• Journal of Life Science
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1553-1561
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• 2009

This study investigated the biological activities and chemical characteristics of Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG). The comparative activities of water, ethanol, and methanol extracts from MFRGE and Korean red ginseng (RG) were tested in vitro of anti-oxidative models of linoleic acid peroxidation by thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods and DPPH ($\alpha,\alpha'$-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl)radical scavenging activities. In addition, measurements of their bioactive total phenolic compounds and minerals, and extract yield, were obtained. The extract yield of each solvent extracted from MFRG and RG was aqueous by 6.58% and 5.83%, ethanol by 0.62% and 0.98%, and methanol by 1.27% and 3.04%, respectively. Total phenolic compounds were higher in all solvents extracted from MFRG than those from RG. Major mineral contents (ppm) of MFRG and RG were K by 16,936 and 22,386, Ca by 2,310 and 3,693, Mg by 2,703 and 2,647, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activities were higher in all solvents extracted from MFRG than those from RG, however, all these extracts exhibited a relatively low level of radical-scavenging activity compared to the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In antioxidative activities determined by TBA method using linoleic acid peroxidation, 70% methanol extract from MFRG and RG showed the highest antioxidative activity at a concentration of 0.1%. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities of bio-active materials derived from MFRG.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.46-56
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• 2013

This study investigates the quality characteristics of Sikhye, a Korean traditional drink, made with different amounts of Monascus anka rice, or red yeast rice, and the results are as follows. During the saccharification process of red yeast rice, there was not significant change in pH, and its sugar content increased. It revealed that the optimal hours of saccharification for making Sikhye were four or five hours, which showed the highest in $^{\circ}Brix$. PH decreased significantly with increasing amounts of red yeast rice, and there was no change in sugar content and reducing sugar. Chromaticity L values decreased with increasing amounts of red yeast rice, and a value, b value and the turbidity increased. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the samples showed significant differences in the samples with high scores as the amounts of red yeast rice increased. As a result of measuring the total microorganism number of the sample stored at $4^{\circ}C$, storability was improved with increasing amounts of red yeast rice. Preference was high in the order of 40%, 50%, 30%, 20%, 0%, and 10%, and the optimal amount of red yeast rice was less than 40-50%. Adding red yeast rice showed high scores in the sensory test, showing red color in Sikhye. In addition, its antioxidative activity effect and microbial growth inhibitory activity were considered to improve storability and preference.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.305-312
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• 2007

It is crucial to develop a miniaturized cultivation method for large and rapid screening of high-yielding mutants of monacolin-K, a powerful anti-hypercholesterolemic secondary metabolite biosynthesized by the fungal cells of Monascus ruber. In order to investigate as many strains as possible in a short time, a miniaturized fermentation method especially suitable for the cultivation of the filamentous Monascus mutants was developed using $50m{\ell}$ culture-tube ($7m{\ell}$ of working volume) instead of the traditional $250m{\ell}$ flask ($50m{\ell}$ of working volume). Generally, in filamentous fungal cell fermentations, morphologies in growth and production cultures should be maintained as thick filamentous and compact-pelleted (usually less than 1 mm in diameter) forms, respectively, for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in final production cultures. In this study, we intended to induce the respective optimal morphologies in the miniaturized culture system for the purpose of rapid screening of overproducers. Miniaturized growth culture system was successfully developed due to the mass production of spores in the statistically optimized solid medium. When large amounts of spores were inoculated into the growth cultures, and brown rice flour (20 g/L) was also supplemented to the growth medium, dense filamentous morphologies were successfully induced in the growth cultures performed with the 50 ml culture tubes. It was implied that the amounts of spores inoculated into the growth tube-cultures and the growth medium components should be the key factors for the induction of the filamentous forms in the growth fermentations. Furthermore, in order to statistically optimize production medium, multiple experiments based on Plackett-Burman design and response surface method (RSM) were carried out, resulting in more than 2 fold enhanced production of monacolin-K in the final production cultures with the optimized production medium. Notably, under the production culture conditions with the statistically optimized medium, optimal pellet sizes below 1 mm in diameter were reproducibly induced, in contrast to the thick and viscous filamentous morphologies observed in the previous production cultures.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.66-77
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of the mulberry leaf tea fermented by Monascus pilosus on high fat-induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver in mice. Non-fermented mulberry leaf tea powder (UM) and fermented mulberry leaf tea powder (FM) were supplemented with high-fat diet at 2% (wt/wt) dosage for 8 weeks. Both UM and FM lowered body weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, epididymal fat, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol increased markedly with high fat diet (HC) in mice. FM showed more significant effects when it was compared with UM. In addition, Hepatic lipid peroxides and xanthin oxidase activities of the UM and FM were significantly lower than those of HC, despite the lack of a big difference in the amount of hepatic GSH. Activities of ROS scavenging enzymes and serum alanine aminotransferase activity were also examined as a parameter of hepatic damage. The UM and FM groups showed a recovery to NC group from significant changes induced by HC. Finally, histopathological analyses of liver samples revealed a decrease of lipid accumulation in hepatocytes in the UM and FM groups. These results suggest that UM and especially FM can reduce the development of obesity, hyperlipidemia and fatty liver.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.706-713
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the contents of monacolin K and citrinin, along with the sensory quality and antioxidant activity of mulberry leaf tea fermented by $Monascus$ $pilsous$ (FMM). Total monacolin K content of FMM was 0.058%, but citrinin was not detected. Redness of brewed FMM was remarkably higher than that of unfermented mulberry leaf tea (UFM). In sensory evaluation of brewed FMM, while astringent taste and savory taste were lower, flavor, color, and overall acceptability were significantly higher than those of UFM. Total polyphenol contents of UFM and FMM were 83.1 and 23.61 mg/g (dry basis), total flavonoid contents of UFM and FMM were 17.96 and 3.99 mg/g (dry basis), respectively. Xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of FMM were lower than those of UFM. Electron-donating ability and ferric-reducing antioxidant power of FMM were slightly lower than those of UFM. However, the antioxidant activities of FMM per polyphenol content were markedly higher than those of UFM. These results suggest that FMM may scavenge excessive reactive oxygen spices (ROS) via inhibition of XO and SOD-like activity. Furthermore, FMM demonstrated relatively higher acceptability and antioxidant ability along with functionality of $Hongguk$ (red yeast rice), and therefore could be utilized to prevent various ROS-induced diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.1088-1095
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• 2014

A systematic investigation was performed on the bacterial, Bacillus, fungal, and yeast communities of the three types of Daqu (mechanically prepared, manually prepared, and mixed prepared) used in Baiyunbian Company by reconditioning PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The DGGE results showed that the microbes in the three types of Daqu were mainly thermotolerant and thermophilic microbes, and the most dominant bacterial species were Bacillus and Virgibacillus, followed by Lactobacillus and Trichococcus. Furthermore, the dominant fungi were found to be molds, such as Rasamsonia, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus, and the dominant yeasts were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, Pichia anomala, and Debaryomyces hansenii. In general, the three types of Daqu showed slight differences in microbial communities, and the Shannon indexes (H') of the manually prepared and mechanically prepared Daqu were similar. The results suggest that mechanically prepared Daqu can replace manually prepared Daqu in liquor production, and this research provides useful information for liquor production and process improvement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제42권7호
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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 the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.487-496
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• 2013

Green coffee beans (CB, Indonesian Mandheling) were fermented with three kinds of mushrooms (Phellinus linteus, PL; Hericium erinaceum, HE; Ganoderma lucidum, GL) or two kinds of mycelia from molds (Monascus purpureus, MP; Monascus ruber, MR) using solid-state culture to enhance physiological activity. After the roasting of fermented green coffee beans, roasted coffees were extracted with a hot-water decoction or 95% ethanol reflux. Yields from hot water extracts (HW, 17.7~25.3%) were higher than those from ethanolic extracts (EE, 9.5~12.2%). Hot-water extracts of roasted coffees from green coffee beans fermented with two molds (MP-CB-HW and MR-CB-HW) showed higher total polyphenols, flavonoids, and DPPH free radical scavenging activity than roasted coffees from non-fermented (CB-HW) or fermented green coffee beans with the three mycelia from mushrooms. MR-CB-HW also had the most potent macrophage stimulating and mitogenic activity (1.32 and 1.40-fold of CB-HW, respectively). In addition, MP-CB-EE and MR-CB-EE did not show any cytotoxicity to the RAW 264.7 cell at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$, and these extracts significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production from the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell line (38.6 and 37.0% of the LPS-treated group). Meanwhile, the chlorogenic acid concentrations of MP-CB-HW or MR-CB-HW highly increased (to 76.21 or $76.73{\mu}g/mL$, respectively), but caffeine concentrations were not affected by solid-state fermentation. In conclusion, the physiological activities of roasted coffees were enhanced by the solid-state culture of green coffee beans with M. purpureus or M. ruber, suggesting that these roasted coffees could possibly serve industrial applications as functional coffee beverages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

Five mold strains - Mucor racemousus, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus kawachii, and Monascus purpureus - were used for the fermentation of both freeze-dried and air-dried silkworm powders. The concentrations of proteins and minerals, electrophoretical protein patterns, fatty acid composition and the activities of fibrinolytic and antioxidation with freeze-dried silkworm (FDSW) or air-dried silkworm powders (ADSW) fermented by the five molds were investigated. The concentrations of major minerals in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were K by 72.0-76.3 and 77.1-78.9 ppm, Mg by 29.6-49.7 and 44.3-58.7 ppm, Ca by 1.9-14.9 and 9.8-21.6 ppm and Zn by 0.64-0.70 and 4.17-4.52 ppm, respectively. Major fatty acids in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. There were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns when total protein patterns of fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were analyzed by native-and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in fermented ADSW powders than that in fermented FDSW. Fibriolytic activity was only detected in the FDSW fermented by Aspergillus kawachi and Monascus purpureus. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of silkworm fermented by mold, which can be used for the development of functional foods.