title: Characterization of starter kimchi fermented with Leuconostoc kimchii GJ2 and its cholesterol-lowering effects in rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The hypocholesterolemic effects of lactic acid bacteria and kimchi have been demonstrated previously. However, the kimchi fermentation process still relies on naturally present microorganisms. To obtain functional kimchi with consistent quality, we validated the capacity of Leuconostoc kimchii GJ2 as a starter culture to control kimchi fermentation. Moreover, cholesterol-lowering effects of starter kimchi as a health-promoting product were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacteriocin production by Lc. kimchii GJ2 was highly enhanced in the presence of 5% Lactobacillus sakei NJ1 cell fractions. When kimchi was fermented with bacteriocin-enhanced Lc. kimchii GJ2, Lc. kimchii GJ2 became overwhelmingly predominant (98.3%) at the end of fermentation and maintained its dominance (up to 82%) for 84 days. Growing as well as dead cells of Lc. kimchii GJ2 showed high cholesterol assimilation (in vitro). Rats were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet supplemented with starter kimchi. The results showed that feeding of starter kimchi significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Additionally, atherogenic index, cardiac risk factor and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in liver and epididymal adipose tissue decreased significantly in rats fed starter kimchi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kimchi fermented with Lc. kimchii GJ2 as a starter culture has efficient cholesterol-lowering effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Se Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Choon
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D001937:Brassica; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014675:Vegetables / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Leuconostoc kimchii; cholesterol-lowering effects; enhanced-bacteriocin production; kimchi