White cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) reportedly exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-gastric effects. We aimed to evaluate the biological activity of B. oleracea fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (FBO). The plant material was fermented for 7 d. The antioxidative potentials of FBO (DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and total phenol and total flavonoid contents) and ability of FBO to inhibit digestive enzymes (α-amylase and lipase) were tested. Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects were also determined by measuring the release of NO, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-4), β-hexosaminidase and histamine. FBO contained 15.84±0.25 mg GAE/g phenols and 1.19±0.09 mg NA/g flavonoids. FBO showed DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and inhibited α-amylase and lipase. It also inhibited of NO, PGE2 and inflammatory cytokine production by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Finally, FBO inhibited degranulation and inflammatory cytokine production in antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these observations indicate that white cabbage fermented with L. plantarum can be used as a functional material and edible resource in industrial setting.

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L var. capitata) fermented with a mixed culture of lactic acid bacteria (FCMC) and elucidated the underlying mechanism. The mixed culture included Lactobacillus plantarum and L. acidophilus. The cell viability of RAW264.7 macrophages were confirmed by MTT assay, and the results revealed no toxicity following treatment with FCMC at concentrations of up to 1,000 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory effect of FCMC was evaluated by stimulating RAW264.7 macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce the production of inflammation-related factors, which were measured by an nitric oxide (NO) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, and Western blot. FCMC dose-dependently inhibited the production of NO, PGE 2 , and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages without any cytotoxicity. FCMC also reduced the protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 and inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and degradation of IκB in the LPS-stimulated cells. These results collectively suggest that FCMC may suppress the inflammatory reaction in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and function as an anti-inflammatory material.

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammation effects of extract from Maclura tricuspidata twig fermented with Ganoderma lucidum mycelium (EMFG) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 100, 200, 300 μg/mL of EMFG. The result showed that EMFG dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation of intracellular lipid content in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and enhanced increase of adiponectin release and inhibition of leptin release. EMFG treatment reduced expression of adipogenic transcriptional factor such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). EMFG also decreased production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] and the protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NOS (iNOS) in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The study demonstrated that EMFG inhibited adipogenesis and inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that EMFG may have potential as an anti-obesity and anti-metabolic disease agent that works by inhibiting adipogenesis and inflammation.