Probiotics are viable microorganisms that exhibit beneficial effects on the health of the host when they are ingested. In Asian areas including Japan, various fermented vegetable foods are produced and actively consumed in our meals. In the present study, we isolated lactococci from plant materials (fermented vegetables, silage and plants) and investigated their probiotic activities, such as tolerance to bile and the ability to remove cholesterol. A total of 411 lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated from plant materials. Out of the strains, 27 strains were identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis by phenotypic tests and a PCR-based method. Among them, 12 strains were subjected to further study. All lactococci tested could grow in broth containing 0.3% bile, and removed cholesterol from media during growth. These results showed that the lactococcal strains isolated from plant materials had probiotic activities.