Beverage and Culture: "Zhourat", a multivariate analysis of the globalisation of a herbal tea from the Middle East.
Abstract
The "Zhourat" herbal tea consists of a blend of wild flowers, herbs, leaves and fruits and is a typical beverage of Lebanon and Syria. We aim to evaluate cultural significance of "Zhourat", to determine cultural standards for its formulation including key ingredients and to determine acceptable variability levels in terms of number of ingredients and their relative proportions, in summary what is "Zhourat" and what is not "Zhourat" from an ethnobotanical perspective. For this purpose we develop a novel methodology to describe and analyze patterns of variation of traditional multi-ingredient herbal...
Source: Appetite - April 1, 2014 Category: Nutrition Authors: Obón C, Rivera D, Alcaraz F, Attieh L Tags: Appetite Source Type: research
Bioavailability of lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) polyphenols in rats: impact of colonic inflammation.
Abstract
Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) infusion, a widely consumed herbal tea, contains significant amounts of polyphenols such as flavone diglucuronides and phenylpropanoid glycosides (mainly verbascoside). We have recently shown that lemon verbena infusion offers beneficial effects against dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colonic inflammation in rats. The present study aimed to evaluate the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of polyphenols derived from lemon verbena infusion in both healthy and colitic rats. For this purpose, lemon verbena infusion was given to rats ad libitum for 14 d, ...
Source: The British Journal of Nutrition - February 11, 2014 Category: Nutrition Authors: Felgines C, Fraisse D, Besson C, Vasson MP, Texier O Tags: Br J Nutr Source Type: research
Phenylpropanoids and their metabolites are the major compounds responsible for blood-cell protection against oxidative stress after administration of Lippia citriodora in rats
Abstract: Lippia citriodora (lemon verbena) has been widely used in folk medicine for its pharmacological properties. Verbascoside, the most abundant compound in this plant, has protective effects associated mostly with its strong antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of L. citriodora extract intake on the antioxidant response of blood cells and to correlate this response with the phenolic metabolites found in plasma. For this purpose, firstly the L. citriodora extract was characterized and its radical scavenging activity was measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Then, cat...
Source: Phytomedicine - July 3, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: R. Quirantes-Piné, M. Herranz-López, L. Funes, I. Borrás-Linares, V. Micol, A. Segura-Carretero, A. Fernández-Gutiérrez Tags: Indication Oriented Research Source Type: research
Northwestern Argentina: A Center of Genetic Diversity of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citriodora Paláu, Verbenaceae).
Abstract
The aerial parts of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora Paláu) are worldwide used due to their medicinal and aromatic properties. The essential-oil and acteoside contents have been proposed as the main quality markers for their pharmacological and organoleptic features. The northwestern region of Argentina has been repeatedly proposed as the place of origin for this species. For this reason, the essential-oil yields and chemical compositions of leaves of 25 populations of lemon verbena from both wild collections and experimental crops from this region were studied. Plants from six different collect...
Source: Chemistry and Biodiversity - February 1, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Di Leo Lira P, van Baren CM, López S, Molina A, Heit C, Viturro C, de Lampasona MP, Catalán CA, Bandoni A Tags: Chem Biodivers Source Type: research
