National Institute of Biological Resources "NIBR97, Excellent for Virus Disinfection"
Verified COVID-19 Antiviral Effect... Product to be Sold in US Upon FDA Approval
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] It has been revealed that the culture solution of the lactic acid bacteria 'NIBR97,' derived from kimchi, a traditional Korean food, is effective in destroying various viruses.
The National Institute of Biological Resources announced on the 28th, "It has recently been confirmed that the culture solution of the indigenous lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum NIBR97, isolated from kimchi, has excellent virus disinfection effects."
This study was conducted as an experiment on the disinfectant effect against viruses using the NIBR97 culture solution isolated from kimchi from April this year until recently, triggered by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
An official from the National Institute of Biological Resources said, "The antibacterial effect of the kimchi lactic acid bacteria NIBR97 culture solution against pathogenic bacteria was already confirmed last year," adding, "This study additionally proved its antiviral effect, opening the possibility of replacing disinfectant alcohol with kimchi lactic acid bacteria culture solution."
The research team confirmed that when the NIBR97 culture solution was applied to viruses such as the pathogenic AIDS (HIV) virus, most of the viruses were destroyed, and it also showed a disinfection effect (up to 99.999%) against the influenza A virus (H3N2).
The research results were published on the 23rd in the international pharmacology journal Pharmaceuticals, receiving academic verification.
With this study, it is expected that disinfectant alcohol, which carries risks such as fire and human injury due to careless use, can be replaced with kimchi lactic acid bacteria culture solution.
In this regard, the National Institute of Biological Resources transferred the patent technology for culturing NIBR97 to Celltech in March. GreenBio and NP Korea produced an alcohol-free cleanser using the NIBR97 culture solution provided by Celltech and verified its antiviral effect (99.99%) against mouse coronavirus and low pathogenic avian influenza virus.
The companies have currently completed safety and other inspections at an analysis institution registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and if they pass the inspection, they will be able to sell the product in the United States. In Korea, sales will proceed after reporting and approval procedures with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Environment.
Baek Yeon-jae, director of the National Institute of Biological Resources, said, "As the use of disinfectants is increasing due to the spread of COVID-19, this study is significant in opening the possibility of replacing disinfectant alcohol with indigenous lactic acid bacteria culture solution."
Meanwhile, the research team is promoting a plan to discover indigenous biological resources to reduce COVID-19. Just as the main ingredient of the novel flu treatment Tamiflu was found in star anise, a native plant of China and Vietnam, they aspire to discover antiviral agents for COVID-19 reduction from native biological resources.
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