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Abstract
The development of nonalcoholic functional beverages enriched with herbal bioactive compounds has great nutritional and economical interest. The aim of the study was to prepare a functional instant herbal powder (IHP) from dehydrated herbal cold infused blends, easily dissolved in cold water, providing a beverage with enhanced health benefits to consumers. Several aromatic plants’ cold infusions were evaluated, and a sideritis (Sideritis scardica), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) blend was selected for IHP preparation, due to the high phenolic content and sensory superiority. Infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, carbohydrates and carotenoids while spectrophotometric assays confirmed antioxidant activity of the IHP. Shelf life testing was also performed on the IHP with storage at 25, 40 and 70 °C for five weeks, assessing total phenolic content, antioxidant and antiradical activity, color and microbiological status of samples. The IHP maintained consistently its antioxidant and antiradical activity, as well as its color and microbiological stability at 25 °C for the whole storage period. The degradation of IHP phenolics and its color attributes were significantly affected by temperature during storage. The potential of IHP to contribute to oral hygiene was evaluated through antimicrobial testing against oral microbiota.