Evaluation of functional properties of lactobacilli isolated from Korean white kimchi

Kimchi, probably Korea's most famous traditional fermented food, is well known for its beneficial properties. Among several hundred different types of kimchi in Korea, white (baek) kimchi is prepared without chilli and is widely appreciated also by non-Koreans because of its unique mild flavour. In an approach to identify the bacteriological basis for proposed health benefits, we isolated 11 Lactobacillus strains from six samples of white kimchi, and investigated their safety and functional features. These strains represented the species Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus sakei that dominated the populations within a range of 3 × 106 to 4 × 108 CFU/mL. Following safety assessment based on antibiotic resistance and biogenic amine production, 7 different strains were selected for further studies including evaluation of their adaptation to cabbage juice and resistance to phenol. Growth in and adaptation to the cabbage juice was favourably influenced by addition of 2% salt. Final selection was based on in vitro passage of simulated stomach duodenum conditions (SSDP model). The strains L. plantarum HAC01 and L. sakei HAC10 were administered to a diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model receiving a high-fat (HF) diet to assess their functionality in-vivo. Animal groups receiving the viable strains showed significantly lower body weight and total weight gain during 8 weeks compared to the high-fat control group. This study provides preliminary information on the use of in-vitro and in-vivo features for safety and functionality evaluation of Lactobacillus strains from white kimchi. These “first-level” criteria for strain selection may serve as model, thereby facilitating potentially new probiotic developments.