• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.786-794
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• 2011

To investigate the sanitary-quality level of commercial kimchi in South Korea, the pH, acidity, and microbial-flora changes in the kimchi were determined. Samples of kimchi produced by three different manufacturers (a small grocery store, a small/medium-sized enterprise, and a large food company) were collected. Freshly made kimchi was purchased and fermented at $10^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. The pH of the commercial kimchi on the purchased day was approximately pH 5.8, and that on the $10^{th}$ day of fermentation was ${\simeq}pH$ 4.1. The kimchi purchased from a large company showed a more rapid decline in pH level during fermentation. The saltiness of the kimchi purchased from a medium-sized company was slightly higher than those of the other commercial kimchi samples. The saccharinity index of the kimchi produced by a small grocery store was higher than those of the other samples, and its value deviation was also higher than those of the other commercial kimchi samples. A higher total viable-cell count and a higher lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) count were detected in the kimchi from the large food company at the beginning of fermentation compared to the samples of the two other kimchi manufacturers. The highest cell numbers of gram-positive bacteria (except LAB) and coliform bacteria were detected from the small-grocery-store kimchi, but the coliform bacteria count gradually decreased during fermentation although such bacteria were still detected until the $10^{th}$ day of fermentation. In contrast, coliform bacteria were not detected in the samples from the medium-sized and large food companies. Yeast, which is detected in over-ripened kimchi, was detected in the unfermented kimchi from the small grocery store, which had a below-0.36% acidity level. The gram-positive bacteria (except LAB) that were detected in all the tested commercial kimchi samples were determined to be Bacillus spp., and the gram-negative bacteria were determined to be Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Sphingomonase spp., and Strenophomonas spp. The proportions of all the aforementioned bacteria in the kimchi samples, however, were different depending on the samples that were taken. These results indicate that a more sanitary kimchi production process and a more systematic kimchi production manual should be developed to industrialize and globalize kimchi.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.664-669
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• 2010

Lactic acid bacteria from traditional Korean foods of Tarak and Kimchi was isolated and characterized against carcinogenic Helicobacter pylori. Five Tarak and 30 Kimchi, traditional lactic acid-fermented foods, were collected from Andong area and the markets in Seoul, respectively and 15 lactic acid bacteria were isolated. Among them, two isolates were selected from high growth-inhibitory activities on H. pylori. The isolates were identified as Streptococcus thermophilus LAB kw15 from Tarak and Leuconostoc mesenteroides LAB kw5 from Kimchi by the biochemical characteristics and 16S DNA sequencing. The culture solutions of the isolates adjusted to pH 7.0 showed H. pylori inhibition. The isolates grew well and H. pylori did not grow during the co-culture with those strains. Therefore, L. mesenteroides LAB kw5 and S. thermophilus LAB kw15 might be the candidates as the functional lactic acid bacteria for improving stomach health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2018

Purpose: This review article provides an overview of the trends of research papers on the health benefits of kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria published from 1995 to 2017. Methods: All publications from 1995 to 2017 regarding kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria were collected, reviewed, and classified. This review article covers the publications of the health benefits of kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria on experimental, clinical trials, and epidemiology studies. Results: The number of publications on kimchi over the period were 590: 385 publications in Korean and 205 publications in English. The number of publications on the health benefits of kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria were 95 in Korean and 54 in English. The number of publications on kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria were 84 and 38, respectively, in the experimental models. Ten research papers on kimchi in clinical trials and 7 publications in epidemiology were found. Kimchi or kimchi lactic acid bacteria had protective effects against oxidative stress, mutagenicity, toxicity, cancer, dyslipidemia, hypertension, immunity, and inflammation in in vitro, cellular, and in vivo animal models. Moreover, kimchi had effects on the serum lipids, intestinal microbiota, iron status, obesity, and metabolic parameters in human clinical trials. In epidemiology, kimchi had effects on hypertension, asthma, atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, cholesterol levels, and free radicals. Conclusion: This review focused on the publications regarding the health benefits of kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria, suggesting the future directions of studies about kimchi and kimchi lactic acid bacteria by producing a database for an evaluation of the health benefits of kimchi.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the antifungal substances and the antifungal activity against fungi of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi. LAB from kimchi in Imsil showed antifungal activity against Penicillium brevicompactum strain FI02. LAB LI031 was identified as Lactobacillus sakei subsp. Antifungal substances contained in L. sakei subsp. ALI033 culture media were unstable at high pH levels. Both, the control and proteinase K and protease treated samples showed clear zones, suggesting that the antifungal substances produced by ALI033 were non-protein substances unaffected by protesases. Both, the control and catalase showed clear zones, suggesting that the antifungal metabolite was not $H_2O_2$. The molecular weights of the antifungal substances were ${\leq}3,000Da$. The organic acid content of crude antifungal substances produced by L. sakei subsp. ALI033 showed high concentrations of lactic acid (502.47 mg/100 g). Therefore, these results suggest that antifungal substance produced by L. sakei subsp. ALI033 is most likely due to its ability in producing organic acid.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.655-659
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• 2014

Food-grade protective agents, namely, skim milk, yeast extract, soy powder, and trehalose, were studied for their ability to improve the viability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including Weissella cibaria SW1-1, Lactobacillus plantarum A-1, Lactobacillus sakei 2-12 24, and Leuconostoc citreum 3526. The best results were obtained with 10% soy powder; approximately 90% cell viability was observed during the freeze-drying process. Increase in the concentration of soy powder did not cause a proportional increase in the survival rate of LAB. Further, no significant difference was observed when two agents were combined in a 1:1 ratio (p<0.05).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.217-223
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• 2010

To evaluate the antiallergic effect of fermented Ixeris sonchifolia (IS, family Compositae), we prepared IS kimchi, isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from it, fermented IS with these LAB, and investigated their antiallergic effects. IS kimchi inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction induced by an IgE-antigen complex as well as the scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 or histamine more potently than IS. When IS was fermented with LAB isolated from IS kimchi, its antiallergic effects was also increased. Of LAB used for fermentation, Lactobacillus brevis more potently increased the antiallergic effects. Its main constituents, chlorogenic acid and luteolin, potently inhibited the PCA reaction induced by the IgE-antigen complex as well as the pruritis induced by compound 48/80 or histamine. These constituents inhibited the expression of pro inflammatory and allergic cytokines, TNF-$\alpha$. and IL-4, and transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by the IgE-antigen complex in RBL-2H3 cells, as well as the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by the IgE-antigen complex. Luteolin more potently inhibited these allergic reactions than chlorogenic acid. These findings suggest that the antiallergic effect of IS can be increased by LAB fermentation, and the fermented IS might improve allergic reactions such as pruritus, anaphylaxis, and inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.801-807
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• 2016

In Western countries, kimchi, the Korean traditional fermented cabbage, is considered to be a healthy. However, it is one of the main sources of the high sodium content of the Korean diet. In order to decrease the sodium content, we manufactured a low-sodium kimchi (LK, salinity 1.0%) and 4 additional low-sodium kimchi starters in which each of 4 lactic acid bacteria (Lb. sakei 1, Lb. sakei 2, Lb. palntarum and W. koreensis) were added. The LKL1 to LKL4 samples were prepared by adding 4 single LAB starters, each with an inoculum size of $10^6CFU/g$, when the cabbage was mixed with kimchi sauce. The kimchi starters were fermented at $10^{\circ}C$ until reaching 0.5% acidity, and then stored at $-1.5^{\circ}C$ until reaching 0.75% acidity. The pH and acidity of the starter kimchi changed more rapidly in the early phase of fermentation (up to 0.75% acidity) than control low-sodium kimchi. After the acidity of the kimchi starters reached 0.75% it remained constant. As the fermentation progressed, the total aerobic and lactic acid bacteria concentrations in the kimchi starter with added Lb. sakei 1 were the same as in the control low-sodium kimchi. The low-sodium kimchi fermentation of the kimchi starter with added Lb. palntarum progressed differently due to a difference in acid resistance. The kimchi starter with added Lb. sakei 2 had an overall liking score that was slightly higher than that of the control low-sodium kimchi due to a lower off-flavor.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.256-265
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• 2011

To investigate the effect of a solar salt on Kimchi fermentation, Chinese cabbages were brined with four-years aged solar salt (FS), one-year aged solar salt (OS), and purified salt (PS). The Kimchi was fermented at $7^{\circ}C$ for 33 days. The changes in pH and acidity of the Kimch brined with PS was slower than those of Kimchis brined with FS and OS. In the Kimchis with FS and OS, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts increased from 7.10~7.22 log CFU/mL at 0 day to 9.26~9.42 log CFU/mL at 12 days, after which counts slightly decreased to 8.04~8.75 log CFU/mL by 33 days of fermentation. The LAB counts of the kimchi with PS slowly increased from 7.24 log CFU/mL at 0 day to 8.99 log CFU/mL at 27 days, after then which counts sharply decreased to 7.92 log CFU/mL by 33 days of fermentation. Yellowness (b) color values of the kimchi with PS (59.10) was higher than the Kimchi with FS (53.68) and the Kimchi with OS (53.77). Hardness of the Kimchi with FS was more firm than the other Kimchis after 33 days storage. Sensory evaluation of the Kimchi with FS showed higher score than that of the other Kimchis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.960-966
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• 2022

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exert antagonistic activity against root-knot nematodes, mainly by producing organic acids via carbohydrate fermentation. However, they have not yet been used for root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) control owing to a lack of economic feasibility and effectiveness. In this study, we aimed to isolate organic acid-producing LAB from kimchi (Korean traditional fermented cabbage) and evaluated their nematicidal activity. Among the 234 strains isolated, those showing the highest nematicidal activity were selected and identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WiKim0090. Nematicidal activity and egg hatch inhibitory activity of WiKim0090 culture filtrate were dose dependent. Nematode mortality 3 days after treatment with 2.5% of the culture filtrate was 100%, with a 50% lethal concentration of 1.41%. In pot tests, the inhibitory activity of an L. plantarum WiKim0090-copper sulfate mixture on gall formation increased. Compared to abamectin application, which is a commercial nematicide, a higher control value was observed using the WiKim0090-copper sulfate mixture, indicating that this combination can be effective in controlling the root-knot nematode.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.1717-1726
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• 2013

Fermentation characteristics and health functionalities of kimchi by inoculating kimchi lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starters were studied. We manufactured single LAB starter kimchi (Lactobacillus plantarum pnuK, Lactobacillus plantarum 3099K, Leuconostoc mesenteroides pnuK), mixed LAB starter kimchi (Lb. plantarum pnu/Leu. mesenteroides pnuK, Lb. plantarum 3099/Leu. mesenteroides pnuK) with inoculum size of $10^6$ CFU/g, as well as naturally fermented kimchi (NK), and fermented them for 6 days at $15^{\circ}C$. The pH and acidity of the early phase of fermentation were not different, but kimchi with the starters showed rapid changes in the pH and acidity from 2 days of fermentation. As the fermentation progressed, the level of total aerobic bacteria and Lactobacillus sp. increased similarly with or without Lb. plantarum (LP) inoculation. However, the level of Leuconostoc sp. was high in kimchi inoculated with Leuconostoc sp. starter. In the sensory evaluation test, kimchi with starters received higher overall acceptability scores than those of NK; mixed starter added kimchi earned the highest score. In DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, kimchi with the starters exhibited higher activity than that of NK. In the MTT assay of HCT-116 and HT-29 human colon cancer cells, NK showed inhibition rates of 63.4 and 51.9%, but LPpnuK achieved 77.1 and 68.8%, respectively. This study showed that inoculating starters in kimchi increased in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities, and single starter (LP) added kimchi revealed higher functionality than the kimchi with mixed starter. Kimchis with the starters effectively up-regulated the gene expressions of the pro-apoptotic gene of Bax, but down-regulated Bcl-2. They promoted expressions of p53 and p21, and suppressed expressions of inflammation-related genes, iNOS and COX-2, compared with NK. Taken together, it is expected that using starters may help manufacture kimchi with improved sensory quality and health functionality.