Antigenotoxic and Life-Prolonging Effects of Flavoured Kombuchas on Drosophila melanogaster

Research background. Kombucha is a fermented beverage with several health benefits; however, to improve its antioxidant activity, new raw materials such as hop, madimak and hawthorn were included in the present study. Experimental approach. The somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) was performed on the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) to evaluate the antigenotoxic potential of black tea-flavoured kombucha and three other flavours of kombuchas (hop, madimak and hawthorn) against H2O2- and K2Cr2O7-induced genotoxicity. Furthermore, a lifespan assay was performed to assess the effects of kombuchas on the longevity of the fruit fly. Results and conclusions. According to the results obtained from the SMART assay, hop-flavoured kombucha attenuated genotoxicity induced by H2O2, and madimak-flavoured kombucha reduced genotoxicity induced by H2O2 and K2Cr2O7. Black tea- and hop-flavoured kombucha prolonged the lifespan of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) after the treatment with H2O2 and K2Cr2O7. Novelty and scientific contribution. Hop-flavoured kombucha is a promising antioxidant that protects the genome and extends the lifespan of the fruit fly. This study sheds light on novel beverages that can combat ageing and protect against genotoxicity.
Pozadina istraživanja. Kombucha je fermentirani napitak s višestrukim povoljnim učinkom na ljudsko zdravlje. No, da bi se poboljšala njegova antioksidacijska aktivnost, u ovom su mu radu dodane nove sirovine, kao što su hmelj, madimak (Polygonum cognatum) i glog. Eksperimentalni pristup. Provedena je analiza somatskih mutacija i rekombinacija (tzv. SMART) vinske mušice (Drosophila melanogaster), za procjenu učinka napitka kombucha obogaćenog s crnim čajem i s još tri vrste biljaka (hmelj, madimak i glog) na smanjenje genotoksičnosti H2O2 i K2Cr2O7. Nadalje, proveden je test dugovječnosti, radi procjene utjecaja napitka kombucha na životni vijek vinske mušice. Rezultati i zaključci. Iz rezultata dobivenih pomoću SMART može se zaključiti da je kombucha s dodatkom hmelja smanjila genotoksičnost H2O2, a kombucha s dodatkom madimaka smanjila genotoksičnost H2O2 i K2Cr2O7. Napici kombucha s dodatkom crnog čaja i hmelja produljili su životni vijek vinske mušice (Drosophila melanogaster) nakon izlaganja H2O2 i K2Cr2O7. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Kombucha s dodatkom hmelja je obećavajući antioksidans, koji štiti genom i produljuje životni vijek vinske mušice. Ovo istraživanje otkriva nove napitke koji usporavaju starenje i štite stanice od genotoksičnih spojeva.