Antiproliferative and antimicrobial activity of traditional Kombucha and Satureja montana L. Kombucha.

PURPOSE: To carry out a preliminary investigation of the biological activity of Kombucha beverages from Camellia sinensis L. (black tea) and Satureja montana L. (winter savory tea), that have consuming acidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell growth effect was measured by sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay on HeLa (cervix epithelioid carcinoma), HT-29 (colon adenocarcinoma), and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma). Antimicrobial activity to bacteria, yeasts and moulds was determined by agar-well diffusion method. RESULTS: Consuming Kombuchas had the most expressive antimicrobial activity against all investigated bacteria, except Sarcina lutea, while unfermented tea samples had no activity. Traditional Kombucha showed higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli than acetic acid, while both neutralized Kombuchas had bacteriostatic activity on Salmonella enteritidis. Examined Kombuchas did not stimulate cell proliferation of the investigated cell lines. Antiproliferative activity of winter savory tea Kombucha was comparable to that of traditional Kombucha made from black tea. Furthermore, in HeLa cell line Satureja montana L. Kombucha induced cell growth inhibition by 20% (IC20) at lower concentration compared to the activity of water extract of Satureja montana L. obtained in our previous research. CONCLUSION: Presence of more active antiproliferative component(s) in Satureja montana L. Kombucha compared to Satureja montana L. water extract and antimicrobial component(s) other than acetic acid in both Kombuchas is suggested.

Antioxidative and antiproliferative effects of Satureja montana L. extracts.

PURPOSE: To study in vitro the antioxidative effect of 6 Satureja montana L. extracts on free radicals and their antiproliferative effect on human tumor cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidative effect of extracts on 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical was investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Cell growth effect was measured by sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay on HeLa (human cervix epidermoid carcinoma), HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines. IC(50) values were calculated from the concentration response curves following 48 h exposure time. RESULTS: The antioxidative activity of extracts increased dose-dependently at mass concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.3 mg/ml, and decreased in the following order: n-butanol > methanol > water > ethyl acetate > petroleum ether. All extracts effected cell growth but in a different way, depending on the extract dose and cell line. Extracts exhibited antiproliferative effect on HeLa cell line with IC(50) values ranging from 0.41 to 0.84 mg/ml except petroleum ether (IC(50) >1 mg/ml). Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts stimulated proliferation of HeLa cells within a concentration range from 0.0625 to 0.125 mg/ml. No extract reduced MCF-7 cells growth by 50% even at the concentration of 1 mg/ml. Only petroleum ether and chloroform extracts induced significant growth inhibition of HT-29 cells (IC(50) was approximately 0.74 mg/ml for both extracts). Strong stimulation of HT-29 proliferation was observed within a concentration range from 0.0625 to 0.25 mg/ml for petroleum ether, n-butanol and chloroform extract, and from 0.0625 to 0.5 mg/ml for methanol and water extracts, respectively. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicated that Satureja montana L. extracts are strong antioxidants in vitro. ESR data demonstrated that n-butanol, methanol and water Satureja montana L. extracts possess high antioxidative activity. Chloroform extract did not show any antioxidative activity. Satureja montana L. extracts selectively inhibited the growth of human tumor cells.