Preliminary Investigation of Bioactivity of Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis), Rooibos (Asphalatus Linearis), and Yerba Mate (Ilex Paraguariensis)

Abstract

Antioxidant activity (AOA) of three kinds of herbal teas was tested through determination on total phenolics content, total antioxidant activity, ferrous ion-chelating ability, as well as antimicrobial activity, and activity effects on enzyme catalase. Green tea showed the highest total phenolics and best ferrous ion-chelating ability. The teas were not effective against bacteria, although they had an activating effect on enzyme catalase.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidant activity
• antimicrobial activity
• mineral content

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the grant LO1204 from the National Program of Sustainability I and OP ECOP grant CZ.1.07/2.4.00/30.0041 (POSTUP II) from the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, Czech Republic.