• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.759-766
• /
• 1997

From Nuruks, a traditional Korean starter for rice wine, collected from 42 different areas in Korea, 111 fungal strains were isolated. These isolates were identified as 25 species belonging to seven genera of Rhizopus oryzae(14 strains), R. oligosporus(8 strains), R. nigricans(5 strains), R. arrhizus (5 strains), Aspergillus oryzae(12 strains),Asp. parasiticus(8 strains), Asp. fumigatus(3 strains), Asp. ochraceus(7 strains), Asp. wentii(5 strains), Asp. parasiticus(8 strains), Asp. penicilloides(3 strains), Asp. clavatus(4 strains), Penicillium purpurogenum(2 strains), Pen. glabrum(1 strain), Pen. granulaturm (1 strsin), Pen. fellutanum(1 strain), Geotrichum candidum(2 strains), Absidia corymbifera(12 strains), Mucor racemosus(2 strains), M. plumbeus(2 strains) and Curvularia lunatus(3 strains).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.987-994
• /
• 2000

Aspergillus coreanus NR 15-1, Asp. oryzae NR 15-3 and Asp. oryzae NR 2-5 isolated from traditional Korean nuruk were screened as parental strains producing starch hydrolyzing enzymes. They were mutagenized by N-methyl -N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) and mutants were isolated for analysis of various amylase activities and the ability of acid production. Among them, the mutants harboring high saccharogenic activity, dextrinogenic activity, and the ability of acid production were selected. Fifteen, six, and five strains of mutants were isolated from Asp. coreanus NR 15-1, Asp. oryzae NR 2-5, and Asp. oryzae NR 15-3, respectively followed by NTG mutagenesis. Among these mutants, thirteen strains were identified as auxotrophic mutants. \ulcorner (Arg.￣) mutant from Asp. coreanus NR 15-1 showed high glucoamylase activity and total acid productivity. Z6 (Ade.￣) mutant from Asp. oryzae NR 2-5 showed the highest $\alpha$-amylase activity, therefore \ulcorner and Z6 mutant were selected.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 1991

Baekhaju is commonly called Bangmoonju. However comparing Baekhaju while Baekhaju used distiller's grains, Bangmoonju did not use them. Baekhaju used only nonglutinous rice, however, Bangmoonju used glutinous rice or a mixture of glutinous rice and nonglutinous rice. Baekhaju in Chinese, which was misrecored on Baekhaju in Korean from 15th century. However, Baekhaju should be distingnish from Baekhwaju, which is made buy addition of many flowers in various wine. Baekhaju used distiller's grains in the first step of its manufacture procedure. For the fermentation of Baekhaju, one of the three bases, which are rice gruel, rice cake or 구멍떡 was added to distiller's grains. Flours and nuruk are also added. In the second step, steamed water-soaked rice and nuruk was added up to the Baekhaju-base which was got from the first step.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2004

In order to improve foxtail millet wine, a traditional Jeju cereal wine, fermentation characteristics of millet Yakju with different types of Nuruks prepared using isolated Aspergillus sp. and Rhizopus sp. were investigated. When the millet wine was brewed with the Nuruk prepared in this study, the combination ratio of wheat flour: barley : wheat bran : millet = 8 : 1 : 1 : 0 (pellet) showed the highest level of alcohol concentration, and a more favorable score than Kuksundang Nuruk in sensory evaluation. The main organic acids in millet wine were lactic and acetic acids, and the minor organic acids were fumaric, oxalic, citric and malic acids. Analysis of sugar compositions showed that glucose, arabinose, and maltose were present in decreasing order, and that xylose was also detected. Flavor components of millet wine were mainly iso-amyl, iso-butyl and n-propyl alcohols. Ethylacetate and acetadehyde were also detected. The contents of iso-butyl and n-propyl alcohols were higher in the millet wine prepared with Kuksundang Nuruk than those prepared with other Nuruks.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 2016

Wild-type yeast strains were isolated from nuruk, a type of microbial starter culture used for fermenting grains to produce alcoholic products, that was collected from different areas in Korea. Strains were identified based on the analysis of 18S rRNA sequences. Fifty strains shared the highest sequence similarity with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and were designated MBYK1-MBYK50. Among these S. cerevisiae isolates, MBYK45 produced $44.0{\pm}0.3g$ of ethanol from 200 g maltose after incubation at $30^{\circ}C$ for 48 h. Maximum ethanol production of $110.80{\pm}0.81g/l$ with productivity of $3.79{\pm}0.14g^{-1}l^{-1}h^{-1}$ was obtained at optimum culture conditions of pH (6.0), maltose (200 g/l), and temperature ($35^{\circ}C$). This study indicates that the MBYK45 strain of S. cerevisiae, isolated from nuruk, might be suitable for traditional liquor production from malts.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2015

We examined taxonomic characteristics and safety of eight Nuruk molds that are widely used for making soybean paste, soy sauce and alcoholic beverages in Korea. HK1 from Hakyeong Fermentation Co., SW101 from Suwon Fermentation Co., CF1001, CF1002, CF1003 from Chungmoo Fermaentation Co. and KACC 93210 are yellow-Nuruk molds, and SW201 from Suwon Fermentation Co. and CF1005 from Chungmoo Fermentation Co. are white-Nuruk molds. Six strains of yellow-Nuruk molds were identified as Aspergillus oryzae. HK1, SW101, CF1001 and CF1003 of yellow-Nuruk molds have middle length of stipes ($711{\sim}1,121{\mu}m$), and CF1003 (for sake) produced less conidia and more hyphae than HK1, SW101 and CF1001 (for soybean paste). CF 1002 used for soy sauce has shorter stipes ($543{\mu}m$) and is clustered into IBLB-group based on omtA gene analysis although the other yellow-Nuruk molds are clustered into ICAo group. KACC 93210 isolated from traditional Korean Meju has very short stipes (average $270{\mu}m$), and showed velvety colonies although the others showed floccose colonies. The strain has different DNA sequences of omtA gene from other strains in NCBI GenBank as well as strains used in Korea, suggesting that it is unique from other strains published. SW201 and CF1005 of white-Nuruk molds were identified as Aspergillus luchuensis or A. luchuensis mut. Kawachii that is known as safe, non-toxigenic fungus. The six strains of yellow-Nuruk molds did not produce mycotoxins including aflatoxin, cyclopiazonic acid, and sterigmatocystin. Therefore, eight strains of Nuruk molds used for making soy sauce, soybean paste and alcoholic beverages in Korea were proved to be safe in this study.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.378-384
• /
• 2015

Nuruk is a fermentation agent, which has been used for the production of traditional Korean alcoholic beverages. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature on nuruk fermentation. One wheat nuruk sample was fermented at $36^{\circ}C$ for 30 days (TN-A) and another at $45^{\circ}C$ for 10 days followed by $36^{\circ}C$ for 20 days (TN-B). The activities of ${\alpha}$-amylase, glucoamylase, and acidic protease, as well as metabolite contents were measured. Initially, the enzymatic activities increased rapidly regardless of the fermentation temperature. After 3 days of fermentation, the enzymatic activities were maintained in TN-A, but gradually decreased in TN-B until the end of fermentation process. Metabolite analysis using $^1H$-NMR showed that the levels of glucose, glycerol, fructose, mannitol, and lactose initially increased quickly and then decreased in TN-A. However, they initially decreased and then were maintained over the fermentation period in TN-B. The contents of glycine, proline, and serine were higher in TN-A than in TN-B. This study suggests that a constant temperature of approximately $36^{\circ}C$ is appropriate for achieving high amylolytic and proteolytic activities in the production of wheat nuruk.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.122-127
• /
• 2010

Different strains of mold were screened for the production of high quality Korean traditional rice wine with anti-hypertension and good acceptability. We isolated 867 nuruk mold strains and selected 24 for further study based on measurement of amylase activity. Among them, mold No. 17 showed high ethanol production upon fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as anti-hypertensive properties. The No. 17 strain was therefore selected as the functional mold and later identified as Rhizopus stolonifer based on molecular biological characteristics. Optimal fermentation conditions for the brewing of anti-hypertensive traditional rice wine comprised the addition of R. stolonifer No. 17 koji at a concentration of 35 sp/g and a fermentation period of 10 days at $25^{\circ}C$ using S. cerevisiae.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 2009

Wheat is the most widely cultivated cereal and an important source of dietary protein worldwide. Wheat allergy, defined as an adverse immunologic reaction to wheat, encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders with different pathomechanisms and clinical manifestation. The Nuruk, a traditional Korean Koji for brewing, was made with wheat flour and fermenting microbes such as bacteria, yeast and mold. The strains grown on Nuruk secrete various enzymes as amylase and protease. By the activation of such enzymes, starch and proteins in Nuruk are hydrolyzed to sugar and amino acid. Therefore, it is supposed to reduce allergic proteins in wheat. To study quality properties and degradation degree of allergenicity in Nuruk by fermentation, we investigated the changes of general ingredients and allergenicity in Nuruk during fermentation. Moisture contents was decreased from 24.2% to 13.6% during fermentation. Crude lipid and protein contents were gradually increased during fermentation. After 15 days of fermentation, reducing sugar and total sugar contents were reached its maximum level, and they were 27.45% and 39.00%, respectively. Acid and neutral protease activity were significantly increased during fermentation, but alkaline protease activity was not detected. ${\alpha}$-amylase activity was gradually increased and showed maximum level about 2,833.00 U/g after 15 days of fermentation. Glucoamylase activity was the highest level about 497.9 U/g after 10 days of fermentation. The increase of these proteolytic and saccharogenic enzyme activities will provide efficient condition for production of rice wine. Also, protein fractions were isolated from Nuruk, and degradation of these proteins during fermentation were confirmed by SDS-PAGE. IgE immunoblotting using patient's sera with wheat allergy was performed to confirm allergenic protein in Nuruk. These results as fermentation of Nuruk will provide a useful tool for developing safer wheat products to prevent wheat allergy.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.142-147
• /
• 2008

Nuruk is the Korean traditional Koji that contains various microorganisms and has been used to make the traditional fermented foods including alcoholic beverages. Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815 was isolated from the alcohol-fermenting Nuruk used for manufacturing traditional alcohol. In this study, the authors reported the isolation and identification of four lipids from the Nuruk (Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815) that inoculated wheat with Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815. The dried and powdered Nuruk (Rhizopus oryzae KSD-815) were extracted three times at room temperature with 80% aqueous MeOH. The extracts were partitioned with EtOAc, n-BuOH, and water, successively. The EtOAc extract was suspended in 80% MeOH and partitioned repeatedly with n-hexane. From the n-hexane fraction, four lipids were isolated through the repeated silica gel and ODS column chromatographies. According to the results of physico-chemical data including NMR, GC and MS, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as linolenic acid methyl ester (1), palmitic acid methyl ester (2), linoleic acid (3), palmitic acid (4). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in huamn breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and human hepatocarcinoma, SK-HEP-1 cells using MTT assay. Exposure of compounds 1 and 3 led to a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability in both cancer cell lines. In addition, treatment of RAW264.7 cells with compound 3 caused inhibition of lipopolysaccharide/interferon-${\gamma}$-induced nitric oxide production.