Review Article: Does kombucha tea attenuate the hepato-nepherotoxicity induced by a certain environmental pollutant?

Trichloroethylene (TCE) may induce oxidative stress which generates free radicals and alters antioxidants or oxygen-free radical scavenging enzymes.  The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of oral administration of kombucha tea in rats with TCE as an environmental pollutant. Methods: Twenty male albino rats were divided into four groups: the control group treated with vehicle, Kombucha (KT)-treated group, TCE-treated group and KT/TCE-treated group. Liver and kidney lipid peroxidation, glutathione content, nitric oxide (NO) and total blood free radical concentrations were evaluated. Serum urea, creatinine level, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGTP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were also measured.
Results: TCE administration increased the malondialhyde (MDA) and NO contents in liver and kidney, urea and creatinine concentrations in serum, total free radical level in blood and GGTP and LDH activities in serum, whereas it decreased the glutathione (GSH) level in liver and kidney homogenate. KT administration significantly improved lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress induced by TCE. Conclusion: The present study indicates that Kombucha may repair damage caused by environmental pollutants such as TCE and may be beneficial to people who deal with these chemicals.