A total of 187 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from four types of grains collected in South Korea. The bacterial strains were assigned as members of Levilactobacillus brevis, Latilactobacillus curvatus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactococcus taiwanensis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Weissella paramesenteroides based on the closest similarity using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The strains belonging to the same species were analyzed using RAPD-PCR, and one or two among strains showing the same band pattern were selected. Finally, 25 representative strains were selected for further functional study. Inhibitory effects of lipid accumulation were observed in the strains tested. Pediococcus pentosaceus K28, Levilactobacillus brevis RP21 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RP12 significantly reduced lipid accumulation and did not show cytotoxicity in C3H10T1/2 cells at treatment of 1-200 μg/mL. The three LAB strains decreased significantly expression of six adipogenic marker genes, PPARγ, C/EBPα, CD36, LPL, FAS and ACC, in C3H10T1/2 adipocytes. The three strains survived under strong acidity and bile salt conditions. The three strains showed adhesion to Caco-2 cells similar to a reference strain LGG. The resistance of the three strains to several antibiotics was also assessed. Strains RP12 and K28 were confirmed not to produce harmful enzymes based on API ZYM kit results. Based on these results, strains K28, RP21 and RP12 isolated from grains had the ability to inhibit adipogenesis in adipocytes and potentially be useful as probiotics.
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