Roselle Flower Infusion Combined with Ginger as an Alternative Functional Beverage

Abstract

Roselle flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is known to contain high levels of vitamin C, which plays an important role in scavenging free radicals that contribute to degenerative diseases. Antioxidants are essential for preventing oxidative stress in the human body. Ginger is also widely recognized for its health benefits due to its gingerol content, which exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to analyze the vitamin C content and antioxidant activity of roselle flower infusion combined with ginger as an alternative functional beverage.  This research employed a descriptive observational design based on laboratory analysis. The variables analyzed were vitamin C content and antioxidant activity. Vitamin C levels were determined using the iodimetric method, while antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. Data on vitamin C content and antioxidant activity were statistically analyzed using One-Way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. The relationship between vitamin C content and antioxidant activity was evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis.  The results showed that there were significant differences among all formulations tested. The selected formulation demonstrated the highest vitamin C content and antioxidant activity. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a very strong positive correlation between vitamin C content and antioxidant activity (p = 0.000). These findings suggest that roselle flower infusion combined with ginger has strong potential as an alternative functional beverage with high antioxidant capacity.