Forty seven amylolytic Bifidobacterium strains were isolated on starch-containing agar medium from the faecal samples of the various age groups of Korean. From these amyloytic Bifidobacterium spp., two strains of KFRI 1535, identified temporarily as Bifidobacterium longum, and KFRI 1550, identified as Bifidobacterium breve, showed great macrophage-stimulating activity for the production of tumor necrosis factor-$alpha$ and inteleukin-6. As the cell concentration increased the cytokine production increased, although in some strains the cytokine levels started to decline over cell concentration increased the cytokine production increased, although in some strains the cytokine levels started to decline over cell concentration of $250mu extrm{g}$/ml. the strains which showed high cytokine-stimulating activity generally showed greater production of nitric oxide even though differences were less between strains. Selected Bifidobacterium strains were compared for their fermentation capability in saccharified rice solution and in apple pomace mixture.