|
Research on Honeybush tea began in the 90’s and has
resulted in significant discoveries about the medicinal values
of this tea. As early as 1995, De Nysschen et al isolated
three major phenolic compounds in honeybush tea leaves: a
xanthone c-glycoside, mangiferin and O-glycosides of hesperitin
and isosakuranetin, two flavanones (1).
Mineral Content of Honeybush Tea
Nutrients |
Function in Body |
Per 240 ml |
Iron (Fe) |
Essential for transport
of oxygen in the blood |
0.3mg |
Potassium (K) |
Necessary for metabolic
processes |
0.01mg |
Calcium (Ca) |
Necessary for strong teeth
and bones |
1.09mg |
Copper (Cu) |
Necessary for different
metabolic processes |
0.003mg |
Zinc (Zn) |
Necessary for normal growth
and development and healthy skin |
0.015mg |
Magnesium (Mg) |
Necessary for healthy nervous
system and for other metabolic processes |
0.002mg |
Manganese (Mn) |
Necessary for metabolic
processes and for bone growth and development |
0.11mg |
Sodium (Na) |
Necessary for fluid and
acid-base balance |
1.5mg |
Research by the Department of Chemistry of the University
of the Orange Free State indicated those substantial amounts
of (+)-pinitol is present in Honeybush tea. Pinitol is used
as an expectorant (2) and also has anti-diabetic activity
(3).
References:
1. De Nysschen, A.M.; Van Wyk, B-E.; Van Heerden, F.; Schutte,
A.L.: The major phenolic compounds in the leaves of Cyclopia
species (Honeybush tea), Biochemical Systematics and Ecology,
Vol. 24, No.3 ,pp 243-246, 1996
2. Beecher, C.W.W.; Farnsworth, N.R.; Gyllenhaal, C.: Pharmacologically
active secondary metabolites from wood, In: Natural Products
of woody plants II, ed. Rowe, J.W. Springer-Verlag, Berlin,
pp. 1059-1164, 1989
3. Narayanan C.R, Joshi, D.D.; Mujumdar A.; Dhekne V.V.:
Pinitol- a new anti-diabetic from the leaves of Bougainvillea
Spectabilis, In: Curr. Sci. 56, pp. 139-141 |
