Effects of herbal teas and supplements on microbial flora and metabolism

Okeyoyin, Racheal; Gould, Oliver; Adukwu, Emmanuel

Abstract

For centuries, herbal teas have been consumed by people of all ages and has been used for therapy in different civilisations and medical systems such as the Chinese, Indian, indigenous, and African. The aphorism- ‘Nature is the best chemist’ has a long historical pedigree and it is believed that bioactive compounds contained in herbal teas have a wide range of biological effects. For example, catechin in green tea inhibits Streptococcus mutans which promotes plaque development and caries. Additionally, garlic, cinnamon and aloe-vera can be used to treat periodontitis caused by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Research show that herbal teas can contribute to health via the microbial flora which is found majorly in the gut and oral cavity. However, the mechanisms by which they contribute to wellness is not well established. Hence, the aim of this research is to determine what effects components of herbal teas have on oral and gut bacterial species and the mechanism by which they exert such functions. This research will look at what happens to the human microbial flora from the point of inhalation of aromatic compounds produced by herbal teas, to digestion. This will be done by determining the chemical compositions of herbal teas using GC-MS, LC-MS and using pharmacodynamic assays to determine their effects on the oral or gut epithelial cells. This research will contribute to scientific knowledge and research on the therapeutic importance of herbal teas and their influence in health and disease.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: School of Health, Science and Society PGR Conference
• Start Date: Jun 30, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11789651