https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.61.01.23.7789

Comprehensive Evaluation of Three Important Herbs for Kombucha Fermentation

Burcu Emine Tefon Öztürk^1*, Berfin Eroğlu¹, Eda Delik¹, Mustafa Çiçek² and Esra Çiçek³

¹Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, Dumlupınar Boulevard 07058, Antalya, Turkey

²Department of Biology, K.Ö. Science Faculty, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, İbrahim Öktem Boulevard 70100, Karaman, Turkey

³Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Dumlupınar Boulevard 06800, Ankara, Turkey

Article history:

Received: 18 May 2022

Accepted: 15 December 2022

Keywords:

kombucha; bioactivity; antibacterial activity; cytotoxic activity; sensory evaluation; phenolic substance

Summary:

Research background. Kombucha is consumed worldwide for its beneficial health effects. Kombucha teas fermented with various herbal infusions have become very important nowadays. Although black tea is used for kombucha fermentation, kombucha teas fermented with different herbal infusions have gained great importance. In this study, three different traditional medicinal plants, namely hops (Humulus lupulus L.), madimak (Polygonum cognatum) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) were used for the fermentation of kombucha beverages, and the bioactivity of these beverages was investigated extensively.

Experimental approach. The microbiological profile, bacterial cellulose formation, antibacterial and antiproliferative activity, antioxidant activities, sensory properties, total phenolic content, and flavonoid content of kombucha beverages were investigated. Liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS / MS) was used to identify and quantify specific polyphenolic compounds in the samples.

Results and conclusions. According to the results, the hawthorn-flavoured kombucha, which has lower free radical scavenging activity than the other samples, came into prominence in terms of sensory properties. All kombucha beverages examined showed a strong cytotoxic effect on Mahlavu and HCT116 cell lines, but only the madimak-flavoured kombucha sample, which had a higher total phenolic/flavonoid content, demonstrated antibacterial activity against all microorganisms used in the study.

Novelty and scientific contribution. Considering the results of this study, madimak could be an effective herb for the development of new kombucha beverages, although its sensory properties still need to be improved. This study contributes to science in terms of producing new fermented beverages with improved beneficial health effects.