• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2007

Effect of combined use of anti-microbial materials, such as ethanol, mustard and chitosan, on the quality of low salted kochujang was investigated during fermentation at $20^{\circ}C$ for 12 weeks. Viable cells of yeast increased remarkably during fermentation, but increasing ratio was significantly low in ethanol-mustard added kochujang. Activity of ${\beta}-amylase$ was high in anti-microbial material added kochujang, whereas ${\alpha}-amylase$ and protease activities were low in those groups. Water activity decreased during fermentation with being low in the control kochujang prepared with normal-salt without anti-microbial materials. Hunter L-, a- and b-values of kochujang increased during fermentation, and the degree of increase in total color difference $({\Delta}E)$ was low in ethanol added kochujang. Titratable acidity of kochujang was decreased in anti-microbial materials added group at late aging period, and oxidation-reduction potential was low in the control kochujang. Total sugar and reducing sugar contents of kochujang were high in ethanol-mustard added kochujang. Ethanol contents of kochujang increased at late aging period, with high values in ethanol-chitosan added kochujang. Amino nitrogen content increased during middle of fermentation, and ammonia nitrogen content of kochujang decreased in ethanol-mustard-chitosan added group during fermentation. After 12 weeks fermentation, sensory results showed that ethanol or ethanol-mustard added kochujang were the highest in color and flavor with the highest overall acceptability.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.449-455
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• 2005

To reduce saft content of kochujang, various combinations of sub-materials such as ethanol mustard and chitosan were added to kochujang, and their effects on microbial characteristics, enzyme activities, and physicochemical characteristics of kochujang were investigated after 12 weeks of fermentation. Activities of ${\beta}$-amylase and pretense were low in ethanol-mustard-chitosan-added kochujang, whereas no significant difference was observed in ${\alpha$-amylase activity among all groups. Number of viable yeast cells decreased remarkably in mustard-added kochujang during late aging period, and anaerobic bacterial counts decreased in sub-material-added groups. Consistency of kochujang increased by addition of sub-materials, and oxidation-reduction potential was low in chitosan-added group. Mustard-chitosan-added kochujang showed lowest increase in total color difference(${\Dalta}E$) and decrease in water activity. PH of kochujang wns highest in mustard-chitosan-added kochujang, resulting in significantly increased titratable acidity. Addition of sub-material increased reducing sugar contents of kochujang, whereas ethanol production was significantly repressed in mustard-chitosan-added kochujang. Amino nitrogen content was Highest in mustard-chitosan-added kochujang during late aging period, whereas ammonia nitrogen content was lower in ethanol-mustard-added kochujang. Results of sensory evaluation indicated ethanol-mustard-added kochujang was more acceptable than other groups in taste and overall acceptability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1050-1057
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• 1997

Microbial counts, enzyme activities and taste components of traditional kochujangs prepared with the powders from 4 different varieties of red pepper, were investigated during 90 days fermentation for the industrial production of traditional kochujang. The viable cell counts of anaerobic bacteria in kochujangs did not change remarkably during fermentation, however, aerobic bacterial counts showed a rapid increase up to 90 days of aging. The yeasts in all kochujang samples increased until 60 days of aging and than decreased. After 90 days of aging, the count of aerobic bacteria in Kumtop kochujang was higher than those of others. The activities of liquefying amylase decreased during the aging, but those of saccharogenic amylase increased at 60 days of aging. The activities of neutral protease were higher than those of acidic protease, and increased during the middle and last period of aging. The major free sugars of kochujang were maltose and glucose, and their contents were higher in Hongkwang kochujang. The major organic acids of kochujang were succinic, formic and citric acid, followed by lactic acid. Succinic acid content in kochujang decreased during fermentation, whereas formic and citirc acids were increased. The major free amino acids were serine, proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine. Kumtop kochujang contained the highest amount of total free amino acids. Among the nucleotides and related components in kochujang, cytidine-5-monophosphate was the most abundant component at the begining of aging period, while hypoxanthine increased remarkably during fermentation. Hanwang kochujang was higher in the content of nucleotides than others. Capsaicin contents of kochujang decreased during aging and those of Jangter kochujang was higher than that of others. Sensory evaluation showed that Jangter kochujang was significantly better than Kumtop kochujang in overall acceptability, but there were no appreciable differences in color and flavor.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2007

Quality characteristics of kochujang prepared with strawberry puree (10, 20, and 30% on the total weight basis) were investigated after 30 and 300 days of storage. The moisture content of strawberry kochujang at 300 days was considerably higher than that of strawberry kochujang at 30 days and increasing strawberry content from 0 to 30% significantly increased moisture content of kochujang progressively (p<0.05). Water activity and titratable acidity also showed similar trends, but pH showed the reverse trend with the highest value in control at 30 days and the lowest value in 30% strawberry kochujang at 300 days. As the strawberry puree content increased, amino-nitrogen content consistently and correspondingly decreased. Amino-nitrogen content at 300 days was higher than that of strawberry kochujang at 30 days. Soluble solids content also showed a similar trend, but soluble solid content at 300 days was considerably lower than that of strawberry kochujang at 30 days. Reduction in soluble solids content with increasing strawberry concentration was more evident at 30 days than at 300 day.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.448-454
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• 1998

Meju for doenjang and kochujang was prepared as a model at Sunchang areaand monitored with major changes. Kochujang meju was prepared on September 12 and doenjang meju on November 12, 1995. Kochjang meju was found to be naturally fermented at 80~90% RH, 15~2$0^{\circ}C$ and doenjang meju was at 80~90% RH and 0~5$^{\circ}C$. The shapes of kochujang meju and doenjang meju were doughnut-type and rectangular, respectively. Weight losses during fermentation were 48% and 28%, respectively. The pH drop and acip production of kochujang meju were negligible. However, pH of doenjang meju decreased from 6.29 to 5.88 and acidity increased from 0.08 to 0.23% as lactic acid. Protein in meju was found to be rapidly solubilized during the early stage of fermentation. Soluble protein cotents of kochujang meju after 7 days and 60 days were 8.23%, respectively. The doenjang mejus were 2.15% after 20 days and 5.72% after 60 days. Soluble suger content increased with the fermentation time. The soluble sugar content was higher in kochjang meju. Acidic protease was highly produced during meju fermentation. $\alpha$-Amylase and $\beta$-amylase were detected in the kochujang meju, of which glutinous rice consisted, but negligible in doenjang meju. Lipase was detected in kochujang meju, but was, negligible in doenjang meju. Microbial population increased drastically after 7 days of fermentation in kochujang meju and 20 days of fermentation in doenjang meju.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.298-302
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• 2006

Kochujang was fermented using hot red pepper, meju prepared with soybean and rice, and malt-digested syrup. To reduce salt content, mustard powder (1.2%, w/w) was added to Korean traditional kochujang with 4-10% salt, and microbial characteristics, enzyme activities, and gas formation in kochujang were evaluated during fermentation for 120 days at $25^{\circ}C$. Yeast numbers of all treatments maintained 2.43-2.86 log CFU/g up to 60 days fermentation, indicating salt concentration had no effect on yeast count. Activities of ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-amylases, and neutral and acidic proteases of kochujang added with mustard powder were slightly higher than those of control group. Total accumulative volume of gas produced during fermentation of kochujang without mustard powder (control group) was 5,892 mL/pack, but decreased to 34-99 mL/pack in low-salted kochujang (4 and 6% salt) added with mustard powder. Major gas produced was carbon dioxide (79-80%) with oxygen content less than 1.25%(v/v). Results indicate salt concentration of kochujang could be lowered up to 6-8% by addition of mustard powder without gas formation and quality alteration during distribution.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.787-793
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of kochujang and red pepper on energy intake, body fat content and energy expenditure in rats fed on high-fat(30%) diet. Kochujang and red pepper power were added in the high-fat diet, adjusting the level to 95 and 22g/kg diet, respectively, The level of red pepper addition was corresponding was corresponding to the level of the content of red pepper powder in the kichujang-added diet. Kochujang induced a 30% reduction in body fat gain which was associated with a significant increase in energy expenditure. However, red pepper reduced body fat gain by only 15%. Furthermore, energy expenditure was not affected by red pepper. Metabolizable energy intake, apparent digestibility and body protein gain were not affected by either kochujang or red pepper. It has been known that capsaicin, a pungent component of red pepper, enhances activity of brown adipose tissue through increasing protein content. In the present study, in addition of protein content, DNA content of interscapular brown adipose tissue was also increased by kochujang. Therefore, it appeared that the anti-obesity effects of kochujang was greater than those of red pepper, indicating more than red pepper was involved in the expression of the anti-obesity effects of kochujang(Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 787-793, 2000)

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2008

Quality characteristics of kochujang prepared with strawberry puree (10, 20, and 30% on a total weight basis) were investigated at 30 and 300 days of fermentation. The highest $L^*$-value was found in 30% strawberry kochujang at 300 days of fermentation. In contrast, the highest degree of redness ($a^*$) was observed in 30% strawberry kochujang at the early stage of fermentation. During the fermentation, values of $L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$ increased except $a^*$-value of 30% strawberry kochujang, indicating proper substitution of strawberry puree could preserve the desired color of kochujang. After 300 days of fermentation, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness increased while adhesiveness decreased significantly (p<0.05). Taste score and Pearson coefficient between sensory and strawberry concentration revealed that 10% strawberry kochujang was more acceptable than the others, due to color and the formation of flavor compounds during the fermentation and these compounds enhanced the flavor of kochujang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1044-1049
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• 1997

Physicochemical characteristics of kochujangs prepared with the powders from 4 different red pepper varieties, were investigated during 90 days fermentation to obtain information for the industrial production of traditional kochujang. Water activities and consistencies of all varities slightly decreased during fermentation, but in consistency Jangter kochujang was higher than others. The red values in color of all sample remarkably increased after 15 days. Especially L, a and b values of Hongkwang kochujang were higher than those of others. The acidities of 4 kochujangs linearly increased during fermentation. Reducing sugar contents of kochujang increased until 30 days but thereafter decreased slightly, showing highest value for Hongkwang kochujang. Ethanol contents increased until 75 days and were higher in Kumtop and Jangter kochujang. Amino and ammonia nitrogen contents rapidly increased until 30 days. Ammonia nitrogen content was gradually decreased after 30 days. Amino nitrogen contents were higher in Hongkwang kochujang.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

Quality characteristics of kochujang prepared with meju, koji and mixture of the two(meju+koji) were investigated during fermentation to improve quality of kochujang. During fermentation of kochujang, moisture content was in the range of $53.4{\sim}66.5%$, salt was $8.3{\sim}10.1%$, crude protein was $8.3{\sim}19.3%$ and pH of kochujang was $4.6{\sim}5.4$. Amino-nitrogen content increased during fermentation and the levels were $230{\sim}270\;mg%$ after 150 days of fermentation. The highest amino-nitrogen content was found in mixed kochujang at the beginning stage of fermentation, but in koji kochujang after 30 days of fermentation. Maximum reducing sugar content was $15.0{\sim}19.5%$ at 60th day of fermentation. The highest amino acid content of kochujang protein was found in meju kochujang followed by koji kochujang at the first stage of fermentation. The content of glutamic acid, a major amino acid was $1.38{\sim}3.66%$ of total amino acid content. High levels of aspartic acid, leucine, arginine, alanine and phenylalanine were found in the kochujangs. Mixed kochujang showed the highest L value among the samples until 30 days of fermentation. After that, the highest L value was found in meju kochujang. The highest degree of redness was observed in meju kochujang until 60 days of fermentation and in koji kochujang during $90{\sim}120$ days of fermentation.