Enhancement of the Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Hizikia fusiforme Water Extract by Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation

Abstract

We previously reported that fermentation by Lactobacillus brevis LB-20 isolated from Kimchi resulted in improvement of the sensory quality of Hizikia fusiforme water extract. This study was conducted to evaluate the possible application of lactic acid bacteria fermentation to improve the functional qualities of H. fusiforme extract. L. brevis LB-20 was inoculated and cultivated in H. fusiforme extract. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extract were then assayed both before and following fermentation for two days. Antioxidant activity was determined by assaying levels of radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, superoxide, and alkyl radical. Lactic acid bacterial fermentation of H. fusiforme extract resulted in enhancement of antioxidant activity. The greatest enhancement of antioxidant activity was seen in the hydroxyl radical scavenging assay that incorporated 0.5 mg/mL of raw and fermented H. fusiforme extract. Fermented extract exhibited greater (21.95%) inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis than did raw extract (14.66%) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. The fermented extract exerted its potent anti-inflammatory activity via attenuation of expression of inflammation-related cytokine proteins (TNF-<TEX>${\alpha}$</TEX> and iNOS).