PMID: 

J Integr Med. 2019 Jan ;17(1):57-65. Epub 2018 Dec 5. PMID: 30555015

Abstract Title: 

Antidiarrheal and protein conservative activities of Psidium guajava in diarrheal rats.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Psidium guajava occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. It has been used to treat inflammation, diabetes, fever, hypertension and ulcers. However, its antidiarrheal and protein conservative activities still need to be investigated.METHODS: Fifty-four male rats were divided into normal and diarrheal rats. The normal rats were divided into 4 groups: control, low-dose P. guajava leaf extract (50 mg/kg), high-dose P. guajava leaf extract (100 mg/kg) and gallic acid. Treatments were administrated orally in 1 mL saline for a 1-month period. The diarrheal rats were divided into 5 groups: desmopressin (0.2 mg/kg) drug, low-dose P. guajava leaf extract (50 mg/kg), high-dose P. guajavaleaf extract (100 mg/kg), gallic acid and an untreated control. Doses were given daily for a 1-month period while the untreated control received no treatment.RESULTS: Diarrhea was responsible for an observed decline in kidney weight and serum sodium, potassium and chloride. Further, diarrhea was positively correlated with a significant increase in urine volume, and excretion of electrolytes, serum urea, creatinine and uric acid in the urine. In contrast, there was a proportional increase in the lipid peroxidation value in diarrhea and a significant decline was observed in serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione levels in diarrhea. Also, diarrhea inhibited blood proteins. The oral intake of P. guajava leaf extract by diarrheal rats restored all of these parameters to near normal levels. High-dose P. guajava leaf extract was more effective than the same compound at a low dose.CONCLUSION: P. guajava leaf extract elicited antidiarrheal and protein conservative effects.

read more

PMID: 

Lett Appl Microbiol. 2018 Feb ;66(2):145-152. PMID: 29193174

Abstract Title: 

Antibacterial activity of polyphenolic fraction of Kombucha against Vibrio cholerae: targeting cell membrane.

Abstract: 

: The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism of antibacterial activity of a polyphenolic fraction, composed of mainly catechin and isorhamnetin, previously isolated from Kombucha, a 14-day fermented beverage of sugared black tea, against the enteropathogen Vibrio cholerae N16961. Bacterial growth was found to be seriously impaired by the polyphenolic fraction in a dose-dependent manner. Scanning Electron Microscopy demonstrated morphological alterations in bacterial cells when exposed to the polyphenolic fraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Permeabilization assays confirmed that the fraction disrupted bacterial membrane integrity in both time- and dose-dependent manners, which were proportional to the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, each of the polyphenols catechin and isorhamnetin showed the ability to permeate bacterial cell membranes by generating oxidative stress, thereby suggesting their role in the antibacterial potential of Kombucha. Thus, the basic mechanism of antibacterial activity of the Kombucha polyphenolic fraction against V. cholerae involved bacterial membrane permeabilization and morphological changes, which might be due to the generation of intracellular ROS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of antibacterial mechanism of Kombucha, which is mostly attributed to its polyphenolic content.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The emergence of multidrug-resistant Vibrio cholerae strains has hindered an efficient anti-Vibrio therapy. This study has demonstrated the membrane damage-mediated antibacterial mechanism of Kombucha, a popular fermented beverage of sugared tea, which is mostly attributed to its polyphenolic content. This study also implies the exploitation of Kombucha as a potential new source of bioactive polyphenols against V. cholerae.

read more

PMID: 

Curr Med Chem. 2009 ;16(2):157-70. PMID: 19149568

Abstract Title: 

Immune-glutamatergic dysfunction as a central mechanism of the autism spectrum disorders.

Abstract: 

Despite the great number of observations being made concerning cellular and the molecular dysfunctions associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the basic central mechanism of these disorders has not been proposed in the major scientific literature. Our review brings evidence that most heterogeneous symptoms of ASD have a common set of events closely connected with dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the brain with enhancement of excitatory receptor function by pro-inflammatory immune cytokines as the underlying mechanism. We suggest that environmental and dietary excitotoxins, mercury, fluoride, and aluminum can exacerbate the pathological and clinical problems by worsening excitotoxicity and by microglial priming. In addition, each has effects on cell signaling that can affect neurodevelopment and neuronal function. Our hypothesis opens the door to a number of new treatment modes, including the nutritional factors that naturally reduce excitotoxicity and brain inflammation.

read more

PMID: 

Rev Environ Health. 2011 ;26(2):111-8. PMID: 21905454

Abstract Title: 

The value of ecologic studies: mercury concentration in ambient air and the risk of autism.

Abstract: 

Ecologic studies of the spatial relationship between disease and sources of environmental contamination can help to ascertain the degree of risk to populations from contamination and to inform legislation to ameliorate the risk. Population risks associated with persistent low-level mercury exposure have recently begun to be of concern and current reports implicate environmental mercury as a potential contributor in the etiology of various developmental and neurodegenerative diseases including autism and Alzheimer's disease. In this demonstration of preliminary findings, we demonstrate for Bexar County Texas and Santa Clara County California, the hypothesis that the spatial structure of the occurrence of autism has a positive co-variation with the spatial structure of the distribution of mercury in ambient air. The relative risk of autism is greater in the geographic areas of higher levels of ambient mercury. We find that the higher levels of ambient mercury are geographically associated with point sources of mercury emission, such as coal-fired power plants and cement plants with coal-fired kilns. Although this does not indicate a cause, these results should not be dismissed, but rather seen as a preliminary step for generating a hypothesis for further investigation.

read more

PMID: 

Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20 ;11(1). Epub 2018 Dec 20. PMID: 30577416

Abstract Title: 

Kombucha Beverage from Green, Black and Rooibos Teas: A Comparative Study Looking at Microbiology, Chemistry and Antioxidant Activity.

Abstract: 

Kombucha is usually obtained from the fermentation of black or green tea by a consortium of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. In this study, kombucha was prepared from the same starter consortium using green and black teas as well as, for the first time, an infusion of rooibos leaves (). Microbial diversity was analysed during fermentation both in the biofilm and in the corresponding kombuchas, using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Polyphenols, flavonoids, ethanol, and acids were quantified and anti-oxidant activities were monitored. All of the Kombuchas showed similarity in bacterial composition, with the dominance ofspp. Beta diversity showed that the yeast community was significantly different among all tea substrates, between 7 and 14 days of fermentation and between biofilm and kombucha, indicating the influence of the substrate on the fermenting microbiota. Kombucha from rooibos has a low ethanol concentration (1.1 mg/mL), and a glucuronic acid amount that was comparable to black tea. Although antioxidant activity was higher in black and green kombucha compared to rooibos, the latter showed an important effect on the recovery of oxidative damage on fibroblast cell lines against oxidative stress. These results make rooibos leaves interesting for the preparation of a fermented beverage with health benefits.

read more

PMID: 

Food Sci Biotechnol. 2019 Feb ;28(1):261-267. Epub 2018 Jul 12. PMID: 30815318

Abstract Title: 

Effect of Kombucha on gut-microbiota in mouse having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abstract: 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver disorders. Possible links have been recently found between the gut-microbiota and the host metabolism in development of NAFLD and obesity. Therefore, understanding the changes in intestinal microbiota during the progression of NAFLD, is important. In this study, the effect of Kombucha tea (KT), obtained by microbial fermentation of sugared black tea, was investigated on gut-microbiota during the progression of NAFLD. The results indicated a decrease in Erysipelotrichia class by treatment with KT in comparison to the methionine/choline-deficient (MCD)-fed db/db mice.,andgenera, were only detected in MCD-fed db/db mice and were decreased after treatment with KT, whereaswas more abundant in MCD + KT-fed mice than in MCD only-fed mice and, was found only in the MCD + KT-fed mice group. Our results demonstrated that the change of intestinal microbiota was influenced by KT intake, contributing to combat NAFLD.

read more

PMID: 

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 May 13 ;20(9). Epub 2019 May 13. PMID: 31086120

Abstract Title: 

Hepatoprotective Effect of Kombucha Tea in Rodent Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Abstract: 

Kombucha tea (KT) has emerged as a substance that protects the liver from damage; however, its mechanisms of action on the fatty liver remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the potential role of KT and its underlying mechanisms on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)./mice that were fed methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diets for seven weeks were treated for vehicle (M + V) or KT (M + K) and fed with MCD for four additional weeks. Histomorphological injury and increased levels of liver enzymes and lipids were evident in the M + V group, whereas these symptoms were ameliorated in the M + K group. The M + K group had more proliferating and less apoptotic hepatocytic cells than the M + V group. Lipid uptake and lipogenesis significantly decreased, and free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation increased in the M + K, when compared with the M + V group. With the reduction of hedgehog signaling, inflammation and fibrosis also declined in the M + K group. Palmitate (PA) treatment increased the accumulation of lipid droplets and decreased the viability of primary hepatocytes, whereas KT suppressed PA-induced damage in these cells by enhancing intracellular lipid disposal. These results suggest that KT protects hepatocytes from lipid toxicity by influencing the lipid metabolism, and it attenuates inflammation and fibrosis, which contributes to liver restoration in mice with NAFLD.

read more

PMID: 

F1000Res. 2019 ;8:12. Epub 2019 Jan 3. PMID: 31031967.2

Abstract Title: 

Anti-infective efficacy ofL. leaves against certain pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: 

Water extracts ofleaves prepared by three different extraction methods were compared with respect to their anti-infective activity againstandin the nematode host. The water extract prepared by Microwave Assisted Extraction method was found to have better anti-infective activity, and its activity was further compared with hydroalcoholic extract prepared using the same extraction method against five different pathogenic bacteria. Both these extracts could attenuate virulence of,,, and, towardsAnti-infective efficacy ofleaf extract seems partly to stem from its quorum-modulatory property, as it could modulate production of quorum sensing-regulated pigments in all the susceptible bacteria.

read more

PMID: 

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2019 Jul 16. Epub 2019 Jul 16. PMID: 31322066

Abstract Title: 

Evaluation of the Glucuronic Acid Production and Antibacterial Properties of Kombucha Black Tea.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Kombucha beverage is considered as a dietary supplement that drinking it strengthens the body's immune system and prevents diseases.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of glucuronic acid and antibacterial activity of Kombucha black tea drink during its production and storage.METHODS: The extent of glucuronic acid at two temperatures of 20°C and 30 °C was explored by the use of the HPLC system throughout the 21 days. To analysis, the antibacterial property, the supernatant influence of Kombucha black tea on the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteria were examined via the two procedures of the disc and well.RESULTS: The production of glucuronic acid also undergone a variation at 20°C from 17.0 mg/L on day 1 to roughly 27.2 mg/L on day 21, and this difference was significant. Furthermore, the quantity of this acid at 30 °C changed from 42.2 mg/L on day 1 to 48.0 mg/L on day 21. The amount of glucuronic acid produced thru storing at 30 °C was significantly greater than thatat 20 °C (p0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a perspective on glucuronic acid production (especially in 30°C rather than 20°C) and antibacterial activity of Kombucha black tea beverage.

read more

PMID: 

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 01 18 ;14(1). Epub 2017 Jan 18. PMID: 28106810

Abstract Title: 

Genetic Aspects of Susceptibility to Mercury Toxicity: An Overview.

Abstract: 

Human exposure to mercury is still a major public health concern. In this context, children have a higher susceptibility to adverse neurological mercury effects, compared to adults with similar exposures. Moreover, there exists a marked variability of personal response to detrimental mercury action, in particular among population groups with significant mercury exposure. New scientific evidence on genetic backgrounds has raised the issue of whether candidate susceptibility genes can make certain individuals more or less vulnerable to mercury toxicity. In this review, the aim is to evaluate a new genetic dimension and its involvement in mercury risk assessment, focusing on the important role played by relevant polymorphisms, located in attractive gene targets for mercury toxicity. Existing original articles on epidemiologic research which report a direct link between the genetic basis of personal vulnerability and different mercury repercussions on human health will be reviewed. Based on this evidence, a careful evaluation of the significant markers of susceptibility will be suggested, in order to obtain a powerful positive"feedback"to improve the quality of life. Large consortia of studies with clear phenotypic assessments will help clarify the"window of susceptibility"in the human health risks due to mercury exposure.

read more