J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 14, no. 4, Article ID 2703, Jul-Aug 2026.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.4.2703

Original Article

Eugenyl salicylate nanoemulsion in roselle kombucha: Culturable counts and SCOBY-associated 16S/ITS microbial profiles

 

[Nanoemulsión de salicilato de eugenilo en kombucha de roselle: recuentos cultivables y perfiles 16S/ITS asociados a SCOBY]

 

Warsito Warsito^1,2*, Elok Zubaidah³, Tri Ardyati⁴, Risna Silvianti^1,2, Rista N. Rohmah², Aqidatul Izza²

 

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia.

²Center of Innovation on Essential Oil, Directorate of Innovation in the Science and Technology Park, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia.

³Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia.

⁴Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia.

*E-mail: warsitoub@ub.ac.id

 

Abstract

Context: Roselle kombucha may serve as a matrix for hydrophobic bioactive compounds; however, its microbial profile after supplementation with eugenyl salicylate nanoemulsion remains insufficiently characterized.

Aims: To evaluate the initial physicochemical characteristics, culturable microbial counts, and bacterial and fungal profiles associated with the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) in untreated roselle kombucha (KR) and eugenyl salicylate nanoemulsion-supplemented roselle kombucha (KR+ES).

Methods: Eugenyl salicylate-containing systems in roselle kombucha were characterized based on particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Culturable bacterial and fungal counts were determined using culture-dependent methods. SCOBY-associated bacterial and fungal profiles were explored using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer amplicon sequencing at post-treatment time points. Sequencing data were interpreted descriptively because one sample per condition was analyzed.

Results: KR+ES had a particle size of 178.59 ± 0.77 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.319 ± 0.025, and a zeta potential of −7.78 ± 0.11 mV. Culturable bacterial counts were lower in KR+ES than in KR, decreasing from 5.39 ± 0.01 log CFU/mL to 2.52 ± 0.07 log CFU/mL. Culturable fungal counts decreased from 5.16 ± 0.12 log CFU/mL to 4.04 ± 0.52 log CFU/mL. Descriptive SCOBY-associated profiles showed differences involving Liquorilactobacillus, Komagataeibacter, Acetobacter, Dekkera, and Zygosaccharomyces.

Conclusions: Eugenyl salicylate nanoemulsion supplementation was associated with lower culturable microbial counts and descriptive differences in bacterial and fungal profiles in roselle kombucha. Further validation is required before practical applications can be established.

Keywords: fungi; Hibiscus; high-throughput nucleotide sequencing; kombucha tea; microbiota; particle size.

 

 

Resumen

Contexto: La kombucha de roselle puede servir como matriz para compuestos bioactivos hidrofóbicos; sin embargo, su perfil microbiano tras ser suplementada con una nanoemulsión de salicilato de eugenilo está poco caracterizado.

Objetivos: Evaluar las características fisicoquímicas iniciales, los recuentos microbianos cultivables y los perfiles bacterianos y fúngicos asociados al cultivo simbiótico (SCOBY) de kombucha de roselle sin tratar (KR) y suplementada con nanoemulsión de salicilato de eugenilo (KR+ES).

Métodos: Los sistemas con salicilato de eugenilo en kombucha de roselle se caracterizaron por su tamaño de partícula, índice de polidispersidad y potencial zeta. Los recuentos bacterianos y fúngicos se determinaron mediante cultivo. Los perfiles asociados al SCOBY se evaluaron mediante secuenciación de 16S e ITS. Los datos se interpretaron de forma descriptiva, ya que se analizó una muestra por condición.

Resultados: El sistema KR+ES presentó un tamaño de partícula de 178.59 ± 0.77 nm, un índice de polidispersidad de 0.319 ± 0.025 y un potencial zeta de −7.78 ± 0.11 mV. Los recuentos bacterianos cultivables disminuyeron de 5.39 ± 0.01 a 2.52 ± 0.07 log CFU/mL, y los fúngicos, de 5.16 ± 0.12 a 4.04 ± 0.52 log CFU/mL. Los perfiles descriptivos asociados al SCOBY mostraron diferencias que involucraron a Liquorilactobacillus, Komagataeibacter, Acetobacter, Dekkera y Zygosaccharomyces.

Conclusiones: La suplementación se asoció con recuentos cultivables más bajos y diferencias descriptivas en los perfiles bacterianos y fúngicos. Se requiere una validación adicional antes de establecer aplicaciones prácticas.

Palabras Clave: Hibiscus; hongos; microbiota; secuenciación de nucleótidos de alto rendimiento; tamaño de partícula; té de kombucha.

 

 

https://jppres.com/jppres/pdf/vol14/jppres_14.4.2703.pdf

Citation Format: Warsito W, Zubaidah E, Ardyati T, Silvianti R, Rohmah RN, Izza A (2026) Eugenyl salicylate nanoemulsion in roselle kombucha: Culturable counts and SCOBY-associated 16S/ITS microbial profiles. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 14(4): 2703. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.4.2703

 

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