This study investigated the anti-amnesic effect of fermented Ganoderma lucidum water extracts (GW) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. GW were fermented by the lactic acid bacterium Bifidobacterium bifidum (FGWB), followed by Lactobacillus sakei LI033 (FGWBL). To induce amnesia, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats 30 min before the behavioral tests. Step-through latencies of rats treated with primary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWB) and secondary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWBL) were significantly longer than those of rats treated with GW (300 mg/kg) in the retention trial of the multiple trial passive avoidance test. In the Morris water maze task, FGWBL significantly shortened escape latencies in training trials. Furthermore, swimming times within the target zone during the probe trial with FGWBL were significantly higher than the GW and FGWB treatments. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activities were lower in the brains of scopolamine-treated rats treated with FGWBL. These results suggest that FGWBL could be useful to enhance learning memory and cognitive function via cholinergic dysfunction.

This study was conducted to examine the quality and storage characteristics of yogurt containing antifungal-active lactic acid bacteria (ALH, Lacobacillus sakei ALI033) isolated from kimchi and cinnamon ethanol extract. The starter was used for culture inoculation (1.0 % commercial starter culture YF-L812 and ALH). The antifungal activity of cinnamon extracts was observed in treatments with either cinnamon ethanol extracts or cinnamon methanol extracts. Changes in fermented milk made with ALH and cinnamon extract during fermentation at 40 °C were as follows. The pH was 4.6 after only 6 h of fermentation. Titratable acidity values were maintained at 0.8 % in all treatment groups. Viable cell counts were maintained at 4 × 109 CFU/mL in all groups except for 1.00 % cinnamon treatment. Sensory evaluations of fermented milk sample made with ALH and 0.05 % cinnamon ethanol extract were the highest. Changes in fermented milk made with ALH and cinnamon ethanol extract during storage at 4 °C for 28 days were as follows. In fermented milk containing ALH and cinnamon ethanol extracts, the changes in pH and titratable acidity were moderate and smaller compared with those of the control. Viable cell counts were maintained within a proper range of 108 CFU/mL. The results of this study suggest that the overgrowth of fermentation strains or post acidification during storage can be effectively delayed, thereby maintaining the storage quality of yogurt products in a stable way, using cinnamon ethanol extract, which exhibits excellent antifungal and antibacterial activity, in combination with lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi.

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify strains of Acetobacter suitable for use in the development of a complex microbial culture for producing Kombucha and to examine the fermentation characteristics for selection of suitable strains. A medium supplemented with calcium carbonate was used for isolation of acetic acid bacteria from 22 various sources. Colonies observed in the clear zone resulting from decomposition of calcium carbonate by acid produced by microorganisms were collected. Identification of the collected strains was based on biological and morphological characteristics, and the results of base sequence analysis. A total of 37 strains were identified, including six species in the Acetobacter genus: Acetobacter pasteurianus, Acetobacter orientalis, Acetobacter cibinongensis, Acetobacter pomorum, Acetobacter ascendens, and Acetobacter malorum, as well as one species in the Gluconobacter genus, Gluconobacter oxydans. Among thirty-seven strains, seven strains of acetic acid bacteria with exceptional acid and alcohol tolerance were selected, and an evaluation of their fermentation characteristics according to fermentation temperature and period was performed. The results showed a titratable acidity of 1.68% for the Acetobacter pasteurianus SFT-18 strain, and an acetic acid bacteria count of 9.52 log CFU/mL at a fermentation temperature of 35 °C. The glucuronic acid and gluconate contents for the Gluconobacter oxydans SFT-27 strain were 10.32 mg/mL and 25.49 mg/mL, respectively.

This study was performed to investigate the antifungal substances and the antifungal activity against fungi of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi. LAB from kimchi in Imsil showed antifungal activity against Penicillium brevicompactum strain FI02. LAB LI031 was identified as Lactobacillus sakei subsp. Antifungal substances contained in L. sakei subsp. ALI033 culture media were unstable at high pH levels. Both, the control and proteinase K and protease treated samples showed clear zones, suggesting that the antifungal substances produced by ALI033 were non-protein substances unaffected by protesases. Both, the control and catalase showed clear zones, suggesting that the antifungal metabolite was not H₂O₂. The molecular weights of the antifungal substances were ≤3,000 Da. The organic acid content of crude antifungal substances produced by L. sakei subsp. ALI033 showed high concentrations of lactic acid (502.47 mg/100 g). Therefore, these results suggest that antifungal substance produced by L. sakei subsp. ALI033 is most likely due to its ability in producing organic acid.

The goal of this study was to provide basic data for the development of functional food and health materials for Rhus verniciflua (R. verniciflua) seeds. We investigated an antioxidative compound obtained from these seeds. Solvent fractionation was carried out on a 50%-ethanol extract of the seeds. The DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured, and high antioxidant activity was seen in the ethyl acetate fraction. The antioxidant compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction were isolated using silica-gel column chromatography by adjusting the solvent between chloroform and methanol. Fraction numbers 2–7 showed activity of more than 50%. Next, primary column chromatography was used to mix and concentrate the fractions that demonstrated antioxidant activity. The fractions were then subjected to secondary column chromatography to obtain subfraction 4, which showed high antioxidant activity. The separation of subfraction 4 was then performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three peaks were identified and peak number 2 was judged to be the primary antioxidative compound, which was then isolated by pure separation. Finally, the purified subfraction peak number 2 was identified as a fisetin compound by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and HPLC.