Bioactivity of Lemon Balm Kombucha

Authors:
Dragana D etojevi-Simin, Aleksandra S Velianski, Dragoljub D Cvetkovi, Sinia L Markov, Jasminka Mranovi, Vinja V Bogdanovi, Slavica V olaji

Abstract:
There is inadequate published data referring to bioactivity of lemon balm tea and its Kombucha. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate antimicrobial, antiproliferative, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic potential of lemon balm tea and its Kombucha with consuming acidity. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar-well diffusion method. Cell growth effects were determined in HELA, MCF7, and HT-29 human tumor cell lines. Genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects were determined using chromosome aberration assay in Chinese hamster cell line CHO-K1. Differences between control and treated groups were evaluated using analysis of variance at a significance level of p < 0.05. Kombucha from lemon balm tea (Melissa officinalis L.) exhibited antimicrobial activity against prokaryotic microorganisms independently of their cell wall structure (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria), while there was no observed activity against eukaryotes (yeasts and molds). There was an absence of genotoxic effects, while antigenotoxic effects of lemon balm Kombucha and tea were confirmed on MMC-damaged CHO-K1 cells. For the explanation of cell growth effects that were not concentration-dependent, the concept of hormesis was used. Antiproliferative activity was lower compared with traditional Kombucha and Satureja montana L. Kombucha, with lemon balm tea showing higher activity than its Kombucha.

Keywords: acidity, antimicrobial, cells



Country: Serbia

Citation: Food and Bioprocess Technology, 5(5), 1756-1765.

Study Mailing Address:
Oncology Institute of Bojvodina, Institutski put 4, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia

Date Updated: March 26, 2020