β-mannanase from Trichoderma reesei was purified by DEAE Sephadex A-50 ion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography. The molecular weight was determined to be 54 kDa by tricine SDS-PAGE. Trigonella foenum-graecum galactomannan was hydrolyzed by the purified β-mannanase, and then the hydrolysates were separated by Bio-Gel P2 chromatography. The main hydrolysates were composed of D.P. (degree of polymerization) 2, 3, and 4, 6 galactomanno-oligosaccharides. To investigate the effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum galactomanno- oligosaccharides on in vitro growth of L. plantarum, were cultivated individually on a modified-MRS medium containing carbon sources such as low- and high-molecular-weight galactomanno-oligosaccharide. Lactobacillus plantarum grew 1.8-fold after treatment with high- and low-molecular-weight galactomanno-oligosaccharides, compared to 1.3-fold for those with standard MRS medium. Bacteriocin was purified by Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography and determined to be 122 kDa by tricine SDS-PAGE. The bacteriocin activated doubly more effectively after treatment with galactosmanno-oligosaccharides compared to those with standard MRS medium. Bacteriocin showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibitory compound lost activity when heated to temperatures greater than 30oC and when inhibited to pH changes that lowered the pH below 4 or raised it above 5. Furthermore, its effects were inhibited by treatment with proteolytic enzymes.

This study was conducted to investigate the fermentation characteristics and anti-obesity effects of Cheonnyuncho (Oputia Humifusa) fruit fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum SRCM 100320 (FC). The pH gradually decreased from 4.77 to 3.63 at 72 hours during fermentation. Counts of lactic acid bacteria, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and DPPH scavenging activity were the highest at 48 hours during fermentation. Evaluation of the composition of polyphenols and flavonoids of FC fermented at 48 hours by HPLC revealed hyperoside (quercetin 3-galactoside), luteolin and kaempferol were the major components. The hyperoside content of FC was decreased, while the luteolin and kaempferol contents of FC were increased compared to unfermented Cheonnyuncho (NFC). Evaluation of the anti-obesity effects of FC in 3T3L-1 cells revealed that the accumulation of triglyceride was inhibited by about 27.3% in cells treated with FC at 150 μg/mL compared to NFC. These findings indicate FC has the potential for use as an anti-obesity material.

In this study, we found that the glycoprotein (18 kDa) isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum L67 (L67 protein) inhibits allergy-related inflammatory mediators in BPA treated rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 (RBL-2H3) cells and primary cultured splenocytes. First, we measured the levels of ERK, p38, and AP-1 by Western blotting and we evaluated the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines by real-time quantitative PCR. Finally, we evaluated the applicability of L. plantarum L67 as a yogurt starter culture by measuring pH, enumeration of bacteria, and sensory scores. The results of this study shows that L67 protein inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK, as well as the activation of AP-1 (c-Fos and c-Jun). With inflammationrelated factors (Th2-related cytokines), L67 protein inhibits BPA-induced IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 activity. Bisphenol A stimulates MAPK signaling, which induces increased GATA-3 expression, and GATA-3 induces the differentiation of Th2 cells and secretion of Th2-related cytokines. Our findings showed that L67 protein may regulate the activation of GATA3 and T-bet through the induction of MAPK signaling, and it relieves the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile imbalance. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the L. plantarum L67 strain is a potential food supplement and starter culture, that could help in the prevention of Th2-related immune disorders.

This study was to investigate whether the bioactivity of L. plantarum L67 can be enhanced by treatment with Zanthoxylum piperitum DC (ZPDC) glycoprotein or compounds of similar molecular weights (24 kDa). When L. plantarum L67 was treated with ZPDC glycoprotein of various concentrations, the intensities of a few SDS-PAGE bands were slightly changed. The amount of a 23-kDa protein was increased upon treatment with increasing concentrations of ZPDC glycoprotein. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT), growth rate, and β-galactosidase activity were more increased at treatment with ZPDC glycoprotein than at treatment of L. plantarum L67 only, whereas the ATPase activity was decreased. Interestingly, it did not affect scavenging activity for the DPPH. The founding result suggest that, one of beneficial strategies for increase the bioactivity of L. plantarum L67 might be to take ZPDC.

This study was conducted to know effects of forage cutting height and inoculants application on chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and fatty acid profile of barley silage. Barley forage(Yuyeon hybrid) was harvested at two different cutting heights(5 vs. 15cm) and applied with or without Lactobacillus plantarum, and ensiled for 0, 2, 7, 28, 49 and 100days. On 0 to 49-d of ensiling, higher cutting height resulted rapid drop (p<0.05) in pH caused by higher lactate content. Crude protein (p<0.01) content of 100-d silage was decreased by inoculation, but increased by higher cutting height. However, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents were decreased (p<0.05) by both inoculation and cutting height. In vitro dry matter digestibility was improved by higher cutting height (p=0.01), while yeast and mold counts were reduced (p<0.0001). The C18:3n-3 content in barley silage was decreased (p=0.001) by inoculation, but increased (p=0.034) by higher cutting height. The DNA analysis indicated L. plantarum dominating fermentation in inoculated silages. The results showed that higher cutting height can improve silage quality in terms of increasing crude protein content and digestibility as well as reducing yeast and mold counts in barley silage.