Anti-inflammatory effects and improvement of intestinal motility of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSW3805 and Pediococcus pentosaceus DSW4104 isolated from kimchi for gut health.

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for mitigating intestinal inflammation, enhancing gut barrier integrity, and regulating intestinal motility, addressing key mechanisms for gut health. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and probiotic properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSW3805 and Pediococcus pentosaceus DSW4104 isolated from kimchi. The strains were assessed for gastrointestinal tolerance, adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells (using adhesion assays and scanning electron microscopy), anti-inflammatory effects using nitric oxide assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HT-29 cells. Both strains demonstrated reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and modulation of nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, contributing to the upregulation of tight junction protein levels and enhancement of intestinal motility. These findings highlight L. plantarum DSW3805 and P. pentosaceus DSW4104 as promising probiotics for alleviating intestinal inflammation, strengthening barrier integrity, and improving intestinal motility, supporting the potential use of these strains for gut health.