• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 2021

Red yeast rice has been extensively used as food and traditional medicine for thousands of years in East Asian countries. It is produced by the fermentation of a particular yeast (in general, Monascus purpureus) as rice and various cereals (barley, soybean, etc.). Monascus sp. produces many secondary metabolites during its growth, including pigments, monacolins, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Some metabolites―specifically, monacolin K, γ-aminobutyric acid, dimerumic acid, and monascus pigments―have been reported to lower cholesterol and blood pressure while showing anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of ethanol extract from red yeast barley (RYB) fermented with Monascus sp. BHN-MK 2 on 3T3-L1 cells. The anti-obesity effects of RYB extract were examined: its lipid accumulation inhibitory effect was tested by Oil Red O staining, and obesity-related mRNA expression levels were tested by real-time RT-PCR in MDI stimulated 3T3-L1 cells. The intracellular lipid content of MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells decreased significantly to 5.04%, 12.24%, and 23.52% in response to 200, 400, and 800 ㎍/ml RYB, respectively. Moreovers, we evaluated that RYB extract significantly downregulated the expression of C/EBPα, SREBP-1, and PPAR-γ gene in a dose-dependent manner. As a result, red yeast barley ethanol extracts exerted the strongest anti-obesity effects. Also, the results indicate that red yeast barley could be used as a functional anti-obesity food material.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.596-603
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• 2019

This study involved the production of specialty lager beers supplemented with Korean red ginseng extracts or Bokbunja (Korean black raspberry, Rubus coreanus Miquel) juice. The effects of the Korean red ginseng extracts or Bokbunja juice on the specific gravity, pH, yeast viability, free amino nitrogen content, reducing sugar content, color, alcohol content, turbidity, and sensory evaluation were evaluated. The alcohol content of the beers containing the extracts or juice were within the standard alcohol amounts (3.63-4.0%, v/v). The pH values of the three samples containing Bokbunja juice were lower than that of the control values. The sensory evaluation showed that the addition of Bokbunja juice was superior to the ginseng extracts, and the optimal addition time was before or after the secondary fermentation. These data indicate that the flavor and odor of the Bokbunja juice are more persistent than that of the ginseng extracts.