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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193444
Title: A REVIEW OF THE BIOACTIVITY OF SOUTH AFRICAN HERBAL TEAS: ROOIBOS (ASPALATHUS LINEARIS) AND HONEYBUSH (CYCLOPIA INTERMEDIA)

Author
item MCKAY, DIANE - TUFTS/HNRCA
item Blumberg, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2006
Publication Date: 8/23/2006
Citation: Mckay, D.L., Blumberg, J. 2006. A review of the bioactivity of south african herbal teas: rooibos (aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (cyclopia intermedia). Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 21:1-16.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) are popular tisanes in their native South Africa and have a growing worldwide market. Both herbal teas are used traditionally for medicinal purposes and are rich in polyphenols with rooibos a rare source of the dietary dihydrochalcones, aspalathin and nothofagin. The principal polyphenols in honeybush include the xanthone mangiferin and the flavonones hesperitin and isokuranetin. Despite their divergent phytochemical and nutrient compositions, rooibos and honeybush share potent antioxidant and anti-mutagenic activities in vitro. Animal model studies indicate both herbal teas possess potent antioxidant, immune-modulating, and chemopreventive actions. However, human studies of rooibos are limited and of honeybush are absent. No adverse effects of rooibos or honeybush consumption as tisanes have been reported.