• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.515-520
• /
• 2007

Vaginal lactic acid-producing bacteria of 80 pre-menopausal women were studied by isolation on Blood and DeMan-Rogosa-Sharpe agar, PCR with group-specific primers for Lactobacillus-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and PCR with specific primers for V3 region in 16S rRNA-temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (TTGE). Conventional isolation method on media detected only one lactobacillus (Lactobacillus brevis) while TTGE detected only Lactobacillus sp. DGGE detected seven Lactobacillus species; L. coleohominis, L. crispatus, L. iners, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, L. vaginalis, and Leuconostoc lactis. L. acidophilus and L. gasseri, which are prevalent in Western women, were not detected in Korean women. Furthermore, L. rhamnosus, Leuc. lactis, L. coleohominis, and Weissella cibaria, which were not previously reported in the vaginal microbiota of Korean women, were detected. The five most prevalent LABs in vaginal microbiota in Korean women were L. iners, Enterococcus faecalis, L. crispatus, Leuc. lactis, and W. cibaria.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.164-173
• /
• 2015

To investigate the effect of lactic acid bacteria on the heavy metal adsorption from internal organs and blood, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from human feces. Some strains resistant to heavy metals were selected by incubation in agar media containing each of chrome and cadmium salts. Among them, a strain named KP-3 was ultimately chosen due to its higher growth rate in selective broth medium containing the heavy metals at the concentration of 0.01%. The strain was identified as Lactobacillus sp. based on its morphological, cultural and physiological characteristics. For evaluating the ability to prevent accumulation of heavy metals by selected Lactobacillus sp. strain in vivo, Sprague Dawley rats were fed with heavy metal salts (cadmium, chrome and lead) with or without cultured whole cells for 7 days. The amounts of heavy metals accumulated in liver, kidney and blood were analyzed. As a result, chrome was accumulated to kidney mostly, and lead was frequently found in liver and kidney. Experimental group (rats fed with lactic acid bacteria) showed less accumulation of heavy metal than control group (rats fed with saline solution). The inhibition rates of heavy metal accumulation were calculated to 41.8% (Cd), 33.4% (Cr) and 44.2% (Pb). Especially, feeding lactic acid bacteria strongly reduced accumulation of cadmium in blood. The results showed that feeding Lactobacillus sp. KP-3 could prevent the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the living body.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2009

$\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a ubiquitous nonprotein amino acid that is produced primarily by $\alpha$-decarboxylation of L-glutamic acid (Glu) catalyzed by the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). It is well known as a neurotransmitter that regulates inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. In addition, GABA has been proved to be effective for lowering blood pressure in mammals. This paper is intended to provide basic information about GABA, including the functional and biological activity of GABA, GABA production by lactic acid bacteria, and the utilization of GABA in the production of dairy products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.838-845
• /
• 2024

Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious negative consequences on health, including addiction, liver damage, and other long-term effects. The causes of hangovers include dehydration, alcohol and alcohol metabolite toxicity, and nutrient deficiency due to absorption disorders. Additionally, alcohol consumption can slow reaction times, making it more difficult to rapidly respond to situations that require quick thinking. Exposure to a large amount of ethanol can also negatively affect a person's righting reflex and balance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to alleviate alcohol-induced effects and behavioral responses. Two LAB strains isolated from kimchi, Levilactobacillus brevis WiKim0168 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides WiKim0172, were selected for their ethanol tolerance and potential to alleviate hangover symptoms. Enzyme activity assays for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were then conducted to evaluate the role of these bacteria in alcohol metabolism. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, these strains were assessed for their ability to reduce blood alcohol concentrations and protect against alcohol-induced liver damage. The results indicated that these LAB strains possess significant ethanol tolerance and elevate ADH and ALDH activities. LAB administration remarkably reduced blood alcohol levels in rats after excessive alcohol consumption. Moreover, the LAB strains showed hepatoprotective effects and enhanced behavioral outcomes, highlighting their potential as probiotics for counteracting the adverse effects of alcohol consumption. These findings support the development of functional foods incorporating LAB strains that can mediate behavioral improvements following alcohol intake.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.196-205
• /
• 2019

Helianthus tuberosus is a perennial plant in the genus, Asteraceae. Pork potato has various pharmacological functions such as improving constipation, preventing bowel disease, inhibiting colon cancer, reducing serum cholesterol, lowering blood lipids, and enhancing blood sugar. This study investigated the physicochemical properties of fermented milk by adding Helianthus tuberosus powder. During the fermentation process, the pH of the fermented milk with added Helianthus tuberosus was higher after 16 hours of fermentation. At 48 hours of fermentation, the pH decreased to 3.70, 3.65, 3.63, and 3.59 with 0% (the control group), 1%, 3%, and 5% Helianthus tuberosus added, respectively. In the last 48 hours of fermentation, the acidity increased to 2.35%, 2.57%, and 3.17% with 0% (the control group), 1%, 3%, and 5% Helianthus tuberosus added, respectively. The number of lactic acid bacteria increased as the quantity of Helianthus tuberosus added increased. The highest number of lactic acid bacteria was 9.96 log CFU/g after 16 hours of fermentation with a 5% addition of Helianthus tuberosus . After 48 hours of fermentation, the amount of lactic acid bacteria decreased to 7.84 log CFU/g and 7.88 log CFU/g in the control group and the 1% added Helianthus tuberosus group, respectively. The addition of 3% and 5% Helianthus tuberosus increased the lactic acid bacteria count to 9.48 log CFU/ g and 9.81 log CFU/g, respectively. As the fermentation time increased, oxalic acid and tartaric acid decreased but lactic acid increased. Lactose degraded galactose and glucose over time. After 48 hours of fermentation, the viscosity in the control, 1%, 3%, 5% added Helianthus tuberosus groups increased to 1,006 cP, 1,026 cP, 1,040 cP, and 1,106 cP, respectively. The antioxidant effect was higher in the 5% added Helianthus tuberosus group (84.14%) than in the control group (80.39%) at 48 hours of fermentation. The concentration of polyphenol was 1.6 mg/g and antimicrobial activity was strong against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.240-244
• /
• 2006

To develop a health-aid preparation of Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas Decne), lactic acid fermentation was attempted using a mixed starter comprising of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidus. The anaerobic fermentation of a 5% Chinese yam flour suspension gave a uniform suspension of pH 4.35, containing $7.76{\times}10^6 CFU/mL$ lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and which was found to be acceptable to the panel from a sensory assessment. During the administration of the lactic acid fermented (LAF) Chinese yam to Sprague Dawley rats for 6 weeks, a smaller body weight gain, but greater excretion of feces were observed, implying the creation of a healthy gastrointestine on the administration of LAF Chinese yam, which was also confirmed by the gastrointestinal motility of the feed in rats fed on LAF Chinese yam. The constipation induced by loperamide was further suppressed in a rat group fed on a LAF Chinese yam diet, which was qualified from healthy gastrointestinal flora established by LAB. A serochemical analysis revealed a slight improvement in the blood glucose, neutral lipid and total cholesterol concentrations on administration of LAF Chinese yam, suggesting LAF Chinese yam could be served as a healthy-aid preparation, even for hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.1416-1420
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of direct-fed microbial(DFM) complex on the growth performance and blood characteristics in growing pigs. A total of 72 growing pigs with an average initial BW of 24.64$\pm$2.46 kg were used in 28 days experiment trial. There were six pens per treatment with three pigs per pen. Dietary treatments included 1)NC(basal diet; antibiotics free diet), 2) PC(NC diet with 0.1% antibiotics; chlortetracycline 0.05% +neomycin 0.05%), 3)DFM0.1 UC diet + 0.1% DFM)and 4)DFM0.3 (NC diet + 0.3% DFM). During the entire experimental period, hnG(Average daily gain) was increased NC treatment compared with NDFM0.1 and NDFM0.3 treatments. However, there was not significantly effect by treatments(P>0.05). Also, there was not significantly effect in ADFI(average daily feed intake) among the treatments. Blood characteristics(RBC, WBC and IgG) tended to improved, however, no significant differences were observed(P>0.05). In our experiment, DFM had not effects on growth performance and blood characteristics in growing pigs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2008

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary organic acid mixture(lactic acid 12%, formic acid 9%, citric acid 5%, butyric acid 5% and phosphoric acid 6%) on growth performance, organ weight, blood immunological parameter and intestinal villi morphology in broilers. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) OA1 (basal diet + 0.1% organic acid mixture) and 3) OA2 (basal diet + 0.2% organic acid mixture). Four hundred eighty hatched Arbor Acre broiler chickens were housed in 24 pens of 20 birds each. Eight replicate pens were allotted into each treatment by completely randomized design. Daily weight gain, feed intake and feed/gain were not significantly different among the treatments. In organ weight, that of gizzard was significantly heavier in OA2 than CON (Linear effect = 0.034). However, those of spleen and intestine were not significantly different among the treatments. Blood immunological parameters such as RBC, WBC and lymphocyte were not significantly difference. In intestinal villi morphology, villi length was increased in OA1 compared to CON (Quadratic effect = 0.050). In conclusion, 0.2% organic acid mixture was effective to improve gizzard weight of broilers.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.547-554
• /
• 2018

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), also called linseed and one of the raw materials for making linen, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vegetable estrogen, ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid, and dietary fiber. Studies on flaxseed have reported various additional effects, such as the inhibition of cholesterol, blood clotting, and tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the functional components of flaxseed fermented with lactic-acid bacteria. Lactic-acid bacteria was inoculated into heat-treated (roasted) flaxseed and fermented at $37^{\circ}C$ for 72 hr. The fermented flaxseed was extracted with 70% ethanol and the antioxidant effect of the fermented extracts according to the lactic-acid bacteria was analyzed. It was confirmed that the total polyphenol contents had expanded by about 1.5-8 times, and the total flavonoid contents had increased around 1.2 times in the case of fermented flaxseed with lactic-acid bacteria compared to non-fermented flaxseed (NFFS). DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase-like activities had increased around 5.6 and 2.3 times, respectively, in the fermented flaxseed compared to the NFFS at 100 ppm concentration. The study concluded that fermentation of flaxseed with lactic-acid bacteria is possible and that it is effective to increase the antioxidant effects of flaxseed. These results can be applied to the development of improved foods and cosmetic materials.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.517-523
• /
• 2021

The present study aims to investigate the impact of hydrogen-rich water on the lactic acid level in metformin-treated diabetic rats under hypoxia. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, including normal diet group, and diabetes model (DM) group, DM + metformin treatment (DMM) group, DMM + hypoxia treatment (DMMH) group and DMMH + hydrogen-rich water (DMMHR) group. We found that the levels of lactic acid, pyruvate and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly lower in the blood of DMMHR group than DMMH group. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels in liver and heart were significantly higher in DMMH group after hydrogen-rich water treatment, while malondialdehyde and oxidized glutathione levels were decreased in DMMHR group when compared with DMMH group, which indicates that hydrogen-rich water could reduce oxidative stress. qPCR analysis demonstrated that that pro-apoptotic genes Bax/Caspase-3 were upregulated in DM group and metformin treatment suppressed their upregulation (DMM group). However, hypoxic condition reversed the effect of metformin on apoptotic gene expression, and hydrogen-rich water showed little effect on these genes under hypoxia. HE staining showed that hydrogen-rich water prevented myocardial fiber damages under hypoxia. In summary, we conclude that hydrogen-rich water could prevent lactate accumulation and reduce oxidant stress in diabetic rat model to prevent hypoxia-induced damages. It could be served as a potential agent for diabetes patients with metformin treatment to prevent lactic acidosis and reduce myocardial damages under hypoxic conditions.