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.

We isolated 105 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from home-made kimchi and breast milk-fed Korean infant feces on the basis of morphological analysis. This study aimed to compare the probiotic characteristics of selected strains of LAB including bile and acid tolerances, cholesterol assimilation and adhesion activity. Among the isolates of LAB, 54 isolates were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (14 strains), L. brevis (12 strains), L. sakei (9 strains), L. acidophilus (3 strains), L. casei (1 strain), and L. fermentum (1 strain). Acid tolerances under artificial gastric juice, pH 2.5 for 2 h at 37°C, were significantly different among the Lactobacillus species. Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum strains exhibited high tolerance in acid and bile. Lactobacillus acidophilus strains exhibited high cholesterol assimilation activity and showed a significantly higher tolerance to 0.3% bile acid than other Lactobacillus strains (p<0.05). Based on these results, we selected the best strain, named NS1 (L. acidophilus) as a potential probiotics that can be utilized in the manufacturing of dairy foods and dietary supplements.

We isolated 105 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from home-made kimchi and breast milk-fed Korean infant feces on the basis of morphological analysis. This study aimed to compare the probiotic characteristics of selected strains of LAB including bile and acid tolerances, cholesterol assimilation and adhesion activity. Among the isolates of LAB, 54 isolates were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (14 strains), L. brevis (12 strains), L. sakei (9 strains), L. acidophilus (3 strains), L. casei (1 strain), and L. fermentum (1 strain). Acid tolerances under artificial gastric juice, pH 2.5 for 2 h at 37°C, were significantly different among the Lactobacillus species. Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum strains exhibited high tolerance in acid and bile. Lactobacillus acidophilus strains exhibited high cholesterol assimilation activity and showed a significantly higher tolerance to 0.3% bile acid than other Lactobacillus strains (p<0.05). Based on these results, we selected the best strain, named NS1 (L. acidophilus) as a potential probiotics that can be utilized in the manufacturing of dairy foods and dietary supplements.

Intestinal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for humans are closely associated to the host’s health because the presenceof LAB is an important bio-defense factor in preventing colonization and subsequent proliferation of pathogenic bacteria inthe intestine. Some probiotics such as Lactobacillus species can intoxication of carcinogens including chemical mutagens.The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of antimutagenesity among 24 strains of LAB isolated from infantfeces, yogurt and kimchi etc. The antimutagenic effects of protein fractions extracted from the cells of 24 LAB strains wereinvestigated using mutagens as 4-nitroquinoline-N'-oxide in Ames test (Salmonella Typhimurium TA 100). In the Amestest, dose-dependent activity was exhibited significantly against 4NQO. Three strains of Lactobacillus showed the highestanti-4NQO activitiy (62.1%) among the tested strains of LAB.