Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics

The current study investigated the fermentation of sauerkraut juice (SKJ) utilizing various symbiotic starter cultures (specifically kombucha and water kefir starter cultures, respectively). It aimed to assess the physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological properties of the resul...

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Main Authors: Richardos Nikolaos Salek, Pavel Pleva, Daniela Sumczynski, Štěpán Vinter, Jana Kopečková, Anita Rejdlová, Eva Lorencová
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1570465/full
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author Richardos Nikolaos Salek
Pavel Pleva
Daniela Sumczynski
Štěpán Vinter
Jana Kopečková
Anita Rejdlová
Eva Lorencová
author_facet Richardos Nikolaos Salek
Pavel Pleva
Daniela Sumczynski
Štěpán Vinter
Jana Kopečková
Anita Rejdlová
Eva Lorencová
author_sort Richardos Nikolaos Salek
collection DOAJ
description The current study investigated the fermentation of sauerkraut juice (SKJ) utilizing various symbiotic starter cultures (specifically kombucha and water kefir starter cultures, respectively). It aimed to assess the physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological properties of the resulting beverages. Black tea kombucha and apple juice water kefir fermented beverages were also analyzed for comparative purposes. Key parameters such as pH values, total acidity, total soluble solids, and total dissolved solids were measured. The initial pH exhibited significant variation, decreasing over the course of fermentation due to organic acid production. As fermentation progressed, total acidity increased, a phenomenon attributed to the activities of acetic and lactic acid bacteria. The flow behavior of the fermented beverages was characterized using the Power-law model, revealing that most samples displayed non-Newtonian behavior, indicating that their viscosity and shear stress changed with shear rate. Specifically, the consistency index declined while the flow behavior index rose. Additionally, seven biogenic amines were detected in the fermented samples, with their low concentrations posing minimal risk to consumer safety, resulting from microbial activity during fermentation. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, revealing that black tea kombucha showed the highest levels of antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content varied between samples and decreased over time, particularly in the water kefir-like beverages. The microbiological analysis indicated a gradual increase in beneficial microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, throughout the fermentation process. These findings underscore the potential of SKJ as a promising base for developing functional beverages, providing valuable insights into how different fermentation starter cultures influence the quality and health-promoting properties of fermented beverages. In light of the growing consumer interest in functional, particularly plant-based foods, the fermentation of SKJ presents an opportunity to create probiotic-rich beverages.
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spelling doaj-art-078c818f8eaf4c9cb3d1a7a60ecf83bb2025-08-20T03:21:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-05-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15704651570465Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristicsRichardos Nikolaos Salek0Pavel Pleva1Daniela Sumczynski2Štěpán Vinter3Jana Kopečková4Anita Rejdlová5Eva Lorencová6Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, CzechiaDepartment of Environment Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, CzechiaDepartment of Food Analysis and Chemistry, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Zlin, CzechiaDepartment of Environment Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, CzechiaDepartment of Food Technology, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, CzechiaDepartment of Food Technology, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, CzechiaDepartment of Food Technology, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, CzechiaThe current study investigated the fermentation of sauerkraut juice (SKJ) utilizing various symbiotic starter cultures (specifically kombucha and water kefir starter cultures, respectively). It aimed to assess the physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological properties of the resulting beverages. Black tea kombucha and apple juice water kefir fermented beverages were also analyzed for comparative purposes. Key parameters such as pH values, total acidity, total soluble solids, and total dissolved solids were measured. The initial pH exhibited significant variation, decreasing over the course of fermentation due to organic acid production. As fermentation progressed, total acidity increased, a phenomenon attributed to the activities of acetic and lactic acid bacteria. The flow behavior of the fermented beverages was characterized using the Power-law model, revealing that most samples displayed non-Newtonian behavior, indicating that their viscosity and shear stress changed with shear rate. Specifically, the consistency index declined while the flow behavior index rose. Additionally, seven biogenic amines were detected in the fermented samples, with their low concentrations posing minimal risk to consumer safety, resulting from microbial activity during fermentation. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, revealing that black tea kombucha showed the highest levels of antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content varied between samples and decreased over time, particularly in the water kefir-like beverages. The microbiological analysis indicated a gradual increase in beneficial microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, throughout the fermentation process. These findings underscore the potential of SKJ as a promising base for developing functional beverages, providing valuable insights into how different fermentation starter cultures influence the quality and health-promoting properties of fermented beverages. In light of the growing consumer interest in functional, particularly plant-based foods, the fermentation of SKJ presents an opportunity to create probiotic-rich beverages.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1570465/fullsauerkraut juiceblack teaapple juicekombuchawater kefirrheology
spellingShingle Richardos Nikolaos Salek
Pavel Pleva
Daniela Sumczynski
Štěpán Vinter
Jana Kopečková
Anita Rejdlová
Eva Lorencová
Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
sauerkraut juice
black tea
apple juice
kombucha
water kefir
rheology
title Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
title_full Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
title_fullStr Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
title_short Sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures: comprehensive assessment of physicochemical, rheological, antioxidant, and microbiological characteristics
title_sort sauerkraut juice fermented with different symbiotic starter cultures comprehensive assessment of physicochemical rheological antioxidant and microbiological characteristics
topic sauerkraut juice
black tea
apple juice
kombucha
water kefir
rheology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1570465/full
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