This study was conducted to investigate the effect of oral administering kefir on blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. Kefir(10 ㎖/㎏body weight) was orally administered to diabetic mice twice daily for 45 days. Diabetic mice fed saline or 10% skim milk were used as a control. No significant difference in feed intake and weight gain were observed among the treatments. Compared to the saline-fed or skim milk-fed group, blood glucose in the kefir-fed group decreased significantly at 45 days(p<0.05). At 45 days, serum triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations in diabetic mice fed kefir decreased significantly compared to those of the saline and skim milk groups(p<0.05). Both high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein concentrations were not significantly different among the three treatment groups. In conclusion, the symptoms of diabetic mice improved when kefir was fed for >45 days.

This study was conducted to investigate the physicochemical properties of Kefir. The general composition of Kefir cultured in skim milk or milk was, respectively, 90.0 and 87.8% water, 3.2 and 3.0% protein, 0.45 and 3.64% lipid, 3.96 and 4.14% lactose, and 0.77 and 0.68% ash. Titratable acidity(TA) and pH of Kefir were 0.77 and 4.55, respectively. The amount of CO2 production was 6.23%, and the concentration of alcohol was 1.4%. Kefirgrain as observed by scanning electron microscope was a complex mixture of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in a symbiotic association.

The objectives of this study were to characterize the quality of soy kefir made with soymilk in combination with fructose (5%, 10%) and one of the extracts from orange (10%, 15%) and grape (5%, 10%) with differently adjusted amounts as defendant variables. The lactic acid bacteria, yeast and total microbial counts of soy kefir were respectively 1.3×107 CFU/ml, 1.6×108 CFU/ml, 1.5×108 CFU/ml, soy kefir was propered to drink. pH of soy kefir mixed by orange and grape extracts was decreased significantly according to add fructose 5%. Acidity became significantly high when orange and grape extracts were added, which means acidity showed similar tendency in the opposite direction. The saccharinity of soy kefir was not significantly in orange extract, but soy kefir added fructose 10% was high more than fructose 5% in grape extract. In sensory evaluation, soy kefirs added orange extract 15%, fructose 5% and grape extract 10%, fructose 5% were estimated highly on color, astrigent taste, sour taste, mouth feel and overall quality.

본 연구에서는 선행연구를 통해 병원성 박테리아의 억제효과가 입증된 kefir 유래 유산균 L. pentosus BMSE-K006과 L. pentosus BMSE-K009의 다제내성 균주를 포함하는 Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia spp. 등 총 7주에 대한 억제효과를 확인하고자 하였 다. L. pentosus BMSE-K006과 L. pentosus BMSE-K009는 대 체로 다제내성 균주 중 그람 음성균에 대한 억제효과가 더 큰 것으 로 확인되었으며, E. coli 1507 CCARM 0236을 제외한 모든 지 시 균주에서 L. pentosus BMSE-K009보다 L. pentosus BMSEK006의 항균효과가 더 우수한 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 kefir 유래 유산균의 다제내성 균주에 대한 우수한 항균효과를 입 증할 수 있는 기초자료가 될 수 있으며, 추후 probiotics 특성 및 안전성에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

기능성 발효유로 알려진 케피어로부터 박테리오신 생산 유산균주(CJNU 2008)를 선발하였다. CJNU 2008 균주는 16S rRNA 유전자 염기서열 분석을 통해 Enterococcus faecium으로 동정되어 E. faecium CJNU 2008로 명명하였다. E. faecium CJNU 2008균주의 배양액 및 부분정제 농축액은 Listeria monocytogenes와 Staphylococcus aureus와 같은 병원성 세균을 포함하여 몇몇 균주들에 대해서 항균활성을 나타내었다. E. faecium CJNU 2008 균주의 박테리오신 생산을 위한 배양 최적조건은 MRS broth, 30℃ 및 pH 7.0으로 확인되었다.