To understand the biological roles of Pediococcus pentosaceus strains as probiotics isolated from the traditional Korean fermented food, Jangajji, Pediococcus pentosaceus was selected based on its high cinnamoyl esterase (CE) and antioxidant activities. The acid and bile stability, intestinal adhesion, antagonistic activity against human pathogens, cholesterol-lowering effects, and immune system stimulation without inflammatory effects were evaluated. Nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured in co-culture with various bacterial stimulants. Fermentation ability was measured by using a broccoli matrix and the sulforaphane levels were measured. Resistance to acidic and bilious conditions and 8% adherence to Caco-2 cells were observed. Cholesterol levels were lowered by 51% by assimilation. Moreover, these strains exhibited immunomodulatory properties with induction of macrophage TNF-α and IL-6 and had microstatic effects on various pathogens. Co-culture with various bacterial stimulants resulted in increased NO production. Fermentation activity was increased with the strains, and higher sulforaphane levels were observed. Therefore, in the future, the applicability of the selected strain to broccoli matrix-based fermented functional foods should be confirmed.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical associated with physiological functions such as blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular health, mitochondrial production, calcium transport, oxidative stress, and skeletal muscle repair. This study aimed to isolate Latilactobacillus curvatus strains with enhanced NO production from the traditional Korean fermented food, jangajji, and evaluate their probiotic properties for industrial purposes. When cells were co-cultured with various bacterial stimulants, NO production generally increased, and NO synthesis was observed in the range of 20–40 mg/mL. The selected strains of Lat. curvatus were resistant to acid and bile conditions and with variable effectiveness (1–14%) in adhering to Caco-2 cells. Most bacterial strains can inhibit the growth of various pathogens. In addition, they are capable of reducing cholesterol levels via assimilation of cholesterol at 10–50%. Among the selected NO synthases from Lat. curvatus strains, the strain JBCC38 showed the highest capacity to scavenge ABTS (30.1%) and DPPH radicals (39.4%). Moreover, these strains exhibited immunomodulatory properties. The production of TNF-α and IL-6 in the macrophages treated with various bacterial stimulants was induced in all the selected strains.

In this study, we successfully isolated Bacillus strains with high protease activity from deep-sea mineral water in Korea and used them to obtain functional peptide fractions from chia seeds. The obtained Bacillus strains showed a high similarity of 99% with B. altitude with a long rod type (named B. altitudinis 5-DSW) and high protease activity at 40 °C, and 70% of the activity remained even at 70 °C. The defatted chia seed protein (15–50 kDa) was treated with crude protease from B. altitudinis 5-DSW and digested into small peptides below 20 kDa. The obtained chia seed peptides showed 3 times and 1.5 times higher antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABT radical scavenging assays, respectively. Moreover, chia seed peptides showed enhanced AChE inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 14.48 ± 0.88 μg/mL and BChE inhibition activity with an IC₅₀ value of 10.90 ± 0.80 μg/mL. Our results indicate that the newly isolated B. altitudinis 5-DSW and chia seed protein hydrolysates have potential applications in biotechnology and functional food development, enhancing the nutritional quality and value-added utilization of chia byproducts.

Sang-Kyu Park, Hao Jin, Chan-Mi Lee, and Sang-Ho Baik. Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2023;52:516-21. https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2023.52.5.516

Eun-Gyo Lee, Faiza Khalid, Hao Jin, and Sang-Ho Baik. Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2025;54:498-505. https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2025.54.6.498