Effect of Kombucha tea on chromate(VI)-induced oxidative stress in albino rats

The effect of Kombucha tea (KT) on oxidative stress induced changes in rats subjected to chromate treatment are reported. KT feeding alone did not sho w any significant change in malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione ( GSH) levels, but did enhance humoral response and delayed type of hypersens itivity (DTK) response appreciably over control animals. Chromate treatment significantly enhanced plasma and tissue MDA levels, decreased DTH respons e considerably, enhanced glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities: ho wever, no change in GSH, superoxide dismutase and antibody titres was notic ed. KT feeding completely reversed the chromate-induced changes. These resu lts show that Kombucha tea has potent anti-oxidant and immunopotentiating a ctivities. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.