• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2013

To reproduce the brewing process of Hongkuk-ju and to identify the functional properties of it, Hongkuk-ju was brewed using different additions of Hongkuk (100%, 90%, 70%, 50%) and Nuruk (0%, 10%, 30%, 50%). The quality elements, including pH, total acidity, reducing sugar content, alcohol content and pigments (yellow, red, monacolin K and citrinin), were measured. The pH values of Hongkuk-ju showed a slight difference (pH 4.08~4.58) right after the $1^{st}$ stage mash; further, the pH on all groups (H1, H2, H3 and H4) in the terminal of the $2^{nd}$ stage mash (9 days in fermentation) were similar, ranging approximately at pH 3.70. The total acidity change did not show a difference directly the $1^{st}$ stage mash (nearby 0.2 %); however, it began to show a slight difference at the terminal of the $2^{nd}$ stage mash between the range of 0.69~0.76%. The residual reducing sugar of the content was decreased with the increased Nuruk content. The alcohol concentrations of the treatment brew with Nuruk ranging from 12.3% to 13.7% were higher than Hongkuk on its own. The yellow and red pigment contents of Hongkuk-ju ranged from 7.2~8.8 O.D. units (yellow pigment) and from 4.4~5.1 O.D. units (red pigment). The production of monacolin K and citrinin was the highest (9.48 mg/kg and 10.14 mg/kg) when the treatment solely brewed Hongkuk. The concentration of Nuruk and the preparation of the seed mash from it were critical factors compared to the treatment of rice in brewing Hongkuk-ju.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.701-707
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• 2003

Kimchi was prepared with the addition of 2.5％ and 5.0％ Monascu purpureu koji(MPK) paste (20％) and were fermented at 20$^{\circ}C$ for 18 days. The quality and sensory characteristics of the kimchi were evaluated by analyzing the pH, acidity, number of viable cells, the concentration of reducing sugar, and sensory properties during fermentation. The pH and titratable acidity of the kimchiprepared with MPK(MPK kimchi) were higher and lower, respectively, than those of the control kimchi. The MPK kimchi showed high 'L' and 'b' values during storage, but the 'a' values were low. The contents of the reducing sugar of the MPK kimchi tended to increase during fermentation, particularly after six days. The number of total microbial cells, lactic acid bacteria and yeast in the MPK kimchi were lower than those of the control kimchi until 3 days of fermentation. However, the number of these bacteria in the MPK kimchi and the control kimchi after six days of fermentation was similar. The sensory score of the kimchi with 2.5％ and 5.0％ added MPK paste were significantly higher than the control groups in terms of the sweetness and overall acceptability.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.618-623
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• 2005

Kimchi was prepared with 2.5% and 5% Monascus purpureus Koji(MPK) paste(20%), fermented at $10^{\circ}C$ for 15 days, and sampled at 3-day intervals during storage. Samples were extracted using 80% ethanol. Ethanol extracts of kimchi prepared with MPK paste (MPK kimchi extracts) and control kimchi extracts at 1mg/mL showed 40% decrease in proliferation of cancer cells, such as AGS, KATOIII, HepG2, and Hela. MPK kimchi extracts showed highest cytotoxic effect against cancer cells compared with control at 2mg/mL. Antibacterial effect of MPK kimchi extracts decreased during fermentation, and was higher than that of control kimchi extracts during fermentation, particularly after six days. The 5% MPK kimchi extracts showed higher antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus than other groups. Results indicate kimchi added with M. purpureus Koji paste has stronger antibacterial and anticancer effects in vitro than control kimchi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the effects of extracts of fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas) with a Monascus purpureus strain on anti-obesity in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven dietary groups (n=8 per group), as follows: a normal diet group (N) and six HFD groups (C: control, HFD and no treatment; AG: HFD +10% A. gigas extracts; FAG2.5: HFD +2.5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG5: HFD +5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG10: HFD +10% fermented A. gigas extracts; GC: HFD + Garcinia cambogia extracts). FAG-fed rats exhibited effectively lowered rates of increasing body weight and visceral fat accumulation in the HFD-induced obesity model. The activities of several hepatic marker enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were increased with HFD-induced obesity, but levels of these marker enzymes were significantly decreased in FAG-fed rats. The consumption of FAG reduced triglyceride concentrations in serum to normal levels. FAG-fed rats showed effectively increased leptin concentrations in the HFD-induced obesity model. HFD ingestion induced a significant increase in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, which was decreased in FAG-fed rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Oil Red O staining of the liver showed that the lipid deposits were decreased via FAG feeding. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining of epididymal adipose adipose tissue showed that the adipocyte were decreased by feeding FAG.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.463-469
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• 2008

During the last decade, monacolin-K biosynthesized by fermentation of red yeast rice (Monascus strains) was proved to have an efficient cholesterol lowering capability, leading to rapid increase in the market demand for the functional red yeast rice. In this study, the production medium composition and components were optimized on a shake flask scale for monacolin-K production by Monascus pilosus (KCCM 60160). The effect of three different soybean flours on the monacolin-K production were studied in order to replace the nitrogen sources of basic production medium (yeast extract, malt extract and beef extract). Among the several experiments, the production medium with dietary soybean flour to replace a half of yeast extract was very good for monacolin-K production. Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to determine the key factors which are critical to produce the biological products in the fermentation. According to the result of Plackett-Burman experimental design, a second order response surface design was applied using yeast extract, beef extract and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ as factors. Applying this model, the optimum concentration of the three variables was obtained. The maximum monacolin-K production (369.6 mg/L) predicted by model agrees well with the experimental value (418 mg/L) obtained from the experimental verification at the optimal medium. The yield of monacolin-K was increased by 67% as compared to that obtained with basic production medium in shake flasks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.1186-1193
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the changes in monacolin K content and antioxidant activities of Monascus-fermented brown rice with different germination temperatures and periods. Brown rice was germinated at 32, 35 and $37^{\circ}C$ for 1~4 days, after white rice (WB), brown rice (BR), and germinated brown rice (GBR) were fermented with M. pilosus 305-9 at $30^{\circ}C$ for 20 days. The redness, yellowness and Monascus pigments increased after germination. Total monacolin K content increased from 215.85 mg/kg of BR to 1,263.04 mg/kg of GBR ($32^{\circ}C$/1 day), whereas monacolin K content decreased with increase in germination period. Citrinin was not detected in any of the samples. Total polyphenol (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) increased with increase in germination temperature and period, whereas electron donating ability (EDA) and total antioxidant activities (TAA) decreased due to reduction of Monascus pigment content. The TPC and TFC showed the highest values (13.80 mg/g and 1.30 mg/g, respectively) in GBR ($37^{\circ}C$/4 day), whereas EDA and TAA showed the highest values (22.16 mg Trolox equivalent/g and 62.27 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g, respectively) in GBR ($32^{\circ}C$/1 day). These results indicated that the optimal germination temperature and period for increasing monacolin K content and antioxidant activities was found to be at $32^{\circ}C$ for 1 day. In addition, it was found that M. pilosus 305-9 was a useful strain for increasing monacolin K content without producing citrinin in functional foods and pharmaceutical industrial regions.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.757-766
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of non-fermented (CAC) and Monascus pilosus-fermented Columbia arabica coffee (FCAC), as well as Luwak coffee (LC) beans. The results indicated that total polyphenols content (mg/g of dry basis) was highest in CAC (70.69), followed by LC (62.07), and FCAC (41.38). However, the ratio of total flavonoids/polyphenols in FCAC was the highest. In terms of electron donating ability (%, coffee mg/mL), CAC was significantly higher than LC and FCAC. Regardless of fermentation, ferric reducing antioxidant powers were similar in CAC and FCAC and lowest in LC. LC also had the highest inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase (XO). However FAAC had the highest inhibitory activity against aldehyde oxidase (AO), with nearly three times the levels found in CAC and LC. According to the above results, FCAC had a higher ratio of flavonoids/polyphenols and iron chelating activity than CAC. FCAC also had the highest AO inhibitory activity among the three experimental coffee beans. The results suggest that further studies are required to evaluate the bioactive components of various coffee beans so as to determine the potential benefits that coffee may have on preventing oxidative stress-related conditions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 1997

Monascus anka produces biologically active materials, and liquid M. anka koji was employed for preparing fermented hot pepper soybean paste (kochujang). Three kinds of koji (M. anka, Aspergillus oryzae and mixed koji) were used to prepare kochujang, and changes of physicochemical characteristics were examined during fermentation. A. oryzae koji showed the highest ${\alpha}-amylase$ and protease activities; whereas, M. anka koji showed the highest ${\beta}-amylase$ activity in liquid koji. Water content of kochujang continuously decreased, whereas viscosity increased during fermentation. The water content and viscosity was 46% and $1.4{\times}10^5\;cP$, respectively after 40 days of fermentation. The pH of kochujang with M. anka and/or A. oryzae koji was $4.63{\sim}4.65$ in the beginning and was between 4.53 and 4.67 after 40 days of fermentation. L-, a- and b-values decreased rapidly during fermentation until 20 days of fermentation. After 40 days, L- and b-values of kochujang prepared with M. anka koji showed lower values than A. oryzae, and a-value showed higher values as the amount of M. anka koji increased. Ammoniacle nitrogen content continuously increased during fermentation. Amino nitrogen content was the highest, 241.2 ㎎%, and ammoniacle nitrogen was the lowest, 97.2 ㎎%, in kochujang prepared with A. oryzae. However, amino and ammoniacle nitrogen content showed no difference between M. anka and A. oryzae koji kochujang. Kochujang prepared with M. anka koji showed a potential that kochujang can be manufactured lower level of red pepper than previously used.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.404-408
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effects of laying productivity and egg quality according to providing germinated and fermented soybean (GFS) as feed additive. Among the strain, we selected Monascus purpureus KCCM 12002 so that inoculated in soybean and fermented for 48 h at $20^{\circ}C$. A total of two-hundred forty 70-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were divided into four groups (4 treatment${\times}$6 replication${\times}$10 birds each) and fed diets containing 0 (as control) (T1), 0.5% (T2), 1.0% (T3) or 2.0% GFS (T4) for 6 wk. The laying productivity, egg quality and blood property in the egg yolk were experimented. There were no significant differences in the laying productivity, relative liver and spleen weights, egg yolk color and eggshell strength among another groups. The eggshell color, eggshell thickness and haugh unit significantly increased in the GFS-supplemented group (p<0.05) compared to control. However, no significant differences were observed in the blood property after supplementation. The amount of lactic acid bacteria present during storage increased by providing of GFS (p<0.05) compare to control group. Our study results suggested that GFS can be used as a favorable feed additive and feedstuff for the productivity of high quality eggs and promoted relative industry.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.519-524
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• 2008

Monacolin-K is a strong anti-hypercholesterolemic agent produced by Monascus sp. via polyketide pathway. High-yielding mutants of monacolin-K were developed through rational screening strategies adopted based on understanding of monacolin-K biosynthetic pathway. Through the experiments for investigating various amino acids as putative precursors for the monacolin-K biosynthesis, it was found that production level of monacolin-K was remarkably increased when optimum amount of cysteine was supplemented into the production medium. We suggested that these phenomena might be related to the special roles of SAM (S-adenosyl methionine), a putative methyl group donor in the biosynthetic pathway of monacolin-K, demonstrating close interrelationship between SAM-synthesizing primary metabolism and monacolin-K synthesizing secondary metabolism. Namely, increase in the intracellular amount of SAM derived from the putative precursor, cysteine which was extracellularly supplemented into the production medium might contribute to the significant enhancement in the monacolin-K biosynthetic capability of the highly mutated producers. On the basis of these assumptions derived from the above fermentation results, we decided to construct efficient expression vectors harboring SAM synthetase gene (metK) cloned from A. nidulans, with the hope that increased intracellular level of SAM could lead to further enhancement in the monacolin-K production through overcoming a rate-limiting step associated with monacolin-K biosynthesis. Hence, in order to overcome the plausible rate-limiting step associated with monacolin-K biosynthesis by increasing intracellular level of SAM, we transformed the producer mutants with an efficient expression vector harboring gpdA promoter of the producer microorganism, and metK gene. Notably, from the resulting various transformants, we were able to screen a very high-yielding transformant which showed approximately 3.3 fold higher monacolin-K productivity than the parallel nontransformed mutants in shake flask cultures performed under the identical fermentation conditions.