Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Play an important role in the human diet and are used in the production of edible fermented products such as kimchi and yoghurt. LAB are regarded as safe food additives used to enhance the nutritive value of foods. Plant-origin lactic acid bacteria (PLAB) cultured in vegetal media are now widely used in food industries. PLAB have been found to activate intestinal immunity, modulate the balance of the intestinal bacterial from, and enhance intestinal function. They are known for their strong resistance to acid; this enables them to persist for a longer duration in the human intestine. PLAB can also survive in the intestinal environment under conditions of poor nutrition. They have stronger vitality as compared to LAB of animal origin. Due to the unique characteristics of PLAB, they are being widely used in Japan for processing foods such as yoghurt and beverages. Recently, PLAB has also been used as the culture for processing yoghurt in Korea. We expect further research on the functional effects of PLAB.