Rooibos Health Research

Rooibos plant

Rooibos plant & tea information • Rooibos only grows in the mountainous Cedarberg region, 250km to the north of Cape Town • It is like no other tea, the dried leaves and stems are used to brew a herbal infusion with a unique, slightly sweet taste • It is 100% natural and contains no calories • Rooibos comes in two variations, a traditional red infusion, as well as a green Rooibos infusion, with the difference being the processing of the harvested plant material

Prof JL Marnewick, currently Research Chair: Biotechnology, joined CPUT in 2005 with the main purpose to grow research at the institution. She was one of the founding members of the Oxidative Stress Research Centre in 2008. Her main research focus for the past 19 years has been the health promoting properties, specifically chemoprevention, of the endemic herbal teas, Rooibos and Honeybush. When she started her research, very few scientific studies on the bio-activities of these unique herbal teas were available. Substantiating health claims and the fact that the prevalence of heart disease and cancer in South Africa is increasing, stimulated this research. The studies she and her team conducted have made novel contributions to the field of Rooibos research.

Rooibos is her passion and she enjoys working with this Proudly South African product.

Oxidative Stress Research Centre PO Box 1906 Bellville 7535 South Africa

• For traditional Rooibos, the green leaves and stems of the plant are crusched and “fermented” before drying under the African sun

+27 (0)21 953 8416 marnewickj@cput.ac.za https://www.cput.ac.za/ academic/faculties/ healthwellness/research/ oxidative

Rooibos & Health Research

• In the case of green Rooibos, the fermentation process is skipped, and the green leaves and stems are dried directly • A green Rooibos infusion has a lighter tan/yellow colour and a very mild “green” taste reminiscent of green tea • Both red and green Rooibos are naturally caffeine free

c re a t i n g f u t u re s

(Accessed 26/02/2019: https://sarooibos.co.za/faq/#toggle-id-2)

ROOIBOS IS A PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN PRODUCT

+27 21 959 6767 info@cput.ac.za www.cput.ac.za

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creating futures

Rooibos Research at Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Consumption of a single dose of Rooibos equivalent to 6 cups before doing the same exercise regime resulted in:

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Increased isokinetic strength, specifically during the 2nd bout of exercise Increased Total work, average power and average peak torque Reduced oxidative damage to lipids (CDs) in the circulation Enhanced antioxidant capacity (ORAC) Concluding that Rooibos provided some cellular protection

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health A study conducted at the Oxidative Stress Research Centre (CPUT) showed that participants at risk for developing heart disease consuming 6 cups of traditional rooibos throughout the day for 6 weeks resulted in: An improved lipid profile (increased HDL “good” cholesterol and reduced LDL “bad” cholesterol1 Enhanced the body’s antioxidant defense system via increasing glutathione1 Decreased oxidative lipid damage1 Decreased steroid metabolite ratio (cortisol: cortisone) linked to metabolic disorders2 No adverse effects on the body’s iron status3 The study outcomes suggest favourable evidence for the consumer to include Rooibos in their daily diet for the management and/or prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases where oxidative distress plays a role.

1

Marnewick et al., 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.08.061; 2Schloms et al., 2014

DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300463; 3Marnewick et al., 2013: DOI: 10.1021/bk2013-1127.ch008; ISBN13: 9780841228047; eISBN: 9780841228054

Sport & Exercise 1

A study conducted at the Human Performance Laboratory (CPUT) in collaboration with the Oxidative Stress Research Centre showed that healthy participants consuming the equivalent of 6 cups of Rooibos daily for 4 weeks: Had an improved physical performance during a maximal isokinetic arm exercise protocol consisting of a fatiguing elbow flexion/extension exercise test to induce fatigue The Peak torque flexion (Nm) was consistently higher across the five exercise bouts

Skin Health In a short term study using ultraviolet light (UV) it was shown that applying extracts of Honeybush to the skin, resulted in:

Reduced redness and swelling of the skin Reduced inflammation Restoring the skin’s antioxidant defence system Decreased oxidative lipid damage Petrova et al., 2011 DOI.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2011.02.020

Both study outcomes suggest that a worker/person may benefit from supplementing his/her diet with rooibos when engaging with tasks of a repetitive nature requiring forceful actions 1

SlowRedT

Davies et al., 2019 in press; 2Marnewick et al., 2016 IISBN 978-3-00-053383-9

Inflammation An induced inflammation model combined with Rooibos showed: A reduced inflammatory response joined with restoring the body’s own antioxidant glutathione levels A resultant decrease in oxidative lipid damage

Rooibos processing

Ajuwon et al., 2014 DOI.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-392

How to brew the optimal cup of Rooibos A study done in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology and Consumer Science (CPUT) determined the condition how to brew a cup of Rooibos with optimal polyphenol extraction • It was concluded that a 10 min steeping time with 180ml of freshly boiled water to one rooibos tea bag, is required for the optimal polyphenol extraction from the Rooibos • This cup is then also seen as contributing to the consumer’s daily flavonoid Results from intake these studies and • Those consumers whom others emphasize the prepared their teabags relevance of Rooibos as steeped in a teapot, were a beneficial beverage inclined to consume an for consumers – optimal cup of Rooibos make rooibos part Piek et al., 2019 DOI.org/10.4102/ of your day!

Rooibos herbal tea

Rooibos plant

Rooibos mini-tablet in capsule

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Rooibos contains phenolic constituents that have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic effects and contribute to cardiovascular health The mini-tablet in capsule delivery system of SlowRedT eliminates the need to drink multiple cups of tea to attain the nutritional and health promotion benefits of Rooibos SlowRedT improves on the normal relatively short duration of the Rooibos constituents in the blood circulation due to rapid metabolism and excretion by means of providing a constant supply of the constituents over an extended period of time (up to 8 hours)

Inventor(s): Jeanine L Marnewick; Marilize Le Roes-Hill; Johan H Neethling; Josias H Hamman

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To maximize the beneficial effects of Rooibos, enjoy it throughout the day