Comparison of changes in functional characteristics of fermented soybean with different microbial strains

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of solid-state fermentation on soybean using three microbial strains under four different fermentation times. Soybean was fermented for 12, 24, 36 or 48 hours with highly proteolytic microbes, either Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA), B. subtilis (BS), or B. subtilis var. natto (BN), and levels of total protein concentration, protein distribution, and antioxidant activity were analyzed. Total protein was highest in the BS 12 h group (9.21 ㎍·µL^-1) and lowest in BN 48 h (6.80 ㎍·µL^-1), respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, three microbes decomposed large molecular weight proteins as well as major allergens of soybean such as β-conglycinin, Gly m Bd 30K, and glycinin. Each treatment group showed the highest degradation rate at 48 h fermentation and among the three microbes, BS showed a relatively higher degradation rate. The radical scavenging ability, known as an indicator of antioxidant activity, showed a significant increase in all treatment groups except BA 24 h. The results from this study suggest that protein concentration, and degradation and antioxidant activity were affected by different types of microbial trains and fermentation period and that B. subtilis fermentation might be the most effective way to increase nutritional and functional properties of soybean.