• 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.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.246-251
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• 1999

To extend the storage period and to inhibit contamination of Kimchi by Escherichia coli, conditions of Kimchi brining and effects of the fermentation starter, halophilic Lactobacillus HL-48 were investigated. Optimum brining condition for Kimchi was accomplished in 15% NaCl and at pH2.5-3.0 adjusted by lactic acid. Starter-treated Kimchi showed pH 4.2 after 18hr fermentation, while the pH of starter-untreated Kimchi resulted in 3.3. After 36hr fermentation, the number of E. coli in starter-treated Kimchi was found clearly to decrease and not detected macroscopically, but contamination of E. coli (5.3$\times$103CFU/ml) was observed in starter-untreated sample. Organic acids in Kimchi contained organic acids such as oxalic acid, citric acid, malic acid and lactic acid. among ther, lactic acid content was remarkably high in the early fermentation stages. However, from 24hr fermentation, lactic acid content of starter-untreated Kimchi was higher than that of starter-treated Kimchi.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.21 no.6 s.90
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• pp.838-843
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• 2005

When ingredients of Kimchi were mixed and stored in $18^{\circ}C$, lactic acid bacteria, such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum, were selectively grown up. Herefore, to understand why lactic acid bacteria were selectively cultured in Kimchi, antibacterial activities of Kimchi ingredients against some pathogens and Kinlchi lactic acid bacteria were investigated. Kimchi mixed with all ingredients significantly inhibited the growth of all tested pathogens: S. typhimurium, S. sonnei, and E. coli. Kimchi without green onion, garlic or ginger inhibited the growth of S. typhimurium, but did not E. coli and S. sonnei. However, Kimchi without red pepper powder did not inhibit the growth of all tested pathogens. All ingredients of Kimchi did not inhibit the growth of L. plantarum and L. mesenteroides. These results suggest that Kimchi ingredients can synergistically inhibit the growth of pathogens and Kimchi may be a selective medium for lactic acid bacteria.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.64-67
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• 2005

Commercial kimchi and sauerkraut were analyzed for their D- and L-lactic acid contents. Ranges of D- and L-lactic acid contents in commercial kimchi were 17-57 (38.51 mean) and 25-87 (64.47 mean) mM, respectively. Ratio of D-lactic acid on L-lactic acid (D/L) was 0.50-0.80 (0.60 mean). Ranges of D- and L-lactic acid contents in commercial sauerkraut were 68.96-103.62 (88.97 mean) and 74.46-82.26 (78.91 mean) mM, respectively, with D/L of 0.90-1.26 (1.13 mean). Results reveal kimchi and sauerkraut contained a significant amount of D-lactic acid, with sauerkraut showing a higher content than kimchi, while L-lactic acid contents were not significantly different.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2008

Kimchi is a representative traditional food in Korea and a type of vegetable product that is the unique complex lactic acid fermentation in the world. It can be considered as a unique fermented food generated by various flavors, which are not included in raw materials, that can be generated by mixing and fermenting various spices and seasonings, such as red pepper powder, garlic, ginger, and salted fish, added to Chinese cabbages. Functionalities in Kimchi have been approved through several studies and the probiotic function that is mainly based on lactic acid bacteria including their physical functions in its contents has also verified. Studies on the verification of the safety of Kimchi including its physiological functions have been conducted. In particular, the function of lactic acid bacteria, which is a caused of the fermentation of Kimchi. Although the lactic acid bacteria contributed to the fermentation of Kimchi is generated from raw and sub-materials, the lactic acid bacteria attached on Chinese cabbages has a major role in the process in which the fermentation temperature and dominant bacteria are also related to the process. The salt used in a salt pickling process inhibits the growth of the putrefactive and food poisoning bacteria included in the fermentation process of Kimchi and of other bacteria except for such lactic acid bacteria due to the lactic acid and several antimicrobial substances generated in the fermentation process, such as bacteriocin and hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the carbon dioxide gas caused by heterolactic acid bacteria contributes to the inhibition of aerobic bacteria. Furthermore, special ingredients included in sub-materials, such as garlic, ginger, and red pepper powder, contribute to the inhibition of putrefactive and food poisoning bacteria. The induction of the change in the intestinal bacteria as taking Kimchi have already verified. In conclusion, Kimchi has been approved as a safety food due to the fact that the inhibition of food poisoning bacteria occurs in the fermentation process of Kimchi and the extinction of such bacteria.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.948-953
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• 2006

The D-form of lactic acid is frequently detected in fermented foods, and an excessive dietary intake of D-lactic acid may induce metabolic stress in both infants and patients. This work was carried out to determine the prevailing microorganisms relevant to the accumulation of D-lactic acid in kimchi. Leuconostoc (Leuc.) mesenteroides and Leuc. citreum primarily synthesized D-lactate with a small quantity of L-form. Leuc. gelidum and Leuc. inhae evidenced patterns similar to this. Lactobacillus (Lb.) plantarum and Lb. brevis were shown to convert glucose into a balanced mixture of D-/L-lactic acid, whereas Lb. casei principally synthesized L-lactic acid and a very small quantity of D-lactic acid. When kimchi was incubated at 8 or $22^{\circ}C$, D-lactic acid was over-produced than L-form. Leuconostoc was determined as the primary producer between the initial to mid-phase of fermentation and Lb. plantarum or Lb. brevis seemed to boost D-lactic acid content during later stage of acid accumulation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.743-752
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• 1999

The purpose of the paper is to explore the current knowledge on the nutritional evaluation, cholesterol-lowering effect and antitumor activity of kimchi and its ingredients(Korean cabbage, garlic, red pepper powder, ginger and onion). Kimchi contains high contents of nutrients such as vitamins(ascorbic acid, $\beta$-carotene and vitamin B complex), minerals(calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorous), essential amino acids and dietary fiber. Kimch also contains high levels of lactic acid bacteria, allicin, capsaicin, organic acid, phenol compounds, flavonoid and sulfur compounds. The dietary fiber and lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi are effective in improving intestinal microflora of human. Isoluble dietary fiber shows anticancer activity, but soluble dietary fiber shows hypocholesterolemic effect. Lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi acts as a hypocholesterolemic or anticancer agent. A major ingredient of kimchi is mainly cruciferous and allium family vegetables, which were also reported to prevent cancer and atherosclerosis. It is suggested that kimchi is important not only as one of the traditional fermented Korean food but also as therapeutic agent for carcinogenesis and hypercholesterolemic state.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 1996

This study was conducted to enhance the shelf-life of Kimchi and to make the unique taste of Kimchi by fermentation control. Kimchis, Prepared by win baechu soaked in 10% salt solutions containing 0.2-0.3% organic acids (OS-Kimchi), acetic acid, citric acid (CA-Kimchi), lactic acid, its mixtures and formic acid+acetic acid+fumalic acid+malic acid+citric acid(FAFMC), were examined for pH, titratable acidify, sensory evaluation, the number of total microbe and lactic acid bacteria, content of organic acids and texture during fermentation at 1$0^{\circ}C$. The decrease of pH and the increase in acidity, CA-Kimchi showed lower than those of control and various OS-Kimchi. Total microbe, lactic acid bacteria, content of lactic acid of CA-Kimchi were lower than those of control. The hardness of CA-Kimchi measured instrumentally was higher than that of control. Sensory scores of CA-Kimchi were also lower than those of control, so the Kimchi maintained good crispness and overall taste.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.329-333
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• 1998

Cell wall (lactic acid bacteria-sonicated precipitate ; LAB-SP) and cytosoll(lactic acid bacteria-sonicated supernatant ; LAB-SS) fractions were prepared from kimchi fermenting lactic acid bacteria such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus fermentum , Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici, with Lactobacillus acidophillus isolated from yogurt. Using the Ames mutagenicity test and SOS chormotest system, the antimutagenic acitivity of those cell fractions was studied . One hundered eighty $\mu$l of LAB-SP from lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi, excepting Pediococcus acidilactici, supressed the mutagenicity of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4-NQO) in Ames mutagenicity test and SOS chromotes system , by above 90% and 60% , respectively. LAB-SP from lactic acid bacteria also inhibited the mutagenicity mediated by 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido [4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2). Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus acidphillus had higher antimutagenicity against Trp-P-2). Lactobacillus fermentum , Lactobacillus plantarum , and Lactobacillus acidphillus had higher antimutagenicity against Trp-P-2 than the other lactic acid bacteria. However, LAB-SS of lactic acid bacteria did not show any mutagenic activity against 4-NQO in Ames mutagenicity test and SOS chromotest systems. On the mutagenicity of MEIQ and Trp-P-2 , LAB-SS of lactic acid bacteria from kimchi or dairy products exhibited a weaker inhibitory effect than LAB-SP of those bacteria. These results represent that, whether the lactic acid bacteria from kimchi are viable or nonviable, antimutagenic acitivity was still effective. We suggest that the strong, antimutaganic activity of lactic acid bacteria might be found in the cell wall fraction , rather than in the cytosol fraction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2008

The Chinese cabbage kimchi, baechoo-kimchi, is the most popular type of kimchi in Korea. This study was performed to investigate the changes of index microorganisms (aerobic bacteria, psychrotrophilic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli), lactic acid bacteria, pH, and acidity of kimchi during the long-term fermentation and ripening. A homemade-style traditional Korean baechoo-kimchi, was prepared from Chinese cabbage, red pepper, green onion, garlic, ginger, and salt-fermented anchovy sauce, and then incubated at $10^{\circ}C$ for 28 days. In the baechoo-kimchi, the number of aerobic bacteria increased with time. The number of psychrotrophilic bacteria maintained their numbers $(10^4CFU/g)$ in the kimchi during the fermentation. Coliforms and E. coli were not detected in the kimchi. The pH of kimchi decreased and the acidity of kimchi increased over time. Lactic acid bacteria, which are representative of fermentative microorganisms in the kimchi process showed rapid growth in the earlier stage of fermentation and increased steadily after 7 days. The counts of lactic acid bacteria were at a level of $10^4CFU/g$ early in the fermentation stage, reaching a level of $10^8CFU/g$ after 14 days, and at this point pH was 4.18 and acidity reached 0.63, indicating that the optimal state of kimchi fermentation. This study suggests that the lactic acid bacteria which were proliferated in kimchi during the ripening and fermentation could contribute to improving the taste and flavor of kimchi and inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms that might exist in kimchi.