Scrutinizing antioxidant interactions between green tea and some medicinal plants commonly used as herbal teas

Abstract

Meta‐analysis reports suggested that green tea (GT) consumption is associated with mild to moderate effects on major global killers. To enhance the health promoting potential of GT, one of the strategies is to combine it with traditionally used medicinal plants (Ocimum gratissimum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus, and Hibiscus rosa‐sinensis). The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and compare the possible synergistic antioxidant interaction of binary combinations of GT with medicinal plants. Overall, GT and O. gratissimum combination showed the highest antioxidant potential and strongest synergistic interaction at EC50. A strong correlation was found between antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, NO, and hemolysis) and total phenolic content (TPC) (except lipid peroxidation) for individual infusions, but very weak correlation was observed for GT combinations. Whereas, for both individual and binary aqueous infusions, moderate to strong correlation was observed between antioxidant parameters and FTIR‐selected peak (3250–3290 cm−1) omitting lipid peroxidation for single infusions. Practical applications The combination of GT with certain medicinal plants used as herbal teas can demonstrate synergistic interactions that may boost the health promoting potential of GT. This study provides basis for future designing and formulation of beverages containing GT combinations based on their antioxidant interactions that can potentially enhance the efficacy of GT as a chemopreventive agent. It may also promote the consumption of GT combinations that may help in realizing untapped potential of underutilized plants.

Insect repellent pellets – an application of botanicals against red flour beetle – their antifungal activity during storage and use as potential fumigants

“…The active ingredients in IRP were a mixture of only the cold‐pressed oils of lemongrass, eucalyptus, and neem leaves, which is not only cheap, environmentally friendly, and non‐toxic to humans, the combined effect against T. castaneum is clearly evident. These leaves are consumable by humans: lemongrass is used as green tea; 40 neem leaves juice as health‐conscious drinks 41 without any adverse side effects. As for eucalyptus oil, it is confirmed safe by US Food and Drug Administration and European Commission for use by humans 42 .…”

Total polyphenolic, antioxidants, and cytotoxic activity of infusions from soursop (Annona muricata) leaves from two Mexican regions

“…The FTIR spectra of the infusion from the two regions showed slight differences in the intensity and width of the bands and peaks; the differences may be due to the variation in the number of functional groups that produce particular vibrational signals of molecular bonds corresponding to that specific wavenumber. The resulting spectrum is a fingerprint of the A. muricata leaf extract (Farooq & Sehgal, 2019).…”