Kombucha tea
Common name
Kombucha
ID
HD0043
Scientific name of the plant
N/A
Anatomical part for use
N/A
Human use
Miscellaneous
Summary
Kombucha (also tea mushroom, tea fungus, or Manchurian mushroom when referring to the culture; Latin name Medusomyces gisevii) is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink commonly consumed for its purported health benefits. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of bacteria and yeast. Juice, spices, fruit or other flavorings are often added to enhance the taste of the beverage.
Kombucha is thought to have first originated in China where the drink is traditional. By the early 20th century it had spread to Germany, Russia, and other parts of Eastern Europe. Kombucha is now homebrewed globally, and also bottled and sold commercially by various companies.Kombucha is produced by fermenting sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a "mother" or "mushroom". The microbial populations in a SCOBY vary. The yeast component generally includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with other species; the bacterial component almost always includes Gluconacetobacter xylinus to oxidize yeast-produced alcohols to acetic acid (and other acids). Although the SCOBY is commonly called "tea fungus" or "mushroom", it is actually "a symbiotic growth of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic yeast species in a zoogleal mat [biofilm]". The living bacteria are said to be probiotic, one of the reasons for the popularity of the drink.Numerous implausible health benefits have been attributed to drinking kombucha; there is no evidence to support any of these claims. The beverage has caused rare serious adverse effects, possibly arising from contamination during home preparation, so it is not recommended for therapeutic purposes. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 2 (Independent reports from multiple medical centers)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
Hepatotoxicity Description
Several cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury have been attributed to commercial dietary supplements that contain usnic acid. “LipoKinetix” was one such supplement advertised as a weight loss and body building supplement. Each tablet contained sodium usniate (100 mg), norephedrine (25 mg), diiodothyronine (100 mg), yohimbine (3 mg) and caffeine (100 mg). The product has been linked to multiple instances of acute liver injury. The time to onset was 2 to 12 weeks and the clinical presentation resembled acute viral hepatitis with onset of fatigue and nausea, followed by jaundice. The pattern of serum enzyme elevations was hepatocellular, with marked elevations in serum
ALT
and minimal increases in alkaline phosphatase levels. Liver biopsy demonstrated acute hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation. Immunoallergic features (fever, rash and eosinophilia) were not common and autoantibodies were usually not present. Recovery was rapid with stopping the dietary supplement, but some cases were severe and led to acute liver failure and either death or need for emergency liver transplantation. Instances of acute hepatitis have also been reported with other multi-ingredient dietary supplements that contain usnic acid, but much more rarely than with LipoKinetix which was withdrawn from distribution after a FDA warning letter. Rare instances of hepatotoxicity have also been reported with use of lichen based teas known as Kombucha tea, but whether these were due to usnic acid or another contaminant of the tea was not shown. (Source: LiverTox)
Common name
Kombucha
ID
HD0043
Scientific name of the plant
N/A
Anatomical part for use
N/A
Human use
Miscellaneous
Summary
Kombucha (also tea mushroom, tea fungus, or Manchurian mushroom when referring to the culture; Latin name Medusomyces gisevii) is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink commonly consumed for its purported health benefits. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of bacteria and yeast. Juice, spices, fruit or other flavorings are often added to enhance the taste of the beverage. Kombucha is thought to have first originated in China where the drink is traditional. By the early 20th century it had spread to Germany, Russia, and other parts of Eastern Europe. Kombucha is now homebrewed globally, and also bottled and sold commercially by various companies.Kombucha is produced by fermenting sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a "mother" or "mushroom". The microbial populations in a SCOBY vary. The yeast component generally includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with other species; the bacterial component almost always includes Gluconacetobacter xylinus to oxidize yeast-produced alcohols to acetic acid (and other acids). Although the SCOBY is commonly called "tea fungus" or "mushroom", it is actually "a symbiotic growth of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic yeast species in a zoogleal mat [biofilm]". The living bacteria are said to be probiotic, one of the reasons for the popularity of the drink.Numerous implausible health benefits have been attributed to drinking kombucha; there is no evidence to support any of these claims. The beverage has caused rare serious adverse effects, possibly arising from contamination during home preparation, so it is not recommended for therapeutic purposes. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 2 (Independent reports from multiple medical centers)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
Hepatotoxicity Description
Several cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury have been attributed to commercial dietary supplements that contain usnic acid. “LipoKinetix” was one such supplement advertised as a weight loss and body building supplement. Each tablet contained sodium usniate (100 mg), norephedrine (25 mg), diiodothyronine (100 mg), yohimbine (3 mg) and caffeine (100 mg). The product has been linked to multiple instances of acute liver injury. The time to onset was 2 to 12 weeks and the clinical presentation resembled acute viral hepatitis with onset of fatigue and nausea, followed by jaundice. The pattern of serum enzyme elevations was hepatocellular, with marked elevations in serum ALT and minimal increases in alkaline phosphatase levels. Liver biopsy demonstrated acute hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation. Immunoallergic features (fever, rash and eosinophilia) were not common and autoantibodies were usually not present. Recovery was rapid with stopping the dietary supplement, but some cases were severe and led to acute liver failure and either death or need for emergency liver transplantation. Instances of acute hepatitis have also been reported with other multi-ingredient dietary supplements that contain usnic acid, but much more rarely than with LipoKinetix which was withdrawn from distribution after a FDA warning letter. Rare instances of hepatotoxicity have also been reported with use of lichen based teas known as Kombucha tea, but whether these were due to usnic acid or another contaminant of the tea was not shown. (Source: LiverTox)