Influence of Garlic and Red Pepper on the Microflora of Kajami Shik-hae

Kajami Shik-hae processing consists of the fermentation of low salted Kajami (6% NaCl maximum) coated with a vegetable mixture, composed with cooked millet, red pepper, garlic and ginger. Lactic bacteria are the main component of the microflora. In order to determine their eventual selective role on the microflora the antimicrobial activity of garlic and red pepper was tested with some strain of bacteria and molds isolated from Shik-hae and Shik-hae raw materials. And the influence of their concentration in Kajami Shik-hae on the microflora was also checked. At the concentration of 10% garlic have no inhibitory activity against lactic bacteria but on strains of Bacillus, Micrococcus and Aspergillus niger. At the concentration of 20% red pepper showed a slight inhibitory activity on two strains of Bacillus. These results shows that red pepper and garlic are not only flavoring ingredients but they might play an important role in the control of the microflora growth and composition during Kajami Shik-hae fermentation.