Evaluation of Anti-Proliferative and Anti- Effects of Kombucha Tea Solvent Fraction on Colorectal Cancer Cell Line (HT-29)

Fermented beverage, traditionally the result of the fermentation of sweet tea by Kombucha fungus, has beneficial effects in the treatment of many diseases, especially cancer. The present study is aimed at assessing the effect of different fractions of Kombucha tea on proliferation and apoptosis on colon cancer cell line HT-29. In the present experimental study, the survival rate and cell proliferation of Kumbucha tea solvent fractions including chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, hexane, and the final aqueous phase at concentrations of 0-900 μg/ ml were investigated by MTT and clonogenic assay. The rate of apoptosis induction was assessed by DNA fragmentation assay and flowcytometry. The aqueous and butanol fractions had no cytotoxic effects. After 24 hours, the IC50 for ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hexane was determined 213/49±1/63, 296/70±2/11 and 563/2±83/29 μg/ml, respectively. The results revealed that inhibition of cell growth was dose-dependent. The concentration of IC50 in these fractions caused the DNA to fragment. Apoptosis analysis by flowcytometry with these concentrations showed that the ethyl acetate component caused apoptosis while the death caused by IC50 concentrations of chloroform and hexane fractions was more than necrosis. The dose-dependent ethyl acetate fraction of Kambucha tea induced cell death through the apoptotic pathway and it was observed to be responsible for the anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative properties. It seems to be a good candidate to prevent the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells.