Metabolomic kinetics investigation of Camellia sinensis kombucha using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics approaches

Kombucha is created through the fermentation of Camellia sinensis tea leaves, along with sucrose, utilizing a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeast cultures. Nonetheless, there exists a dearth of comprehensive information regarding the spectrum of metabolites that constitute this beverage. To explore this intricate system, metabolomics was used to investigate fermentation kinetics of Kombucha. For that, an experimental framework was devised to assess the impact of varying sucrose concentrations and fermentation temperatures over a ten-day period of kombucha fermentation. Following fermentation, samples were analyzed using an LC-QTOF-MS system and a distinctive metabolomic profile was observed. Principal component analysis was used to discriminate between metabolite profiles. Moreover, the identified compounds were subjected to classification using the GNPS platform. The findings underscore notable differences in compound class concentrations attributable to distinct fermentation conditions. Furthermore, distinct metabolic pathways were identified, specially some related to the biotransformation of flavonoids. This comprehensive investigation offers valuable insights into the pivotal role of SCOBY in driving metabolite production and underscores the potential bioactivity harbored within Kombucha.