• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.5150-5158
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• 2014

This study examined the physicochemical characteristics of mashing prepared using different Nuruks (traditional Nuruk, Nuruk added Aspergillus oryzae, Nuruk added Aspergillus kawachii, and Nuruk added Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus kawachii), and to obtain the basic data for Korean Cheongju production. The four different mashes were compared for their brewing characteristics and indicated a normal fermentation pattern. The Nuruk made from A. oryzae or A. kawachii showed higher fermentation ability than the other samples tested. In addition, the analyzed results of fermented mashing showed that the Nuruk made from A. oryzae or A. kawachii had a significantly higher aroma profile, such as higher alcohol and ester than the other samples tested, whereas the Nuruk made from a mixture of A. oryzae and A. kawachii had a much higher organic acid content. In conclusion, the Nuruk prepared using A. oryzae or A. kawachii had a positive effect on the complete fermentation and enhanced aroma compounds for Korean Cheongju production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2011

Biological activities (${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, fibrinolytic activity and reducing power) and biochemical properties (protein content and electrophoretical protein patterns) were examined in solid state fermentation with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus kawachii using silkworm powder (SP) as substrate. The highest protein contents and free radical scavenging activities were seen in the SP fermented for 12 days with B. subtilis and A. kawachii, and these were in a time-dependent manner. The highest reducing power was seen in the SP fermented for 6 days with B. subtilis and for 12 days with A. kawachii, respectively. The highest fibrinolytic activities were seen in silkworm fermented for 6 days with B. subtilis and A. kawachii, but this activity was higher in the A. kawachii fermented SP than that of B. subtilis. When total protein patterns were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), the proteins of the SP fermented with B. subtilis for 3 days were completely degraded, while the protein degradation in the SP fermented with A. kawachii occurred after 12 days and this degradation increased proportionally to culture time. As a result, the SP fermented with both B. subtilis and A. kawachii showed higher fibrinolytic activities after 6 days of fermentation and antioxidative activity after 12 days, indicating that physiological activities of the fermented SP using these strains were highly improved compared to the unfermented SP, and that this compound could be a candidate material as a dietary supplement of healthy functional foods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.721-725
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• 1989

Aflatoxin accumulation by Aspergillus flavus in rice was inhibited by A. kawachii and A. Shirousamii so that the rate of toxin accumulation and the maximum concentration of accumulated aflatoxins were considerablly reduced, although the initiation of aflatoxin accumulation was not affected. The maximal accumulated aflatoxin $B_1$ in rice by A. flavus at $28^{\circ}C$ and 85% RH was $40{\mu}g/50g$ rice after 35 days. Under the same condition but the additional inoculation of A. kawachii, $25{\mu}g\;of\;aflatoxin\;B_1$ was accumulated maximally in 50g rice after 45 days. When A. shirousamii was inoculated simultaneously with A. flavus on rice, however, only trace levels of aflatoxins were detected throughout 60 days of storage. Aflatoxins added to rice were reduced by 97% with A. kawachii and by 98% with A. shirousamii after 7 days during rife koji preparation. They were also reduced after 48 Hours of incubation by 30-67%, with A. kawachii koji and by 16-75% with A. shirousamii koji.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.217-223
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• 1979

Six strains of mold which had high saccharifying and acid-productive ability were isolated from wild sources. The strain M-80 among them and Aspergillus kawachii, which was generally used as rice makkulli koji were used for this studies. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1) $\alpha$-amylase activities of the strain M-80 and Asp, kawachii showed similarly as about 140W. V., while $\beta$-amylase activity of M-80 was 54 A. U. and Asp. kawachii was 40 A. U. 2) Acid protease activity of M-80 was higher then Asp. kawachii but alkaline protease activity was lower Asp. kawachii respectively. 3) The contents of total acid, ethanol and fusel oil in makkulli brewing with M-80 were higher those of Asp. kawachii and methanol contents of the tested two strains were about 33mg/％. 4) Fifteen kinds of free amino acid were detected from makkulli brewing of two strains, and free amino acid contents of M-80 were 10％ higher than those of Asp. kawachii.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1365-1370
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• 2009

Aspergillus kawachii extracellular pectinases were screened in liquid cultures with different carbon sources. The fungus grown on citrus pectin or lemon pomace produced at least one of these inducible pectinases: acidic polygalacturonase, pectin lyase, pectin methylesterase, $\alpha$-L-arabinofuranosidase, $\alpha$-1,5-endoarabinase, $\beta$-D-galactosidase/exogalactanase, and $\beta$-1,4-endogalactanase. The lemon-pomace filtrates also contained significant $\alpha$-L-rhamnosidase and $\beta$-D-fucosidase activities. Most of the screened pectinases were active at pH 2.0-2.5, indicating that the A. kawachii enzymes were acidophilic. Under the culture conditions employed we could not detect enzymatic degradation of soybean rhamnogalacturonan. The A. kawachii pectinase-production-related regulatory phenomena of induction-repression resemble those described for other Aspergillus sp.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2019

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases play an important role in cell growth and differentiation, as well as the modulation of proinflammatory cytokines. The objective of this study was to examine the increase in the anti-inflammatory effect of Gentiana scabra Bunge (GSB), due to bioconversion with the Aspergillus kawachii crude enzyme, via inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling and MAP kinase pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells treated with the GSB ethyl acetate fraction bioconverted with A. kawachii crude enzyme (GE-BA), was dramatically suppressed as compared to GSB ethyl acetate fraction non-bioconverted with the A. kawachii crude enzyme (GE-UA). The phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ in RAW 264.7 cells treated with GE-BA was further suppressed, as compared to exposure to GE-UA. Moreover, the mRNA expression of interleukin 6, interleukin 1-beta, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ was further suppressed by GE-BA, compared to GE-UA. Similarly, anti-oxidant activities, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activity, of GE-BA were further increased compared to GE-UA. These observations demonstrate that the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of GSB ethyl acetate fraction increases as a result from bioconversion with the A. kawachii crude enzyme.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1385-1393
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• 2010

Three mold strains, Aspergillus oryzae (AOFAG), Aspergillus kawachii (AKFAG), and Monascus purpureus (MPFAG) were used for fermentation of Angelica gigas Nakai powder. The contents of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, decursin and decursinol angelate and the activities of DPPH (${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging, reducing power, and tyrosinase were measured. The highest contents of phenolic compound and flavonoid were NFAG at 2.78% and MPFAG at 1.18%, respectively. Major minerals were K, Mg, Fe, Na and Ca. Decursin and decursinol angelate were the major ingredients of Angelica gigas according to HPLC analysis. Decursin area was higher in all fermented Angelica gigas than in NFAG. The activities of free radical scavenging and tyrosinase were stronger in all fermented Angelica gigas than NFAG. However, the Fe/Cu reducing powers were stronger in NFAG than all fermented Angelica gigas. Overall, these results may provide the basic data needed to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Angelica gigas fermented by mold for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.238-246
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• 1984

The objective of this experiment was to improve the quality of Kochujang and to shorten the aging time of it by using the Kojis of various Aspergillus strains. During the autumn season Kochujangs were mashed with Koji of Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus kawachii and Aspergillus shirousamii. Chemical composition of the Kochujang was determined during the aging period. There was no significant difference in quality and component between the Kochujang made with Aspergillus oryzae cultured Koji and Aspergillus kawachii cultured Koji. But the Kochujang with Aspergillus shirousamii cultured Koji was better in flavor, color and amino nitrogen contents than the Kochujang with Aspergillus oryzae cultured Koji, though two Kochuangs were almost the same in general components. The significant difference between the two tested Kochuangs was observed in pH, and the pH of the Kochujong with Aspergillus shirousamii cultured Koji was extremely low during the aging period. Thus it is presumed that Aspergillus shirousamii Koji can be used for the improvement of quality of Kochujang if a suitable method is applied to prevent pH from lowering.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 1968

This study has been aimed to determine the ecological factors with relationship to the Jongkok production in view of fermentation technology by means of some strains, Asp. kawachii, which is now preserved by the author and the following factors are included during the study; inorganic salts, nitrogen, sugar, water contents and temperature. The results, are as follows: (a) Sugar among other above-mentioned factors is increasingly affecting the number of the short type of conidiophore on culture medium and the conidiophore is increased by direct ratio until glucose concentration of 50%, at which concentration is mostly effective for the short type of conidiophore, while other factors did not affect on it. (b) Until glucose concentration of 50% sugar component of culture medium is favorable for the spore formation of Asp. kawachii by direct ratio. And peptone or asparagine on nitrogen medium, calcium-phosphate among other inorganic salts, wheat bran and rice branare also favorable, but other factors rientioned earlier show no relationship with the spore formation. Sugar, however, also related with the spore color clearness of crimson and light brown, and spore color is mostly clear at the point of glucose concentration until 50%. And asparagine on nitrogen medium, calcium phosphate among other inorganic salts, rice bran did all affect on the color clearness, while other factors did not concern with color clearness. (c) Water, sugar and temperature have related with the acid formation which is promoted, by direct ratio at the point of water-saturated condition and glucose concentration of 50%, while temperature at $25^{\circ}C$favorably affected on the acid formation which is increased by inverse ratio at the temperature$25^{\circ}C$ to $45^{\circ}C$ And pH did not relate with the acid formation. (d) Cylindrical plate method devised by the author is mostly favorable for the preservation and isolation of culture, compared with the traditional slant medium method.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.100-106
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• 2012

In this study, the metabolite profiles of three Aspergillus strains during rice koji fermentation were compared. In the partial least squares discriminant analysis-based gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data sets, the metabolite patterns of A. oryzae (KCCM 60345) were clearly distinguished from A. kawachii (KCCM 60552) and only marginal differences were observed for A. oryzae (KCCM 60551) fermentation. In the 2 days fermentation samples, the overall metabolite levels of A. oryzae (KCCM 60345) were similar to the A. oryzae (KCCM 60551) levels and lower than the A. kawachii (KCCM 60552) levels. In addition, we identified discriminators that were mainly contributing tyrosinase inhibition (kojic acid) and antioxidant activities (pyranonigrin A) in A. oryzae (KCCM 60345) and A. kawachii (KCCM 60552) inoculated rice koji, respectively. In this study, we demonstrated that the optimal inoculant Aspergillus strains and fermentation time for functional rice koji could be determined through a metabolomics approach with bioactivity correlations.