HERBS AND HERBAL TEAS WITH ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES COMPARABLE TO OR SUPERIOR THAN THOSE OF CAMELLIA SINENSIS
AbstractThe antioxidant properties of 20 herbs and 28 herbal teas were analyzed in comparison with those of Camellia sinensis based on total phenolic content (TPC), free radical scavenging (FRS) activity, ferric reducing power (FRP) and ferrous ion chelating (FIC) ability. The main objective was to find out if there are herbs and herbal teas with antioxidant properties comparable to or superior to those of C. sinensis. Results showed that TPC, FRS, and FRP of C. sinensis leave outperformed all herbs. FIC values were, however, weaker than those of banaba and cashew leaves. TPC, FRS, and FRP of C. sinensis teas outperformed all herbal teas except those of banaba, lemon myrtle and stevia. Eleven herbal teas displayed stronger FIC values than C. sinensis teas with those of banaba, spearmint, and peppermint being the most potent. Overall, C. sinensis leaves and teas remain the king of antioxidants based on phenolic content and primary antioxidant properties of FRS and FRP, but not on secondary antioxidant properties of FIC.
Article Information
6
33-37
610
1646
English
IJP
E. W. C. Chan * and S. K. Wong
Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
chanwc@ucsiuniversity.edu.my; erchan@yahoo.com
29 November 2014
27 December 2014
30 December 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.2(1).33-37
01 January 2015