Unveiling the nutritional and bioactive potential of bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) tea: A phytochemical and spectroscopic study

This study investigated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of Bambusa tulda tea. The tea exhibited low moisture and ash content, indicative of good drying quality. Its acidic pH was attributed to the presence of organic acids. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, triterpenoids and cardiac glycosides. The dry extract contained higher levels of phenolics and flavonoids compared to the infusion, resulting in stronger antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by a lower IC 50 value of 3.794 in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Furthermore, silica (SiO₂) was extracted from the tea leaves and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). These analyses revealed an amorphous structure and spherical morphology. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analyses corroborated the spherical morphology and elemental composition of the SiO₂. The extracted SiO₂ effectively degraded methylene blue and Congo red dyes under sunlight, highlighting the potential of B. tulda tea as a sustainable source of SiO₂ for environmental remediation. • Bambusa tulda tea possesses a rich phytochemical profile having high antioxidant activity. • SiO 2 was successfully extracted from Bambusa tulda tea leaves. • XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the extracted silica; FTIR spectroscopy revealed characteristic Si-O-Si bond vibrations. • FE-SEM and EDS analysis confirmed the spherical morphology and elemental composition of the SiO 2 . • The extracted SiO 2 demonstrate effective photocatalytic activity for methylene blue and Congo red dyes degradation, suggesting potential for sustainable environmental remediation.