to assess their phytochemical profiles and functional attributes. Phytochemical contents, antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and chemical compositions are investigated via colorimetric analyses and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS/MS, respectively. Results indicate that Vine, among the teas studied, exhibits the most pronounced glucose-regulating effects under both extraction methods. While ethanol extractions yield higher phytochemical content overall, the compositions vary. Conversely, aqueous extracts demonstrate unexpectedly potent antioxidant activities and comparable α-glucosidase inhibitory activities to ethanol extracts. Phytochemical contents correlate positively with antioxidant activities and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. However, antioxidant activities exhibit a weak positive correlation with α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. These findings provide evidence that aqueous extracts from herbal teas contain valuable phytochemical compositions beneficial for antioxidants and individuals with hyperglycemia, suggesting their potential as functional ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of herbal food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of water regimes on plants is crucial for integrating bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.) into strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa to tackle food and nutritional insecurity by considering physiological aspects, nutritional yield, nutritional water productivity, and metabolite composition. The objective of the study was to determine the physiological aspects, including leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, nutritional yield, nutritional water productivity, and metabolite composition of bush tea under varying water regimes. The tunnel experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with treatments consisting of three water regimes: 100% of crop water requirement (ETa), 30% of ETa, and a control (no irrigation), all replicated three times. The morphological aspects were recorded on a weekly basis. However, yield, nutrient content, nutritional water productivity (NWP), and phytochemical composition were determined at harvest. The phytochemical analysis by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), coupled with visualization of the detected chemical spaces through molecular networking, indicated Athrixia phylicoides DC. to be rich in various bioactive compound derivatives, including methyl chlorogenate, flavonoids, tartaric acid, caffeoylquinic acid, and glutinane. The results showed that 30% ETa enhanced plant growth, nutrient content, and nutritional water productivity compared to other water treatments. Nevertheless, 100% ETa yielded more (95.62 kg ha−1) than 30% ETa (60.61 kg ha−1) and control (12.12 kg ha−1). The accumulation of chlorogenic acids was higher under 30% ETa compared to 100% ETa and control. Therefore, this study is the first to determine the accumulation of various bioactive compounds in bush tea leaf extracts under varying water regimes. This confirms that in areas with low water availability, bush tea is well adapted for production without limiting nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background It has been a long-standing tradition of using herbal tea for preventive and therapeutic healthcare in Hong Kong and South China and Five Flowers Tea is one of the most popular herbal teas. Based on the principle of traditional Chinese medicine, the pharmacological functions are to clear heat and dispel dampness in the body. Heat and dampness are thought to contribute to a range of health problems, especially during the hot and humid season in South China and Hong Kong. The most prevalent herbs in the formula contain bioactive compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids, which have a wide range of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammation, antivirus, antidiarrhoea, antibacteria, and antioxidation. However, with the composition varies widely, the ethnopharmacological benefits described may not be delivered uniformly. This study is to provide a comprehensive analysis on the composition of the Five Flowers Tea sold in Hong Kong and investigate the rationale behind the selection of herbs used in the formula. This study also provides information on the variation and quality of the Five Flowers Tea in the market. Methods Thirty-three Five Flowers Tea samples were collected from various locations in Hong Kong. The size, texture, colour and organoleptic properties were documented. Macroscopic and molecular authentication methods were employed to identify the individual components. Results Macroscopic identification revealed there were 23 herbs belonging to 18 plant families. The most prevalent herb was Bombax ceiba L., followed by Chrysanthemum morifolium. Ten adulterants and the existence of insect Lasioderma serricorne were confirmed by DNA barcoding techniques. Conclusion This study employed a comprehensive approach to authenticate the herbs in Five Flowers Tea samples collected from various locations in Hong Kong. Macroscopic and molecular methods were used to identify the herbs and adulterants. The findings revealed the varied composition in Five Flowers Tea and the occurrence of adulterants in some samples. This shows that quality assurance of Five Flowers Tea is essential for the effective use of this popular folk medicine.

Background: Herbal tea Is one of the herbal drinks that has been widely consumed by Indonesian people and known as tea that have functional properties, one of them is source of antioxidants. Antioxidants can be obtained from a lot of sources, such as the mixture of mangosteen pericarp, cinnamon, and cloves. The use of cinnamon and clove expected to increase the consumers’ preference towards this tea. Objectives: This research aims at evaluating the acceptance level of several sensory parameters of tea made of mixture of mangosteen pericarp, cinnamon, and clove. Methods: The experimental design used in this research was completely randomized design with three replications, resulting in 27 samples of herbal tea. Besides, the data obtained from panelists will be analyzed by using Analysis of Varian (ANOVA) and followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) in SPSS 25.0 software. Results: The results show that the addition of cinnamon and cloves showed a significant difference. The more addition of spices will lower the panelist score. It can be seen in the sample containing 24 grams of mangosteen pericarp, 3 grams of cinnamon (B4) which had the highest panelist score in color, taste, and bitterness aspects. While the lowest panelist score was obtained by a sample containing 12 grams of mangosteen pericarp, 3 grams of cinnamon and cloves (A1). Conclusions: The more spices added, especially cloves will reduce the liking score. The result obtained by this research can be used for optimization of the best formula so maximum points can be known.

Objective: An analysis method for simultaneous determination of 59 kinds of chemical drugs illegally added in herbal tea by micro-QuEChERS method combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) was established. Method: The samples were extracted by ultrasonic extraction from acetonitrile solution for 5 min and salted out with sodium chloride (NaCl) and anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). Supernatant was purified with C18 sorbent and separated on a ACQUITY HSS T3 column (100 mm×2.1mm, 1.8 μm) by gradient elution using a mixture of 0.01% formic acid and acetonitrile:methanol (8:2) as the mobile phase. Then the analytes were quantified by UHPLC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) via positive and negative electrospray ionization quantified by external standard method. Result: The coefficient of determination of the standard calibration curves for the 59 analytes were all above 0.9990. The limit of detection (LOD, S/N≥3) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ, S/N≥10) were 5.0~10.0 and 10.0~25 μg/L. At three spiked of 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 μg/L, the average recoveries of 59 analytes were 60.3%~128.8% (n=6) with the relative standard deviations in the range of 1.0%～13.7%. Conclusion: The method developed was simple, sensitive, and had good purification effect. It could be applied for the rapid determination of 59 chemical drugs illegally added in herbal tea.

Herbal tea is a refreshing drink made from dried leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit, wood, and other plants that have health benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the ratio effect of celery with manalagi apple peel and drying time, to produce the best celery herbal tea. This study was designed using a factorial completely randomized design with 2 factors: the ratio of celery with apple peel [100:0; 75:25; 50:50; 25:75; 0:100] and drying time [2, 3, 4 hours] at 50 oC. The parameters analysed were moisture content, vitamin C content, total phenol, color, and organoleptic values (aroma, and general acceptance). The parameter observed for the best quality samples was antioxidant content. The results showed that the ratio of celery with manalagi apple peel had a highly significant effect on color oHue, aroma, and general acceptance of organoleptic. The drying time of teas had a highly significant effect on vitamin C content. The interaction of the ratio had a significant effect on the color value (L) and a highly significant effect on total phenol. The results showed that the first and the second factors had a highly significant effect on moisture content, total phenol, and color value (L). The choice of drying method can influence the final quality of the tea, making it important to select the appropriate technique.

Abstract Background Herbal tea usually refers to “beverage plants that do not belong to the genus Camellia”, and it holds a significant historical legacy as a traditional beverage among specific regions and ethnic groups. In light of this, our research aims to investigate and analyze the traditional knowledge pertaining to herbal tea plants used by local people in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. We also initiated preliminary efforts to create tea products from herbal tea leaves using various processing techniques. Additionally, we attempted to test hypotheses to elucidate how local people select herbal tea plants. Methods Data related to the use of herbal tea plants in this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations in four villages in Qianxinan. Quantitative indicators, including the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the relative importance (RI) value, were calculated, and the availability of plants was also evaluated. General linear model was performed to examine the relationship between the frequency of citation and resource availability, as well as the correlation between the relative frequency of citation and the relative importance, to test both the resource availability hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis. Centella asiatica tea was processed using techniques from green tea, black tea and white tea, with a preliminary sensory evaluation conducted. Results A total of 114 plant species were documented as being used for herbal teas by local residents, representing 60 families and 104 genera. Of these, 61% of herbal tea plants were found growing in the wild, and 11 species were exotic plants. The family with the highest number of species was Asteraceae (20 species). The study identified 33 major medicinal functions of herbal tea, with clearing heat-toxin and diuresis being the most common functions. General linear model revealed a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.72, p

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to produce herbal tea using an infusion of Hibiscus with Lemon verbena. Dried Hibiscus calyces and lemon verbena leaves were combined in a percentage of: 90:5 (HL1), 90:10 (HL2), 85:15 (HL3), 80:20 (HL4), 75:25 (HL5), 70:30 (HL6), 65:35 (HL7), 60:40 (HL8), 55:45 (HL9), 50:50 (HL10), respectively, and commercial tea and 100% Hibiscus were used for comparison. The formulated tea was evaluated for pH, total soluble solids (TSS), color density, hue tint, total phenolics, total flavonoids, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), sensory acceptance (7-hedonic scale) and their correlation were determined. No significant differences (p > .05) were found for total soluble solids (TSS). The pH, total flavonoids, total phenolics and antioxidant capacities of blended tea were significantly decreased with the concentrations of calyces. The blended tea had sensory acceptance with incorporation of 10–45% dried lemon verbena leaves, and potential phytochemical and antioxidant capacities.

Background: It has been a long-standing tradition of using herbal tea for preventive and therapeutic healthcare in Hong Kong and South China and Five Flowers Tea is one of the most popular herbal teas. Based on the principle of traditional Chinese medicine, the pharmacological functions are to clear heat and dispel dampness in the body. Heat and dampness are thought to contribute to a range of health problems, especially during the hot and humid season in South China and Hong Kong. The most prevalent herbs in the formula contain bioactive compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids, which have a wide range of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammation, antivirus, antidiarrhoea, antibacteria, and antioxidation. However, with the composition varies widely, the ethnopharmacological benefits described may not be delivered uniformly. This study is to provide a comprehensive analysis on the composition of the Five Flowers Tea sold in Hong Kong and investigate the rationale behind the selection of herbs used in the formula. This study also provides information on the variation and quality of the Five Flowers Tea in the market. Methods: Thirty-three Five Flowers Tea samples were collected from various locations in Hong Kong. The size, texture, colour and organoleptic properties were documented. Macroscopic and molecular authentication methods were employed to identify the individual components. Results: Macroscopic identification revealed there were 23 herbs belonging to 18 plant families. The most prevalent herb was Bombax ceiba L., followed by Chrysanthemum morifolium. Ten adulterants and the existence of insect Lasioderma serricorne were confirmed by DNA barcoding techniques. Conclusion: This study employed a comprehensive approach to authenticate the herbs in Five Flowers Tea samples collected from various locations in Hong Kong. Macroscopic and molecular methods were used to identify the herbs and adulterants. The findings revealed the varied composition in Five Flowers Tea and the occurrence of adulterants in some samples. This shows that quality assurance of Five Flowers Tea is essential for the effective use of this popular folk medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: An analysis method for simultaneous determination of 59 kinds of chemical drugs illegally added in herbal tea by micro-QuEChERS method combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) was established. Method: The samples were extracted by ultrasonic extraction from acetonitrile solution for 5 min and salted out with sodium chloride (NaCl) and anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). Supernatant was purified with C18 sorbent and separated on a ACQUITY HSS T3 column (100 mmx2.1mm, 1.8 μm) by gradient elution using a mixture of 0.01% formic acid and acetonitrile:methanol (8:2) as the mobile phase. Then the analytes were quantified by UHPLC-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) via positive and negative electrospray ionization quantified by external standard method. Result: The coefficient of determination of the standard calibration curves for the 59 analytes were all above 0.9990. The limit of detection (LOD, S/N≥3) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ, S/N≥10) were 5.0-10.0 and 10.0-25 μg/L. At three spiked of 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 μg/L, the average recoveries of 59 analytes were 60.3%-128.8% (n=6) with the relative standard deviations in the range of 1.0%-13.7%. Conclusion: The method developed was simple, sensitive, and had good purification effect. It could be applied for the rapid determination of 59 chemical drugs illegally added in herbal tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pokak plant, also known as takokak or prickly nightshade (Solanum torvum Sw.), belongs to the Solanaceae family. The part of the plant commonly utilized was its leaves. Takokak leaves contained numerous bioactive components that can be developed into one of the functional foods, such as herbal tea. One crucial aspect in the herbal tea-making process is the drying temperature. The aimed of this research was to investigate the effect of drying temperature variations on the characteristics of takokak leaves herbal tea and to determined the optimal temperature that can yield the best characteristics of takokak leaf herbal tea. Parameters observed in this study included total phenols, total flavonoids, total tannins, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties comprising hedonic tests on color, taste, aroma, and overall acceptances. Data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and if there was a significant effect of treatment on the results (P<0.05), it would be followed by the Tukey test. The results showed that variations in drying temperature had a significant effect on the total phenols, tannins, flavonoids, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties regarding color, aroma, taste, and overall acceptances of takokak leaf herbal tea. The best treatment was obtained at a drying temperature of 40°C with total phenol content of 31.58 mg GAE/g, total tannin content of 0.79 mg TAE/g, total flavonoid content of 14.23 mg QE/g, total vitamin C content of 7.92 mg AAE/g, antioxidant activity of 84.26%, and sensory properties for color, aroma, taste, and overall acceptances respectively were 5.73 (like), 5.27 (slightly like), 3.77 (neutral), and 3.91 (neutral). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbal tea Is one of the herbal drinks that has been widely consumed by Indonesian people and known as tea that have functional properties, one of them is source of antioxidants. Antioxidants can be obtained from a lot of sources, such as the mixture of mangosteen pericarp, cinnamon, and cloves. The use of cinnamon and clove expected to increase the consumers' preference towards this tea. Objectives: This research aims at evaluating the acceptance level of several sensory parameters of tea made of mixture of mangosteen pericarp, cinnamon, and clove. Methods: The experimental design used in this research was completely randomized design with three replications, resulting in 27 samples of herbal tea. Besides, the data obtained from panelists will be analyzed by using Analysis of Varian (ANOVA) and followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) in SPSS 25.0 software. Results: The results show that the addition of cinnamon and cloves showed a significant difference. The more addition of spices will lower the panelist score. It can be seen in the sample containing 24 grams of mangosteen pericarp, 3 grams of cinnamon (B4) which had the highest panelist score in color, taste, and bitterness aspects. While the lowest panelist score was obtained by a sample containing 12 grams of mangosteen pericarp, 3 grams of cinnamon and cloves (A1). Conclusions: The more spices added, especially cloves will reduce the liking score. The result obtained by this research can be used for optimization of the best formula so maximum points can be known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tisane is a fruit or herbal infusion, commonly referred to as herbal tea. These products are consumed as part of a balanced diet, which is closely related to the trend of a healthier lifestyle. In this work, tisanes prepared from rosehip (R), and herbal mixtures containing rosehip/hibiscus flowers (R/H) and rosehip/hibiscus flowers/saffron (R/H/S) were studied. Rosehip was dried by the convective drying method at 40, 50 and 60 °C. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total flavonol content (TFlC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), antioxidant properties (DPPH∙ and ABTS∙+ assays) and in vitro inhibitory potential toward α-amylase of tisanes were examined. The highest TPC (based on dry weight (dw)) was measured in tisane obtained from rosehip dried at 60 °C (37.84 mg GAE/g dw). Tisanes prepared from a R/H/S mixture had the highest values of TFC (4.66–6.13 mg QUE/g dw), TFlC (2.67–3.98 mg QUE/g dw) and TAC (1.35–2.27 mg Cy 3-glc/g dw). The highest DPPH∙ scavenging activity (53.42 mg TE/g dw) was measured in rosehip (dried at 60 °C) tisane, whereas tisane prepared from a rosehip (dried at 60 °C)/hibiscus mixture expressed the best ABTS∙+ scavenging activity (107.44 mg TE/g dw). All tisane samples expressed high inhibitory potential toward α-amylase, with the highest activity of 85.03% and 89.90%, measured for tisanes prepared from rosehip/hibiscus flowers mixture (rosehip dried at 50 and 60 °C, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herbal tea usually refers to "beverage plants that do not belong to the genus Camellia", and it holds a significant historical legacy as a traditional beverage among specific regions and ethnic groups. In light of this, our research aims to investigate and analyze the traditional knowledge pertaining to herbal tea plants used by local people in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. We also initiated preliminary efforts to create tea products from herbal tea leaves using various processing techniques. Additionally, we attempted to test hypotheses to elucidate how local people select herbal tea plants. Methods: Data related to the use of herbal tea plants in this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations in four villages in Qianxinan. Quantitative indicators, including the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the relative importance (RI) value, were calculated, and the availability of plants was also evaluated. General linear model was performed to examine the relationship between the frequency of citation and resource availability, as well as the correlation between the relative frequency of citation and the relative importance, to test both the resource availability hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis. Centella asiatica tea was processed using techniques from green tea, black tea and white tea, with a preliminary sensory evaluation conducted. Results: A total of 114 plant species were documented as being used for herbal teas by local residents, representing 60 families and 104 genera. Of these, 61% of herbal tea plants were found growing in the wild, and 11 species were exotic plants. The family with the highest number of species was Asteraceae (20 species). The study identified 33 major medicinal functions of herbal tea, with clearing heat-toxin and diuresis being the most common functions. General linear model revealed a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.72, p < 0.001) between the frequency of citation and plant availability, as well as a significant correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.63, p < 0.001) between RFC and RI. Under different processing conditions, the characteristics of Centella asiatica tea exhibited variations and were found to be suitable for consumption. Conclusion: The consumption of herbal tea serves as a preventive measure against common ailments for local residents. The resource availability hypothesis, diversification hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis were shown to provide some insight into "how and why local communities select plants for use." Exotic herbal tea plants in the study area also possess valuable therapeutic properties. The processing and production of Centella asiatica herbal tea products hold promising prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigaste the antimicrobial activities of water and methanol extracts prepared from 19 herbal tea samples (13 blended teas, 4 mono teas and 2 trademarks) sold by herbalists in Izmir with recommendation for use in respiratory tract infections, on 7 standard bacterial strains, 2 standard yeast strains and 12 clinical isolates. Methods: The antimicrobial activities of the extracts prepared from the medicinal teas were investigated on Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and on 12 clinical isolates (including 4 S. aureus, 4 C. albicans and 4 S. pneumoniae). Minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) values were determined by examining with microdilution method according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria. Results: Among the tested samples, the extracts that exhibited potent antibacterial activity are as follows: methanol extract of sage inhibited S. aureus, B. subtilis strains and 4 S. aureus isolates; methanol extract of a winter tea consisting 13 herbal drugs inhibited E. faecalis and 3 S. aureus isolates and methanol extract of a winter tea consisting 11 herbal drugs inhibited E. faecalis (MIC=31-62 µg/mL). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that herbal winter tea extracts, whose activities were investigated against standard bacterial and yeast strains and clinical isolates, showed antimicrobial activity at different levels. In addition, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ginger and turmeric, mucilage-bearing linden and marshmallow can be used to support the treatment if the right plant is selected, collected and packaged with acceptable methods and stored under appropriate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, aluminum exposure is not a risk; however, long‐term and high‐intensity exposure can have a negative impact on health. The ligand‐embedded MOF was developed for high sensitivity in the detection and removal of Al (III) ions in aqueous solutions. Novel selective metal–organic framework was synthesized via strong covalent attachment of NH2‐MIL‐53(Al) and 2‐hydroxy naphthaldehyde (2‐HNA) for selective and efficient fluorometric sensing of Al (III) ions. The elemental structure and morphology of the fabricated sensor (2‐HNA = N‐MIL‐53[Al]) were thoroughly evaluated to understand the high selectivity and considerable fluorescence stability in the water. The intensity of the sensor fluorescence increased linearly as the concentration of Al (III) increased from 0.19 to 2.0 ppm with a detection limit of 33.1 ppb (1.23 × 10−6 M) and 5 s of response time at pH 7. The potential mechanism is discussed. The high selectivity of the developed chemosensor was achieved against various competing environmentally relevant metal ions. Furthermore, Al (III) ions were successfully quantified in tap water, wastewater, human serum, and tea samples. The high precision (RSD percent, 0.009–1.76) and excellent accuracy (recovery percent, 99.96–101.56) of the 2‐HNA = N‐MIL‐53 (Al) sensor indicated that it holds great promise for the ultrafast and highly selective determination of Al (III) ions in wastewaters, with high reproducibility and reversibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although COVID-19 disease has lost its former severity in the period from its emergence in 2019 until today, it still maintains its importance. In this study, it is aimed to determine the plants preferred before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the microbiological quality of these plants. The information form prepared by ourselves was applied to the local herbalists and market employees in Istanbul in order to determine the plants used in the period and before, and to measure their knowledge about the transportation and storage conditions of the plants. It has been determined that the plants whose use has increased compared to before the pandemic process are turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale L.), galangal (Alpinia galanga (L.) Sw.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves, and they are mostly consumed in the form of tea. Plants were obtained from randomly selected herbalists and markets in open and closed forms, and herb and tea forms were subjected to microbiological analysis using the spread plate method. According to the results of the study, it is important that pathogenic bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Yersinia spp. were not detected in the herbs and teas. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the microbial load of the herb and tea forms of the closed samples taken from the markets was higher than that of the open samples taken from the herbalists, and that the microbial load was largely controlled after the brewing process (infusion-decoction). In addition, the importance of maintaining the water temperature in the brewing methods of teas has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cactus (prickly pear) is a nutrient-rich fruit with numerous medicinal and health benefits, including essential minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties, while mint enhances flavor and boosts health benefits. Tisanes, popular for their antioxidant properties due to phenols, are gaining popularity in the herbal tea market. In this study, cactus fruits were dried in a hot air dryer, with the drying temperature optimized at 50°C to achieve minimum drying time, maximum betalain content, and maximum antioxidant activity. Mint leaves were dried using shade drying at 30±2°C until a moisture content of 7% was achieved. Various cactus-mint ratios were tested to formulate the cactus fruit-based tisane, with the optimal ratio determined by overall acceptability, antioxidant activity, and color a* value. The tisane infusion was prepared by steeping a tea bag containing 2 grams of dried material in 100 mL of hot water (95±2°C) for 2 minutes. Statistical analysis revealed that the best cactus fruit-mint ratio for the tisane was 85:15. The infusion contained 10.92 mg/100g of total betalain content, 0.89 mg/100g of vitamin C, and 12.19 mM/100g of total antioxidant activity. Microbial analysis showed that the total plate count was within acceptable limits, and yeast and mold counts were zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in diabetes treatment have primarily focused on insulin and hypoglycemic agents; however, there is growing interest in exploring herbal and synthetic alternatives. Numerous studies have highlighted the preventive effectiveness of regular plant consumption in managing chronic conditions, particularly diabetes. Hibiscus, a medicinal plant recognized in various cultures, is known for its diverse health benefits. This study investigated the impact of Hibiscus trionum on glycemic control and assessed its influence on glucose and insulin levels in diabetes-induced rats. The concentrations of antioxidant enzymes, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were scrutinized across multiple body tissues (plasma, heart, muscle, liver, and kidney). The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was examined in both plasma and tissue samples. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were evaluated. Diabetic Group (D) exhibited a significant decrease in body weight, increased fluid and food consumption, elevated blood glucose levels, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Moreover, the diabetic group also showed increased levels of MDA, TC, TG, AST, and ALT, along with reduced insulin levels, compared to the control group. A substantial improvement in all parameters impaired by diabetes was observed following the application of Hibiscus trionum (HTT) in the Diabetes+HTT group. The antioxidative stress-reducing, lipid peroxidation-improving, and hepatoprotective potential of Hibiscus trionum in mitigating diabetes-induced oxidative stress is noteworthy. These findings indicate that HTT supplementation has valuable beneficial effects in protecting against the harmful impacts of diabetes.

Ultra-high temperature oxidation (UHTO) was explored as an alternative to the standard oxidation of honeybush tea, aiming to shorten the processing time and enhance the fruity and sweet-associated sensory characteristics. Different UHTO temperature × time regimes were applied to Cyclopia subternata, C. genistoides, C. intermedia and C. longifolia. Descriptive sensory analysis showed that UHTO treatment, regardless of species, increased the intensities of fruity and sweet-associated aromas while decreasing the intensities of floral aromas. The optimal UHTO regime for each species was subsequently applied to a larger number of plant material batches (n = 10 per species) to introduce a wider range of intra-species variation and confirm broad trends for the sensory profile, as well as for the colour and phenolic composition, of the infusions over species. The effect of treatment conditions on the retention of the phenolic compounds varied, depending on the compound and species. The substantial decrease in the mangiferin and isomangiferin concentrations of C. genistoides infusions, which was not observed for the other species, was notable. The study highlights the potential of UHTO to reduce oxidation time while enhancing the fruity and sweet-associated aroma attributes of honeybush tea, changes that may be beneficial in attracting new consumers and expanding the honeybush tea market.

Tea is a type of beverage that is widely consumed in various countries due to its high antioxidant content and its beneficial for health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of red ginger and variations in drying temperature on the quality characteristics and antioxidant content of cat whisker leaf tea bags. The study used a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method consisting of two factors, the addition of red ginger (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and variations in drying temperature (40oC, 50oC, and 60oC). The results show that the addition of red ginger had a highly significant effect on water content, ash content, water-soluble ash content, crude fiber content, pH, antioxidant content, aroma hedonic value, taste hedonic value, and general acceptance hedonic value. Variations in drying temperature had a highly significant effect on water content, ash content, water-soluble ash content, fiber content, and antioxidant content. This variation of drying temperature also had no significant effect on pH, hedonic aroma value, taste hedonic value, color hedonic value, and general acceptance hedonic value. The best results showed that the addition of ginger at 40% and a drying temperature of 60oC resulted in the best quality of tea bags.

A simple sensor for the quantitation of tryptophan (Trp) has been developed using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with electro-synthesized carbon dots functionalized with glycine (Gly@CDs). The surface functionalization with an amino acid led to the formation of large clusters of nanostructures. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which a Gly@CDs clusters modified GCE is used for the analysis of Trp. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) are the techniques used to study Trp electrochemical behavior in an alkaline solution using such an electrode. A linear concentration range was found for Trp from 5 × 10−6 to 5 × 10−3 mol L−1 with a detection limit (LOD) of 5 × 10−6 mol L−1. The reproducibility and repeatability data were satisfactory in terms of RSD%. Moreover, the stability during the time of the modified electrode was considered, evidencing interesting results. The described sensor was used for the determination of Trp in herbal tea and a dietary supplement, and the results were compared with those obtained with HPLC-ESI-MS in the Selected Ion Recording (SIR) mode as an independent method. The electrochemical sensor presents significant advantages in terms of low cost, portability, ease of handling and not requiring skilled personnel.

Over the years, the world has continued to be plagued by type 2 diabetes (T2D). As a lifestyle disease, obese individuals are at higher risk of developing the disease. Medicinal plants have increasingly been utilized as remedial agents for managing metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic potential of Croton gratissimus herbal tea infusion. The inhibitory activities of C. gratissimus on carbohydrate (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and lipid (pancreatic lipase) hydrolyzing enzymes were determined, and the mode of inhibition of the carbohydrate digestive enzymes was analyzed and calculated via Lineweaver–Burk plots and Michaelis Menten’s equation. Its effect on Advanced Glycation End Product (AGE) formation, glucose adsorption, and yeast glucose utilization were also determined. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the possible phenolic compounds present in the herbal tea infusion, and the compounds were docked with the digestive enzymes. C. gratissimus significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited α-glucosidase (IC50 = 60.56 ± 2.78 μg/mL), α-amylase (IC50 = 35.67 ± 0.07 μg/mL), as well as pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 50.27 ± 1.51 μg/mL) in a dose-dependent (15–240 µg/mL) trend. The infusion also inhibited the non-enzymatic glycation process, adsorbed glucose effectively, and enhanced glucose uptake in yeast cell solutions at increasing concentrations. Molecular docking analysis showed strong binding affinity between HPLC-quantified compounds (quercetin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and catechin) of C. gratissimus herbal tea and the studied digestive enzymes. Moreover, the herbal tea product did not present cytotoxicity on 3T3-L1 cell lines. Results from this study suggest that C. gratissimus herbal tea could improve glucose homeostasis and support its local usage as a potential anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obesogenic agent. Further in vivo and molecular studies are required to bolster the results from this study.

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Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is a high valued beverage worldwide since ancient times; more than three billion cups of tea are consumed each day. Leaf extracts of the plant are used for food preservation, cosmetics, and medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, tea contaminated with mycotoxins poses a serious health threat to humans. Mycotoxin production by tea fungi is induced by a variety of factors, including poor processing methods and environmental factors such as high temperature and humidity. This review summarizes the studies published to date on mycotoxin prevalence, toxicity, the effects of climate change on mycotoxin production, and the methods used to detect and decontaminate tea mycotoxins. While many investigations in this domain have been carried out on the prevalence of aflatoxins and ochratoxins in black, green, pu-erh, and herbal teas, much less information is available on zearalenone, fumonisins, and Alternaria toxins. Mycotoxins in teas were detected using several methods; the most commonly used being the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection, followed by HPLC with tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, mycotoxins decontamination methods for teas included physical, chemical, and biological methods, with physical methods being most prevalent. Finally, research gaps and future directions have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeybush tea is made from the fynbos plant Cyclopia subternata , which is unique to South Africa. Cultivation takes place in its natural environment, which has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters. During the summer, the plant is vulnerable to drought, an abiotic stress factor that is likely to affect its development and yield. This study investigated the effect of drought stress for a short duration on the leaf, as well as the quality of the herbal tea. Protein expression in the leaf was measured to gain insight into possible mechanisms used by the plant to cope with drought stress conditions. Fifteen-month-old C. subternata plants were subjected to three water treatments (control, moderately-stressed (MS), and severely-stressed (SS)) for ten days. Leaves were sampled at regular intervals throughout the treatment period to determine their relative water content (RWC). Leaves were also sampled on the 11th day for untargeted and targeted chemical composition and protein expression analyses. The remaining leaves and stems were processed to obtain the herbal tea. Descriptive sensory analysis of the herbal tea was performed to determine whether drought stress affected product quality. RWC was substantially higher (p < 0.05) in the control plants (100%) than in the MS and SS treated plants (83–90% and 47%, respectively). Untargeted analysis revealed that drought stress considerably altered leaf chemical composition. According to targeted analysis, the proline content of SS treated plants increased more than 40-fold when compared to the control, however, the treatments had no effect on the total carbohydrate and major phenolic compound content of the leaves, nor on the sensory quality of the herbal tea. Differences in the expression of 27 proteins, 24 of which were identified using proteomic analysis, were observed. During drought stress, 17 of these proteins increased, whereas seven decreased. Thirteen of the 24 identified proteins produced statistically significant results based on their Byonic scores. The findings laid the foundation for future research into the functions of drought response genes in Cyclopia species, as well as helping with the identification of stress-tolerant honeybush genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are secondary metabolites produced by plants as a defense against insects. These can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans. Therefore, avoiding potential poisoning from the consumption of tea and culinary plants contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), pyrrolizidine alkaloids N-oxides (PANOs), and tropane alkaloids (TAs) is important for human health and food safety. Therefore, it is important to determine the levels of these substances with reliable and highly accurate methods. In this study, the PAs, PANOs, and TAs in herbal teas and culinary herbs sold in Turkish markets were identified and their levels were determined. Thus, the general profiles of herbal teas and culinary herbs in Turkey were revealed, and the compliance of the total amounts of PA and TA with the regulations was examined. The identification and quantification of 25 PAs and N-oxides and 2 TAs (atropine and scopolamine) in the samples was performed with a liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer (LC-Q-ToF/MS). At least a few of these substances were detected in all of the tested herbal teas and culinary herbs. The total contents of the black tea, green tea, mixed tea, flavored tea, chamomile tea, sage tea, linden tea, fennel tea, rosehip tea, peppermint, and thyme samples ranged from 4.6 ng g−1 to 1054.5 ng g−1. The results obtained shed light on the importance of analyzing the total dehydro PA, PANO, and TA amounts in plant-based products consumed in diets with sensitive and accurate methods, and they highlight the necessity of performing these analyses routinely in terms of food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of banaba and sambong herbal teas sold online in the Philippines. The study found that banaba teas had higher antioxidant activity than sambong teas, and the phenolic content was directly related to antioxidant activity. The prices of the teas varied greatly, indicating a need for better quality control. The article also provides information on the health benefits and traditional uses of these herbal teas. The study suggests that banaba tea may be a more cost-effective source of phenolics and antioxidants, but the study had limitations such as a small sample size and a lack of information on sourcing and processing methods. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of herbal teas as alternative treatments in resource-constrained settings. [Extracted from the article]

Most herbal tea infusions use edible medicinal plants as raw material and are consumed daily. Although herbal tea has a long history of health care applications worldwide, there is a lack of systematic research on the classification and functional nutritional value of various herbal teas. In recent years, the discovery of the rich biological activities and health benefits of herbal tea has become a driving force for researchers interested in its development as a functional food. However, the shortcomings of herbal tea products are not fully known. In particular, the quality evaluation system is not perfect, and there is insufficient data on the mechanism of action of herbal teas in their traditional uses. To better understand the functions and mechanisms of various herbal teas, this article reviews the classification, effective chemical composition, main biological activities, and mechanism of action of herbal teas. Finally, the current advantages, limitations, and direction of future development of herbal tea are determined and discussed.

ABSTRAK Daun rambutan Aceh (Nephelum lappaceum L) mengandung senyawa yang memiliki potensi sebagai antioksidan, sehingga dapat digunakan sebagai teh herbal. Kerusakan senyawa tersebut dapat terjadi jika suhu dan waktu pengeringan tidak tepat. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh variasi suhu dan waktu pengeringan terhadap karakteristik teh herbal dari daun rambutan Aceh. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) dengan dua faktor, yaitu variasi suhu (40, 50, 60 °C) dan waktu (120, 150, 180 menit) pengeringan. Variabel yang diamati meliputi karakteristik kimia, seperti fitokimia secara kualitatif, total fenol,aktivitas antioksidan, dan kadar air. Data yang diperoleh diolah menggunakan analisis varian (ANOVA), dan dilakukan uji lanjut dengan uji DMRT untuk hasil yang signifikan. Teh herbal dari daun rambutan Aceh terbukti mengandung saponin, flavonoid, dan tanin. Sampel yang mengalami perlakuan suhu 50°C selama 120 menit menunjukkan hasil terbaik, dengan kadar air sebesar 7.6%, total fenol sebesar 1.419 mg GAE/g, dan IC50 sebesar 34.106 ppm. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa variasi waktu pengeringan dan suhu pengeringan memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap karakteristik kimia teh herbal dari daun rambutan Aceh. Kata kunci: Aktivitas antioksidan, Daun rambutan, Fitokimia, Pengeringan, Total fenol ABSTRACT Aceh rambutan leaves (Nephelum lappaceum L) (ARL) contain compounds that have the potential as antioxidants so that they are good as herbal teas. Improper drying temperature and time can damage the compounds contained. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of variations in temperature and drying time on the characteristics of ARLherbal tea. The research design used two factors, variations in temperature and drying time. The variables observed were chemical characteristics, phytochemicals, moisture content, total phenol, and antioxidant activity. The data were analyzed by ANOVAthen it was continued with DMRT. ARLtea is positive for saponins, flavonoids, and tannins. SampleT(50oC ), t(120 minutes)werethe best samples with water content (7.6%), total phenol (1.419 mg GAE/g), IC50(34,106 ppm), and AAI (1,161). The results show that variations in temperature and drying time have a significant effect on the chemical characteristics of ARLtea. Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Drying, Rambutan leaves, Herbal tea

Herbal teas are blends of leaves, seeds, fruits, and flowers from various plants that provide relaxation, anti-inflammatory benefits, and immune system support for conditions such as diabetes and asthma. Despite their health benefits, comprehensive lipidomic data on herbal teas are limited in the literature. We used non-targeted liquid chromatography–linear ion trap orbitrap mass spectrometry to identify and correlate the lipid species in the following six herbal tea samples: fennel, ginger, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, and rosehip. A total of 204 lipid molecular species were identified, and multivariate analysis revealed a significant difference between lipid species in herbal teas. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are significantly abundant in juniper, including ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, followed by fennel. Cluster correlations showed that ginger contained mainly sphingolipids and lysophospholipids, whereas fennel was rich in phospholipids. No significant variations in the content of triacylglycerols were observed in any of the herbal teas analyzed. The ratio of PUFAs to SFAs in herbal teas showed that orange peel had the highest ratio, followed by lemon peel and fennel, indicating their potential health benefits. In addition, using high-resolution mass spectrometry, various lipids such as fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids and N-acyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamines were identified and characterized in these herbal teas. This study provides a comprehensive lipid analysis and detailed characterization of lipids in six herbal teas, highlighting their plausible applications in the field of nutrition and various food industries for the development of functional foods.

The influence of water regimes on plants is crucial for integrating bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.) into strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa to tackle food and nutritional insecurity by considering physiological aspects, nutritional yield, nutritional water productivity, and metabolite composition. The objective of the study was to determine the physiological aspects, including leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, nutritional yield, nutritional water productivity, and metabolite composition of bush tea under varying water regimes. The tunnel experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with treatments consisting of three water regimes: 100% of crop water requirement (ETa), 30% of ETa, and a control (no irrigation), all replicated three times. The morphological aspects were recorded on a weekly basis. However, yield, nutrient content, nutritional water productivity (NWP), and phytochemical composition were determined at harvest. The phytochemical analysis by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), coupled with visualization of the detected chemical spaces through molecular networking, indicated Athrixia phylicoides DC. to be rich in various bioactive compound derivatives, including methyl chlorogenate, flavonoids, tartaric acid, caffeoylquinic acid, and glutinane. The results showed that 30% ETa enhanced plant growth, nutrient content, and nutritional water productivity compared to other water treatments. Nevertheless, 100% ETa yielded more (95.62 kg ha−1) than 30% ETa (60.61 kg ha−1) and control (12.12 kg ha−1). The accumulation of chlorogenic acids was higher under 30% ETa compared to 100% ETa and control. Therefore, this study is the first to determine the accumulation of various bioactive compounds in bush tea leaf extracts under varying water regimes. This confirms that in areas with low water availability, bush tea is well adapted for production without limiting nutrients.

Recent research has demonstrated the positive impact of herbal tea consumption on postprandial blood glucose regulation. This study conducts a comparative analysis of aqueous and ethanol extractions on four herbal teas (Mallotus, Cyclocarya, Rubus, and Vine) to assess their phytochemical profiles and functional attributes. Phytochemical contents, antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and chemical compositions are investigated via colorimetric analyses and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS/MS, respectively. Results indicate that Vine, among the teas studied, exhibits the most pronounced glucose-regulating effects under both extraction methods. While ethanol extractions yield higher phytochemical content overall, the compositions vary. Conversely, aqueous extracts demonstrate unexpectedly potent antioxidant activities and comparable α-glucosidase inhibitory activities to ethanol extracts. Phytochemical contents correlate positively with antioxidant activities and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. However, antioxidant activities exhibit a weak positive correlation with α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. These findings provide evidence that aqueous extracts from herbal teas contain valuable phytochemical compositions beneficial for antioxidants and individuals with hyperglycemia, suggesting their potential as functional ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of herbal food products.

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that menopause can be associated with a variety of negative psychological changes such as depression and anxiety, and improving the mental health status of women during menopause is one of the important priorities and challenges of the health system. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L., Iridaceae) herbal tea on happiness in postmenopausal women. Methods In this randomized clinical trial which was conducted in 2021, 72 postmenopausal women were enrolled and divided into intervention and control groups. The randomization blocks method was used for random allocation, and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was utilized to measure the scores. The intervention included the use of 30 mg of dried stigmas of the saffron plant, which was boiled once (in the morning, in 300 ml of boiling water for 10–15 min) and consumed with white rock candy as one cup of saffron tea daily. To compare the trend of changes and after removing the effect of other variables, generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used. Results There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in any of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics (p > 0.05). The results of paired samples t-test showed that the happiness mean score in the intervention group increased significantly (p

Sterculia quadrifida R.Br. Bark decoction is used to treat hepatitis and consumed as a tonic by Timorese in the East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Raw herbal materials are susceptible to fungi contamination, have limitations in transportation, and have low economic value. Processing the bark into powder packed in tea bags is expected to overcome these obstacles. Stevia, ginger, and mint leaves are herbs often added to herbal drink formulas. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenol content (TPC), physicochemical properties, and sensory properties of six formulas, namely: (F1) pure S. quadrifida bark; (F2) bark of S. quadrifida and leaves of stevia; (F3) stem bark of S. quadrifida and ginger; (F4) bark of S. quadrifida, stevia, and ginger; (F5) bark of S. quadrifida and mint leaves; (F6) bark of S. quadrifida, stevia, and mint. Total phenolic content was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and total flavonoids were determined using the AICI3 method. Antioxidant activity was measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) method. The TPC of S. quadrifida tea ranged from 14.09±0.7 to 68.20±0.95% Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE), and the TFC ranged from 0.03±0.005 to 0.09±0.004% QE. The Ascorbic acid Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (AEAC) of F1, F2, F5, and F6 were insignificantly different. F1 contained the highest levels of antioxidants (1,044.3±28.48 ppm Ascorbic Acid Equivalent (AAE)). Formulas with the addition of stevia, mint, and ginger showed weaker antioxidant activity than pure S. quadrifida. F1 and F2 have the potential to be developed as commercial herbal teas

Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, and Momordica charantia are medicinal plants that are commonly used in the form of herbal tea, which is formulated to strengthen the immune system, especially against COVID-19 infection. Excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory properties have been reported for their bioactive compounds, which have been shown to aid in stimulating immune systems as well as lowering the risk of severe COVID-19 such as lung injury. Yet, no bibliometric study on the subject is available. Hence, the purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the existing articles related to the therapeutic potential of these three herbs, as well as their mechanisms of action in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 121 papers were retrieved from Scopus database up to 14th March 2023. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software. Based on the literature search, Z. officinale was the most researched plant. India appeared as the most prolific country, with the highest number of articles contributed by two authors from India (Rathi, R. and Gayatri Devi, R.). In terms of keywords, the plants were associated with immune modulation, management of symptoms, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. Several important bioactive compounds were responsible for these effects such as gingerol, paradol, shogaol, curcumin, calebin A, momordicoside, karaviloside and cucurbitadienol. These compounds were hypothesized to prevent and cure COVID-19 by regulating inflammatory response, downregulating oxidative stress and modulating immunostimulatory activity. This review paper therefore supports the potential of Z. officinale, C. longa, and M. charantia to be formulated as a herbal blend for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection.

Herbal teas are well known for their antidiabetic effects due to the abundance of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins. An in vitro co-digestion test was conducted to observe influence of herbal teas (HTs) i.e., beal fruit (BA), mulberry leaf (MB), gymnema leaf (GM), and chrysanthemum flower (CS) on starch digestibility of cooked rice and to elucidate correlation analysis of phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities during in vitro starch hydrolysis (SH). HTs prepared from GM and MB showed highest reduction of SH, kinetic constant and estimated glycemic index (eGI) of cooked rice, followed by BA and CS. Besides, MB and GM teas decreased the eGI of cooked rice up to 15%, followed by BA and CS teas, respectively. Phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities were positively correlated to SH, with both parameters displaying a higher decrease in intestinal phase when compared to gastric phase during in vitro co-digestion. These results indicate a strong interaction among phytochemicals and α-amylase in influencing glycaemic parameters. Thus, HTs has the potential to provide functional health benefits in lowering postprandrial hyperglycemia.