ABSTRACTThe incidence and microbial load of several tea herbs on the retail market are high and decrease approximately in the order: chamomile flowers, mint leaves, linden flowers, and dog‐rose hips. Irradiation is proposed as an adequate decontamination method and the radiosensitivity of contaminating microflora is measured. Combining the knowledge of the initial contamination and the radioresistance of the contaminants, the dose requirement for efficient decontamination can be calculated. The dose satisfying commercial requirements does not exceed 10 kGy. Chemical changes in pharmacologically active components and those essential for the appearance and aroma of tea herbs were investigated. No changes of the yield and composition of ethereal oils, color pigments, polyphenols, and carotenoids were found at doses up to 10 kG
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