Mineral and water soluble vitamin content in the Kombucha drink

Biologically active substances (water soluble vitamins and minerals) were analyzed in 'Kombucha'-a curative liquor, produced by the so-called 'Kombucha cultivation' (Macedonian collection of microorganisms, No 734) in sweet black tea decoct. The water soluble vitamins in the Kombucha drink were separated and identified using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and quantified by the comparison of their chromatographic UV spectra with the reference compounds. Four soluble vitamins have been determinated to have the following concentrations: vitamin B-1 0.74 mg ml(-1), vitamin B-6 0.52 mg ml(-1), vitamin B-12 0.84 mg ml(-1) and vitamin C 1.51 mg ml(-1). Mineral elements of nutritional and toxicological importance were determined in dissolved ash using atomic absorption chromatography (AAS). Mineral composition content involved determination of the essential elements: zinc, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt. Investigations of some toxic elements showed that lead and chromium were present in very small amounts, whereas cadmium was not found.