Development of a new herbal tea formulation with antidiabetic properties

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease known and common since ancient times. According to the statements of the World Health Organization, it is predicted that the disease will take the first place among the causes of death in the coming years. It is also thought that the number of patients with diabetes, which is also frequently encountered in Turkey, is about 15 % of the total population. Since the disease requires lifelong drug therapy, possible side effects and high cost of possible therapy have led patients to seek safer natural treatment methods. When the natural treatment preferences of the patients were examined, it was seen that the most preferred consuption way is drinking herbal tea. Olive leaf tea is one of the most widely used options since ancient times with its antidiabetic effect. However, oleuropein, one of its secondary metabolites, which is thought to be responsible for its antidiabetic effect, has a bitter taste since it is a secoiridoid compound. In this study, it was aimed to bring olive leaf tea into a soft-drinking form that can be easily consumed by diabetics without the need for honey or sugar addition. At the same time, considering that it does not lose its antidiabetic effect, as a result of the literature studies, olive leaf tea; cinnamon bark, white mulberry leaf, stevia leaf and goji berry were added to create 3 different herbal tea formulas. In vitro experimental studies were conducted in terms of phenolic content, antioxidant profile and glucose enzyme inhibitions of olive leaf tea consisting of 3 different mixed herbal tea formulas and a single drug, and the data obtained were compared. In conclusion, Soft-drinking herbal tea formulas, which give measurement results that can be considered close to olive leaf tea in terms of antidiabetic and antioxidant effect, and which are thought to be consumed comfortably by diabetic patients without having to add sugar or honey, have been reached.