Nutrients in rooibos Anti-oxidants  Eugenol  Caffeic acid  Protocatechuic acid  Ferulic acid  Quercetin  Isoquercetrin  Rutin  Isovitexin  Luteolin Ascorbic acid  Also:  p - Coumaric acid  p - Hydroxybenzoic acid  Vanillic acid  Syringic acid Nutritional information per 200ml  Iron Potassium Calcium Copper Zinc Magnesium Fluoride Manganese Sodium 0.035mg 3.56mg 0.54mg 0.035mg 0.02mg 0.78mg 0.11mg 0.02mg 3.08mg

Research substantiates beneficial image of rooibos
In March 1996 Dr. Charlene Marais obtained a doctor's degree in chemistry from the University of the Free State, South Africa, for which she has dedicated her research to Rooibos tea. The most important conclusion one can reach from her study, is that Rooibos is not only harmless, but definitely beneficial in certain areas.
During the past few years, Rooibos tea has become the favourite beverage of thousands of people across the globe. Most of these people are convinced or believe that the drink is beneficial to their health. . .
Some of these presumptions are now scientifically supported by Dr. Marais' academically founded research.
Her study entailed the isolation of metabolites from Rooibos tea and the subsequent consultation of literature to determine the physiological activities of the isolated compounds. "We observed the fermentation process and then substantiated the findings in a biomimetic model," she says. She was supported and aided throughout by her supervisor, Dr. Kobus Steenkamp and supervisor Prof. Daneel Ferreira, head of the Chemistry Department at the University of the Free State.
"We actually observed what occurs during the processing of Rooibos tea," she says.

Skin Ailments
Dr. Marais says, in a nutshell certain compounds, altogether about 30, were identified - of which the activities corresponded with the qualities and characteristics generally attributed to Rooibos tea.
After the discovery in 1968 that Rooibos had an anti-spasmodic activity, the theory was verified in 1974. She could once again substantiate this quality through her research. Furthermore, ascorbic acid - an anti-oxidant - was discovered in the tea in 1983, adding yet more substance to the perfection of Rooibos as a healthy and beneficial beverage to the consumer.
Based on these findings, Japanese researchers investigated the connection between certain dermatological ailments which are associated with oxidation reactions and monitored the influence of Rooibos tea on these conditions. One of the most obvious reactions observed, was that people with warts sometimes had relief from drinking Rooibos tea. Likewise, people with eczema and acne also had relief from drinking the tea as well as topical application. It was found that it also had a positive effect on certain individuals suffering from photosensitive dermatitis.

Anti-oxidant
"With regard to anti-oxidative qualities, we and other researchers isolated a number of compounds like ascorbic acid, various carboxylic acids, quercetin, luteolin, isoquercetrin and rutin," she says. a that anti-oxidants probably have the potential of inhibiting and even preventing certain illnesses and conditions - like strokes, cancer and heart attacks.
She says the low concentrations of catechin that was found in Rooibos, could possibly also contribute to the prevention of tooth decay.
Some of the qualities of Rooibos which had previously not been taken note of are, inter alia its antiasthmatic properties which were observed in certain of the isolated compounds, mainly certain terpenoids previously isolated by Japanese researchers.
Dr. Marais says the compound (+)-pinitol, which is known to be an expectorant, was found to inhibit diabetes when tested on mice. Furthermore, several of the carboxylic acids which were isolated, are known to have the potential of being anti-hepatotoxic and could therefore inhibit damage to the liver, hence useful in the treatment of a hangover.
Rutin, another compound which was identified, is used in medication and has so-called vitamin P activity which reinforces and stabilizes blood vessels.
Prof. Ferreira says on the strength of the outcome of his department's Rooibos project, their expertise can now be applied to the benefit of the economy. He says while Rooibos tea is regarded as a health drink by many, the modern and developed First World person also has the need to know why something is beneficial and healthy. "Substantiated, basic research like ours is essential for the verification of assumtions," he says.

Scientific study of rooibos
The aim of the study was to isolate the watersoluble metabolites of Rooibos tea and to establish a profile of the physiological and anti-oxidative activities of these compounds.
After extracting the watersoluble plant material from the Rooibos tea leaves, the metabolites were isolated and identified using various chromatographic, chemical, spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques.
The result was the isolation of various benzoic and cinnamic acids, C-O glycosides, C-C flavone glycosides, a chromone, C-C dihydrochalcone glycosides, catechin, procyanidin B3 as well as a profisetinidin triflavonoid. In addition, the inositol (+)-pinitol and nucleoside uridine were isolated from Rooibos tea for the first time. Many of these compounds possess well-known physiological and anti-oxidative properties.
Rooibos tea is caffeine-free and has a low tannin content. This ensures that the absorption of iron from the digestive tract is not hindered and that the digestion of protein is unaffected. As a result, Rooibos tea does not cause heartburn or constipation.
Other researchers also found Rooibos tea contains 15,7 mg/100g of vitamin C, an anti-oxidant, as well as a variety of minerals, including iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium. It was also found to contain sufficient fluoride to have an anticariogenic effect.
For many years Rooibos has been used in patients with allergy, it contains the flavonol quercetin and the flavone luteolin which is well known for its antispasmodic activity and is often used for babies with milk allergy.
Among the volatile metabolites isolated from Rooibos, was terpinen-4-ol which is known not only to be antiallergic but also analgesic, antiasthmatic and antibacterial.
Rooibos tea extracts have been used successfully in various dermatological conditions which are associated with active oxygen species produced by polimorphonuclear leucocytes and ultraviolet light. Previously, anti-oxidants such as potassium iodide, tetracycline, Beta-carotene and vitamin E were used to treat these conditions.
Because Rooibos tea has the ability to scavenge superoxide radicals without having any effect on the respiratory activity of the human polimorphonuclear leucocytes, it may indicate clinical value in recurring or incurable disease.
Rooibos tea has also been used as an adjunct to conventional therapy in a variety of other dermatological conditions.
It was found to relieve the itch associated with atopic dermatitis and also provided relief in patients with prurigo nodularis and erythroderma. Furthermore, Rooibos tea has been shown to reduce the incidence of aphihosis recurrences. Shindo and Kato refers to a series of patients where the conditions of seven out of eleven with relief acne pustolosa were controlled using only a topical antibiotic and Rooibos tea. By including Rooibos tea in the treatment of steroid induced dermatitis the treatment period was shortened.
The fact that photosensitive dermatitis is associated with active oxygen species produced by UV radiation suggests another role for the use of Rooibos tea. The addition of Rooibos to glucocorticoid treatment has been shown to be effective in controlling the condition, according to Shindo and Kato.

From Dr Marais research it is now apparent that Rooibos tea may be more than just an enjoyable beverage. It contains many physiologically active compounds which may be beneficial to a healthier life.