Lead induced oxidative stress: beneficial effects of Kombucha tea.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of oral administration of Kombucha tea (K-tea) on lead induced oxidative stress.


METHODS
Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1 mL of 3.8% lead acetate solution daily alone or in combination with K-tea orally for 45 d, and the antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation were evaluated.


RESULTS
Oral administration of lead acetate to rats enhanced lipid peroxidation and release of creatine phosphokinase and decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase, GPx). Lead treatment did not alter humoral immunity, but inhibited DTH response when compared to the control. Lead administration also increased DNA fragmentation in liver. Oral administration of Kombucha tea to rats exposed to lead decreased lipid peroxidation and DNA damage with a concomitant increase in the reduced glutathione level and GPx activity. Kombucha tea supplementation relieved the lead induced immunosuppression to appreciable levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that K-tea has potent antioxidant and immunomodulating properties.
Dipti
P
P
Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India. rnprasad32@hotmail.com
Yogesh
B
B
Kain
A K
AK
Pauline
T
T
Anju
B
B
Sairam
M
M
Singh
B
B
Mongia
S S
SS
Kumar
G Ilavazhagan Devendra
GI
Selvamurthy
W
W
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000363:Agaricales; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
D000975:Antioxidants; D013662:Tea; D007854:Lead