title: Application of the Kombucha 'tea fungus' for the enhancement of antioxidant and starch hydrolase inhibitory properties of ten herbal teas.
abstract: Ten herbal teas (Acacia arabica, Aegle marmelos flower, A. marmelos root bark, Aerva lanata, Asteracantha longifolia, Cassia auriculata, Hemidesmus indicus, Hordeum vulgare, Phyllanthus emblica, Tinospora cordifolia) were fermented with the Kombucha 'tea fungus'. The pH values of the fermented beverages ranged from 4.0 to 6.0 by day 7, while the titratable acidity ranged from 2.5 to 5.0g/mL (P<0.05). Gallic acid had statistically significantly increased (P<0.05) in almost all the samples by day 7. The Oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay indicated 5 of the Kombucha beverages to have statistically significant increases (P<0.05) by day 7. The α-amylase inhibitory activities ranged from 52.5 to 67.2μg/mL in terms of IC50 values following fermentation, while the α-glucosidase inhibitory activities ranged from 95.2 to 196.1μg/mL. In conclusion, an enhancement of the antioxidant and starch hydrolase inhibitory potential of the herbal teas was observed by adding the tea fungus.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantane Road, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Mindani I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Watawana
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantane Road, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Nilakshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jayawardena
authors.affiliation: Temasek School of Applied Science, Temasek Polytechnic, 21, Tampines Avenue 1, Singapore 529757, Singapore.
authors.forename: Candy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantane Road, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: viduranga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Viduranga Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Waisundara
keywords: Acetobacter aceti; Antioxidant activity; Brettanomyces claussenii; Starch hydrolases; Zygosaccharomyces bailii