• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.376-381
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• 1986

A hypothesis that Korean home-made fermented soybean products are brown-pigmented in large part by contaminated bacteria is proposed. Twenty six strains of bacteria forming brown pigments in the presence of L-tyrosine were isolated from home-made soybean paste. They were characterized and all were identified as strains of Bacillus subtilis. The isolates produced dark brown to brownish black pigmentation on yeast extract-peptone-glucose agar (YPGA) supplemented with 0.1% L-tyrosine in 72 hours but not on YPGA. They also caused different depress of lighter pigmentation on potato dextrose agar and nutrient agar. When an arbitrarily chosen pigmenting isolate was cultivated in a liquid medium supplemented with L-tyrosine, it began to produce pigments only after cell growth stopped. The tyrosinase enzyme was extracted and the enzyme activity was measured by using L-tyrosine and 3-hydroxytyrosine (L-dopa) as substrates. The crude enzyme preparation porduced pigments at rates of $2.1\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;and\;5.0\;{\times}\;10^{-3}$ optical density units/min measured at 490㎚ for tyrosine and dopa, respectively. Possible content of L-tyrosine in a soybean paste formula was calculated.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2016

Aspergillus luchuensis is known as an industrially important fungal species used for making fermented foods such as awamori and shochu in Japan, makgeolli and Meju in Korea, and Pu-erh tea in China. Nonetheless, this species has not yet been widely studied regarding mating-type genes. In this study, we examined the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 gene ratio in black koji molds (A. luchuensis, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus tubingensis) and in Aspergillus welwitschiae isolated from Meju, a fermented soybean starting material for traditional soy sauce and soybean paste in Korea. The number of strains with the MAT1-1 locus was 2 of 23 (A. luchuensis), 6 of 13 (A. tubingensis), 21 of 28 (A. niger), and 5 of 10 (A. welwitschiae). Fungal species A. tubingensis and A. welwitschiae showed a 1 : 1 ratio of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating-type loci. In contrast, A. luchuensis revealed predominance of MAT1-2 (91.3%) and A. niger of MAT1-1 (75%). We isolated and identified 2 A. luchuensis MAT1-1 strains from Meju, although all strains for making shochu in Japan are of the MAT1-2 type. These strains may be a good resource for breeding of A. luchuensis to be used in the Asian fermented-food industry.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.406-411
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• 2008

This study was conducted to examine the quality enhancement of fermented soybean pastes (cheonggukjang) using microorganisms with high enzyme activities and proper experimental design. The microorganisms for soybean paste fermentation were selected from a specific area of Gyeonggi and were idenlified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. To prepare the cheonggukjang, an optimum mixing ratio of selected microorganisms was determined using contour plots and numerical optimization methods. A total of 39 microorganisms were isolated from the soybean paste, consisting primarily of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, and no mold was found. Three microorganisms showing high enzyme activities were selected and used to formulate an optimum mixing ratio for cheonggukjang preparation. Based on levels of amino-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, antioxidant activity values, and sensory preference results, the optimum mixing ratio of 50% of Bacillus sp. SC-1 and 50% SC-3 was suggested for the manufacture of high quality of cheonggukjang.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.828-831
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• 2005

The content of vitamin $D_2$, including its precursor ergosterol, was determined in some cultivated mushrooms to manufacture fortified Doenjang (Korean traditional soybean paste) with vitamin D by supplementation with mushroom. Ergosterol was the most abundant sterol in the mushrooms (50 to 140 mg/100 g dry weight) but the ergocalciferol portion made up only 0.065% (Pleurotus eryngii) to 2.5% (stipe part of Lentinus edodes, shiitake) of the total vitamin $D_2$ of each mushroom. Changes in these compounds in L. edodes caused by UV or solar irradiation were also evaluated. Ergocalciferol content in the pileus part of L. edodes went up to $424\;{\mu}g/100\;g$ dry weight and ergosterol levels reached 139.3 mg per 100 g dry weight at maximum levels. Ergocalciferol content increased about 50% when exposed to solar radiation and increased 377% with UV irradiation. These compounds level in Doenjang was enriched as much as supplied UV irradiated L. edodes powder to before fermentation, and the supplemented mushroom did not influence the palatability of Doenjang.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.649-656
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• 2002

Fibrinolytic microorganisms were screened from 42 samples of Korean fermented food (7 kinds of Chungook-jang, 14 kinds of commercial Doen-Jang, 5 kinds of home-made Doen-jang, and 16 kinds of Jeot-gal), 15 samples of Japanese fermented food (5 kinds of home-made soybean paste, and 10 kinds of Natto), and 19 samples of Indonesian fermented food (Tempe) as well as starters of Meju (500 microflora from Korea, and 22 from China). Initially, 11 isolates with strong fibrinolytic activity were selected for further characterization. The fibrinolytic activity of the 11 isolates ranged from 89 to 199% of standard plasmin. Four strains, M5l from Korean fermented food (Meju), I 1-1, I 1-4, and I 5-1 from Indonesian fermented food (Tempe), were chosen based on the degree of activity and reproducibility, and identified as Staphylococcus sciuri, Citrobacter or Enterobacter, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. The first two isolates are pathogenic stains while the latter two are considered as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). Fibrinolytic activity of E. faecalis, characterized and designated as BRCA-5, reached a maximum, when the producer was cultivated in Ml7 broth supplemented with 1.0% glucose for 5 h at 37$^{\circ}C$ with shaking at 180 rpm. Compared to commercial fibrinolytic enzymes, the cell-free culture supernatant of 5. faecaiis BRCA-5 showed stronger activity than plasmin and streptokinase, but similar degree of specific activity as nattokinase and urokinase, aud it also demonstrated anticoagulant and antiplatelet activity ex vivo. These features of E. faecalis make it an attractive agent as a biomaterial for health-promoting foods.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.289-297
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• 2015

Ethyl carbamate (EC) classified as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A) is naturally formed in alcoholic beverages and fermented foods during fermentation process and/or during storage. The objective of this study was to analyze EC in 34 food items including 14 alcoholic beverages and 20 fermented foods sold in Korea. Each food was collected from 18 supermarkets in 9 metropolitan cities in Korea, and then made into composite. According to food composition and alcohol content, samples were divided into four matrices such as apple juice, milk, Soju (liquor containing about 20% alcohol), and rice porridge. The maximum EC value of $151.06{\mu}g/kg$ was found in Maesilju (liquor made from Maesil and Soju). Whisky and Bokbunjaju (Korean black raspberry wine) contained $9.90{\mu}g/kg$ and $6.30{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. EC was not detected in other alcoholic beverages. Of 20 fermented foods, Japanese-style soy sauce had highest level of $15.59{\mu}g/kg$ and traditional one contained $4.18{\mu}g/kg$. Soybean paste had $1.18{\mu}g/kg$, however, EC was not found in other fermented foods.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2005

Outside muscle of pork ham were cut to cube(7 $\times$ 10 $\times$2 ern) and three Korea traditional seasonings such as soybean paste(Tl), garlic paste(T2), red pepper paste(T3) were seasoned by the proportions of meat to seasonings(1 : 1), respectively. The seasoned samples were fermented by fill into plastic box at 0 $\pm$ 1 $^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. And then, the fermented meat from each pack was vacuum-packaged and stored at 0 $\pm$ 1 $^{\circ}C$ for up to 9 weeks. pH and shear force were decreased during storage periods in all treatment groups and WHC was decreased with storage in T2. The saccarinity of T1 was increased and salinity increased during storage in all treatment groups. pH of T2 was increased than that of other treatments, while decreased saccarinity and shear force of in T2. The salinity were higher in the order of T1 > T2 > T3. Volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) value were increased with storage in all treatment groups. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TSARS) value of Tl was increased with storage while it was decreased T2. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TSARS) value was higher in the order of T1 > T3 > T2 at 9weeks of storage. Surface meat L' values of T1 was increased with storage and T3 decreased with storage whereas, surface meat a' values of T1 was decreased with storage, and T2 was increased with storage. Surface meat b' values of T3 was decreased with storage. Escherichia coli were decreased during storage periods in all treatment groups.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.730-737
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• 2006

High performance liquid chromatographic methods for the simultaneous determination of 12 biogenic amines were developed and contents of biogenic amines in 23 varieties of Korean commercial fermented food were analyzed. Dansyl derivatives of biogenic amine were very stable and had good peak resolution. Except agmatine, the recovery of biogenic amines from soybean paste with extraction of 0.1 N HC1 added biogenic amines to soybean paste was greater 85%. The calibration curve showed good linearity over a concentration range up to 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. In the determination of biogenic amine level in Korean commercial fermented foods, doenjang and chungkukjang (fermented soybean pastes), soy sauce, anchovy and pacific sand lance liquid jeotkal (fermented fish sauce products), and cabbage kimchi had high level biogenic amines. Especially, traditional doenjang had a histamine (HIS) level of 952.0 mg/kg, a tyramine (TYR) level of 1,430.7 mg/kg. Most cheese had low level of biogenic amines, but one Gouda cheese had a tyramine (TYR) level of 97.5 mg/kg. A low level of biogenic amines was detected in wines, beer, yoghurt, and sausage. Putrescine (PUT), cadaverine (CAD), tryptamine (TRY), histamine (HIS), tyramine (TYR), and 2-phenylethylamine (PHE) were mainly formed in fermented foods by the action of microorganism, so their levels were high with a range. On the other hand, spermidine (SPD), spermine(SPM), serotonin (SER), noradrenaline (NOR), and dopamine (DOP) were formed originally via biosynthesis with consequent low level.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.811-818
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the amino acid content and physicochemical properties of Cheonggukjang prepared by using various soybean cultivars (Daewon, Deapung, Seadanbeak, and Taekwang) and a functional microorganism (Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9). These soybeans were conventional Cheonggukjang (control) and Cheonggukjang fermented with Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9 (treated). The moisture contents of steamed, control, and treated soybean were 62.45~67.12%, 63.28~67.14%, and 64.50~66.87%; amino-type nitrogen contents were 6.53~24.25 mg%, 27.63~122.09 mg%, and 37.29~133.48 mg%; and ammonia-type nitrogen contents were 26.92~47.95 mg%, 45.45~156.36 mg%, and 28.02~121.13 mg%, respectively. The umami taste associated with several amino acids (aspartic acid and glutamic acid) in Cheonggukjang was lower than that for steamed soybeans, while the bitter taste from amino acids (methionine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and phenylalanine) was higher than that for steamed soybeans. The result of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the molecular weight of steamed soybeans was less than 100 kDa, while control and treated groups showed low molecular weights below 34 kDa, confirming their protein hydrolysis to small molecular weight. These results are information for developing functional fermented soybean paste and diversification using soybean cultivars.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2010

Changes in physicochemical properties of soybean pastes (Doenjang) of various salt contents (8-14%) during fermentation were investigated to explore the possibility of manufacturing a low salt soybean paste. Titratable acidity (TA) increased and consequently pH decreased with the fermentation time. The rates of TA and pH changes increased as the salt levels decreased. Protein contents remained unchanged and there were no differences among different salt levels. The amino nitrogen contents and the volatile basic nitrogen contents increased with fermentation time and showed higher values at lower salt levels. The reducing sugar contents increased from 6th to 11th week of fermentation, and decreased afterward. No remarkable differences in the reducing sugar contents were observed with respect to salt levels. Shorter fermentation periods were required at reduced salt levels. Appropriate fermentation periods of the 8, 10, 12 and 14% salt containing Doenjang were 2 to 11 weeks, 3 to 12 weeks, 6 to 14 weeks, and 9 to 15 weeks, respectively. Doenjang fermented for shorter period of time at lower salt content showed better sensory quality than that for longer period at higher salt content.