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Rooibos tea, a caffeine-free beverage made from the leaves of a local shrub South Africais part of the national heritage.
rooibos plant (Linear rooibos tea) grows in the Cederberg Mountains South Africaof the Western Cape. The Khoisan people traditionally harvested it and drank it as an herbal tea.
In addition to making tea, this plant is also touted for its potential health benefits. Rooibos tea has scientifically proven antioxidant benefits. This is a natural substance that helps protect the body’s cells from damage caused by harmful molecules.
This is also a Anti-inflammatory (drug): a reducing substance inflammation Body (redness, swelling and pain). It can help protect the heart and liver, regulate blood sugar and improve skin health.
Commercial cultivation of rooibos tea began in the early 20th century. Scientific research into its health benefits began in the 1960s, when its antioxidant properties were first reported.
Since then, numerous studies have explored its therapeutic potential.
I am a researcher focusing on the health-promoting properties of South African herbal teas, specifically Rooibos and Honeybush tea (Cyclops kind).
New research by my colleagues and I suggests that rooibos tea may provide powerful health benefits for the gut. This study aims to compare Anti-inflammatory (drug) Barrier protective effects of unfermented and fermented aqueous extracts of rooibos on porcine intestinal epithelial cells. We used pigs because their intestines are very similar to human intestinal cells.
We found that rooibos extract makes the intestinal lining stronger and reduces inflammation.
These effects are important because stronger barriers and controlled inflammation are critical to protecting tissues like the gut from damage and disease.
Digestive (intestinal) diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (irritable bowel syndrome), constipation and indigestion (dyspepsia) affect more than 40% of the world’s population. Women (49%) are more likely to be affected than men (36.6%). These statistics demonstrate the need for increased awareness, improved diagnosis, and effective management of the problem.
gut health has become a major area of interest for anyone looking to improve their overall health. There is growing evidence linking poor gut health to issues such as chronic inflammation, fatigue, anxiety and autoimmune diseases. As interest in natural alternatives to medications grows, people are turning to diet and beverages for help.
Green and red rooibos tea and epithelial enterocytes
In our study, we explored how different types of rooibos tea extracts affect intestinal cells in the laboratory. Our research team wanted to find out whether rooibos tea could protect the intestinal barrier, the microscopic cell walls that act as intestinal bodyguards.
This barrier prevents harmful substances from entering while allowing nutrients to enter. When it doesn’t work properly, the condition is often called “leaky gut” and it can lead to digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (irritable bowel syndrome), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and other chronic health conditions.
About the author
Mariska Lilly is a Senior Research Fellow at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
This article is reproduced from dialogue Licensed under Creative Commons. read Original article.
Our research focused on two forms of rooibos tea:
- Unfermented rooibos tea (green), which is less processed and retains more antioxidants
- Fermented rooibos tea (red), is more common and widely consumed.
Both teas come from the same plant, Linear rooibos teabut the way they are processed changes their chemical composition, especially the polyphenols. These are natural compounds known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The main polyphenols are called aspalathin and nothofagin, with aspalathin being unique to rooibos.
The three-year study investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of rooibos extract on pig intestinal cells. Cells were first treated with the extract for 24 hours. The extract is then removed and bacterial toxins are added for a further 24 hours. The cells’ response is then assessed by measuring specific markers (signs) of inflammation, and the integrity of the cell barrier is assessed to determine protection.
Inflammation and gut protection
Here’s what we found:
- Fermented (Red) Rooibos Tea inflammation The best. When we trigger an inflammatory response in intestinal cells, similar to what happens during the onset of an infection or a disease like inflammatory bowel disease, we find that fermented rooibos tea is particularly effective at reducing inflammation. inflammation. In fact, fermented rooibos worked as well or better than dexamethasone, a common steroid drug used to reduce intestinal inflammation.
- Unfermented (green) rooibos tea strengthens the intestinal barrier. While fermented rooibos may address inflammation, unfermented rooibos is best at protecting your gut barrier. It promotes the production of proteins that keep the barrier strong. This suggests that unfermented rooibos may help prevent “leaky gut,” which prevents harmful substances from entering the bloodstream.
- Differences in polyphenols may explain this result. We believe the different benefits of tea are related to its polyphenol content. Unfermented rooibos tea contains high levels of aspalatin, a potent antioxidant that helps maintain cellular health and strengthens the barrier. Fermented rooibos tea contains different polyphenols, such as eriodictyol glucoside, which work with other natural antioxidants in the tea to help soothe and reduce inflammation.
While rooibos tea is known to be rich in antioxidants, our study is one of the first to clearly show how different types of rooibos tea affect intestinal inflammation and the gut barrier in different ways. Understanding this could help people make smarter dietary choices and potentially allow rooibos to play a role in gut-friendly treatments or functional foods.
go ahead
Our research shows that rooibos tea, whether fermented or unfermented, has unique benefits for gut health. Fermented rooibos can reduce intestinal inflammation, and unfermented rooibos can help maintain a healthy intestinal lining.
Rooibos tea may one day be used in gut health supplements, as a natural treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, or in everyday foods to support digestion.
This was a laboratory-based study, so more research is needed to confirm the effects in humans. But the evidence so far is promising. Considering rooibos is safe, affordable, and widely consumed, it is a low-risk addition to a healthy lifestyle.