It is said that the reason Bulgarians enjoy longevity is that they have a lot of yogurt, whose Lactobacillus controls intestinal poison-producing germs. In young individuals, the number of bifidobacteria exceeds 10 billion per 1 g of intestinal content, but this number decreases for older or senile individuals, who have a larger number of harmful microorganisms such as Clostridium. In addition, it is well known that artificially increasing intestinal bifidobacteria can help control harmful microorganisms and thus facilitate a healthier and longer life. The microorganisms used for artificial spawn are referred to as probiotic microorganisms, and in general, lactic acid bacteria(LAB) are used. Unlike antibiotics, which kill harmful microorganisms, probiotic microorganisms coexist with and control them, while improving the health of the individual, that is, they can improve and invigorate host cells. Because probiotic microorganisms and its products based on LAB are known to help prevent and treat constipation, diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, and blood cholesterol and generally improve health through the purification of intestines, its market has been continuously expanding. Korea imports approximately 90% of spawn and uses them. It is likely that they are not appropriate for Korean's physical condition. Thus, considering this problem into account, Entecbio, a biotech firm in Korea, has produced various products by using its proprietary microorganisms. In this paper, the effects, characteristics, and kinds of products from based on proprietary microorganisms, with its prospect for market, etc., are generally examined.

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Biological activities of wax gourd (Benincase hispida) extract and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum) were investigated in this study. Wax gourd extract reduced the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by 47.9%, of tyrosinase by 13.2%, and had an anti-oxidant activity of 23.4%. Oral administration of wax gourd extract for 72 hours improved the symptom of loose bowels for 120 patients with its highest improvement rates within 6 to 12 hours. The improvement rates were standardized by the curative state by 80%. Lactic acid bacteria preparations reduced the activity of ACE by 21.49%. Oral administration of lactic acid bacteria preparations for 72 hours improved the symptom of loose bowels for 108 patients with its highest improvement rates after 24 hours. On the basis of these results, the tablets containing both wax gourd extract and lactic acid bacteria preparations for the improvement of irritable bowel syndromes were developed. The tablets reduced the activity of ACE by 27.1% and exhibited an anti-oxidant activity of 20.3%. Treatment of the tablets at 100 ㎍/㎖ and 250 ㎍/㎖ for 24 hours inhibited the growth of A549 human lung cancer cells by 67%, which was much higher than that of each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria. In addition, treatment of the tablets at 100 ㎍/㎖ for 24 hours reduced the growth of HCT-116 human colon cancer cells by 70%. Oral administration of the tablets to the patients with loose bowels led to higher improvement rates and speed than each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria. Oral administration of the tablets to the patients with irritable bowel syndromes of loose bowels, constipation, or general type for 72 hours improved their symptoms by 100% with the highest improvement rates within 3 to 6 hours. Furthermore, the improvement rates and speed by the tablets was much higher than each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria.

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Sweet potato j?-amylase was divided into two active fractions (named F-A and F-B) by modification with periodate-oxidized maltohexaose at pH 9.7. F-A and F-B isolated by exclusion chromatography using Sephadex G-200 corresponded to a pentamer of the enzyme with molecular weight of 31.5 x 104 and a monomerwith molecular weight of 6.4 x 104, respectively. The contents of carbohydrate of the modified enzymes were 9.7 %for F-A and 9.3 %for F-B. The specific activities of F-A and F-B were 2,059 and 1,129units/mg of protein and were reduced to 82% and 45% of that of the original enzyme, respectively. The modification of the enzymewith the oxidized maltohexaose was due to formation of a Schiff base between 8-NH2groups of lysines of the enzymeprotein and CHO groups of the oxidized maltohexaose.