# Increased Anticancer Activity of Organic Kimchi with Starters Demonstrated in HT-29 Cancer Cells
###### Abstract
The main LAB in kimchi are _Leuconostoc mesenteroides_ (LM) and _Lactipantiobacillus plantarum_ (LP). In the case of LM, it was shown to be the main microorganism involved in the optimal ripening of kimchi at low temperatures, and LP has been observed to be the dominant species in the late stage of fermentation [7]. These two LAB are not only produced during fermentation, but are also used as starter cultures before fermentation. Earlier studies by [PERSON] et al. [8] and [PERSON] et al. [9] revealed that starters (LM + LP) could enhance the anticancer and anti-obesity effects of kimchi. In addition, postbiotic metabolites produced from LP caused selective antiproliferative effects and apoptosis on cancer cells while preserving normal cells, and cell proliferation inhibitory effects and total phenol content on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells in soymilk fermented with LAB increased [10; 11]. Dead nanometric _Lactipantiobacillus plantarum_ (nF1), produced by the heat treatment of LP, is less than 1 \(\upmu\)m in size and is absorbed faster through the [PERSON]'s patches of M cells in the intestine, and it has immune-enhancing and anti-obesity effects [12]. However, the functional study of kimchi co-produced with LP, LM, and nF1 has not been comprehensively conducted to date. Hence, we aim to study the anticancer effects of kimchi co-produced with LP, LM, and nF1. Colorectal cancer accounts for approximately 10% of all cancers and cancer-related deaths diagnosed worldwide each year, making it the second most common cancer in women and the third most common cancer in men [13]. Cancer cells are characterized by uncontrolled proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation, combined with the inhibition of apoptosis, cellular differentiation, and DNA repair, all of which are associated with the initiation and progression of cancer [14]. The HT-29 cell line is a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line that provides a desirable experimental system for studying the effective factors in epithelial cell differentiation. These morphological characteristics of HT-29 cells make them a suitable model for studying various cell signaling pathways, such as apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, as well as therapeutic agents or approaches [15]. Apoptosis is well known as one of the major pathways of tumor cell death [16]. A class of proteins closely related to the apoptosis pathway is the family of caspases, which includes initiator caspases (caspase 9) and effector caspases (caspase 3). Cell cycle arrest occurs to halt abnormal cell proliferation and to repair intracellular DNA damage [17]. Colorectal cancer is sporadic and only about 5% of cases have a genetic cause. Smoking, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, unhealthy dietary habits, and the presence of health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, are known to be the most important extrinsic risk factors for colorectal cancer [18]. Therefore, functional foods with anticancer bioactivity can lower the risk. With this aim, we chose to study the anticancer properties of kimchi, a popular food product. The purpose of this study is to use the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line to detect the effect of organic anticancer kimchi (OAK) on the growth rate inhibition of cancer cells and the expression of mRNA and the proteins of genes associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Kimchi used in this study was prepared using organic ingredients, with starter cultures LP + LM and nF1 with enhanced anticancer activity, and improved taste and quality similar to or better than commercial products.