Kimchi Probiotics Promote Expulsion of Nano-Plastics from the Intestines

A study has found that probiotics derived from kimchi help expel nano-plastics from the intestines. Nano-plastics are ultra-fine particles, less than 1μm in size, that are generated during the breakdown of plastic. They can enter the human body through food and drinking water. Due to their extremely small size, they may pass through the intestines and accumulate in organs such as the kidneys and brain. In contrast, biological research on the expulsion or reduction of nano-plastics from the intestines remains in its early stages.

On March 11, a research team led by Dr. Lee Sehee and Dr. Won Taeung at the World Kimchi Research Institute announced that they had experimentally confirmed that probiotics isolated from kimchi bind to nano-plastics in the intestines and promote their excretion from the body.

Image of research results on nano plastic adsorption using kimchi probiotics. World Kimchi Research Institute

The research team conducted a detailed analysis of the adsorption characteristics of polystyrene nano-plastics (PS-NPs) using "Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656" (hereafter CBA3656), a probiotic isolated from kimchi.

As a result, under general conditions, CBA3656 showed an adsorption efficiency of 87%, which is similar to the 85% of the comparison strain, "Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608" (hereafter CBA3608).

However, in a simulated solution replicating the human intestinal environment, the difference between the two strains was pronounced. The adsorption rate of CBA3608 was only 3%, while CBA3656 demonstrated a relatively high adsorption rate of 57%. This indicates that CBA3656 is capable of stably binding to nano-plastics even under conditions similar to the actual intestines.

Significant results were also confirmed in animal experiments using a germ-free mouse model. Compared to the control group that was not administered probiotics, the group given CBA3656 showed more than a two-fold increase in the amount of nano-plastics detected in feces for both male and female mice, supporting the possibility that this probiotic binds to nano-plastics in the intestines and promotes their excretion from the body.

This research scientifically demonstrates that probiotics derived from kimchi can interact with environmental micro-pollutants, beyond their fermentation functions. Based on these findings, the research team plans to expand their study to investigate the effects of reducing intestinal accumulation and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Dr. Lee stated, "As plastic pollution evolves from an environmental issue to a public health concern, presenting a new response strategy using microorganisms derived from the traditional fermented food kimchi is a meaningful achievement. The research team will continue to enhance the scientific value of kimchi microbial resources to contribute to public health improvement and environmental solutions."

Meanwhile, these research findings were recently featured in the international journal "Bioresource Technology," which covers the environmental and bioresource fields.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.