Comparison of aqueous plant extracts before and after fermentation with Lactobacillus paracasei LS-2 on cytokine induction and antioxidant activity.

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant properties and inhibitory effects on the inflammation-related cytokines of plant extracts fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei LS-2 in comparison with the unfermented aqueous plant extract. Attempted have also been made to identify fermented plant extracts that display no cytotoxicity against murine macrophage cells, while still maintaining their biological characteristics. Most of the fermented plant extracts showed reduced cytotoxicity. Among the fourteen plant extracts tested, the fermented plant extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi increased the induction of anti-inflammatory mediators; however, they were still cytotoxic. Interestingly, the plant extract of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. induced a dramatic increase in the induction of anti-inflammatory mediators with no cytotoxicity through fermentation. Our findings suggest that fermented A. capillaris holds promise for use as a valuable natural non-cytotoxic antioxidant and immuno-modulating agent.