LSMU Researchers Working on Health-Boosting Teas from Plant Extracts to Mitigate Health Risks

A team of LSMU researchers, Prof. Lina Raudonė and Gabrielė Vilkickytė, have introduced a better performing alternative to medicinal teas: instant teas from plant extracts. These novel concoctions have been enriched with chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, catechins, and other potent plant-derived substances. The goal is to develop are more sophisticated product tailored to contemporary lifestyles and designed for easy dosage.

Therapeutic Qualities Delivered in a Powdered Tea Format

The concept of creating a naturally derived tea powder originated from a perceived gap in the market for high-value dietary supplements. As the researchers have noted, most available products are laden with excessive sugar and unnecessary colourings and stabilizers. Supplements filled with secondary ingredients and minimal plant extracts fail to deliver quality, targeted effects.

The researchers are working on a unique product: antioxidant-rich instant teas crafted from plant extracts. Their novel concoctions set them apart from other alternatives primarily due to their unique composition. The teas are enriched with chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, catechins, and other active plant-based substances. These botanical components lend the teas their unique, appealing colour, as well as their antioxidant properties and specific functional benefits, contingent upon the raw materials used.

The team behind the tea emphasise that their product aligns with the “clean label” principle. Products carrying this label are deemed reliable and transparent, providing clear and accurate information about both the qualitative and quantitative composition and the origins of the ingredients.

User-Friendly Consumption Process

The creators confirm that the consumption process for this innovative tea is incredibly straightforward. Each single-dose pack of the concentrated extract powder is equivalent to a standard cup of a medicinal plant infusion, much like your regular herbal tea. The method of preparation is left up to the user’s preference – the powder can be mixed into hot or cold water, various cocktails, or any other beverage and allowed to dissolve. There’s no need for any specific equipment for preparation, making this tea an excellent option for those constantly on the go or health-conscious frequent travellers.

Customizing Teas for Specific Health Concerns

The researchers highlight a significant drawback of current market offerings: many are analytically undefined extracts with unidentified and unquantified profile of bioactive compounds. The creation of instant plant-based extract teas is designed to address this problem, aiming to offer a consistently concentrated dose of active substances in each serving. This would help overcome challenges related to precision in dosing, quality control, consistency, and reproducibility. The extracts chosen for the teas are specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of consumers, ensuring a standard level of active compounds in each serving.

The selection of key ingredients for these instant teas can lead to various potential health benefits. These can range from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, immune system support, cognitive enhancement, to digestive health benefits. Epidemiological studies have corroborated the claim that consuming specific antioxidants can indeed mitigate the risk of respective health issues.

Envisioning the Future – the Final Product

With years of experience in medicinal plant material research, Prof. L. Raudonė and Prof. G. Vilkickytė possess the necessary knowledge to continue refining their product. The team has already created an initial prototype, and they plan to incorporate additional ingredients in the future.

This work has been conducted under the project titled “Development of Knowledge Commercialisation and Technology Transfer at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU-TTO2)” (project No. 13.1.1-CPVA-K-703-04-0010).