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

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2003

In order to establish the enzymatic hydrolysis system improving of taste and flavor in the preparation of soy protein hydrolysates using the enzymes with excellent hydrolytic ability and different hydrolysis pattern of soy protein, Degree of hydrolysis(DH) and surface hydrophobicity under the optimal conditions of enzyme reaction, hydrolysis patterns by the SDS electrophoresis and sensory evaluation of soy protein hydrolysates by enzyme reactions were investigated. Four enzyme reactions were highly activated at pH 7.0, 45$^{\circ}C$ under the optimal conditions. As result of changes on the pattern of soy-protein hydrolysates by SDS-electrophoresis, high molecular peptides of hydrolysates by No. 5(Mucor circinelloides M5) and No. 16(Bacillus megaterium B16) enzymes were slowly decrease and 66KD band of these were remained after 3hours reaction. Production of low molecular peptides of hydrolysates by No. 4(Aspergillus oryzae M4) and No. 95(Bacillus subtilis YG 95) enzymes were remarkably detected during the proceeding reactions. As results of HPLC analysis, low molecular peptides of 15∼70KD were mainly appeared during the proceeding enzyme reactions. And, the more DH was increased, the more SDS-surface hydrophobicity was decreased. Hydrolysates by No. 4 enzyme was not only the highest DH of all hydrolysates, but the strongest bitter taste in a sensory evaluation. Sweat taste among the hydrolysates showed little difference. But, when combinative enzymes were treated, combinative enzyme of No. 4(Aspergillus oryzae M4)and No. 16(Bacillus megaterium B16) showed the strongest sweat taste. In conclusion, we assumed that it will be possible to prepare the hydrolysates having functionality when soy-protein were hydrolyzed by these specific enzymes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1043-1053
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• 2013

We investigated the ability of soybean curd residue (SCR) and its fermented products to inhibit obesity and improve the blood lipid profiles of obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Samples were prepared by fermenting SCR with Aspergillus oryzae var effuses KACC 44990 (ASCR), a microbe used for the fermentation of traditional Korean Meju, and with Monascus pilosus IFO 4480 (MSCR), a microbe used for the production of red rice. In addition, AMSCR, a mixture composed of equal amounts of ASCR and MSCR, was also prepared. Male mice were divided into six groups and fed with either a normal diet, a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with SCR, ASCR, MSCR, or AMSCR. After 8 weeks, body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profiles, and the activities of enzymes that generate or scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Compared with the high-fat diet group, all the test groups showed a significant reduction in body, organ, and epididymal fat weight gain. These effects were observed with supplements in the order AMSCR>ASCR>MSCR>SCR. Similarly, supplements of test samples reduced high levels of serum and hepatic triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol caused by hight-fat diet, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was increased. Interestingly, the ability of ASCR to lower serum TG was stronger than that of MSCR, while MSCR showed a stronger hypocholesterolemic effect than ASCR. Meanwhile, AMSCR returned comprehensively serum lipid levels to normal. In addition, hepatic damage was prevented with effects in the order AMSCR>ASCR>MSCR>SCR. Hepatic ROS generating system including xanthine oxidase (XO) and ROS scavenging system including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were recovered to normal level by all test diets. In conclusion, this study suggests that SCR and its fermented products can inhibit obesity and improve lipid profiles.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.360-366
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• 2010

Doenjang (fermented soybean paste) is one of the korean traditional fermented soybean product which is consumed with cooked rice as a soup or paste. During the fermentation, soybean protein hydrolyzed into amino acids and various peptide, and various organic acids by mirobes related and enzymes produced by meju fermentation. Some commercial products locationally samples give more sour taste than normal due to abnormal fermentation which the reasons are not clear. Three samples that gave sour taste organoleptically were collected and analyzed their characteristics such as pH, moisture content, acidity and microbial counts. The pH of the sour sample were lower than the normal with higher acidity as pH 5.39 (normal) to pH 4.36 (S2) and 15.80 ml of(0.lN NaOH consumed) to 21.80 ml (S1) respectively. Salt and moisture contents were different with sour and normal Doenjang as 16.38% (normal) to 8.92% (S3) in salt and 55.94% (normal) to 49.34% (S1) in moisture content. Total viable counts were $4.1{\times}10^8$ (normal) to $8.0{\times}10^5$ (S2), and $3.4{\times}10^8$ (normal) to $8.0{\times}10^5$ (S2) in acid producing microbes at BCP plate. Yeast and mold were not detected. The composition of acids as mainly lactic acid and acetic acid of sour Doenjang. Total free amino acids content were lower the sour Doenjang than the normal.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.389-399
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the hepatotoxicity reducing effect of ethanol extracts from Youngia denticulata Houtt Kitamura (YD) fermented by Aspergillus oryzae, which is well known as a Korean traditional meju microbe. Experimental rats were divided into 4 diets groups (six rats/group) (NC: normal control group, EC: ethanol supplemented control group, ENY: ethanol extracts 0.5% supplemented diets of the non-fermented YD group, EFY: ethanol extracts 0.5% supplemented diets of the fermented YD group). After feeding them for four weeks, the activities GOT and GPT in serum, contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol, LPO and GSH, and activities of XO (O type) enzyme, SOD and GST in liver tissue were observed. Compared to the NC group, the GOT and GPT activities in the EC group were markedly increased by 87.91% and 57.02%, and the contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol and LPO were increased by 77.51%, 18.56% and 193.86%, respectively. On the other hand, the GSH content was decreased by 29.52%. The activities of SOD and GST which are anti-oxidation-related enzymes, were decreased by 42.78% and 0.94%, respectively, compared to the NC group, but the XO (O type) enzyme activity was significantly increased by 70.83%. These results confirmed that the liver tissue and anti-oxidation system of the EC group had been damaged. Compared to the EC group, the GOT and GPT activities of the ENY and EFY groups were significantly decreased by 24.73~41.99% and 22.91~30.11%, respectively. The contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol and LPO were decreased by 16.65~33.33%, 22.44~23.11% and 63.34~66.13%, respectively, but the GSH content was significantly increased by 24.61~35.60%. The GST activity was not significantly affected, but the SOD activity was significantly increased by 214.94~261.19%. The XO (O type) enzyme activity was significantly decreased by 40.34~51.20%. Compared to the ENY group, the GOT and GPT activities of the EFY group were significantly decreased by 22.93% and 9.34%, respectively. The plasma contents of neutral lipid, total cholesterol and LPO were decreased by 20.01%, 0.86% and 7.59%, respectively. The SOD activity was significantly increased by 21.52%, and the XO (O type) enzyme activity was decreased by 18.19%. Given decreasde TG, total cholesterol, LPO contents of liver tissue, GOT, GPT and XO activity, and increased SOD activity, these study results that ethanol extracts from fermented Youngia denticulata Houtt Kitamura may be effective in reducing hepatotoxicity.