Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protective effect of kombucha tea against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice: a biochemical and histopathological study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acetaminophen overdose causes severe hepatotoxicity leading to liver failure in experimental animals and humans. This study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of kombucha tea (KT) against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Forty male Balb/c mice were divided into four equal groups: (1) the control group, (2) KT-treated group, (3) acetaminophen-treated group, and (4) KT/acetaminophen-treated group. All mice in group 4 were given KT orally for 7 days before a single hepatotoxic dose of acetaminophen (1,000 mg/kg orally). Activities of liver marker enzymes in serum; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and direct and total bilirubin levels were determined. Acetaminophen challenge caused significant increases in the levels of bilirubin and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH), while TP and ALB levels were reduced significantly. Histopathologic assessments showed that severe glycogen storage in hepatocytes, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, mononuclear cell infiltration in portal area, dilation of central veins, and capillarization also reduced in KT/acetaminophen group compared to acetaminophen-treated mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest that KT has protective effect on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamson GM, Harman AW (1993) Oxidative stress in cultured hepatocytes exposed to acetaminophen. Biochem Pharmacol 45(11):2289–2294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alavi-Shoushtari S, Asri-Rezai S, Abshenas J (2006) A study of the uterine protein variations during the estrus cycle in the cow: a comparison with the serum proteins. Anim Reprod Sci 96(1–2):10–20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andlauer W, Kolb J, Fürst P (2000) A novel efficient method to identify beta-glucuronidase activity in rat small intestine. J Parenter Enter Nutr 24(5):308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avizeh R, Najafzadeh H, JALALI M, Shirali S (2009) Evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of silymarin and N-acetylcysteine in acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 33(1):95–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bajt ML, Knight TR, Farhood A, Jaeschke H (2003) Scavenging peroxynitrite with glutathione promotes regeneration and enhances survival during acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 307(1):67

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belloso-Morales G, Hernández-Sánchez H (2003) Manufacture of a beverage from cheese whey using a “tea fungus” fermentation. Rev Latinoam Microbiol 45(1/2):5

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blanc PJ (1996) Characterization of the tea fungus metabolites. Biotechnol Lett 18(2):139–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chu SC, Chen C (2006) Effects of origins and fermentation time on the antioxidant activities of kombucha. Food Chem 98(3):502–507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emmanuel S, Amalraj T, Ignacimuthu S (2001) Hepatoprotective effect of coumestans isolated from the leaves of Wedelia calendulacea Less. in paracetamol induced liver damage. Indian J Exp Biol 39(12):1305

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gharib AO (2009) Effects of Kombucha on oxidative stress induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Chin Med 4(1):1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gharib O, Gharib M (2008) Kombucha tea ameliorates trichloroethylene induced hepatic damages in rats via inhibition of oxidative stress and free radicals induction. Egypt J Sci Applic 21(2):481–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Gujral JS, Knight TR, Farhood A, Bajt ML, Jaeschke H (2002) Mode of cell death after acetaminophen overdose in mice: apoptosis or oncotic necrosis? Toxicol Sci 67(2):322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hattori A, Yamada N, Nishikawa T, Fukuda H, Fujino T (2001) Protective effect of ajoene on acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury in mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 65(11):2555–2557

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hinson JA, Mays JB, Cameron AM (1983) Acetaminophen-induced hepatic glycogen depletion and hyperglycemia in mice. Biochem Pharmacol 32(13):1979–1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwalokun B, Efedede B, Alabi-Sofunde J, Oduala T, Magbagbeola O, Akinwande A (2006) Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Vernonia amygdalina on acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in mice. J Med Food 9(4):524–530

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayabalan R, Marimuthu S, Swaminathan K (2007) Changes in content of organic acids and tea polyphenols during kombucha tea fermentation. Food Chem 102(1):392–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King EJ, Armstrong AR (1934) A convenient method for determining serum and bile phosphatase activity. Can Med Assoc J 31(4):376

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SST, Buters J, Pineau T, Fernandez-Salguero P, Gonzalez FJ (1996) Role of CYP2E1 in the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen. J Biol Chem 271(20):12063

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Makler MT, Hinrichs DJ (1993) Measurement of the lactate dehydrogenase activity of Plasmodium falciparum as an assessment of parasitemia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 48(2):205

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maksimovic Z, Malencic KN (2005) Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity of Maydis stigma extracts. Bioresour Technol 96(8):873–877

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murugesan G, Sathishkumar M, Jayabalan R, Binupriya A, Swaminathan K, Yun S (2009) Hepatoprotective and curative properties of Kombucha tea against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity. J Microbiol Biotechnol 19(4):397

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagasawa HT, Goon DJW, Muldoon WP, Zera RT (1984) 2-Substituted thiazolidine-4(R)-carboxylic acids as prodrugs of l-cysteine. Protection of mice against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. J Med Chem 27(5):591–596

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oz HS, McClain CJ, Nagasawa HT, Ray MB, de Villiers WJS, Chen TS (2005) Diverse antioxidants protect against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18(6):361–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ram VJ (2003) Herbal preparations as a source of hepatoprotective agents. Drug News Perspect 14:353–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Reitman S, Frankel S (1957) A colorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases. Am J Clin Pathol 28(1):56

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Revathi K, Yogananda M (2006) Effect of bromadiolone on haematology, liver and kidney in Mus musculus. J Environ Biol 27(1):135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Riordan SM, Williams R (2002) Alcohol exposure and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity. Addict Biol 7(2):191–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadjadi J (1998) Cutaneous anthrax associated with the Kombucha “mushroom” in Iran. JAMA 280(18):1567

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sai Ram M (2000) Effect of Kombucha tea on chromate (VI)-induced oxidative stress in albino rats. J Ethnopharmacol 71(1–2):235–240

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strubelt O, Dost-Kempf E, Siegers CP, Younes M, Völpel M, Preuss U, Dreckmann JG (1981) The influence of fasting on the susceptibility of mice to hepatotoxic injury. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 60(1):66–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thyagarajan S, Jayaram S, Gopalakrishnan V, Hari R, Jeyakumar P, Sripathi M (2002) Herbal medicines for liver diseases in India. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 17:S370–S376

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen N, Bessems J, Van de Straat R (1992) Molecular aspects of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity and its mechanism-based prevention. Drug Metab Rev 24(3):367

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang ZW, Ji BP, Zhou F, Li B, Luo Y, Yang L, Li T (2009) Hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of kombucha tea in high cholesterol fed mice. J Sci Food Agric 89(1):150–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Jalil Abshenas

  2. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Amin Derakhshanfar & Saeid Hasanzadeh

  3. School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia

    Mohammad Hosein Ferdosi

Authors
  1. Jalil Abshenas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amin Derakhshanfar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohammad Hosein Ferdosi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Saeid Hasanzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jalil Abshenas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abshenas, J., Derakhshanfar, A., Ferdosi, M.H. et al. Protective effect of kombucha tea against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice: a biochemical and histopathological study. Comp Clin Pathol 21, 1243–1248 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1273-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1273-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation