Country Programs Ghana Could Lippia multiflora herbal tea become the West African ‘Rooibos’?
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| Could Lippia multiflora herbal tea become the West African ‘Rooibos’? |
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| Written by Hanson Arthur | ||
| Wednesday, 30 June 2010 13:32 | ||
ASNAPP researchers and collaborators at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa have been investigating various aspects of Lippia herbal tea which has enjoyed a long traditional application in tropical Africa for centuries. In addition to trying to finger-print its health-promoting constituents, the researchers have looked at the use of steam pasteurisation as an initial, but critical processing step towards commercial processing. The Stellenbosch research builds on earlier ASNAPP works conducted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and the Rutgers University, USA where scientists have looked intensely to identify production and consumption parameters to transform this plant from restricted community use to commercial application.In addition to trying to finger-print its health-promoting constituents, the researchers have looked at the use of steam pasteurisation as an initial, but critical processing step towards commercial processing. The Stellenbosch research builds on earlier ASNAPP works conducted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and the Rutgers University, USA where scientists have looked intensely to identify production and consumption parameters to transform this plant from restricted community use to commercial application.
The latest research found steam pasteurisation to have achieved a considerable level of microbial cell reduction without adverse effects on the health-promoting constituents of the tea. Jointly conducted at the Post Harvest Division of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Food Science Department, both in Stellenbosch South Africa, the findings have been compiled in an article which is slated for publication in the World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Arthur, H., Cameron, M., Joubert, E., & Witthuhn, R.C., 2010). Scientists identify over 200 species of herbs, shrubs and small trees in the Lippia family. Several of them occur in tropical Africa, as well as South and Central America where they are traditionally used by infusing the leaves and aerial parts, for consumption as tea. This plant family is known for its anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Increasing research interest in the family is due to their health and nutritional importance and recently in their application for neutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulations. When well-harnessed, its potential for economic impact on rural livelihoods could therefore be very huge, just like the rooibos industry.
The transition of rooibos tea from folk consumption to a modern industry is almost legendary, with immense economic impact on several communities in South Africa. This transition was underpinned by rigorous scientific research and market development strategies. Rooibos offers a pattern for Lippia. The latest research gives hope. West Africa awaits its scientific community and entrepreneurs to turn another green leaf into gold.
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