Pharmacology and Pharmacoeconomics of Kombucha as a Functional Immunomodulatory Food for Children with Special Needs at Elementary School Level: Literature Review
DOI:
10.29303/jbt.v26i1.11652Published:
2026-02-22Downloads
Abstract
Kombucha is a fermented tea-based beverage containing various bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, organic acids (acetic, gluconic, and glucuronic acids), and probiotic microorganisms produced by the Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY). These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities that may support immune function. This study aimed to analyze the pharmacological and pharmacoeconomic aspects of kombucha as a functional immunomodulatory food for elementary-level children with special needs through a systematic literature review approach. Data were collected from Scopus-indexed journals and other reputable scientific databases published between 2016 and 2025. The findings indicate that kombucha exerts pharmacological effects by modulating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, enhancing antioxidant activity, and improving gut microbiota balance, thereby contributing to immune homeostasis. From a pharmacoeconomic perspective, kombucha shows potential as a cost-effective preventive functional food intervention with relatively low production costs and potential long-term healthcare cost efficiency. However, direct clinical evidence in children with special needs remains limited, highlighting the need for further experimental and clinical studies to establish safety, efficacy, and comprehensive cost-benefit evaluation.
Keywords:
Children with special needs Functional food Immunomodulator Kombucha Pharmacology PharmacoeconomicsReferences
de Oliveira, P. V., da Silva Júnior, A. H., de Oliveira, C. R. S., Assumpção, C. F., & Ogeda, C. H. (2023). Kombucha benefits, risks and regulatory frameworks: A review. Food Chemistry Advances, 2, 100288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2023.100288
Hananta, L., Kurniawan, S. V., Arieselia, Z., Surjono, E., Setiawan, J., Lieputra, A. A., ... & Dewi, R. (2025). Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Gut Microbiota Modulation Effects of Kombucha: a Literature Review. Journal of Urban Health Research, 3(2), 1-9. https://ejournal.atmajaya.ac.id/index.php/juhr/article/view/6445
Khamidah, A., Antarlina, S. S., Pengkajian, B., Pertanian, T., & Timur, J. (2020). Peluang Minuman Kombucha Sebagai Pangan Fungsional Opportunities Of Kombucha Drinking As A Functional Food. Agrika: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Pertanian, 14(2), 184-200. https://doi.org/10.31328/ja.v14i2.1753
Kusmiati, M., Aritonang, S., Imbrani, H., Sakova, M., Aritonang, A. A. D., Aritonang, H. S., & Sudrajat, M. H. (2025). Intervensi Minuman Fermentasi Kombucha untuk Meningkatkan Imunitas Perempuan Menopause: Program Pengabdian Masyarakat sebagai Bagian dari Diplomasi Kesehatan Nirmiliter. Dinamika Sosial: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat dan Transformasi Kesejahteraan, 2(4), 303-317. https://doi.org/10.62951/dinsos.v2i4.2609
Mohammadshirazi, A., & Kalhor, E. B. (2016). Energy and cost analyses of kombucha beverage production. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 668-673. 10.1016/j.rser.2015.11.022
Ningtyas, R. (2025). Tinjauan Sistematis tentang Mekanisme Antidiabetik Kombucha dalam Regulasi Kendali Glikemik. Jejak digital: Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin, 1(6), 4582-4598. https://doi.org/10.63822/b3cez170
Pujiyanti, A. S., & Ilmi, A. N. (2025). Potensi antioksidan kombucha bunga Telang (Clitoria ternatea) sebagai minuman fungsional. Jurnal Ilmiah Pangan Halal, 7(2), 258-269. https://doi.org/10.30997/jiph.v7i2.19537
Rezaldi, F., Agustina, N., Wisnuwardhani, P., Huda, F. A., & Suminar, E. (2026). Various Pharmacological Activities in the Development of Kombucha as A Functional Food Ingredient with Economic Potential: A Literature Review. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 26(1), 282-300. 10.29303/jbt.v26i1.11417
Rezaldi, F., Nabilla, J., Nurmaulawati, R., Ayuwardani, N., Suminar, E., Zulkarnain, M., ... & Somantri, U. W. (2025). Manfaat Kefir Dan Yoghurt Sebagai Prospek Masa Depan Bahan Baku Kosmetik Antiaging Dan Ramah Lingkungan. Jurnal Kesehatan Tujuh Belas (Jurkes TB), 6(1). https://ojs.stikestujuhbelas.ac.id/index.php/jurkestb/article/view/299
Rezaldi, F., Utami, A. W., Wijayanti, F. E. R., Purbanova, R., Wati, D. R., Suminar, E., ... & Yenny, R. F. (2024). Aktivitas Antioksidan Pada Sediaan Kombucha Bunga Telang Yang Diracik Dari Formulasi Gula Aren Dan Madu Sr12 Sebagai Produk Bioteknologi Pangan Dan Farmasi. Agribios, 22(2), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.36841/agribios.v22i2.5209
Sandambi, N. (2025). The Kombucha Market in Portugal Until 2021. Lett Econ Res Updates, 1(2), 01-08.
Sornkayasit, K., Jumnainsong, A., Srijampa, S., Ruknarong, L., Buddhisa, S., Thanonkeo, P., ... & Tippayawat, P. (2024). Immunomodulatory potentials of modified kombucha with pineapple by-products in aging: An ex vivo study. Journal of Functional Foods, 112, 105933.
Zubaidah, E., Nisak, Y. K., Susanti, I., Widyaningsih, T. D., Srianta, I., & Tewfik, I. (2021). Turmeric Kombucha as effective immunomodulator in Salmonella typhi-infected experimental animals. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 37, 102181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102181
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Siti Jubaedah, Yugga Tri Surahman, Firrman Rezaldi, Fahmi Alamil Huda, Erni Suminar, Syariful Mubarok
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.
