The invention provides a method of increasing an amount of oral immunoglobulin A (IgA) and/or inhibiting oral pathogens in a subject in need thereof, which utilizes a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of probiotics as an effective ingredient. The probiotics include Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28, which can efficiently increase the amount of oral IgA and/or inhibit the oral pathogens, and thus have a potential to prevent teeth cavities and/or periodontal diseases.

The disclosure relates to a mixture of bacteria belonging to at least six or seven different and specific bacterial species preferably for use in preventing or treating gastro-intestinal disorders. Preferably, the mixture of bacteria is grown together in a fermenter prior to administering the mixture to a subject in order to prevent or treat the disorder.

A preparation method of a konjac granule includes the following steps: step 1: dissolving a konjac powder in hot water; step 2: subjecting a mixed solution obtained in step 1 to sterilization; step 3: conducting enzymatic hydrolysis at 50° C. to 70° C. for 2 h to 6 h; step 4: conducting enzymatic inactivation; step 5: conducting homogenization at 10 Mpa to 45 Mpa; step 6: adding a fully-dissolved sodium alginate solution and a flavor-modulating substance to a mixed solution obtained in step 5, and thoroughly mixing; and step 7: calcification and gelation: adding a calcium solution to a mixed solution obtained in step 6 for gelation to obtain the konjac granule. The preparation method improves the compactness of the konjac granule, increases a gel strength, and is conducive to extending a shelf life of a product.

The present invention provides novel Lactobacillus sp. strains, novel Bifidobacterium sp. strains, or lactic acid bacteria mixtures thereof, which are isolated from kimchi or human feces. A certain Lactobacillus sp. strain or certain Bifidobacterium sp. strain according to the present invention is isolated from kimchi or human feces, and thus is highly safe, and has various physiological activities such as antioxidant activity, β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production inhibitory activity or tight junction protein expression-inducing activity. Accordingly, a certain Lactobacillus sp. strain, certain Bifidobacterium sp. strain or mixture thereof according to the present invention may be used as a functional food or medicinal material useful for the prevention, alleviation or treatment of intestinal damage, liver injury, allergic disease, inflammatory disease, or obesity.

The invention relates to bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei and/or compositions comprising Lactobacillus paracasei for use in preventing and/or treating a mental illness, a symptom affecting mental health and/or a condition associated with chronic stress, in a mammal. The invention further relates to methods and uses of said bacteria of the species Lactobacillus paracasei and/or compositions. The invention can be applied in restoring, maintaining, and/or promoting mental (including cognitive) health and has potential applications, inter alia, in the area of dietary and food supplements, medicaments and pharmaceuticals.

A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).

The disclosure relates to a mixture of bacteria belonging to at least six or seven different and specific bacterial species preferably for use in preventing or treating gastro-intestinal disorders. Preferably, the mixture of bacteria is grown together in a fermenter prior to administering the mixture to a subject in order to prevent or treat the disorder.

The present invention relates to the technical field of microbes, in particular to a Lactobacillus plantarum which can significantly inhibit the occurrence of colorectal cancer, and its use thereof. The Lactobacillus plantarum strain CCFM164 has a deposit number CGMCC No. 14520, which has a good tolerance to gastric acid and bile salts, significantly alleviate the level of colorectal inflammation in colorectal cancer model mice, and can reduce the number of tumors in the colon and rectum of the model mice by regulating the Notch1, Notch2 signaling pathway and the expression of VEGFR2 molecule in colorectal tissue. In addition, the Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM164 can also improve the intestinal flora population and short-chain fatty acid levels in the intestine. The Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM164 is used to prepare a fermented food for the inhibition of the occurrence of colorectal cancer with wild applications.

A particular Bifidobacterium spp. strain or particular Lactobacillus spp. strain according to the present invention is isolated from excrement of a human or cabbage kimchi, and thus is highly safe and has physiological activities such as an immunity regulatory effect and an inflammation reaction inhibiting effect. Therefore, the particular Bifidobacterium spp. strain or particular Lactobacillus spp. strain according to the present invention may be used as a material for regulating immunity and inhibiting inflammation reactions, and may be also used as a functional food and drug material useful for preventing, alleviating or treating rhinitis, atopy, asthma, etc. which are allergic diseases.

The present invention provides a lactic acid bacteria starter comprising: Streptococcus thermophilus; and a lactic acid bacterium of the Lactobacillaceae other than Lactobacillus delbrueckii.