Protective effect of kombucha on rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet is mediated by its antioxidant activity



Authors:
, , , , ,

Abstract:
Context: Kombucha (KT) is claimed to have various beneficial effects on human health, but there is very little scientific evidence available in the literature. Objective: The present study investigates the effects of Camellia sinensis (GT) Linn. (Theaceae) and KT, two natural drinks, on cholesterol and antioxidant status using a hypercholesterolemia rat model. Materials and methods: The present study compared the free-radical scavenging abilities and polyphenol levels of GT and KT. Wistar rats fed cholesterol-rich diets were given KT or GT (5mL/kg body weight per day, po) for 16 weeks, then fasted overnight and sacrificed. The plasma lipid levels, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and -glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) serum levels, antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and creatinine and urea rats were examined. Results: KT had a phenolic compound of 9550.75mg GAE/g) followed by GT (788.920.02mg GAE/g). The free radical scavenging activity of KT was higher than GT. Compared with GT, KT induced lowered serum levels of TC, TG, VLDL-C, and LDL-C by 26, 27, 28, and 36%, respectively, and increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). KT induced a 55% decrease of TBARS level in the liver and 44% in kidney, compared with those of rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet alone. Moreover, CAT and SOD activities were reduced by 29 and 33%, respectively, in liver and 31 and 35%, respectively, in kidney, after oral administration of KT, compared with those of HCD-fed rats. Conclusion: The findings revealed that KT administration induced attractive curative effects on hypercholesterolemic, particularly in terms of liver-kidney functions in rats. Its effect on humans needs to be studied further.

Keywords: antioxidant, cholesterol, kidney, liver, ph, protein, rats



Country: Tunesia

Citation: Pharm Biol. 2015;53(11):1699-709

Study Mailing Address:
Animal Ecophysiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Sciences Faculty of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia,
b Liver Research Facility/Labo Hepatology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium,
c Research Unit Management of Coastal and Urban Environments, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia, and
d Biochemistry Laboratory, CHU Habib-Bourguiba of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

Date Updated: January 25, 2021

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