• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Korean ginseng, which contains ginsenosides and polysaccharides as its main constituents, is orally administered to humans. Ginsenosides and polysaccharides are not easily absorbed by the body through the intestines due to their hydrophilicity. Therefore, these constituents which include ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc, inevitably come into contact with intestinal microflora in the alimentary tract and can be metabolized by intestinal microflora. Since most of the metabolites such as compound K and protopanaxatriol are nonpolar compared to the parental components, these metabolites are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The absorbed metabolites may express pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and neuroprotective effects. However, the activities that metabolize these constituents to bioactive compounds differ significantly between individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. Recently, ginseng has been fermented with enzymes or microbes to develop ginsengs that contain these metabolites. However, before using these enzymes and probiotics, their safety and biotransforming activity should be assessed. Intestinal microflora play an important role in the pharmacological action of orally administered ginseng.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.803-807
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• 2005

This study examined the effects of ozone exposure alone (1, 3, and 5 ppm) as well as in combination with 1% acetic acid, citric acid, or lactic acid on the growth of indigenous microorganisms in enoki mushrooms. Populations of mesophilic bacteria, yeasts and molds in enoki mushrooms appeared to be decreased by stepwise increases in concentration (1 to 5 ppm) or exposure time (0.5 to 5 min) to ozone. Compared to untreated (control) enoki mushrooms, there were reductions of 1.03 to $2.61\;\log_{10}\;CFU/g$ in mesophilic bacteria and of 1.21 to $2.7\;\log_{10}\;CFU/g$ in yeasts and molds in all ozone- treated enoki mushrooms. Combination of 3 ppm ozone and 1% citric acid (p<0.05) synergistically brought about significant reductions in both mesophilic bacteria ($3.52\;\log_{10}\;CFU/g$) and fungi (yeasts and molds) ($2.77\;\log_{10}\;CFU/g$) from enoki mushrooms. The results of this study show that low concentrations of ozone inhibit indigenous microflora populations in enoki mushrooms. Combination treatments of 3 ppm ozone with 1% citric acid showed greater antimicrobial effectiveness than either 3 ppm ozone or 1% citric acid alone.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2004

In this study, uptake and translocation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) by plant in a hydroponic culture was quantified with two indigenous plant species, Aeschynomene indica and Abutilon avicennae on various initial concentrations of TNT ranging from 20 to 80 mgTNT/L. Experiments were sterilized to exclude the activity of microorganisms and conducted in duplicate. Weight loss of two plant species in added TNT culture media was higher than in control. At over 2OmgTNTIL, there appeared to be phytotoxicity from TNT as indicated by severe yellow-chlorosis and increase of falling leaves. TNT removal rate normalized(K) to the plant fresh weight of Abutilon avicennae and Aeschynomene indica was that the higher TNT concentrations resulted in lower TNT removal rate normalized(K) to the plant fresh weight. Approximately 96% of the TNT in viable microflora-hydroponic culture was removed after 96h of the experiments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1741-1745
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• 2004

Administration of milk and fermented milks produced from indigenous dadih lactic acid bacteria on serum lipids and bile acids, fecal bile acids and microflora was estimated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Anaerobic lactic acid bacteria decreased and coliforms increased in the feces of the control group; however, the number of fecal lactic acid bacteria remained unchanged when rats were administered milk and fermented milks. Only fermented milk made from Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-10285 significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and total bile acids. Milk and fermented milks did not influence the HDL cholesterol. Triglyceride and phospholipid levels were significantly lower in the rats fed fermented milk of Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-10285 than rats fed milk and fermented milk of Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-29862, but not significantly different from the control group. Hypocholesterolemic effect of Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-10285 was attributed to its ability to suppress the reabsorption of bile acids into the enterohepatic circulation and to enhance the excretion of bile acids in feces of hypercholesterolemic rats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.726-731
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• 2003

The aim of this research was to identify candidate probiotic lactic bacteria among indigenous dadih lactic isolates. Dadih is an Indonesian traditional fermented milk of West Sumatra which is fermented naturally. Viability of the strain is critical in determining the capacity of lactic bacteria to induce immune stimulation as well as to colonize in the intestinal tract. Therefore, LAB are proposed to exert health promoting or probiotic effects in human, such as inhibition of pathogenic microflora, antimutagenic, and the reduction of cholesterol levels. This manuscript reports in vitro probiotic properties of indigenous dadih lactic bacteria, especially some important colonization factors in GI tract, such as lysozyme, acid and bile tolerance. Bile Salt Hydrolase (BSH) activity, spectrum of bacteriocin, and antimutagenic activity of bacterial cells were also assessed. Twenty dadih lactic isolates were screened further for their tolerance to low pH, at pH 2 and 3 as well as their bile tolerance. There were ten isolates classified as acid and bile acid tolerant, and further screened for lysozyme tolerance, BSH activity. The spectrum of bacteriocin activity of isolates was assayed using cell-free neutralized supernatants by agar spot test against variety of pathogens. Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-10285, IS-7386, IS-16183, IS-11857 and IS-29862, L. brevis IS-27560, IS-26958 and IS-23427, Leu.mesen.mesenteroides IS-27526, and L. casei IS-7257 each has good survival rate at low pH values and in the presence of lysozyme, and short lag time in the presence of 0.3 % oxgall. Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-11857 and IS-29862 each has high BHS activity, Lc. lactis subsp. lactis IS-10285 and IS-16183 each had a positive spectrum of bacteriocin activity against E. coli 3301 and Lysteria monocytogenes ATCC 19112, while L. brevis IS-26958 has high BHS activity as well as positive spectrum of bacteriocin against E. coli 3301, Lysteria monocytogenes ATCC 19112, and S. aureus IFO 3060. All of the ten dadih lactic strains performed in vitro acid and bile tolerance, indicating a possibility to reach the intestine alive, and display probiotic activities.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2012

The major commercial ginsengs are Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng), P. quinquifolium L. (American ginseng), and P. notoginseng (Burk.) FH Chen (Notoginseng). P. ginseng is the most commonly used as an adaptogenic agent and has been shown to enhance physical performance, promote vitality, increase resistance to stress and aging, and have immunomodulatory activity. These ginsengs contain saponins, which can be classified as dammarane-type, ocotillol-type and oleanane-type oligoglycosides, and polysaccharides as main constituents. Dammarane ginsenosides are transformed into compounds such as the ginsenosides $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, and $Rk_1$ by steaming and heating and are metabolized into metabolites such as compound K, ginsenoside $Rh_1$, proto- and panaxatriol by intestinal microflora. These metabolites are nonpolar, pharmacologically active and easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. However, the activities metabolizing these constituents into bioactive compounds differ significantly among individuals because all individuals possess characteristic indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. To overcome this difference, ginsengs fermented with enzymes or microbes have been developed.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2015

Probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic substances as well as microorganisms were added to infant formula in an attempt to influence the intestinal microflora with an aim to stimulate the growth of lactic acid bacteria, especially bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Over the last 10 years, new synbiotic infant formulas containing probiotics and prebiotics have been proposed in order to simulate the effect of breast-feeding on the intestinal microflora. Owing to their synergistic effect, the new synbiotics are expected to be more helpful than using probiotics and prebiotics individually. Maintenance of the viability of the probiotics during food processing and the passage through the gastrointestinal tract should be the most important consideration, since a sufficient number of bacteria ($10^8cfu/g$) should reach the intended location to have a positive effect on the host. Storage conditions and the processing technology used for the manufacture of products such as infant formula adversely affect the viability of the probiotics. When an appropriate and cost-effective microencapsulation methodology using the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and substances with high biological value are developed, the quality of infant formulas would improve. The effect of probiotics may be called a double-effect, where one is an immunomodulatory effect, induced by live probiotics that advantageously alter the gastrointestinal microflora, and the other comprises anti-inflammatory responses elicited by dead cells. At present, a new terminology is required to define the dead microorganisms or crude microbial fractions that positively affect health. The term "paraprobiotics" (or ghost probiotics) has been proposed to define dead microbial cells (not damaged or broken) or crude cell extracts (i.e., cell extracts with complex chemical composition) that are beneficial to humans and animals when a sufficient amount is orally or topically administered. The fecal microflora of bottle-fed infants is altered when the milk-based infant formula is supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics. Thus, by increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, prebiotics modify the fecal microbial composition and accordingly regulate the activity of the immune system. Therefore, considerable attention has been focused on the improvement of infant formula quality such that its beneficial effects are comparable to those of human milk, using prebiotics such as inulin and oligosaccharides and potential specific probiotics such as bifidobacteria, which selectively stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the microflora and the indigenous intestinal metabolic activity of the microflora.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.58-64
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• 2003

To enjoy a healthy life, it is important to have a well-balanced diet. However, in today's society, there is an increase in the consumption of preprocessed foods and frequency of eating out. Also the western diet, which is becoming move popular worldwide, contains relatively high levels of protein and fat, and a low amount of fiber, Furthermore, the increased availability of favorite foods has created a condition were the individual diet is less variable. With these conditions, it is difficult to maintain a diet that is nutritionally balanced. With these unbalanced diets, which are difficult to change, there has been an increase in adult disease and health problems, such as colon and breast cancer, It is speculated that metabolites for carcinogens are produced from diet components and that intestinal bacteria contribute to the production of these metabolites. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the relationships between health, diet, and intestinal microflora. Soybean oligosaccharide is composed of water-soluble saccharides that have been extracted from soybean whey, a by-product from the production of soy protein. This is mainly a mixture of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasac-charides, with the principle components being the oligosaccharide raffinose and stachyose. When consumed by humans, the oligosaccharides cannot be digested in the human duodenal and small intestinal mucosa, and these are selectively utilized by beneficial bifidobacteria in intestines. The results of acute and subacute toxicity tests, soy-bean oligosaccharides were nonpoisonous. Soybean oligosaccharides promote the growth of indigenous bifido-bacteria in the colon which by their antagonistic effects, suppress the activity of putrefactive bacteria. Also, they reduce toxic metabolites, detrimental enzymes and plasma lipid, and increase in the frequency of bowel evacuation and fecal quantities. Consequently, soybean oligosaccharides as functional foods components have potential roles in the prevention and medical treatment of chronic adult diseases. The study of processing property and physiological function of soybean oligosacchavides and development of high oligosaccharide variety allow the creation of new and exciting foodstuffs that aye functional healthy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1800-1805
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) constitute barrier surfaces and play a critical role in maintaining gut health. Dysregulated immune responses and destruction of IECs disrupt intestinal balance. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is the most widely used chemical for inducing colitis in animals, and its treatment induces colonic inflammation, acute diarrhea, and shortening of the intestine, with clinical and histological similarity to human UC. Current treatments for this inflammatory disorder have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, and thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, dietary supplements with probiotics have emerged as promising interventions by alleviating disturbances in the indigenous microflora in UC. Thus, we hypothesized that the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB12 could protect against the development of colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model of UC. In the present study, oral administration of BB12 markedly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$-mediated IEC apoptosis. These findings indicate that the probiotic strain BB12 can alleviate DSS-induced colitis and suggest a novel mechanism of communication between probiotic microorganisms and intestinal epithelia, which increases intestinal cell survival by modulating pro-apoptotic cytokine expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.312-317
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• 2002

Indigenous lactobacilli were isolated from vaginas of Korean women for possible use in ecological treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal swab samples were obtained from a gynecological clinic and streaked on Rogosa SL agar plates to select the most predominant lactobacilli in each sample. The preliminary identification of the isolates as lactobacilli was based on microscopic observation of Gram-positive rod-shaped cell morphology. The initial characterization was performed on 108 isolates in terms of their cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), antimicrobial activity, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production capability, and 10 isolates were then selected for further molecular identification. For a rapid procedure to identify lactobacilli, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of the l6S rRNA genes were applied. The 10 selected lactobacilli and 9 different reference strains of Lactobacillus spp. were characterized by PCR-RFLP where the amplified l6S rDNA was digested with 7 different restriction endonucleases prior to analysis. DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of one particular isolate, KLB 46, that had been identified as L. crispatus by the PCR-RFLP analysis, further confirmed its identity as L. crispatus.