GC-FID guided Identification and Quantification of detectable Phytochemicals in selected Commercial Chamomile Herbal Tea

Background and objective: Phytochemicals are plant-based bioactive ingredients found in tea, fruits, and vegetables with multiple health benefits. This study aimed to identify and quantify the detectable phytochemicals in selected products of chamomile herbal tea (CHT) using the Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) approach. Methods: Selected CHTs were coded as CHT-A to CHT-G. CHT-F was crude and unbranded however, CHT-G was an oil extract of CHT. Ethanolic extracts of CHT were analysed and quantified for their phytoconstituents using the GC-FID method. Results: Phytochemicals detected in their order of abundance in most CHTs were flavonoids > glycosides > alkaloids > steroids > anti-nutrients > saponins > tannins > resveratrol. The flavonoids comprised rutin > flavanone > flavone > anthocyanin > epicatechin > kaempferol > naringenin > proanthocyanin, etc. where the glycosides found in each CHT involved cardiac and cyanogenic glycosides. Alkaloids were highest in CHT-A as ribalinidine > spartein > lunamarin with ephedrine detected just in CHT-B, CHT-C, CHT-D, CHT-E and CHT-F. Saponins occurred in four samples mainly as sapogenin. Anti-nutrients were detected in each CHT and included the phytates and oxalates. Resveratrol was detected in three samples only. Conclusion: Most of the CHTs evaluated showed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, anti-nutrients, saponins, tannins and resveratrol.

A severe case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria imported by a French traveler from Cameroon to French Guiana despite regular intake of Artemisia annua herbal tea

ABSTRACT The use of herbal tea with Artemisia annua by travelers and traditional communities in Africa has increased in recent years as a supposed form of malaria prophylaxis, although its use is not recommended due to lack of efficacy. The risk of severe malaria complications that can lead to death is real regarding said behavior, and awareness needs to be raised. We report a case of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria imported in the Amazon rainforest by a traveler returning from Cameroon who treated himself with Artemisia annua herbal tea.

Prevalence and factors associated with tea consumption in the first month of life in a birth cohort in the Northeast Region of Brazil / Prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de chá no primeiro mês de vida em uma coorte de nascimento na Região Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Objectives: to determine the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with newborns drinking tea in a birth cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional study with nested prospective cohort was conduct with 329 puerperal women and their newborns in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Sociodemographic and information about the newborn's diet and mothers/babies was obtained at a maternity and 30 days after birth, at home visits. The prevalence ratios (PR) and its respective confidence intervals (CI95%) were estimated with Poisson regression models according to the hierarchical conceptual model. Results: the prevalence of tea consumption up to 30 days of life was 34.6% (CI95%=29.7; 40.0%). The sociodemographic and maternal characteristics associated with the outcome were not having a partner (PR = 1.39; CI95%=1.03-1.88), more than eight years of schooling (PR=1.38; CI95%=1.03-1.84), lower income (PR=2.21; CI95%=1.31-3.73), primiparous (PR=1.48; CI95%=1.01-2.17) and does not have any experience with breastfeeding before (PR=2.25; CI95%=1.48-3.41). As for the child, there was a higher prevalence of tea consumption than among those who received artificial milk in the first month of life (PR= 2.10; CI95%=1.62-2.73). Conclusions: the offer of tea in the first month of life was high. Tea consumption was positively associated with sociodemographic, maternal and newborn feeding factors.

Resumo Objetivos: determinar a prevalência e analisar fatores associados ao uso de chá em recém-nascidos em uma coorte de nascimento. Métodos: estudo transversal aninhado a uma coorte prospectiva conduzida em 329 puérperas e recém-nascidos em Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Informações sociodemográficas, relativas à alimentação do recém-nascido e relacionadas aos pares mães-bebês foram obtidas na maternidade e aos 30 dias de nascimento, durante visita domiciliar. As razões de prevalência (RP) e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança (IC95%) foram estimados em modelos de regressão de Poisson conforme modelo conceitual hierárquico. Resultados: a prevalência do uso de chá até os 30 dias de vida foi de 34,6% (IC95%=29,7; 40,0%). As características sociodemográficas e maternas associadas ao desfecho foram não possuir companheiro (RP = 1,39; IC95%= 1,03-1,88), ter até oito anos de estudo (RP=1,38; IC95%= 1,03-1,84), menor renda (RP = 2,21; IC95%= 1,31-3,73), ser primípara (RP=1,48; IC95%= 1,01-2,17) e não possuir experiência anterior com amamentação (RP=2,25; IC95%= 1,48-3,41). Quanto à criança, houve maior prevalência de uso de chá entre as que receberam leite artificial no primeiro mês de vida (RP = 2,10; IC95%=1,62-2,73). Conclusões: a oferta do chá no primeiro mês de vida foi elevada. O uso do chá associou-se positivamente a fatores sociodemográficos, maternos e da alimentação do recém-nascido.

Simultaneous HPTLC quantification of three caffeoylquinic acids in Pluchea indica leaves and their commercial products in Thailand

ABSTRACT In Thai traditional medicine, Pluchea indica (L.) Less., Asteraceae, leaf has been widely used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, tumors, hypertension, cystitis, and wounds. P. indica herbal tea is commercially available in Thailand as a health-promoting drink. The study was conducted to develop and validate a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the quantitative analysis of chlorogenic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid in P. indica leaf extract and their commercial products in Thailand. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines. The proposed HPTLC method showed acceptable validation parameters. The content of chlorogenic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid in P. indica leaves from seven different provinces in Thailand was in the range of not detectable −1.94 ± 0.02%w/w, 0.71 ± 0.01-1.89 ± 0.05%w/w, and 1.00 ± 0.01-2.18 ± 0.03%w/w, respectively, while in the commercial products, it was in the range of 0.59 ± 0.03-2.17 ± 0.05%w/w, 0.53 ± 0.04-3.77 ± 0.03%w/w, and 0.88 ± 0.05-4.72 ± 0.10%w/w, respectively. The results indicated that plantation of P. indica in coastal saline land would be beneficial as it would increase the concentration of its active compounds and improve its medicinal quality. The developed high-performance thin-layer chromatography could be used as a rapid, reliable, less demanding, and cost-effective analytical method.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of Ligustrum robustum, A Chinese Herbal Tea / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the effect of the aqueous extract of Ligustrum robustum on tumor growth in vitro and in vivo and explore the possible molecular mechanisms.@*METHODS@#In in vitro study, cell viabilities of human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa), human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), human prostate cancer cells (PC-3), human hepatoma cells (7721) and human colon carcinoma cells (SW480) were evaluated with cell counting kit-8. For L. robustum-treated Hela cells, early or late apoptosis were evaluated by annexin V/PI staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by staining cells with JC-1. Apoptosis was monitored by nuclear morphology based on chromatin condensation and fragmentation by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylinole (DAPI) staining. Caspase-3 and -8 activity levels were measured by a colorimetric assay. In vivo, to evaluate the possible mechanism of L. robustum-mediated antitumor effect, nude mouse xenograft study was also conducted.@*RESULTS@#In in vitro study, L. robustum was found to be toxic to HeLa, MCF-7, PC-3, 7721, SW480, with an half maximal inhibitory concentration value of 2-5 mg/mL (P<0.05). Moreover, externalization of phosphatidylserine, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 and -8 were detected in L. robustum-treated Hela cells. Using a nude mouse model bearing Hela xenografts, we found that L. robustum reduced tumor volume and tumor weight (P<0.05), but had no effect on body weight and histological damage of important organs. Intraperitoneal injection of L. robustum caused a significant reduction in serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, cleaved caspase-3-positive and terminal nucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were observed in L. robustum-treated tumor tissues.@*CONCLUSIONS@#L. robustum inhibits tumor cell growth both in vitro and in vivo by inducing apoptosis in a caspase-dependent way without apparent hepatic toxicity and histological damage, which may offer partial scientific support for the ethnopharmacological claims of L. robustum as a herbal tea for its antitumor activity.

Scientific research on herbal resource of vine tea / 中草药

As an application of the historic edible plants, the development prospect of vine tea is wide, but now it is only contained by local Chinese Materia Medica Standards. We use the thinking method of herbal textual research for analysis on vine tea recorded in different Herbal Works and modern literatures and a comparative study on botany in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the name, the origin, and the traditional efficacy of it and to provide the documentation basis on its clinical use and reasonable development of plant resources.

Evaluation of QOL in Ménière’s Disease Treated with Herbal Tea / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<b>Objective/Design:</b> The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of herbal tea therapy (HTT) on Ménière’s disease, especially, about the quality of life (QOL). We studied 26 patients with Ménière’s disease who came to the International University of Health and Welfare MITA hospital between 2007 and 2008.<br> <b>Methods:</b> We divided subjects into two groups, one with 16 patients treated with herbal tea (HTT group) and one with 10 patients treated without herbal tea (non-HTT group). All patients were diagnosed as having Ménière’s disease and underwent otoneurologic examination, audiometric measurements, questionnaires of functional level and tinnitus every month. Moreover, we instructed these patients to keep a record of the number of times vertigo was experienced. In the HTT group, after 6 months of general treatment, we treated patients with herbal tea for one year. This herbal tea was effective as a diuretic, in promoting antivertigo, antistress, and relaxation. We compared results before and after HTT. Moreover, based on SF-36 questionnaires, we compared clinical symptoms between groups.<br> <b>Result:</b> HTT reduced the percentage of relapse and improved their Ménière’s symptoms, especially vertigo. QOL scores, especially for mental function, were higher in the HTT group than in the non-HTT group.<br> <b>Conclusion:</b> We thought that HTT might improve their mental health or stress and prevent worsening of Ménière’s disease.<br>

HPLC fingerprint and pattern recognition of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula / 中草药

Objective: To establish a method for the quality control of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula. Methods: An HPLC method was developed to establish the fingerprint of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula methanol extract and 11 samples from various batches were analyzed. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate pattern recognition. Results: The similarity among 11 batches of samples was no less than 0.95. The PCA showed that 16 common peaks were integrated into three principal components and their accumulation contributing rate amounted to 91.89%. The relative peak area of isochlorogenic acid B was the most effective index in fingerprint of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula. Conclusion: This method is available for the quality evaluation and quality control of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula.

Effect of Herbal Tea Treatment on Meniere's Disease / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<b>Objective/Design</b>: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of herbal tea therapy on Ménière’s disease. We studied 15 patients with Ménière’s disease who came to the International University of Health and Welfare MITA hospital between 2007 and 2008.<br> <b>Methods</b>: According to criteria of the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research, all patients were diagnosed as having Ménière’s disease and underwent otoneurologic examination, audiometric measurements, questionnaires of functional level and tinnitus every month. Moreover, we instructed these patients to keep a record of the number of times vertigo was experienced. After 6 months of general treatment, we treated patients with herbal tea for one year. This herbal tea was effective as a diuretic, in promoting antivertigo, and relaxing. We compared results before and after herbal tea therapy.<br> <b>Result</b>: Herbal tea therapy was effective in about 10 patients, but 5 patients relapsed. However, symptom of the relapsed patients improved after using less medicine, although the quantity of medication was less than before starting the herbal tea therapy. Herbal tea therapy improved their Ménière’s symptoms, especially vertigo after 6 months from starting herbal tea therapy.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: Our study provides evidence that herbal tea therapy is useful for preventing worsening of Ménière’s disease.<br>

QOL Improving Effects of Herbal Teas-A Preliminary Pilot Study on the Quality of Sleep- / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

The sleep-inducing effect and safety of an herbal tea containing valerian and lemon balm were subject to a preliminary open pilot study. Subjects were 14 female volunteers (age 35 ± 11, BMI 21 ± 3 kg/m²) who complained of poor sleep. After obtaining informed consent, subjects took daily 2 cups of herbal teas containing valerian and lemon balm for 1 week, followed by a control week, during which they had two cups of hot water. OSA sleep questionnaires and VAS scales were recorded every day. Sleep quality increased at the 2^nd day after starting the tea, and sleep induction and sleep maintenance were improved in particular. Those whose complaints were severe experienced greater relief than those who complaint a little. Some cases reported transient sleepiness and gastrointestinal complaints. However, these symptoms disappeared spontaneously. The safety and effectiveness of this sleep-inducing herbal tea was ascertained.<br>