Functional foods have been identified as whole foods and fortified, enriched, or enhanced products which have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet on a regular basis, at effective levels. As consumer awareness on functional food escalates, the interest towards conducting scientific studies in this field has also proportionately increased. Many of the traditional food products are known to possess bioactive components, thus qualifying as functional food. Kombucha tea is produced by fermenting sugared black tea with a mixed culture of yeast and bacteria. Kombucha tea has gained immense popularity in recent times due to many associated health benefits. The therapeutic effects of this beverage are thought to be derived from the chemical composition of this beverage, mainly the polyphenols and secondary metabolites which are produced during fermentation. However, the safety aspects of the beverage also need to be taken into account when qualifying the beverage as a functional food. Nevertheless, Kombucha tea could be easily recognized as a beverage which is able to replace the consumption of carbonated beverages due to its possession of health benefits and therapeutic properties.
Summary
Enhancement of antioxidant and starch hydrolase inhibitory properties of king coconut water when subjected to fermentation with the ‘tea fungus’ was evaluated. pH, colour, viscosity, ethanol content, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, ferulic and p‐coumaric acid contents and starch hydrolase inhibitory activities were analysed for 7 days in fermented and unfermented king coconut water samples. The fermented sample had a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) in pH. Colour values indicated the fermented beverage to increase in ‘yellowness’ over time. A statistically significant increase in the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity (P < 0.05) was observed from day 1 onwards in the fermented sample. The starch hydrolase inhibitory activities in the fermented beverage had statistically significantly increased (P < 0.05) by day 7. Overall, the study highlights an enhancement of the antioxidant and starch hydrolase inhibitory properties of king coconut water as a result of the kombucha‐based fermentation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.