from Naoyuki Yamamoto writing in Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research:

Many studies have suggested milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria has beneficial effects on the health status of animals and humans. This paper reviews the potential of antihypertensive peptides in milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria. Most of the antihypertensive effects of these peptides can be explained by their inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme. Well characterized antihypertensive peptides released by Lactobacillus helveticus fermented milk are mainly reviewed in this chapter. Studies on Val-Pro-Pro (VPP) and Ile-Pro-Pro (IPP), released in L. helveticus fermented milk, and their use in animal and clinical studies are discussed in more detail. In addition, processing of VPP and IPP by proteolytic enzymes of L. helveticus is discussed. A long peptide containing VPP and IPP sequences generated from β-casein by an extracellular proteinase was thought to be processed intracellularly by the following enzymes: an endopeptidase was expected for C-terminal processing, and an aminopeptidase and X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase for N-terminal processing. Genome analyses of these proteolytic enzymes in L. helveticus enabled comparisons to corresponding genome sequences reported in other lactic acid bacteria; from this, it was suggested that the proteolytic system to process VPP and IPP is specific to L. helveticus. The regulatory system observed in the production of VPP and IPP during L. helveticus fermentation is also discussed.

Further reading: Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research

from Katsunori Kimura writing in Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research:

Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 (LG21) was isolated from the feces of a healthy human. LG21 was selected as a probiotic against H. pylori infection by screening more than 200 Latobacillus strains by in vitro assays and animal studies. In clinical studies, the ingestion of yogurt containing LG21 decreased the number of H. pylori and IL-8 concentration in the gastric mucosa, and alleviated the mucosal inflammation in humans infected with H. pylori. LG21 was shown to be effective as a probiotic against H. pylori infection.

Further reading: Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research