Is rose petal good source of antioxidant?

[Jaspreet]

Hello, I am looking for natural sources of anti-oxidants. Is rose petal good source of antioxidant? Please elaborate on this.

[Piya]

@jaspreet Roses have been used for cultural and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The rose family has over 130 species and thousands of cultivars. All roses are edible and can be used in tea, but some varieties are sweet while others are more bitter. Rose tea is an aromatic herbal beverage made from the fragrant petals and buds of rose flowers. It’s claimed to offer numerous health benefits, though many of these are not well supported by science. Antioxidants are compounds that help combat the effects of free radicals. These are reactive molecules that cause cellular damage and lead to oxidative stress, which is associated with many diseases and premature aging. The main sources of antioxidants in rose tea are polyphenols. Diets rich in polyphenols are thought to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, as well as protect your brain from degenerative disease. A study of 12 rose cultivars found the phenol content and antioxidant activity of rose tea to be equal to or greater than those of green tea. Rose tea is particularly rich in gallic acid. This antioxidant compound accounts for 10–55% of the tea’s total phenol content and is known to have anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.