• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.581-591
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• 2020

This study investigated the probiotic properties and physiological activities of Korean fermented foods such as sikhae, young radish kimchi, and bean-curd dregs. Among the isolated lactic acid bacteria, Pediococcus inopinatus BZ4, Lactobacillus plantarum SH1, Lactobacillus brevis SH14, Pediococcus pentosaceus YMT1, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides YMT6 demonstrated a greater than 60% survival rate at pH 2.5, along with an excellent survival rate even at 0.3% bile acid. These five bacteria showed strong flocculation ability in autoaggregation and coaggregation tests, indirectly clustering useful micro-organisms and inhibiting the attachment of pathogenic bacteria. In a cell surface hydrophobicity test, these bacteria showed adhesion to three solvents (ethyl acetate, chloroform, and xylene) and high hydrophobicity, thereby indicating excellent indirect cell adhesion to intestinal cells. The cell-free supernatants and intracellular extracts of the five lactic acid bacteria showed antioxidative activity in the form of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging ability and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Antimicrobial activities were also observed in four pathogenic bacteria, namely E. coli KCTC 2571, H. pylori HPKCTC B0150, L. monocytogenes KCTC 13064, and S. aureus KCTC 1916. These results demonstrate that these five lactic acid bacteria could be used as probiotics with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the probiotic properties and antioxidant capacity of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Vietnamese feces and the Korean traditional food kimchi. Six isolated strains were identified as Lactobacillus sp. by 16S rRNA sequencing. All strains showed good resistance to low pH (1.5, 2.0, and 3.0) and 0.3% oxgall bile acids. Culture filtrates from the six strains showed various antioxidant effects, including DPPH, ABTS, reducing power, and metal chelating ($Fe^{2+}$) activities. Two of the six Lactobacillus strains showed potential probiotic activity. Heat resistance and adhesion assays were conducted by mixing the selected strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus V4, Lactobacillus plantarum V7, and Lactobacillus paracasei DK121 isolated from kimchi. The results showed that the heat resistance of these strains was similar to that of a commercial strain, L. plantarum LP. In addition, a mucin attachment assay using the mixture of selected strains (V4, V7, and DK121) showed high binding activity to the mucous layer. In conclusion, a mixture of V4, V7, and DK121 shows promising probiotic activity and may be useful for the development of health-related products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1109-1118
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• 2024

Probiotics, specifically Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, have garnered attention for their potential health benefits. This study focuses on evaluating the probiotic properties of candidate probiotics L. rhamnosus IDCC 3201 (3201) using the Caenorhabditis elegans surrogate animal model, a well-established in vivo system for studying host-bacteria interactions. The adhesive ability to the host's gastrointestinal tract is a crucial criterion for selecting potential probiotic bacteria. Our findings demonstrated that 3201 exhibits significantly higher adhesive capabilities compared with Escherichia coli OP50 (OP50), a standard laboratory food source for C. elegans and is comparable with the widely recognized probiotic L. rhamnosus GG (LGG). In lifespan assay, 3201 significantly increased the longevity of C. elegans compared with OP50. In addition, preconditioning with 3201 enhanced C. elegans immune response against four different foodborne pathogenic bacteria. To uncover the molecular basis of these effects, transcriptome analysis elucidated that 3201 modulates specific gene expression related to the innate immune response in C. elegans. C-type lectin-related genes and lysozyme-related genes, crucial components of the immune system, showed significant upregulation after feeding 3201 compared with OP50. These results suggested that preconditioning with 3201 may enhance the immune response against pathogens. Metabolome analysis revealed increased levels of fumaric acid and succinic acid, metabolites of the citric acid cycle, in C. elegans fed with 3201 compared with OP50. Furthermore, there was an increase in the levels of lactic acid, a well-known antimicrobial compound. This rise in lactic acid levels may have contributed to the robust defense mechanisms against pathogens. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the probiotic properties of the candidate probiotic L. rhamnosus IDCC 3201 by using multi-omics analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1894-1903
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine the probiotic properties of Lactobacillus brevis KCCM 12203P isolated from the Korean traditional food kimchi and to evaluate the antioxidative activity and immune-stimulating potential of its heat-killed cells to improve their bio-functional activities. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, which is a representative commercial probiotic, was used as a comparative sample. Regarding probiotic properties, L. brevis KCCM 12203P was resistant to 0.3% pepsin with a pH of 2.5 for 3 h and 0.3% oxgall solution for 24 h, having approximately a 99% survival rate. It also showed strong adhesion activity (6.84%) onto HT-29 cells and did not produce β-glucuronidase but produced high quantities of leucine arylamidase, valine arylamidase, β-galactosidase, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. For antioxidant activity, it appeared that viable cells had higher radical scavenging activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, while in the 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay, heat-killed cells had higher antioxidant activity. Additionally, L. brevis KCCM 12203P showed higher lipid oxidation inhibition ability than L. rhamnosus GG; however, there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between heat-killed cells and control cells. Furthermore, heat-killed L. brevis KCCM 12203P activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells without cytotoxicity at a concentration lower than 10⁸ CFU/ml and promoted higher gene expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 than L. rhamnosus GG. These results suggest that novel L. brevis KCCM 12203P could be used as a probiotic or applied to functional food processing and pharmaceutical fields for immunocompromised people.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1729-1738
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• 2019

In sourdough fermentation, lactic acid bacteria perform important roles in the production of volatile and antimicrobial compounds, and exerting health-promoting effects. In this study, we report the probiotic properties and baking characteristics of Lactobacillus plantarum SPC-SNU 72-2 isolated from kimchi. This strain is safe to use in food fermentation as it does not carry genes for biogenic amine production (i.e., hdc, tdc, and ldc) and shows no β-hemolytic activity against red blood cells. The strain is also stable under simulated human gastrointestinal conditions, showing tolerance to gastric acid and bile salt, and adheres well to colonic epithelial cells. Additionally, this strain prevents pathogen growth and activates mouse peritoneal macrophages by inducing cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12. Furthermore, the strain possesses good baking properties, providing rich aroma during dough fermentation and contributing to the enhancement of bread texture. Taken together, L. plantarum SPC-SNU 72-2 has the properties of a good starter strain based on the observation that it improves bread flavor and texture while also providing probiotic effects comparable with commercial strains.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.459-473
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• 2019

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) has low resistance to low pH and bile salt in the gastrointestinal juice. In this study, the gel made from whey protein concentrate (WPC) and pullulan (PUL) was used as the wall material to prepare the microencapsulation for LGG protection. The gelation process was optimized and the properties of gel were also determined. The results showed the optimal gel was made from 10% WPC and 8.0% PUL at pH 7.5, which could get the best protective effect; the viable counts of LGG were 6.61 Log CFU/g after exposure to simulated gastric juice (SGJ) and 9.40 Log CFU/g to simulated intestinal juice (SIJ) for 4 h. Sodium dodecyl sulphite polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirmed that the WPC-PUL gel had low solubility in SGJ, but dissolved well in SIJ, which suggested that the gel can protect LGG under SGJ condition and release probiotics in the SIJ. Moreover, when the gel has highest hardness and water-holding capacity, the viable counts of LGG were not the best, suggesting the relationship between the protection and the properties of the gel was non-linear.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Secondary metabolites in the culture filtrates of lactic acid bacteria offer varied chiral moieties, making them a valuable resource for drug design scaffolding. Our previous methodology included using a combination of anion exchange resins, Amberlite IRA-67 and Purolite A420S, to purify significant quantities of Lactobacillus plantarum LBP-K10 peptidyl compounds. However, current experimental evidence regarding the impact of native culture extracts and/or filtrates on pathogenic fungi in vivo/in vitro is insufficient. This study analyzed the antifungal properties of two different probiotic cultures: the CH₂Cl₂-extracted filtrate of Chinese cabbage kimchi (CH₂Cl₂-extracted CCK_WLB and CH₂Cl₂-extracted CCK_WOLB) and the non-extracted filtrate of Chinese cabbage kimchi (non-extracted CCK_WLB and non-extracted CCK_WOLB). The samples were divided into two groups: one group was inoculated with probiotics while the other group remained non-inoculated. Filtrates from both experimental groups were utilized for antifungal assays. The treatments employing CCK_WLB, with an initial inoculation of Lb. plantarum LBP-K10 as a starter, demonstrated significant antifungal activity under various experimental conditions. Our study offers new perspectives on the antifungal properties of CH₂Cl₂-extracted kimchi filtrates, which are naturally produced by lactobacilli. The efficacy of antifungal compounds is supported by substantial evidence demonstrating their efficient uptake by cells and the antifungal properties exerted by metabolites.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.353-373
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• 2023

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made with salted fermented vegetables and contains various nutrients and functional substances with potential health benefits. The fermentation process used to make kimchi creates chemical changes in the food, developing nutrients and functional substances that are more easily absorbed and enhanced by the body. Recent studies have shown that several lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from kimchi exhibit probiotic properties and have several health benefiting properties such as such as anticancer, anti-obesity, and anti-constipation; they also promote colon health and cholesterol reduction in in vitro and in vivo experiments, as well as in epidemiological cohort studies. Kimchi contains prebiotics, non-digestible fibers that nourish beneficial gut bacteria; therefore, its intake effectively provides both probiotics and prebiotics for improved gut health and a fortified gut-derived immune system. Furthermore, fermentation of kimchi produces a variety of metabolites that enhance its functionality. These metabolites include organic acids, enzymes, vitamins, bioactive compounds, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides, and γ-aminobutyric acid. These diverse health-promoting metabolites are not readily obtainable from single food sources, positioning kimchi as a valuable dietary option for acquiring these essential components. In this review, the health functionalities of kimchi ingredients, lactic acid bacteria strains, and health-promoting metabolites from kimchi are discussed for their properties and roles in kimchi fermentation. In conclusion, consuming kimchi can be beneficial for health. We highlight the benefits of kimchi consumption and establish a rationale for including kimchi in a balanced, healthy diet.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.295-303
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• 2005

A total of 120 pigs were used to investigate the effect of feeding probiotics on physico-chemical properties and sensory evaluation of pork loin. About 50kg pigs were randomly alloted into one of six experimental diet groups (C1:commercial diet feed the gilt; C2:commercial diet feed the barrow; T1:$0.5\%$ YC2000 feed the gilt T2:$0.5\%$ YC2000 feed the barrow; T3:$0.1\%$ YC2000 + $0.3\%$ KBC1121 feed the gilt; T4:$0.1\%$ YC2000 + $0.3\%$ KBC1121 feed the barrow). Pigs were slaughtered at approximately 110kg live weight. Crude fat and crude ash were not difference among the treatments. However, water content was higher in T1 and T2 compared to other treatment and the protein level of T3 was higher than those of other treatments. All of dietary probiotic groups showed higher pH compared to control. Especially, pH of T1 and T2 were higher among the dietary probiotic groups. Cholesterol level of dietary probiotic groups were lower compared to control. In meat color, $a^{*}$ was higher in T1 and $b^{*}$ was lower in T2 compared to other treatments. In sensory evaluation of cooked meat, aroma, flavor, tenderness, juiciness and overall palatability were higher in control, whereas T3 and T4 showed higher score in tenderness, juiciness and overall palatability. T3 had higher myristic acid. palmitoleic acid and oleic acid, whereas arachidonic acid was lower in T3. In conclusion, dietary probiotic groups were much better than other treatments in cholesterol, color, tenderness and juiciness. But drip loss of dietary probiotic groups showed higher due to lower pH compared to control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.161-168
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• 2010

In this study, the metabolic activities of five strains of Pediococcus spp., in terms of the quantities they produced of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, exopolysaccharides, and proteolytic activity, were determined. Lactic acid levels produced by these strains were found to be in the range of 2.5-5.6 mg/ml. All strains produced hydrogen peroxide. The P. pentosaceus Z13P strain produced the maximum amount (0.25 mg/ml) of proteolytic activity. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by the Pediococcus strains during growth in MRS (de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe) medium was in the range 25-64 mg/l. The susceptibility of 10 different antibiotics against these strains was also tested. All strains were found to be resistant to amoxicillin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. Antimicrobial effects of the Pediococcus spp. on pathogens were also determined by an agar diffusion method. All of the strains were able to inhibit L. monocytogenes. The tolerance of the strains to low pH, their resistance to bile salts of strains, and their abilities to autoaggregate and coaggregate with L. monocytogenes were also evaluated.