Effect of Kombucha Tea on Aflatoxin B1 Induced Acute Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats-prophylactic and Curative Studies

Kombucha tea is sugared black tea fermented with a consortium of bacteria and yeasts which forms tea fungus (Medusomyces gisevii) for 14 days. Kombucha tea is claimed to have various beneficial effects on human health but very less scientific evidences are available in the literature. In the present study, the prophylactic and curative effect of black tea (unfermented black tea) and kombucha black tea (KBT) on aflatoxin B1 induced liver damage was studied in male albino rats by analyzing hepatotoxicity markers (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase), lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase). Histopathological analysis of liver tissue was also carried out. Results revealed that kombucha tea is more potent in preventing hepatotoxicity than unfermented black tea. The mechanism of hepatoprotection offered by KBT treatment may involve the facilitation of both antioxidant and detoxification processes in the liver.