CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF READY TO DRINK JUICE ENRICHED WITH ARTEMISIA ANNUA

Artemisia annua is used to prepare a tea for the treatment of malaria, but this traditional method was not diffused around the world. This might be due to time to prepare the tea and its taste. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and characterize a ready to drink (RTD) pineapple juice enriched with Artemisia annua. RTD juice was obtained by the infusion of Artemisia annua leaves and stems in pineapple juice (100%) or in 75% pineapple juice and 25% water. Microbiological analysis was explored following the method of AFNOR. The chemical composition, the phytochemical and physicochemical properties of RTD juice were performed using standard colorimetric methods. The identification of Artemisinin was done using high performance liquid chromatography. The two RTD juices produced showed a satisfactory microbiological quality. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of vitamin C, which varies from 14.30 mg/100g ± 0.12 to 4.10 mg/100g ± 0.10, coumarins, reducing sugars also a pH which varies from 4.07± 0.09 to 4.20 ± 0.10 in both RTD juices. The Brix degree of both RTD juices varied from 10.70 ± 0.08 to 16.60 ± 0.10°Brix. The (HPLC) revealed a peak of artemisinin in both RTDjuices. The data obtained from this study showed that these two RTD juices contain bioactive substances and might be used to treat malaria.