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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 January 2020

Christopher John Etheridge and Emma Derbyshire

Increasingly, interest in and the uptake of herbal infusions has advanced, namely, owing to their bioactive properties and potential links to health. Given this, the purpose of…

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Abstract

Purpose

Increasingly, interest in and the uptake of herbal infusions has advanced, namely, owing to their bioactive properties and potential links to health. Given this, the purpose of the present review was to collate evidence from human trials for five popular herbal infusions.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic review comprised ten human trials (560 participants), investigating inter-relationships between herbal infusions consumption and health. Only human studies involving German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L. Asteraceae), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe Zingiberaceae), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L. Lamiaceae), peppermint (Mentha x spicata L. Lamiaceae)/spearmint (Mentha spicata L. Lamiaceae) and rosehip (Rosa canina L. Rosaceae) teas were included in the present paper.

Findings

Most herbal infusions serve as a good source of flavonoids and other polyphenols in the human diet. Studies included in this paper indicate that herbal infusions (1-3 cups tended to be drank daily; infusion rates up to 15 min) could benefit certain aspects of health. In particular, this includes aspects of sleep quality and glycaemic control (German chamomile), osteoarthritic stiffness and hormone control (spearmint), oxidative stress (lemon balm) and primary dysmenorrhea (rosehip).

Research limitations/implications

Ongoing research is needed using homogenous herbal infusion forms, brewing rates and volumes of water to further reinforce these findings. In the meantime, herbal infusions could provide a useful supplementary approach to improving certain aspects of well-being.

Originality/value

The present paper collates evidence from human trials for five popular herbal infusions.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 50 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 1 February 2000

David Jukes

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Abstract

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 102 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Article
Publication date: 23 June 2021

Nidya Astrini, I Gede Mahatma Yuda Bakti, Tri Rakhmawati, Sik Sumaedi and Medi Yarmen

This research seeks to develop a model to predict repurchase intention based on the modified theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Abstract

Purpose

This research seeks to develop a model to predict repurchase intention based on the modified theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Design/methodology/approach

This research is quantitative study involving 150 respondents from five major cities in Indonesia. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Data analysis used confirmatory factor analysis–structural equation modeling (CFA–SEM).

Findings

The research instrument and the proposed model were fit. However, health belief was not proven to have a significant impact on attitude. The perceived behavioral control (PBC) also did not significantly affect repurchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

Future research that utilizes TPB should incorporate emotional belief as part of the attitude variable.

Practical implications

In the designing and marketing process, managers of herbal teas companies should consider the health benefits of their products and the feeling of joy it might incite.

Originality/value

The TPB was initially constructed from three variables: subjective norm, attitude and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Unlike previous research, this study considered cognitive and emotional beliefs as the factors that affected attitude.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 124 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 October 2012

Ali Mohamadi Sani, Eisa Gholampoor Azizi and Zinat Naeejic

The purpose of this paper is to detect total aflatoxin (AFT) in domestic and imported tea in Amol (north of Iran).

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detect total aflatoxin (AFT) in domestic and imported tea in Amol (north of Iran).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 42 tea samples including 21 domestic and 21 imported tea samples of three popular commercial brands were purchased from retail stores and analyzed for estimation of AFT by ELISA technique. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS software.

Findings

All of the tea samples were contaminated with detectable amount of AFT ranging from 1.5‐16.5 ng/g. The average±SD concentration of AFT in domestic and imported samples was 7.1±2.96 and 6.11±3.94 ng/g, respectively, which is lower than national and EU standards (10 ng/g). The AFT content in 9.5 and 14.3 percent of domestic and imported samples was more than the limited concentration, respectively. There was no significant difference in AFT content of samples of different commercial brands (p>0.05).

Originality/value

No research had been done to detect and compare the AFT content of domestic and imported tea in Iran.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 42 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2022

Esther Badugu Patrick, Sunday O. Otimenyin and Bukata B. Bukar

The purpose of this study is to determine the blood pressure (BP) lowing potential of some herbs used by the indigenous people of Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria, to treat…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the blood pressure (BP) lowing potential of some herbs used by the indigenous people of Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria, to treat hypertension.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 17 herbal healers and 15 hypertensive patients who use herbs to treat hypertension in Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria, were consulted between 2019 and 2020. Participants were selected via purposeful sampling. BP was measured before and after the ingestion of a herbal preparation. Three plant preparations were screened: Newbouldia laevis, Hibiscus cannabinus and Pavetta crassipes.

Findings

H. cannabinus produced a significant decrease of 16, 12 and 14 mmHg in SBP at 2, 3 and 4 h, respectively (p = 0.001 at 2 h, p = 0.04 at 3 h, p = 0.01 at 4 h). While P. crassipes produced a significant decrease in SBP of 12, 15, 19 and 20 mmHg at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h, respectively (p = 0.04 at 1 h, p= 0.00 at 2 h, p = 0.00 at 3 h and p = 0.00 at 4 h). The findings for N. laevis were not reported due to incomplete information.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size of this study was small. The researcher could not meet with some hypertensive clients owing to the poor cooperation of some herbal healers. Further, some hypertensive patients rejected the offer to participate in the study.

Originality/value

This study reveals that treatment with H. cannabinus and P. crassipes significantly decrease BP in hypertensive patients.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 53 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 February 2020

Tri Dewanti Widyaningsih, Astri Iga Siska, Roudlatul Fanani and Erryana Martati

This study aims to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of traditional drink of black cincau-based wedang uwuh (WUB) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of traditional drink of black cincau-based wedang uwuh (WUB) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Design/methodology/approach

WUB consists of dried herbs such as black cincau leaves (Mesona palustris BL), red ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc), cloves (Syzgium aromaticum), sappan wood (Caesalpinia sappan Lin) and soursop leaves (Annona muricata). In this study, the rats were divided into five groups: normal control, diabetic control and three groups of WUB (WUB 13.5 mL/kg and WUB 27 mL/kg) or wedang uwuh commercial (WUC) treated diabetic groups. WUB or WUC was administered by gavage for three days after rats were confirmed diabetic induced by alloxan; these injections were continued for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the spleen of rats was analyzed using flow cytometry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey test using Minitab version 16.0.

Findings

This study showed that WUB significantly inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interferon-Y [IFN-ɣ] and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-a]) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 [IL-10] and transforming growth factor-β [TGF-ß]), and achieved a balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines that were not significantly different from normal controls. WUB 27 was able to regulate the production of relative average cytokines IFN-ɣ (7.6 ± 3.5; p = 0.010), TNF-a (8.7 ± 2.4; p = 0.018), IL-10 (6.3 ± 2.4; p = 0.001) and TGF-ß (7.4 ± 2.1; p = 0.004) that was significantly different from diabetic control. This study’s results validate that the use of WUB can result in immunomodulatory activity in diabetic rats.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the immunomodulatory effect of WUB which is developed based on WUC; WUB has been used by Indonesian people as a functional beverage which acts as an immune booster and body warmer.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 50 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 September 2019

Ershad Sheibani, Golshan Matinfar, Sahar Jazaeri and Abdorreza Mohammadi

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of the interactions of taste, colour and labelling on sensory perception, liking and identification of saffroned…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of the interactions of taste, colour and labelling on sensory perception, liking and identification of saffroned products.

Design/methodology/approach

The consumer and discrimination tests (N=120, 18, 25, 78, for Experiments 1–4, respectively) were conducted. The analyses of discrimination tests were performed using the Thurstonian model and R-index. The results from consumer studies were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, penalty analysis and correlation matrix.

Findings

The study revealed that saffron can interact with the perception of sour and bitter taste and has no significant effects on the sweetness. The colour and labelling generated expectations for quality and sweetness of the samples. When the disparity between the expectation and actual experience was occurred resulted in contrast/assimilation effects on the hedonic ratings and negatively impacted consumer acceptability of the product.

Practical implications

This study showed that the visual cues can modulate the expectation for particular sensory perceptions and also affect the hedonic experiences. Saffron adulteration can be identified by the consumers and can result in a significant decrease in the acceptability of the products. Hence, the practice of substituting saffron with ingredients with a similar colour in these products can be detrimental for business. Additionally, it was revealed that saffron colour is associated with the expected and actual sweet taste perception. Therefore, it is possible to manipulate yellow colour cues to reduce sweeteners in different food products that contain saffron.

Originality/value

The sensory characteristics and consumer perception of saffron have been rarely studied. This study revealed that flavour perception and quality determination of saffroned foods involves the combinations of different sensory modalities and cognitive (expectancy) inputs.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 121 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 23 May 2023

Rekha Attri and Rahul Bairagi

After reading and discussing the case, the participants would be able to:▪ articulate the challenges associated with retailing of organic products.▪ suggest paid, owned and earned…

Abstract

Learning outcomes

After reading and discussing the case, the participants would be able to:▪ articulate the challenges associated with retailing of organic products.▪ suggest paid, owned and earned digital marketing tools to Manav Chetna Vikas Kendra (MCVK);▪ suggest a digital marketing budget;▪ discuss essential elements of a good website design; and▪ discuss various website analytics metrics.

Case overview/synopsis

This case describes the challenges faced by the founder, Ajay Dayama, and members of MCVK, who believed in the concept of sustainable community living through the production and marketing of organic food products. They believed that they would be able to share their philosophy of sustainable living through their products reaching out to a larger population rather than just being consumed by community members. This paved the way for the creation of a brand by the name SATT offering products under the lifestyle, nutriment and wellness categories. Marketing and sales of SATT products came with a bundle of challenges, and it was not easy to convince customers about the authenticity, quality and pricing of these products. Many organic products sold by competitors were available on e-commerce platforms, while SATT relied on direct marketing. Low customer acceptance for SATT products would weaken the sustainability dream of the community. How MCVK could increase awareness and acceptance of SATT products was a big area of concern for Ajay.

Complexity academic level

This case is suitable for students enrolled for full credit course on Digital Marketing at postgraduate level. The case can be discussed towards the middle of the course.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1982

The factors which influence costs of production of food and the prices to the consumer have changed dramatically during this century, but especially since the establishment of…

Abstract

The factors which influence costs of production of food and the prices to the consumer have changed dramatically during this century, but especially since the establishment of trading systems all over the world. Gone are the days when the simple expedients of supply and demand alone governed the situation. The erosion of these principles began at the turn of the century, mainly as a result of the introduction by the rapidly developing industrial power of the USA to protect her own industries against the cheaper products of European countries. They introduced the system of tariffs on imported manufactured goods; it grew and eventually was made to apply to wide sectors of industry. European countries retaliated but the free trade policy of Britain's Liberal government was making the country a dumping ground for all other country's cheap products and surpluses.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 84 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Article
Publication date: 8 July 2014

Prashant Kumar

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent of greening retail taking place in Indian context and identifies its core groups of green retail practices.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent of greening retail taking place in Indian context and identifies its core groups of green retail practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed and used to collect data from retailers of green products, and caselets were developed.

Findings

Nine core groups of green retail practices are identified – distinctness of green products, promoting sustainable business practices, use of environmental keywords, promotion for awareness, promotional offers for sale, ensuring availability and visibility of green products, approval for environmental claims, environmentally friendly appeal of store and consumer involvement approaches.

Research limitations/implications

Findings of the study should be generalised with its limitations; though are useful in understanding greening retail concept.

Originality/value

This paper is original in terms of its value addition to the green marketing literature and extends the concept of sustainability to retailing.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 42 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

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