Antioxidant Activity, Antimicrobial Property, and Acceptability of Kerson (Muntingia calabura Linn) Leaves as Herbal Tea

Authors

  • Marlene Abello

Keywords:

Antimicrobial Property, Antioxidant Activity, Acceptability, Herbal Tea

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study on Kerson (Muntinguia calabura linn) leaves, commonly known in the Philippines as "Aratilis", was conducted to developed herbal tea and determine its acceptability through the evaluation of sensory attributes such as appearance, aroma, color, and taste. It also aimed to determine the antimicrobial property of Kerson leaves (young and mature) tea against Escherichia coli (E.coli). Likewise, it also aimed to determine the antioxidant activity, in terms of total phenolics as gallic acid of Kerson leaves (young and matured).

 

METHODS

Data were gathered using different methods such as; product development for tea;purposive sampling in determining respondents; sensory evaluation using nine (9) point hedonic scale for acceptability; disc diffusion method for the antimicrobial property; and UV-Vis spectrophotometry for antioxidant activity.

 

RESULTS

The respondents like the findings from sensory evaluation with the sensory attributes, appearance, aroma, and color moderately, and neither like or dislike for the taste of young Kerson leaves tea and dislike slightly for matured Kerson leaves tea.The result implies for antimicrobial property test, that both young and mature leaves of Kerson (Muntinguia calabura linn) leaves produced (+++) complete inhibitory activity with (2) mild reactivity-(zone limited under the specimen), against Escherichia coli (E.coli) as the testorganism.

Furthermore, the antioxidant activity test results shows that both young and matured leaves of Kerson (Muntinguia calabura linn) fruit tree has antioxidant activity, and young leaves has higher antioxidant activity which is 17.7 % w/w than matured leaves activity result which is 17.4% w/ w, based on test for total phenolics as gallic acid.

 

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstrate that Kerson (Muntinguia calabura line) young and matured leaves can be developed into herbal tea due to its acceptability results. In addition to that, the Kerson (young and matured) leaves as herbal tea has antimicrobial property as shown in its test against E.coli bacteria. Moreover, the antioxidant property of Kerson (young and matured) leaves whichwere tested through total phenolics as the gallic acid show's that both young and matured leaves have antioxidant activity.

Published

2019-01-18