Rooibos herbal tea: An optimal cup and its consumers

Background: Rooibos types and forms and how prepared and flavoured influence the total polyphenol content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Aim: To denote an optimal rooibos cup as having the highest total polyphenol content and TAC, considering the different types, forms, preparation methods and flavourings and amounts (Phase 1), and determine the demographic, lifestyle and rooibos consumption characteristics of adult rooibos consumers, and the association of these characteristics with drinking the optimal cup (Phase 2). Setting: Assays: Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Consumer survey: George area, South Africa. Method: Phase 1 entailed determining the total polyphenol content (Folin–Ciocalteau method) and TAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay) of the prepared rooibos samples. For Phase 2, a developed, pilot tested questionnaire was used to profile adult rooibos consumers. Results: Phase 1: the following samples delivered higher total polyphenol content and TAC: green (type), green leaves and powdered extract (forms), and sample steeped for 10 min or longer (preparation method). The identified optimal cup was sample steeped for 10 min or longer. Phase 2: a total of 308 respondents completed the questionnaire. Few consumed more than one rooibos cup per day (25.3%; n = 78) and the optimal cup (15.9%; n = 49). These latter respondents comprised those who steeped rooibos in a teapot (not a cup or mug) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The optimal cup was identified as sample steeped for 10 min or longer. The rooibos consumers did not consume it sufficiently, nor steeped it long enough

A rapid biodiversity survey of Papua New Guinea's Manus and Mussau Islands

[Extract] Aim: The relatively remote islands of Manus and Mussau, located in the northern portion of the Bismark sea have been long identified as key biodiversity areas in Papua New Guinea and within greater Melanesia. Manus Island has long been known for its endemism and relatively intact forest, while Mussau Island, although relatively unstudied, has been recognised as an Endemic Bird Area. This report documents the findings of a series of rapid biodiversity surveys focusing on terrestrial flora and fauna, funded by the CEPF, encompassing four sites across the islands of Manus and Mussau; undertaken by a WCS led team of national and international taxonomic specialists in October 2014. The objective of these surveys was to investigate the biodiversity values of these areas. In conjunction with participatory community work conducted prior to, and following the surveys the wider WCS project aims to identify options for natural resource management in the region which addresses both community and biodiversity needs

The Nakanai Mountain Ranges of East New Britain Papua New Guinea. E: Booklet Version 2

NOTES ON THE E-BOOKLET VERSION TWO Between 2016- 2019, a multidisciplinary team of researchers1 from Australia and Papua New Guinea worked in collaboration with local communities to document the cultural values of the Nakanai Mountains and their inextricable link to the spectacular natural landscape. This research aims to contribute to a standalone nomination to the UNESCCO Tentative World Heritage List of the Nakanai Karst Area (NKA) and elevate its recognition as a cultural landscape of outstanding significance. The research team included both anthropologists and archaeologists. Further anthropological and archaeological research is likely to yield further evidence of the richly diverse cultural values of the area. Between July 2018 - December 2019, researchers from James Cook University (JCU) in collaboration with postgraduate researchers from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) were commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme2 in conjunction with the Conservation, Environment Protection Authority to generate awareness of protected area planning processes and to facilitate the gazettal of four Community Protected Areas around Jacquinot Bay and Central Inland Pomio. These protected area processes are ongoing

A rapid biodiversity assessment of Papua New Guinea's Hindenburg Wall Region

[Extract] Aim: The Hindenburg Wall, along with the Muller Range and Nakanai Mountains, is a part of a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site called The Sublime Karst of Papua New Guinea (Hamilton-Smith 2006). This survey document reports on a biodiversity assessment undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea (WCS), financed by the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP), and undertaken in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). The aim of this project was to conduct a series of biological surveys in the region by a WCS-led team of international and nationaltaxonomic experts in order to investigate the biodiversity values in light of the area being a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Area

Saribus pendulinus, a New Fan-Palm from New Guinea

A new species of fan-palm, Saribus pendulinus sp. nov. (Arecaceae: Trachycarpeae; Livistoninae) is described from the Purari River, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. It is distinguished from other species of Saribus by the distinctive thin pendulous inflorescences and infructescences, small flowers with red sepals and petals and orange-red fruit 40–45 mm in diameter

Ledebouria loedolffiae, eine neue, felsen beseidelnde halbsukkulente zwiebelpflanze des ostkaps //Ledebouria loedolffiae, a new cliff-dwelling semi-succulent bulb species from the Eastern Cape

[German] Es wird eine neue Art beschrieben: Ledebouria loedolffiavan Jaarsv. & Venter vom Ostkap. Sie ist verwandt mit L. socialis; beide haben etwas fleischige Blätter und epigäische Zwiebeln. Ledebouria loedolffiawurde seit dem Jahr 2000 mehrfach bei Aufsamm-lungen im Rahmen von Untersuchungen zu sukkulenten und zwiebelbildenden Cremnophy-ten in Südafrika und Namibia gesammelt. Diese Untersuchungen bildeten Teil einer umfassen-deren Forschungsarbeit zu sukkulenten Pflanzen auf Felshängen im südlichen Afrika. [English] A new species,Ledebouria loedolffiae van Jaarsv. & Venter from the Eastern Cape is described. It is related to L. socialis, both bearing slightly fleshy leaves and epigeous bulbs. Ledebouria loedolffiaewas collected from several gatherings since 2000 while surveying succulent and bulbous cremnophytes in South Africa and Namibia as part of larger study of succulent plants associated with cliff faces in southern Africa

Effects of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on oxidative stress and biochemical parameters in adults at risk for cardiovascular disease

AAE, ascorbic acid equivalents; ABTS, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate); ANOVA, analysis of variance; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase; BMI, body mass index; CDs, conjugated dienes; CHD, coronary heart disease; CHF, coronary heart failure; CPUT, Cape Peninsula University of Technology; CVD, cardiovascular disease; D.Bili, unconjugated bilirubin; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; FRAP, ferric-reducing ability of plasma; GGT, gamma glutamyl transferase; GSH:GSSG, ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione; GSSG, oxidized glutathione; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; Hs-CRP, high sensitive C-reactive protein; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; LPO, lipid peroxidation; M2VP, 1-methyl-2-vinylpyridinium trifluoromethanesulphonate; MDA, malondialdehyde; ORAC, oxygen radical absorbance capacity; SD, standard deviation; SST, serum separator tube; TAC, total antioxidant capacity; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; T.Bili, total bilirubin; TE, trolox equivalents; tGSH, total glutathione; USDA, U.S. Department of AgricultureSouth African Rooibos Council, THRIP (National Research Foundation) and CPUT

A rapid biodiversity assessment of Papua New Guinea's Hindenburg Wall Region

[Extract] Aim: The Hindenburg Wall, along with the Muller Range and Nakanai Mountains, is a part of a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site called The Sublime Karst of Papua New Guinea (Hamilton-Smith 2006). This survey document reports on a biodiversity assessment undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea (WCS), financed by the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP), and undertaken in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). The aim of this project was to conduct a series of biological surveys in the region by a WCS-led team of international and nationaltaxonomic experts in order to investigate the biodiversity values in light of the area being a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Area