Enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Hwangryeonhaedok-tang fermented with Kimchi-derived Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WiKim0111 for potential acne treatment.

Recent years have seen an increase in the incidence of acne in adults and teenagers resulting in active research in acne treatment. In the present study, we aimed to improve the anti-acne effects of Hwangryeonhaedok-tang (HHT) through fermentation using a kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WiKim0111 (Lpb. plantarum WiKim0111) was selected to ferment HHT due to its strong antioxidant activity and its ability to effectively survive and grow in the HHT medium. The antimicrobial activity of HHT and fermented HHT (FHHT) against Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) was determined using an agar well diffusion assay. FHHT exhibited stronger antimicrobial, radical scavenging, and superoxide dismutase activity compared to HHT. RAW 264.7 cells pretreated HHT or FHHT showed significantly lower production of nitric oxide, interleukin (IL) -1β, and IL-6 than lipopolysaccharide -treated cells, with FHHT demonstrating higher efficiency than HHT. Overall, HHT fermented by Lpb. plantarum WiKim0111 displayed enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as greater antibacterial activity against C. acnes compared to unfermented HHT. These findings suggest that FHHT may help mitigate acne symptoms by reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammation, and directly inhibiting the growth of C. acnes. Further in vitro studies focusing on sebum-producing skin cells, as well as clinical trials evaluating the topical or oral application of FHHT, would be valuable to confirm its efficacy and safety in acne treatment.