Immunomodulatory effects of exopolysaccharides produced by Bacillus licheniformis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides isolated from Korean kimchi

•We isolated and characterized two EPS-producing bacterial strains from kimchi.•Both EPS were composed of glucose, fucose, mannose, galactose, and arabinose.•EPS yield was highest at an initial medium pH of 7.0.•Both EPS exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.