• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2006

It is reported that a fermented soybean food, Doenjang, has srong antimutagenic and cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. This study investigated the effect of Chungkookjang, another traditional popular Korean soybean fermented food, on growth of cancer cells: HL-60, SNU-638 and MCF-7, and also its in vivo antitumorigenic effect in DMBA-induced mammary tumor rat model. For the in vitro study, Chungkookjang and steamed soybeans were extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractioned with 5 kinds of solvents differing in grades of polarity such as hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. Almost all Chungkookjang extracts significantly inhibited the growth of HL-60 (human leukemic cancer cell), SNU-638 (human gastric cancer cell) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell) when compared to steamed soybean extracts. Butanol fraction of Chungkookjang extract especially showed a remarkable inhibitory effect in all the three kinds of cancer cells. To induce a mammary gland tumor, DMBA (50 mg/BW) was administered to 50 day-old female rats and followed by Chungkookjang or steamed soybean supplemented diets. Freezedried Chungkookjang powder (20% of diet in wet weight) was added to AIN-93G based diet for the Chungkookjang group of rats. Likewise, steamed soybean powder containing equal protein content to that of Chungkookjang powder was supplemented to soybean group of rats. At 13 weeks later, the mammary tumor incidence, average tumor number and tumor weight a rat were lower in Chungkookjang group compared to the control or soybean group. In conclusion, Chungkookjang showed a strong inhibitory effect on cancer cell growth in vitro, as well as a more preventive effect against chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis in vivo, while steamed soybeans did not. Therefore, these results suggest that Chungkookjang acquire its anticancer activity through the fermentation process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.482-486
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of green tea powder on the sensorial quality of Chungkookjang. The results showed that the addition of Ttuck-cha or Ooreung-cha green tea powder was not appropriate for the fermentation of Chungkookjang. The results of sensory evaluation approved that the addition of Choi-cha or Powder-cha green tea powder reduced the off-odor of Chungkookjang. Therefore, Choi-cha and Powder-cha could be used as the effective natural additives for the improvement of the sensorial quality of Chungkookjang.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-181
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• 2001

It is previously reported that Bacillus licheniformis B1 strain isolated from nature was successfully used for Chungkookjang fermentation. Antioxidant activity of its powder was determined in this study. Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography was performed, far soluble fractions of the powder extracted by distilled water. The soluble fractions were separated into large and small fractions. The substance 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used as an electron acceptor. Antioxidant activity was found in the small fractions. Five% solution of the Chungkookjang powder was the most effective in the extraction of antioxidant substances from the powder. It was proven in this study that strong antioxidant activity still remained in the Chungkookjang powder.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2003

To develop a functional chungkookjang; the anticancer effects of chungkookjangs prepared with different varieties of soybeans, starters, fermentation periods and seasoning additive ratios; were studied against AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells using the MTT assay, at different stages chungkookjang processing. The chungkookjang samples exerted different antiproliferative effects according to the variety of soybeans used. The chungkookjangs manufactured with soybean var. manrikong exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against AGS human cancer cells. The chungkookjangs fermented with rice straw and B. licheniformis strongly inhibited the growth of the AGS human cancer cells. All fermented chungkookjangs had a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of the cancer cells; however, the non-fermented soybean (chungkookjang) showed a low inhibition rate. The fermented chungkookjangs mixed with red pepper powder (RPP) and garlic exhibited strong antiproliferative effect against the cancer cells, and chungkookjang prepaved with 1.1 % RPP and 1.1 % garlic showed the highest cytotoxicity against the cancer cells. The functional chungkookjang fermented with soybean variety of manrikong and B. licheniformis for 3 days at 4$0^{\circ}C$ and then mixed with 7.9% salt, 1.l% RPP and 1.1% garlic, exhibited a higher antiproliferative effect than the chungkookjangs prepared by traditional or modified methods, according to the MTT assay. The functional chungkookjang exhibited a similar anticancer effect to the traditional doenjang. These results indicate that the fermentation period and the ratio of seasoning additives, as well as the variety of soybeans and starter cultures may affect the degree of the anticancer effect of chungkookjang.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.144-149
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• 2008

Physiological, sensory and microbiological evaluations were conducted during fermentation of Chungkookjang. with Choi-cha (non-fermented green tea) powder in efforts to improve the sensory quality of Chungkookjang. Growth of fermentative microorganisms in Chungkookjang was inhibited by Choi-cha; the pH and VBN value decreased as the concentration of Choi-cha increased. Brightness (L) and redness (a) of Chungkookjang fermented with Choi-cha were significantly decreased, resulting in the appearance of all samples fermented with Choi-cha being less attractive than was the control. The sensory quality of Chungkookjang was significantly increased when Choi-cha was added up to 3%, (w/v), and off-odor was reduced. The antioxidative property of Chungkookjang fermented with 3% (w/v) Choi-cha was significantly higher than that of the control. This result indicated that the sensory quality of Chungkookjang was improved by fermentation with 3% (w/v) of Choi-cha powder.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2004

Barley, wormwood, sea tangle, and soybean were fermented by Bacillus licheniformis B 1 to make Chungkookjang with better flavor and aroma. Maximal protease activity in mixed grains was observed one day after inoculation. pH increased to 8.4 two days after inoculation. Browning material derived from interaction between sugar and amino acids increased 20-fold. Thus, it is proved that Chungkookjang can be made in the mixed grains. Antioxidant activities of mixed fermented grains dissolved in ethanol or methanol (0.2 and 1 %) increased depending on their concentrations. Antioxidant activities were determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). One % of powder Chungkookjang dissolved in methanol showed highest antioxidant activity. Systolic blood pressure of hypertensive volunteers who took 20 g of mixed fermented powder decreased on average by 10 mmHg in 2 h. Preference of mixed fermented soybean containing barley, wormwood, sea tangle to fermented soybean was demonstrated by t-test analysis. Mixed fermented grains can be developed as a functional food to lower hypertension.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.211-218
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary Chungkookjang (Korean fermented soybean) powder on blood glucose level, lipid profiles, antioxidant enzymes activities and histological changes in kidney of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats of three groups including nondiabetic group fed normal diet (NC), diabetic group fed normal diet (DC) and diabetic group fed Chungkookjang diet (DCH; 100 g/kg diet) were reared for 8 weeks. The serum glucose, triglycelide and total lipid levels in the DCH group were significantly lower (P<0.05) than the DC group. The renal xanthine oxidase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities in the DC group were significantly higher than the NC group. The xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities in the DCH group were significantly lower than the DC group (P<0.05). Tubular epithelial change, such as Armanni-Ebstein cells, was significantly reduced in the DCH group compared to the DC group. In conclusion, these results indicated that Chungkookjang supplement seems to be beneficial to correct the hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia as well as to protect kidney against diabetic changes.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2008

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of a methanol extract of Chungkookjang (CKJ) on high glucose induced oxidative stress in LLC-$PK_1$ cells (renal tubular epithelial cells), which are susceptible to oxidative stress. Freeze dried CKJ powder was extracted with methanol, and the extract solution was concentrated, and then used in this study. To determine the protective effect of CKJ extract, oxidative stress was induced by exposing of LLC-$PK_1$ cells to high glucose (30 mM) or normal glucose (5 mM) for 24 hr. Exposure of LLC-$PK_1$ cells to high glucose for 24 hr resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in cell viability, catalase, SOD and GSH-px activity and a significant (p<0.05) increase in intracellular ROS level and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation in comparison to the cells treated with 5 mM glucose. CKJ extract treatment decreased intracellular ROS level and TBARS formation, and increased cell viability and activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, SOD and GSH-px in high glucose pretreated LLC-$PK_1$ cells. These results suggest that CKJ extract may be able to protect LLC-$PK_1$ cells from high glucose-induced oxidative stress, partially through the antioxidative defense systems.