• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1057-1062
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• 2016

Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable food, the production of which involves brining of Korean cabbage, blending with various other ingredients (red pepper powder, garlic, ginger, salt-pickled seafood, etc.), and fermentation. Recently, kimchi has also become popular in the Western world because of its unique taste and beneficial properties such as antioxidant and antimutagenic activities, which are derived from the various raw materials and secondary metabolites of the fermentative microorganisms used during production. Despite these useful activities, analysis of the microbial community present in kimchi has received relatively little attention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bacterial community structure from the raw materials, additives, and final kimchi product using the culture-independent method. Specifically, polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was used to analyze the 16S rRNA partial sequences of the microflora. One primer set for bacteria, 341F^GC-518R, reliably produced amplicons from kimchi and its raw materials, and these bands were clearly separated on a 35-65% denaturing gradient gel. Overall, 117 16S rRNA fragments were identified by PCR-DGGE analysis. Pediococcus pentosaceus, Leuconostoc citreum, Leuconostoc gelidum, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were the dominant bacteria in kimchi. The other strains identified were Tetragenococcus, Pseudomonas, Weissella, and uncultured bacterium. Comprehensive analysis of these microorganisms could provide a more detailed understanding of the biologically active components of kimchi and help improve its quality. PCR-DGGE analysis can be successfully applied to a fermented food to detect unculturable or other species.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.595-598
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• 2006

Semi-quantitative monitoring of Lactobacillus sake and Lactobacillus plantarum, major and minor microorganisms in kimchi, respectively, and Lactobacillus paraplantarum, recently shown to be present in kimchi, was carried out by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Changes in the 3 species during kimchi fermentation were monitored by the threshold cycle ($C_T$) of real-time PCR. As fermentation proceeded at $15^{\circ}C$, the number of L. sake increased dramatically compared to those of L. plantarum and L. paraplantarum. During fermentation at $4^{\circ}C$, the growth rates of the 3 species decreased, but the proportions of L. plantarum and L. paraplantarum in the microbial ecosystem were almost constant. Considering the $C_T$ values of the first samples and the change in the $C_T$ value, the number of L. sake is no doubt greater than those of L. plantarum and L. paraplantarum in the kimchi ecosystem. L. sake seems to be one of the major microorganisms involved in kimchi fermentation, but there is insufficient evidence to suggest that L. plantarum is the primary acidifying bacterium.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.265-269
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• 2003

Gamma irradiation treatment was performed at the early and mid-fermentation stages of Kimchi preparation. Changes in fermentative microorganisms and lactate dehydrogenase activity during the fermentation periods were investigated to determine proper irradiation point for extending the shelf life of Kimchi. Initial levels of acid producing bacteria and yeast in Kimchi were 10$^4$ CFU g$^{-1}$ and 10$^1$ CFU g$^{-1}$ , and reached up to 10$^{9}$ CFU g$^{-1}$ after 15 days and 10$^{7}$ CFU g$^{-1}$ after fermentation for 30 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The radiation resistance of acid producing bacteria in the earlier stage (D$_{10}$ value was 0.87 kGy) was higher than at the midfermentation stage (after 10 days at 1$0^{\circ}C$, D$_{10}$ value was 0.69 kGy). Microbial growth and lactate dehydrogenase activity were inhibited significantly by gamma irradiation at the early fermentation stage of Kimchi and acidification was effectively delayed during the subsequent storage period. Although the growth of fermentative microorganisms was inhibited by gamma irradiation at the mid-fermentation stage of Kimchi, lactate dehydrogenase activity was maintained and acidification continued during the storage period.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 2017

Kimchi cabbage is one of the four major vegetable crops in Korea. The total annual production of kimchi cabbage, the main material of kimchi, was 20,559 tons in 2015. Kimchi cabbage is one of the majer crops produced by farmers which accounts for about 80% of the total leaf vegetable production in Korea. As the consumption of environmental-friendly agricultural products increases, food safety is one of the major public health concerns. We analyzed the biological hazards of kimchi cabbage produced by two types of cultivation methos such as organic farming and conventional farming using various culture media and microscopy. A total of 432 samples were analysed for presence of sanitary indicator microorganisms (aerobic plate count, coliform count, yeast & mold) and food-borne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, environmental Listeria, Bacillus cereus). The population of sanitary indicating microorganisms and food borne pathogens was under 5 Log CFU/g in all tested samples. The results of total microorganism numbers of leaf surface showed a positive correlation to those of soil samples. Additionally, we examined chemical factors such as pesticide residues and heavy metals in soil samples. All tested samples did not shown contamination levels higher than the standard limit.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 1994

This study was conducted to examine the effects of the kinds and the levels of salted and fermented seafoods, shrimp and juice of anchovy, on the properties of kimchi during fermentation. There were no significant differences in pH and contents of total acid, reducing sugar, and organic acid examined except lactic acid contents among the kimchi samples at the same fermentation period. Until four days of fermentation, kimchi containing higher level of salted and fermented anchovy juice tended to have greater number of total microorganisms and of Leuconostoc genus microorganisms than the other kimchi samples. Sensory characteristics were not significantly different among the samples at the same fermentation period. significant decrease in pH and in reducing sugar content, and increase in total acid content were noticed in all the kimchi samples during fermentation. This was more marked in kimchi samples containg salted and fermented seafoods. Contents of malic and succinic acids decreased while those of actic and acetic acids increased with longer fermentation. There were significant changes in the numbers of microorganisms during fermentation. Carbonic mouthfeel, salty taste, sour taste and staled flay or of all the kimchi samples increased while firmness and crispness decreased with extended fermentation.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.222-229
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• 2016

Kimchi is a traditional Korean food prepared by fermenting vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, which are seasoned with various ingredients, including red pepper powder, garlic, ginger, green onion, fermented seafood (Jeotgal), and salt. The various unique microorganisms and bioactive components in kimchi show antioxidant activity and have been associated with an enhanced immune response, as well as anti-cancer and anti-diabetic effects. Red pepper inhibits decay due to microorganisms and prevents food from spoiling. The vast amount of biological information generated by academic and industrial research groups is reflected in a rapidly growing body of scientific literature and expanding data resources. However, the genome, biological pathway, and related disease data are insufficient to explain the health benefits of kimchi because of the varied and heterogeneous data types. Therefore, we have constructed an appropriate semantic data model based on an integrated food knowledge database and analyzed the functional and biological processes associated with kimchi in silico. This complex semantic network of several entities and connections was generalized to answer complex questions, and we demonstrated how specific disease pathways are related to kimchi consumption.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 1992

Kimchi is a very popular traditional fermented vegetable in Korea, however, contaminations of $NO_3$, $NO_2$ and nitrosamines in Kimchi were suspected. In this review, ingredients used in manufacturing Kimchi, kinds of Kimchi, microorganisms involved the fermentation and nutritional values of Kimchi are introduced. The quantitated levels of $NO_3$, $NO_2$ and secondary amines in the ingredients of Kimchi, and the changes of the contents of $NO_3$, $NO_2$ and nitrosamines during Kimchi fermentation were shown. The level of $NO_3$ during Kimchi fermentation reduced greatly, and the content of $NO_2$ was also trace amounts. NDMA is a major nitrosamine found in Kimchi, but the levels were trace or not detected.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.813-818
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• 1995

The effect of retarding the fermentation of Kimchi by the extract of leek(Allium tuberosum) were tested by measuring the changes in pH, acidity and total cell number as well as number of microorganisms involved in Kimchi fermentation such as Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Streptococcus and yeasts. The changes of pH and acidity of Kimchi stored at $25^{\circ}C$ indicated that the shelf-life of Kimchi with leek extract was retarded by 1.5 days compared with Kimchi without leek extract. Growth of Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus and yeasts in Kimchi were remarkably inhibited by adding the leek extract at the initial and the 1st day of fermentation. This result suggested the methanol extract of leek can be sucessfully used for the extension of shelf-life of Kimchi.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1035-1038
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• 1995

Antimicrobial activity of bamboo leaves extract on microorganisms related to kimchi fermentation was investigated. Bamboo leaves were extracted with several ogranic solvents such as methanol, acetone, ethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The bamboo extract with ethyl acetate showed the strongest antimicrobial activity among them. Strong antimicrobial activities of the extract against microorganisms related to kimchi fermentation and food spoilage indicated that the extract had a wide range of antimicrobial spectrum. The antimicrobial activity was especially strong against Brettanomyces custersii, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pichia membranaefaciens which cause kimchi softening. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of bamboo leaves extract was higher than that of 0.5% and 1.0% sorbic acid, and moreover it was stronger in pH 5 compared to pH 7.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2016

Lactic acid bacteria showing both protease activity and the capacity to produce casein phosphopeptide (CPP) were isolated from Korean kimchi, a traditional food made from fermented vegetables. Among the 450 strains of isolated lactic acid bacteria, the strain MG-379 showed high protease activity and the highest ability to produce CPP. Characterization results showed that MG-379 was gram-positive and measured $0.6-0.8{\mu}m$ in diameter. DNA sequencing of MG-379 and comparison with other sequences using BLAST revealed a 100% identity with the sequence of Enterococcus faecalis. However, MG-379 showed a higher CPP-producing ability than E. faecalis KCCM 40450. Accordingly, MG-379 was newly named as E. faecalis MG-379. Amount of free calcium liberated by CPPs was 2227.5 and 1151.6 mg/kg for E. faecalis MG-379 and E. faecalis KCCM (control), respectively.