In the present study, the properties of the Lactiplantibacillus (Lpb.) plantarum WiKim0112 isolated from kimchi were evaluated by comparing its probiotic properties to those of Lpb. plantarum WCFS1 and KACC 11451 isolated from different sources. In both pH 2 and 3, media containing pepsin, Wikim0112, and WCFS1 showed higher cell viability than KACC11451. Viability of all Lpb. plantarum strains in a medium containing pancreatin and bile salt oxgall was significantly decreased compared to the control. WCFS1 showed the highest thermotolerance, followed by Wikim0112 and KACC11451. Wikim0112 showed a similar level of antibacterial activity to WCFS1 and exhibited an overall higher antibacterial activity than KACC11451 against six pathogens. All Lpb. plantatum strains showed high antioxidant activities in SOD, DPPH, and ABTS assays, especially Wikim0112 and WCFS1 exhibited a higher antioxidant activity than KACC11451. All Lpb. plantarum strains showed approximately 60–62% adhesion rates to Caco-2 cells. Moreover, in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells, all Lpb. plantarum strains significantly decreased the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α); Wikim0112 significantly increased the mRNA expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ. Wikim0112 was resistant to streptomycin and vancomycin, whereas WCFS1 and KACC11451 were resistant to four (clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and vancomycin) and three (ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and vancomycin) antibiotics, respectively. These results, taken together, indicated that compared to Lpb. plantarum strains isolated from different sources, Wikim0112 showed desirable probiotic properties, suggesting its potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Anti-inflammatory agents that are safer and more effective than the currently used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are urgently needed. The dicaffeoylquinic acid (diCQA) isomer 4,5-diCQA exhibits antioxidant activity and various other health-promoting benefits; however, its anti-inflammatory properties require further investigation. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of 4,5-diCQA in vitro and in vivo using RAW264.7 cells and a carrageenan-induced inflammation model, respectively. In RAW264.7 cells, 4,5-diCQA pretreatment significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂, nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, without inducing cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of 4,5-diCQA were mediated by the suppression of nuclear factor-κB nuclear translocation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Oral administration of 4,5-diCQA at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of the body weight suppressed carrageenan-induced edema and the expression of nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, our results suggest that 4,5-diCQA exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing activation of the nuclear factor-κB and MAPK pathways in vitro and reducing carrageenan-induced edema in vivo. Therefore, 4,5-diCQA shows potential as a natural alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.