본 연구는 반추위 메탄저감용 약용식물 첨가제 개발을 위해 유산균을 이용하여 발효한 두충 및 감초 추출물의 항균활성, 항산화활성 및 in vitro 반추위 발효시험을 실시하였다. 발효 약용식물 추출물 제조를 위해 접종된 종균의 성장효율을 조사하기 위해 실시한 생균수 측정 결과 L. curvatus NJ40, L. brevis NJ42 및 L. plantarum NJ45가 두충과 감초 모두에서 유의적으로 높은 균주 성장을 나타냈다(p<0.05). 항균활성측정 결과는 두충과 감초 추출물에서 공통적으로 L. curvatus NJ40 및 L. plantarum NJ45 로 발효한 추출물이 일부 병원균에 대한 항균효과를 나타내는 것으로 조사되었다. In vitro 반추위 발효시험에서 두충 및 감초발효 추출물을 적용한 결과, 감초 추출물에서 메탄 저감효과가 나타났다. 특히 반추위내 미생물 발효 특성을 대표할 수 있는 휘발성지방산 생성효율을 향상 시키면서, 전반적 반추위 발효에 부정적 영향이 없는 것으로 나타났다.
A study was conducted to improve the biological activity of two medicinal plants, Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, by fermentation. The biological activity was assessed by determining antibacterial, antioxidant and antimethanogenic properties. Fermentation was achieved by adding the plant materials in MRS broth at 10% (w/v) and different starter cultures at 1% (v/v). Condition for fermentation were incubation temperature of $30^{circ}C$ and agitation at 150 rpm for 48 h. Six starter cultures, Weissella confusa NJ28 (Genbank accession number KJ914897), Weissella cibaria NJ33 (Genbank accession number KJ914898), Lactobacillus curvatus NJ40 (Genbank accession number KJ914899), Lactobacillus brevis NJ42 (Genbank accession number KJ914900), Lactobacillus plantarum NJ45 (Genbank accession number KJ914901) and Lactobacillus sakei NJ48 (Genbank accession number KJ914902) were used. Antibacterial activity was observed in L. curvatus NJ40 and L. plantarum NJ45 only as opposed to other treatments, including the non-fermented groups, which showed no antibacterial activity. Both plants showed antioxidant activity, although E. ulmoides Oliv. had lower activity than G. uralensis. However, fermentation by all strains significantly improved (p<0.05), antioxidant activity in both plants compared to non-fermented treatment. Six treatments were based on antibacterial activity results, selected for in vitro rumen fermentation; 1) non-fermented E. ulmoides, 2) fermented E. ulmoides NJ40, 3) fermented E. ulmoides NJ45, 4) non-fermented G. uralensis, 5) fermented G. uralensis NJ40, 6) fermented G. uralensis NJ45. A negative control was also added, making a total of 7 treatments for the in vitro experiment. Medicinal plant-based treatments significantly improved (p<0.05) total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Significant methane reduction per mol of VFA were observed in G. uralensis (p<0.05). Based on the present study, fermentation improves the biological activity of E. ulmoides Oliv. and G. uralensis. Fermented G. uralensis could also be applied as an enteric methane mitigating agent in ruminant animals.
