Hepatoprotective effects of kombucha tea: identification of functional strains and quantification of functional components.



Authors:
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Abstract:
Background: Kombucha tea (KT), a traditional health beverage containing potential hepatoprotective agents, is fermented from sugared tea by a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria for 8 days. However, the functional strains that produce components for the hepatoprotective property of KT remain unclear. Multiple strains are involved in traditional KT production. Therefore, KT has not been standardized or produced commercially. This study aimed to identify the functional strains and quantify the functional components with hepatoprotective effects in kombucha tea.RESULTS: Gluconacetobacter sp. A4 was one of the microorganisms in KT in which the D-saccharic acid-1,4-lactone (DSL) produced by G. sp. A4 was significantly higher than that produced by original tea fungus at 8 days of fermentation. Traditional KT (TKT,tea broth fermented by mixed tea fungus), modified KT (MKT, fermented by single G. sp. A4), and DSL significantly inhibited the acetaminophen-induced increase of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride, and malondialdehyde,as well as facilitating the reduction of total antioxidant capacity in mice. Furthermore, MKT and TKT are both similar to DSL in terms of protection against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice. These results suggested a positive relationship between DSL content and the hepatoprotective effect of TKT, MKT, and DSL groups. CONCLUSION: G. sp. A4 was concluded to be a potential functional strain, and DSL might be the key functional component for the hepatoprotective property in KT. The stronger capability of G. sp. A4 in producing DSL makes it a better choice for the commercial production of KT.

Keywords: modified kombucha tea, acetaminophen‐induced liver injury, gluconacetobacter sp d‐saccharic acid‐1, 4‐lactone commercial production



Country: China

Citation: ABSTRACT ONLY J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Jan 30;94(2):265-72

Study Mailing Address:
Baoping Ji, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food fromPlant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, ChinaAgricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.

Date Updated: January 14, 2021

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