The production of surfactin during the fermentation of cheonggukjang by potential probiotic Bacillus subtilis CSY191 and the resultant growth suppression of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Bacillus subtilis CSY191, the potential probiotics and surfactin-like compound producer, was isolated from doenjang (Korean traditional fermented soybean paste).The survival rate of this strain appeared to be the 58.3% under artificial gastric conditions after 3 h at pH 3.0. Surfactin was purified from the strain CSY191. Three potential surfactin isoforms were detected, with protonated masses of m/z 1030.7, 1044.7, and 1058.71. These different structures were detected in combination with Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ions by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Upon 500 MHz 1H NMR analysis, the surfactin isoforms had identical amino acids (GLLVDLL) and hydroxy fatty acids (of 13–15 carbons in length). The MTT assay showed that surfactin inhibited growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 10 μg/ml at 24 h. Additionally, the surfactin contents, during cheonggukjang fermentation with strain CSY191, increased from 0.3 to 48.2 mg/kg over 48 h of fermentation, while the level of anticancer activity increased from 2.6- to 5.1-fold.