Analysis of Herbofix^® herbal infusions and comparative study with traditional infusions employing HPTLC, HPLC-DAD and UPLC-MS

Herbofix ^® is a new line of herbal infusions in the form of capsules, creating an instant beverage with irresistible flavor and beneficial effects. The herbs used are carefully selected and harvested from the Mediterranean basin and elsewhere, e.g. ginseng, rosemary, yerba mate, lemongrass, hops, lemon balm, elderberry, peppermint, elecampane, turmeric, fennel and lemon verbena. The capsules are compatible with Nespresso ^® machines making the procedure simple and practical [1], [2]. The recognized properties of the botanicals provide an effective solution to everyday problems: energy, relaxation, respiratory and digestion. In the current study, the four different Herbofix ^® products were analyzed with HPTLC, HPLC-DAD and UPLC-MS. Characteristic peaks corresponding to the main compounds of the contained herbs were detected. Minor compounds were also identified. Furthermore, the commercial products were compared with infusions prepared with the traditional way (infusion for 1 min and 5 min) in order to detect similarities and differences between them. According to the results the yield of the extraction procedure is highest when the Nespresso machine is used compared to traditional infusion. The produced extracts were rich in bioactive compounds while differences could be detected depending on the type of the extraction.

• References

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• 2 Mustafa A, Turner C. Pressurized liquid extraction as a green approach in food and herbal plants extraction: A review. Anal Chim Acta 2011; 703: 8-18