PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Crossandra infundibuliformis and Justicia betonica, belonging to the Acanthaceae family, are well-known medicinal herbs in India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. This study aims to determine antioxidant activity in extracts, including sensory evaluation of herbal tea products from both herbs. Leaf extracts were taken to determine total extractable phenolic content (TPC), total extractable flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity, including compound contents, using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The herbal tea products were prepared for sensory evaluation using the 9-point hedonic scale. The selected tea formula was studied for physicochemical properties and nutritional value. The results showed that C. infundibuliformis extract exhibited a higher activity value for TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity than J. betonica. Moreover, the C. infundibuliformis and J. betonica leaf extracts contained 8 and 9 types of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, respectively. The T2 formula of herbal tea provided the highest sensory evaluation. It showed moisture and water activity contents of less than 7% and 0.6, while the nutritional value provided energy, protein, carbohydrates, sugar, vitamins A and B2, sodium, β-carotene, calcium, iron, and ash. Therefore, C. infundibuliformis and J. betonica can be produced as herbal tea for being a source of antioxidants.