Antioxidant -rich eggplant tea
Loading...
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UMT, Lahore
Abstract
People now focus more on sustainable food methods and waste systems which drives interest in using agricultural waste materials as functional food elements. Eggplants are rich in bioactive compounds that exist in their discarded peel because these compounds contain phenolics and flavonoids which act as powerful antioxidants. Studies document the positive health outcomes that occur when consuming phenolic-rich plant extracts because these compounds successfully fight oxidative stress alongside chronic diseases. The research literature lacks information regarding eggplant peel utilization in beverage production methods especially when used as tea bag ingredients. This research analyzed the antioxidant properties of eggplant peel to create tea bags from eggplant peel and measured sensory quality for verifying its potential usage as a functional beverage. The creation of eggplant peel tea involved different extraction times between 2 to 10 minutes in order to study both its bioactivity and consumer acceptance. Testing the antioxidant potential of eggplant peel tea extraction required measurements of Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging activity together with Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). The bioactive compound yield increased substantially when the extraction time was extended to 10 minutes because TPC, TFC, DPPH and FRAP reached maximum levels during this time period. Extended extraction times produced better antioxidant effects but sensory analysis showed that the long extraction duration resulted in undesirable changes to color and texture, taste and overall eating quality making 6-minute results most appealing to consumers. The research demonstrates eggplant peel tea serves as a practical functional drink that both protects health and supports productive waste management of food resources. The research demonstrates effective waste reuse in agriculture thus supporting Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Extended research on eggplant peel tea should concentrate on developing novel extraction methods as well as stability assessment and medical verification of the product's health advantages to improve market potential