Enhancement of Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity of Brown Alga Eisenia bicyclis Extract by Microbial Fermentation

The objective of this study was to select an effective microbial strain to improve the functional qualities of Eisenia bicyclis water extract by fermentation. For this purpose, several microorganisms isolated from traditional Korean fermented foods were inoculated and cultivated in E. bicyclis water extract. Ultimately, yeast strain YM-1 was selected for further study based on its total phenolic compound (TP) content and antioxidant activity, which were enhanced by microbial fermentation. The extract fermented by YM-1 exhibited a superior TP content and 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity compared to extracts fermented by other microbes. The highest TP content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed after one day of YM-1 fermentation. Yeast strain YM-1 was identified as Candida utilis based on an analysis of its physiological characteristics. During fermentation of the extract by C. utilis YM-1, no significant difference was observed in the proximate composition, including moisture, crude lipid, crude protein, and crude ash. Fermentation by C. utilis YM-1 resulted in enhanced biological activity, including increases in the TP content and antioxidant activity. Thus, fermentation by C. utilis YM-1 is an attractive strategy for developing value-added food ingredients.