Biological Forum – An International Journal 16(4): 08-11(2024)

ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130

ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239

FTIR Profiling of Herbal Teas prepared from Medicinal Plants

Yasodha T.1*, Vijayalakshmi M.S.2 and Pooja V.3
1
Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Madha Engineering College, Tamilnadu, India.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology,
Sri Muthukumaran Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu, India.
3
Product Analyst, Alchemy Projects and Consultancy, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
(Corresponding author: Yasodha T.*)
(Received: 27 January 2024; Revised: 13 February 2024; Accepted: 05 March 2024; Published: 15 April 2024)
(Published by Research Trend)
ABSTRACT: Polyphenols are the important contributors of health protection and preventing various
diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Hence an investigation was made to determine the polyphenols of
selected Indian medicinal herbs of Ocimum (T2) Gymnema (T3) ; Senna auriculata and cinnamon bark
extracts (T4) and Senna auriculata and ginger extracts (T5) by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)
spectroscopy. The results were compared with the leaves of Cameilla sinensis (T1-Green tea). Infra red
absorption spectra of T4 revealed new peaks in the regions 4623 cm-1 and 4337.91 cm-1 were related directly
to the presence of more functional groups such as polyphenols. This showed active constituents in herbal
polyphenols of the T4 with mixed formulation of Senna auriculata and Cinnamum zeylanicum. In all
infusions the IR spectral peak values are absent between region 2220-2250 cm-1. This indicates the absence
of cyanide groups. From this it was confirmed that due to the absence of toxic substances in the selected
medicinal plants are suitable for consumption. Hence the leaves of Ocimum sanctum and Gymnema
sylvestre, flowers of Senna auriculata, bark of Cinnamum zeylanicum (cinnamon) and rhizome of Zingiber
officinale (ginger) are recommended for herbal tea formulations.
Keywords: Herbal tea, FTIR study, Functional groups, Polyphenols.
Abbreviation : FTIR- Fourier Transform Infra Red, IR- Infra Red, T2D- type2 diabetes, KBr-Potassium bromide.

INTRODUCTION functional group and the chemical structure of the

constituents. Earlier studies from the literature with
Polyphenols are the important contributors of health
reference to determination of functional groups and the
protection and preventing various diseases. Unhealthy
chemical constituents profiling by FTIR had a
eating habits and sedentary lifestyles associated with
remarkable role in medicinal plant study
urbanisation are common risk factors in developing
(Muruganantham et al., 2009; Qin et al., 2010 ; Baseri
type2 diabetes (T2D). Consuming functional food and
and Baker (2011) ; Ragavendran et al., 2011).
beverages can help to overcome T2D. Polyphenols are
Screening of phytochemical constituents of the
the heterogeneous phytochemical group containing
medicinal herbs by the conventional methods may not
phenol rings. Plant-based and fruit-based foods are the
be reliable and a challegeable task in the field of
main sources of polyphenols (Alma et al., 2003; Rusak
research. Hence in the present study pure and mixed
et al., 2008; Anesini et al., 2008 ; Alothman and Bhat
form of five medicinal herbs viz., Ocimum sanctum,
2009).
Gymnema sylvestre, flowers of Senna auriculata, bark
Dietary polyphenols could reduce starch digestion by
of Cinnamum zeylanicum (cinnamon) and rhizome of
the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase (Khokhar
Zingiber officinale (ginger) were selected to determine
and Magnusdottir 2002; Kwon et al., 2008; Liang et
the phytoconstituents and functional groups by FTIR.
al., 2007; Jianbo et al., 2011). Herbal tea consumed
IR spectra of the selected medicinal plants were
everyday as functional beverage influence the activities
analysed according to the peak/wave numbers.
of α-amylase (Bailey, 2001; Cheng et al., 2012;
Manousi et al., 2019; Raman et al., 2019). With the MATERIALS AND METHODS
goodness of antidiabetic potentiality various herbal
Preparation of plant materials. Five medicinal plants
formulations were experimented for their
leaves of Ocimum sanctum, Gymnema sylvestre,
phytochemical constituents by conventional methods
flowers of Senna auriculata , bark of Cinnamum
which are time consuming and non-reliable in the
zeylanicum (cinnamon) and rhizome of Zingiber
research field.
officinale (ginger) were collected from the herbal
FTIR is one of the most widely used methods to
garden of Madha Engineering College (MEC) of
identify the chemical constituents and determine the
Chennai, India. Healthy plants were selected from
Yasodha et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 16(4): 08-11(2024) 8
MEC herbal garden and the leaves, bark and flowers of mg KBr. The scanning absorption range was 500 to
the selected Indian medicinal plants for the study were 5000 cm−1. The peak values of FTIR were recorded for
dried at 50ºC in an oven. The powdered samples were T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. Each and every analysis was
stored in air tight bottles at room temperature for repeated twice to confirm the spectrum.
further analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
FTIR Study. The FTIR analysis was conducted on leaf
powder samples of Ocimum (T2), Gymnema (T3), FTIR spectrum was used to identify the functional
Senna auriculata and cinnamon bark extracts (T4) and group of the active components based on the peak value
Senna auriculata and ginger extracts (T5). Fine in the region of infra red radiation (Sohrabi et al., 2005;
powder of oven-dried (50ºC) leaves of selected Schulz and Baranska 2007). The results with reference
medicinal herbs were taken. 1 mg of the sample was to pure and mixed medicinal herbal formulations in
mixed with 50 mg KBr (FTIR-grade) and experiments terms of peaks and wave numbers were explored. The
were performed with an IR Prestige-21 (Shimadzu). IR spectra of illustrated in the Fig. 1-5.
One drop of the diluted extract was then mixed with 50

Fig. 1. FTIR profile of green tea extract (T1).

Fig. 2. FTIR profile of Ocimum sanctum (T2).

Fig. 3. FTIR profile of Gymnema sylvestre (T3).

Fig. 4. FTIR profile of Senna auriculata & Cinnamum zeylanicum (T4).

Yasodha et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 16(4): 08-11(2024) 9

 Fig. 5. FTIR profile of Senna auriculata and Zingiber officinale (T5).
The FTIR spectra of pure and mixed tea formulations constituents in herbal polyphenols of the T4 with the
of Ocimum (T2) Gymnema (T3) ; Senna auriculata + combination of Senna auriculata and Cinnamum
cinnamon bark extracts (T4) and Senna auriculata + zeylanicum.
ginger extracts (T5) were illustrated in Fig. 2-5. The The results of Fourier Transform Infra red absorption
FTIR spectra of Green tea (Camellia sinensis) in T1 spectroscopy revealed the peak values are illustrated in
(Fig. 1) was used for comparison. the Fig. 1-5. FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of
It is possible to directly relate the intensities of alcohol, phenol, alkanes, alkyl halide, amino acids ,
absorption bands to the concentration of the carboxylic acid, aromatic, amines in the rhizome, bark,
corresponding functional groups present in the flowers and leaves of the selected medicinal plants.
Ocimum sanctum, Gymnema sylvestre, Senna FTIR spectroscopy measurements are faster and
auriculata, Cinnamum zeylanicum and Zingiber accurate. The absorption radiations in FTIR for the
officinale. green tea (T1) in the region 1626 cm-1 exhibits C=C
Similar kind of study made by many researchers stretching vibration which can be conjugated with C=O.
(Demiray et al., 2009; Konwar et al., 2011; Helal et al., The intensities of absrorption bands between 2002.11
2014) for the rapid analysis and confirmation of cm-1 and 2352 cm-1 illustrates the free amino acids and
phytoconstituent structures. At present Infra red amino related functional groups. Variable stretching
absorption spectroscopy revealed new peaks in the vibrations of T4 spectra are found in the region 4623
regions 4623 cm-1 and 4337.91 cm-1 were related cm-1 to 4337 cm-1. Most organic and inorganic
directly to the presence of more functional groups such compounds were identified within this region (Fig. 6).
as polyphenols. This showed the presence of active

Fig. 6. Analysis of FTIR Spectral functional groups of herbal teas.

The more intense band occurring at 4623.37 cm-1 to It is evident from the results of FTIR indicated that
4337.91 cm-1; 3205.69 to 3186.40; 2358.94 to herbal tea formulation of T4 and T5 had contained
2355.08; 2268.29 to 2002.11 and 1978.97 to 1625.99 higher amount of total phenols than green tea (T1)
cm-1 corresponding to O-H/N-H/ C-H/C=O stretching, where as T2 and T3 showed similar peaks
bending, vibrations respectively indicate the presence corresponding to T1 (Fig. 6).
of alcohol, amines, amides, amino acids and amino
CONCLUSIONS
related compounds in Senna auriculata, Ocimum
sanctum, Gymnema sylvestre, Cinnamum zeylanicum FTIR measurements were made for accuracy and direct
and Zingiber officinale. Peak values are absent identification of functional groups in the selected
between region 2220-2250 cm-1 which indicates the medicinal herbs. It is evident from the results of FTIR
absence of cyanide groups. From this it was confirmed indicated that herbal tea in T4 (Senna auriculata and
that the absence of toxic substances in the selected Cinnamum zeylanicum) T5 (Senna auriculata and
medicinal plants. Hence all the selected medicinal Zingiber officinale) formulation also contained higher
plants are suitable for consumption and recommended amount of total phenols than green tea and more peaks
for herbal tea formulations. Many researchers in the spectrum next to T4. Whereas T2 (Ocimum
determined and confirmed the phytochemical sanctum) and T3 (Gymnema sylvestre) were recorded
constituents of various medicinal plants because of similar peaks in the FTIR spectrum corresponding to T1
faster and accurate results obtained in FTIR (Saxena (green tea). In summary all the selected medicinal
and Saxena 2012; Helal et al., 2014; Gorgulu et al., plants are suitable for consumption and recommended
2007; Kumar and Prasad 2011). for herbal tea formulations.
Yasodha et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 16(4): 08-11(2024) 10
FUTURE SCOPE commonly consumed in the United Kingdom. J. Agric.
Food Chem., 50, 565-570.
FTIR profiling of selected medicinal plants can be Kumar, J. K., and Prasad, A. D. (2011). Identification and
further studied with reference to the quality checking comparison of biomolecules in medicinal plants of
and characterization of new compounds/functional Tephrosia tinctoria and Atylosia albicans by using
groups in the formulations for the pharmaceutical FTIR. Romanian Journal of Biophysics, 21(1), 63-71.
research and food science/technology. Konwar Mitali and Baruah, G. D. (2011). On the nature of
vibrational bands in the FTIR spectra of Medicinal
Acknowledgement. The authors would like to thank plant leaves. Archives of Applied Science Research,
Nanotechnology Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science 3(1), 214-221.
and Technology, Kattangulathur, Chennai for the Kwon, Y.I., Apostolidis, E. and Shetty, K. (2008). Inhibitory
instrumentation facilities used in this research. potential of wine and tea against alpha-amylase and
Conflict of Interest. None. alpha-glucosidase for management of hyperglycemia
linked to type 2 diabetes. J. Food Biochem., 32, 15-31.
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How to cite this article: Yasodha T., Vijayalakshmi M.S. and Pooja V. (2024). FTIR Profiling of Herbal Teas prepared from
Medicinal Plants. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(4): 08-11.

Yasodha et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 16(4): 08-11(2024) 11