Anti-obesity effect of vegetable juice fermented with lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi in C57BL/6J mice and human mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of fermented vegetable juice (VJ) obtained from a blend of four crops (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>capitata</i>, <i>B. oleracea</i> var. <i>italica</i>, <i>Daucus carota</i> L., and <i>Beta vulgaris</i>) on adipogenesis along with the identification of active compounds. Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (<i>Companilactobacillus allii</i> WiKim39 and <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> WiKim0124), isolated from kimchi, were used to ferment the VJ and their effectiveness was evaluated in differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells and obese mice. <i>In vitro</i> antibody array analysis was done to understand signaling proteins in adipogenesis. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed proteins are related to biological processes including immunological processes. These were effectively regulated by LAB and fermented VJ. Supplementation of fermented VJ reduced the weight gain, blood biochemical indicators, and liver fat accumulation in mice. Oil Red O staining indicated that the fermentation metabolites of VJ (indole-3-lactic acid, leucic acid, and phenyllactic acid) had an inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation <i>in vitro</i>. Therefore, it can be concluded that LAB-fermented VJ and its metabolites have the potential to counter obesity, and thus can be therapeutically effective.