Herbal tea of yellow bitter charm (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.) leaves and its potential analysis for commercial herbs drink

Abstract

Yellow Bitter Charm (YBC) has been widely known as medicinal plants in Dipterocarps forest ecosystem. Common utilization of YBC is roots and stems, causing problems with its sustainability. In this study, some active compounds contained in YBC leave were identified due to antioxidant of YBC leaf is higher than root and stem. Thus, efficacious diversification products from it leaves as herbal tea was introduced. YBC leaves were taken from Samboja (East Kalimantan), Kotawaringin Timur and Katingan (Central Kalimantan). Chemical compounds showed that YBC leaves contained some important compounds, namely: canthin (anti-cancer), ethanol (aphrodisiac), anti-malaria (eurycomanone), and anti-HIV (quainoid), while other active compounds were saponins, tannins and alkaloids are very good for improving blood circulation. Herbal tea products from YBC leaves are made into 3 flavors, namely: original, jasmine and lime aroma. Organoleptic tests of these products including color, aroma and taste were tested on 58 respondents from different age classes showed that teenager respondents preferred herbal tea with lime aroma, adult respondents preferred jasmine aroma, while elderly respondent was very fond of original due to efficacy considerations. Antioxidant tests on these products proved that aroma additional might cause a decrease in antioxidant activity.