PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING OF HERBAL TEA FOR ANTI-STRESS ACTIVITY BY USING HERBS – A REVIEW MALLA REDDY PHARMACY COLLEGE

Stress is a major contributing factor to the development of neurological, psychological, and metabolic disorders, largely due to its ability to disrupt neuroendocrine balance and promote oxidative damage. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in plant-based functional beverages, particularly herbal teas, as complementary strategies for stress management. Herbal teas are widely consumed across cultures owing to their natural origin, safety profile, cost-effectiveness, and long history of traditional use. Among these, lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) are well-known medicinal herbs traditionally used for their calming, digestive, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. This review focuses on the pharmacological screening of a herbal tea formulation prepared from lemongrass and fennel, with particular emphasis on their phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and anti-stress activity. Both herbs are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and essential oils, which are known to exhibit strong free-radical scavenging and neuroprotective effects. Experimental findings and literature evidence suggest that these phytoconstituents play a crucial role in reducing oxidative stress, modulating stress-related neurotransmitters, and improving behavioral responses associated with anxiety and mental fatigue.