• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.400-406
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• 2002

In case of doenjang, solution of browning problem might be an important remedy in order to dissolve consumers' dissatisfaction, therefore this study was performed to develop traditional doenjang which has improved in color aspect for consumers' needs. Physicochemical compositions and color values of commercialized traditional doenjang which was processed by history references of our country, were analyzed. doenjang used as samples were processed with traditional meju, which were made with soybean and mixed with various rates after following process such as soaking, steaming, cooling, chopping and grinding. The doenjang processed were storaged at $30^{\circ}C$ for 27 days, and their amino-N, pH, color values and sensory evaluation were analyzed with fermentation period. Furthermore, nitrogen results analyzed were compared with that of commercialized traditional doenjang. In the comparison with control, treated with only traditional meju, and doenjang treatments processed with different mixing rates of traditional meju and steamed soybean, the content of amino-N in control were higher than the others, and the contents of amino-N decreased with increasing contents of steamed soybean. Their pH were changed weak alkalic region into weak acidic region with fermentation period. In the aspect of color, traditional doenjang having the rate of traditional meju and steamed soybean (1:4) was most improved and also, in comparison of result of sensory evaluation with commercial traditional doenjang, its color, taste and falvor were evaluated predominent, therefore it might be thought to have competition on the market.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.24 no.4 s.79
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• pp.329-336
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• 1996

From five years' previous work, the fungal isolates of Scopulariopsis were reported to be important flora at the late stage of meju fermentation. Mainly, the white or pale brown powders of spore mass of these fungi were observed on the surfaces of rectangular mejus, and to be an important sign for well-done Korean traditional home - made mejus. Out of the five isolates previously collected and stored, two kinds of Scopulariopsis isolates were identified as S. brevicauli and S. fusca. The microscopic differences between two were found to be branching patterns of annellophore and ornamentations of spore wall (warty and smooth). However, the intermediate form between two ornamentations of spore wall were also observed in our isolates. This observation was consistent with other result made from the protein electrophoresis. The isolates of Scopulariopsis were considered to be similar or superior to those of Aspergillus species, as compared with production of protease and amylase related enzymes. Thus, these isolates were speculated to be important fungi in Korean traditional home - made meju fermentation and also in production of protease and amylase.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 1999

Antimutagenic effects of 5 kinds of kochujang(Korean red pepper soybean paste) samples compared with doenjang(Korean soy paste) were studied using the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and the SOS chromotest, with E. Coli PQ37. Th eantimutatenic effects of methanol extracts from red pepper powder and meju(fermented soybean) powder, the major ingredients of the kochujang,were also evaluated for the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the Ames assay. The methanol extracts from the kochujang samples showed lower antimutagenicities than those of doenjang against AFB1 and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in the Ames assay. Traditional kochujang I and II exhibited strong antimutagenic activity against AFB1 and MNNG. The traditional kochujang samples against MNNG were aslo observed in the SOS chromotest system with the same fashions as shown in the Ames mutagenicity test. The methanol extracts from meju powder had the strongest inhibitory effects on mutabenicity induced by AFB1, however, those form red pepper powder showed lower inhibition rate than kochujang. These results suggest that traditional kochujang exhibit higher antimutagenic acitivity than the commercial variety, and that meju powder seems to be one of the major antimutagenic components in kochujang.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.463-467
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• 1998

This study was carried out in order to analyze the changes in general compounds, reducig sugar, nitrogen compounds of traditional Korean soy sauce with varying Meju Type (Traditional Meju, Modified Meju) and ripening periods and to investigate correlation between sensory characteistics via sensory evaluation of soy sauce samples. And to investigate actual conditions and attitude of comsumer of soy suace.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1166-1174
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the changes in physicochemical and sensory characteristics of traditional kochujang during aging, which was prepared with a different meju fermented for various periods of time. The non-volatile organic acid contents in all samples gradually increased up to 90 days of fermentation. Kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju had $1.14{\sim}2.54$ times highter organic acid content after 90 days of aging as compared to other kochujang preparations. The most abundant free sugars were found to be glucose and fructose representing $82.27{\sim}100%$ of total free sugar contents in kochujang. 17 kinds of free amino acid including Glu, Asp and Met were found in traditional kochujang aged for 90 days. Glu was noted as the most contributing amino acid to the brothy taste of kochujang in the light of increasing ratio and content of Glu among free amino acids during aging. The total free amino acid contents of kochujang increased with an Increase in fermentation time of meju. Results of sensory evaluation revealed that kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju was best in terms of flavor and taste. These results suggest that kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju had the highest quality in terms of physicochemical and sensory characteristics of kochujang.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2011

Five types of meju were prepared from 100% defatted soybean (DFSG0), a mixture of 90% DFS and 10% glasswort (DFSG1), a mixture of 80% DFS and 20% glasswort (DFSG2), a mixture of 70% DFS and 30% glasswort (DFSG3), and a mixture of 60% DFS and 40% glasswort (DFSG4). Five types of kanjang were separately prepared from the 5 types of meju by ripening in brine for 6 months. The contents of certain minerals (Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn), organic acids (citric acid, malic acid) and the antioxidative effects in the kanjang were increased in proportion to the glasswort content in the meju. However, the free amino acid contents in the kanjang were reduced in proportion to the glasswort content in the meju. DFSG1- and DFSG2-kanjang did not show distinct differences from DFSG0-kanjang based on aroma, flavor, and taste that were compared simply by panel tests. The bacterial and fungal community in the fermented meju and kanjang was not affected by the addition of glasswort to the meju-making process. Bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus and Bacillus genera and the Lactobacillus family predominated, and yeasts belonging to the Saccharomyces genus and fungi belonging to the Aspergillus genus predominated in the fermented meju and kanjang. In conclusion, the glasswort was a supplement that nutritionally improved the kanjang (except for free amino acid contents) but didn't influence the growth of microorganisms that are responsible for the fermentation of meju and kanjang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1010-1016
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• 1999

Protease related mold was isolated and selected as a starter culture for commercial production of meju. Isolated microorganism was identified as Syncephalastrum racemosum PDA 132 2. To obtain basic data about protease for production of soybean peptides and application of the strain in meju fermentation, we extrated and purified protease and charateristics of the enzyme were investigated. The optimum condition for the production of enzyme was pH 4.0, 30oC, 5 days. The protease was purified 19.7 folds by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography and specific activity was 12.4unit/mg. The purified enzyme was 34kDa in size, thiol protease(100% inhibited by PCMB), and was acidic protease(stable between pH 2.0~5.0). Vmax of the enzyme was 2.14 g/min which was lower(1/50) than that of by Asp. wentti and B. subtilis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.917-924
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• 1995

Four types of soybean paste(Doenjang), prepared with traditional Korean meju, natto meju, koji and mixture of koji and natto meju, were analyzed for compositions of free sugars and fatty acids. Crude protein content of the soybean pastes were ranged from 10.3~14.6% and in the order of traditional Korean soybena paste>natto soybena paste>koji & natto soybean paste>koji soybean paste during fermentation of Doenjang. Ethyl alcohol contnet was relatively higher in koji and natto soybean paste after fermentation for 75 days, and its content was the highest in koji soybean paste as 2.8% after fermenting for 90 days. Contents of total sugars and reducing sugars decreased during fermentation of doenjang in the order of koji soybena paste>koji and natto soybean paste>traditional soybean paste>natto soybean paste. Among the free sugars glucose, galactose, mannose and arabinose were identified in soybean paste, and glucose and galactose were more bundant. Contents of glucose and total free sugars were the highest in the traditional Korean soybean paste and galactose content was highest in koji soybean paste. In fatty acid compositions of soybean pastes, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids were analyzed, and the most abundant fatty acid was found to be oleic acid as 38.5~46.9% in all samples tested. But no significant differences in ratio of fatty acid compositions was observed from tested samples during the fermentation period.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.654-662
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• 2024

To investigate the effect of the predominant fungal species from Korean traditional meju and doenjang on soybean fermentation, the enzymatic activity and amino acid production of twenty-two fungal strains were assessed through solid- and liquid-state soybean fermentation. Enzymatic activity analyses of solid-state fermented soybeans revealed different enzyme activities involving protease, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), carboxypeptidase (CaP), glutaminase, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and amylase, depending on the fungal species. These enzymatic activities significantly affected the amino acid profile throughout liquid-state fermentation. Strains belonging to Mucoromycota, including Lichtheimia, Mucor, Rhizomucor, and Rhizopus, produced smaller amounts of total amino acids and umami-producing amino acids, such as glutamic acid and aspartic acid, than strains belonging to Aspergillus subgenus circumdati. The genera Penicillium and Scopulariopsis produced large amounts of total amino acids and glutamic acid, suggesting that these genera play an essential role in producing umami and kokumi tastes in fermented soybean products. Strains belonging to Aspergillus subgenus circumdati, including A. oryzae, showed the highest amino acid content, including glutamic acid, suggesting the potential benefits of A. oryzae as a starter for soybean fermentation. This study showed the potential of traditional meju strains as starters for soybean fermentation. However, further analysis of processes such as the production of G-peptide for kokumi taste and volatile compounds for flavor and safety is needed.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.442-445
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• 2008

Meju, a major ingredient of doenjang which is a popular Korean traditional fermented soyfood, was manufactured by fermenting steamed soybeans in natural environment in which steamed soy was exposed to airborne microorganism, in particular, fungi. Total isoflavone content was reduced from 1,849 mg/kg of cooked soy to 816 mg/kg of meju at the $90^{th}$ day of fermentation. Total glycosides and aglycones of isoflavones in meju were 1,827 and 22 mg/kg at 0 day and changed into 487 and 329 mg/kg at the 90th day of fermentation, respectively. Meanwhile, the ratio of glycosides to aglycones of isoflavones was not changed during aging of doenjang but remained relatively constant with 592 and 644 mg/kg aglycones at the 0 and $160^{th}$ day, respectively. When cooked soy was fermented with Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavus, isoflavone profiles were significantly different from each other while A. oryzae caused more extensive metabolism of isoflavones than A. flavus.