A review of the bioactivity of south African herbal teas: rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia)

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 dihydrochalcone...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytotherapy research 2007-01, Vol.21 (1), p.1-16
Main Authors: McKay, Diane L., Blumberg, Jeffrey B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
aspalathin
Aspalathus
Biological and medical sciences
Fabaceae
General pharmacology
herbal tea
honeybush
Humans
mangiferin
Medical sciences
Medicine, African Traditional
Models, Animal
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Phytotherapy
Plant Extracts - chemistry
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Plant Extracts - therapeutic use
rooibos
South Africa
Tea
tisane
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Summary: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 antimutagenic 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. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0951-418X
1099-1573
DOI:10.1002/ptr.1992