Students from the Biotechnology Doctoral Program at the Padjadjaran University Graduate School, along with a team of Biotechnology lecturers, have successfully published a scientific review article in the reputable international journal Phytomedicine Plus (Elsevier). The article, titled “From fermentation to cancer prevention: The anticancer potential of Kombucha,” in-depth examines the potential of Kombucha, a popular fermented beverage, as a nutraceutical agent that plays a role in cancer prevention and therapy.

This research, led by Opik Taupiqurrohman, along with Dr. Shabarni Gaffar, Dr. Lathifah Puji Hastuti, and other collaborators, highlights how the fermentation process in Kombucha produces active chemical compounds such as glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, DSL, and other antioxidants that have the potential to suppress the expression of cancer-causing genes such as HIF-1α, VEGF, COX-2, and apoptotic proteins such as p53, Bax, and caspases.

This article is the result of a literature review of 97 scientific articles, systematically analyzed to understand the molecular mechanisms behind Kombucha’s anticancer activity. The review concludes that optimizing Kombucha fermentation can enhance its therapeutic potential and open up opportunities for further research into the development of functional food-based drugs.

This work is a concrete example of the contribution of students and lecturers from the Biotechnology Study Program at the Unpad Graduate School in producing scientific publications relevant to healthy lifestyle trends while simultaneously having a high scientific impact in the fields of health and chronic disease therapy.