Phenolic metabolites from honeybush tea (Cyclopia subternata).
Cyclopia subternata is one of the 24 Cyclopia species that are used to brew honeybush tea, a unique South African herbal beverage with a pleasant taste and flavor. It contains various antioxidants, very low tannin content, and no caffeine. Many health properties are associated with regular consumption of the tea. Honeybush infusions have been noted as a tonic for colds and influenza, catarrh, and pulmonic tuberculosis and is becoming well-known for its effectiveness in alleviating menopausal symptoms in women. "Unfermented" leaves of C. subternata contain pinitol, shikimic acid, p-coumaric acid, 4-glucosyltyrosol, epigallocatechin gallate, the isoflavone orobol, the flavanones hesperedin, narirutin, and eriocitrin, a glycosylated flavan, the flavones luteolin, 5-deoxyluteolin, and scolymoside, the xanthone mangiferin, and the flavonol C-6-glucosylkaempferol. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis.
Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa. kamaraBI.sci@mail.uovs.ac.za
B Irene
BI
Kamara
D Jacobus
DJ
Brand
E Vincent
EV
Brandt
Elizabeth
E
Joubert
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D006293:Health Promotion; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013019:South Africa; D044004:Xanthones / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D044004:Xanthones