Development of obesity is associated with excessive fat accumulation and oxidative stress along with chronic inflammation. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) are high in polyphenolic compounds and have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and hypolipidemic properties that may alleviate the pathogenesis of obesity and related metabolic complications. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate potential metabolic benefits of GB supplementation against high fat (HF) diet-induced obesity and its comorbidities in HF diet-fed rats (male Sprague–Dawley, n  =  8/group, 6 weeks old). We also sought to examine the potential metabolic benefits of fermented GB (FGB) with L. plantarum CB3 and possible distinctions in the degree and/or mechanism of action compared to GB. GB and FGB supplementation suppressed the gene expression of inflammation indices at the local (adipose tissues) and systemic (liver) levels. In addition, GB and FGB supplementation upregulated the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes compared to the HF and/or even low fat (LF) group with more remarkable antioxidant effects by GB supplementation. Also, GB and FGB supplementation protected from HF-induced damages of the liver and dyslipidemia. In conclusion, we demonstrated that GB and FGB supplementation protected from HF-induced metabolic complications primarily by improving hepatic function and corresponding lipid metabolism via their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study confirming metabolic benefits of GB in a fermented form. Thus, these findings support the potential application of both GB and FGB to ameliorate obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of heat-killed LAB strains. Regarding probiotic properties, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SMF398 and L. plantarum SMF470 isolated from kimchi can survive under artificial gastric condition and adhere strongly to HT-29 cells. The SMF398 and SMF470 strains showed strong antimicrobial activity and co-aggregation against pathogenic bacteria. The heat-killed cells of LAB (1 mg/mL) were prepared by heating at 121℃ for 15 min. MTT assay revealed that the heat-killed cells (1 mg/mL) of SMF398 and SMF470 were not toxic to HT-29 cells. The heat-killed SMF398 and SMF470 showed significantly higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities as well as βcarotene bleaching inhibitory activity than the heat-killed L. plantarum ATCC14917, a control probiotic strain (p<0.05). In lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells, the heat-killed SMF398 and SMF470 significantly reduced the nitric oxide production by 30.92% and 22.81%, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, the heat-killed SMF398 and SMF470 significantly decreased the gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 up to 58.02%, 67.70%, 53.44%, 45.90%, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggest that the heat-killed L. plantarum SMF398 and L. plantarum SMF470 might be useful as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

This study aimed to determine the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi and to develop a probiotic starter culture for yogurt supplemented with red ginseng extract powder (RGE). Two LAB strains were selected by analysis of acid resistance, bile resistance and antioxidant activity, and identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SY46 and Levilactobacillus brevis SY65 by 16S rRNA sequencing. Both strains showed similar or higher auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant activity compared to Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, a commercial probiotic strain. The yogurt samples, which were supplemented with 5% or 10% RGE and fermented with the mixed culture of SY46 and SY65, exhibited pH values of 4.28-4.46 and titratable acidity of 1.25-1.53%, and their viable cell counts were over 9.0 Log CFU/mL. The antioxidant effects using DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching assay were significantly increased with increasing RGE concentrations (p<0.05). Overall, yogurts fermented with 5% or 10% RGE were acceptable in terms of pH, titratable acidity, cell viability and antioxidant effect. These results might provide useful information for the development of ginseng dairy products with probiotic properties.