Aflatoxin B1 degradation by microorganisms isolated from Kombucha culture

Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB1) is the most harmful mycotoxin. Aflatoxin occurrence in tea makes this beverage unsuitable for consumption and presented risks to human health. Therefore, researches in aflatoxin microbial degradation are necessary to overcome this problem. Kombucha beverage is associated with health promoting effects. Thus, novel strains (Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts) were isolated from a Kombucha culture and assessed for AFB1 degradation in the liquid medium (Man Rogosa and Sharpe broth, yeast extract peptone dextrose broth and black tea). The main strains involved in AFB1 decontamination were identified based on DNA sequencing and the toxicity of the new products was evaluated on Hep2 cells and on Brine shrimp (Artemia salina). Our results showed that after 7 days of fermentation, kombucha was able to degrade 97% of AFB1 in black tea. Moreover, the effective yeasts present in Kombucha were identified as Pichia occidentalis, Candida sorboxylosa and Hanseniaspora opuntiae and the highest AFB1 degradation capacity was accorded to P. occidentalis (59%) when cultivated in black tea. Data on cytotoxicity tests on Hep2 cells and Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) showed that the biodegraded products were less toxic than pure AFB1. These findings suggest that, kombucha isolated strains could be potential candidates for application in the food and feed industry with a potential aflatoxin B-1 detoxification properties.