• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.4 s.91
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• pp.312-317
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• 1999

In order to study the antitumoral effect of meju extracts, which was made with a single inoculum of the microorganism, the cytotoxicity effects on several human leukemia cells such as promyelocytic leukemia cell (HL60), histiocytic lymphoma cell (U937) and acute T-cell leukemia Jurkat cell, and lymphocyte were analyzed by MTT assay. Twenty one microbes, mainly fungal genera, were isolated from Korean traditional mejus of different regions. From those collected isolates, meju was manufactured and extracted with 80% methanol, respectively. Meju methanol extracts exhibited low activites in cytotoxicity tests on HL60 cell, but high antitumoral effects of meju methanol extracts were shown on U937 and Jurkat cells. Meju methanol extracts made with a genera of Mucor, Absidia and Aspergillus showed prominant cytotoxic activities, especially. However all these extracts had no inhibitory effects on the cell growth of lymphocyte under the same conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 1999

Jeupjang like salted soybean paste with vegetable is the Korean traditional side order eating at table. Bibliographical studies on the Jeupjang in historic books such as Jeungbo-Sanlim-Keongjae(Re-edition of agriculture economic), Imwon- Keongjae Ji(Book of country economic) and Keuhap-Chongseo(Handbook of household) described the Korean food in the 18 century carried out. In addition, investigation and analytical studies on various home-made Jeupjang in present was accomplished. Jeupjangs were classified into three types according to variety preparing methods. Three types were fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) type using traditional Meju(soybean cake stater) for Jeupjang, salted pickle (Jangachi) type buried cucumber and eggplant into soybean paste or soysauce (Kanjang), and salted sauer kraut (Kimchii) type prepared vegetable in Jeupjang-Meju mash. The procedures for producing Jeupjang were Jeupjang-Meju making, and mixing vegetable with Meju powder into brine. At last process was fermented in horse wastes or grasses for 7-14 days. But manufacturing methods of Jeupjang before the 18 century were different in present. Nowadays glutinous rice, red pepper powder and various vegetable were used for domestic Jeupjang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.986-993
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• 2002

Mushroom mycelia-cultured traditional meju (MTM) was prepared by inoculating 10% submerged-liquid culture of mushroom strains to five holes (1$\times$3 cm) per side of the traditionally-fermented meiu (10$\times$10$\times$10cm), followed by incubating additional 4 weeks at $25^{\circ}C$. Mushroom strains used were Neutari (Pleurotus ostreatus, PO), Yeongji (Ganoderma lucidum, GL), Synryeong (Agaricus blazei, AB), Ypsae (Grifola frondosa, GF), Pyogo(Lentinus edodes, PE), Dongchunghacho (Paecilomyces japonicus, PJ) and Sanghwang (Phellinus linteus PL). All MTMs showed an enhanced anticarcinogenicity against S-180 cell-induced mouse ascites cancer antimutagenicity against aflatoxin B$_1$ (AFB$_1$) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), and sensory qualities, relative to control meju. Such positive effects of MTM prepared with Sanghwang, Yeongji, or Synryeong were superior to those of MTM with Ypsae, Pyogo, Dongchunghacho, or Neutari.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 1994

Four types of soybean paste(Doenjang), using traditional meju, koji, natto meju and mixture of koji and natto meju, were manufactured and fermented for 90 days. Analyzed volatile flavor components by GC-MS were confirmed to be thirty-six components including 5 alcohols, 5 aldehydes. 8 ketones, 3 acids, 9 esters and 6 miscellaneous ones. Traditional soybean paste tested had 29 components, koji and koji-natto soybean paste $26{\sim}24$ and natto soybean paste had 20 ones. Alcohol was found to be the most abundant volatile flavor components in all samples group. Traditional soybean paste had higher ratio of carbonyl to ester than any other types of soybean paste while koji-natto soybean paste had the lowest ratio of their components. The newly identified five volatile flavor components were 3-ethoxy-l-propene, dihydro-2-methyl-3-furanone. 1-hydroxy-2-propanone, 1-(2-furanyl)ethanone and 2-acethyl ethylhexanoate.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.218-224
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• 2015

Aspergillus is an important fungal genus used for the fermentation of Asian foods; this genus is referred to as koji mold in Japan and China. A. oryzae, A. sojae, and A. tamari are used in the production of miso and shoyu in Japan, but a comprehensive taxonomic study of Aspergillus isolated from Meju, a fermented soybean starting material for traditional soy sauce and soybean paste in Korea, has not been conducted. In this study, various Aspergillus species were isolated during a study of the mycobiota of Meju, and the aspergilli were identified based on phenotypic characteristics and sequencing of the ${\beta}$-tubulin gene. Most strains of Aspergillus were found to belong to the following sections: Aspergillus (n = 220), Flavi (n = 213), and Nigri (n = 54). The most commonly identified species were A. oryzae (n = 183), A. pseudoglaucus (Eurotium repens) (n = 81), A. chevalieri (E. chevalieri) (n = 62), A. montevidensis (E. amstelodami) (n = 34), A. niger (n = 21), A. tamari (n = 15), A. ruber (E. rubrum) (n = 15), A. proliferans (n = 14), and A. luchuensis (n = 14); 25 species were identified from 533 Aspergillus strains. Aspergillus strains were mainly found during the high temperature fermentation period in the later steps of Meju fermentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.390-396
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• 1997

Meju is a basis for manufacturing Kanjang, Meju was traditionally prepared at home by different types of process depending on the regional area. It is necessary to standardize and simplify the process of Meju-preparation for Kanjang of good quality. For these purposes, the process of Meju and Kangjang making as well as analysis of commercial Kanjang, were compared. Generally, traditional Meju was prepared by steeping and dehulling the whole soybean. After steeping for 24hr. soybean absorbed water up to 110~120% of its weight. The soaked soybeans were steamed for 2hr. and cooled to 5$0^{\circ}C$. Cooked soybeans were crushed down to the size of 10~15 mesh and molded. Molded soybeans were dried for 2 days in the air, hung up by rice straw and fermented for 20~30 days under natural environmental condition. On the other hand, commercial soybean koji was made of defatted soybean. Defatted soybeans were steeped in water and steamed for 15~30min at 0.7~1.2 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Steamed and defatted soybean was cooled to 4$0^{\circ}C$. Separately, wheat power was roasted at 200~30$0^{\circ}C$ by wheat roaster. Mixture of steamed defatted soybean and roasted wheat powder (5/5 to 7/3) were inoculated with 0.1~0.2% Aspergillus sojae and incubated for 2 days at 3$0^{\circ}C$ with occasional stirring. Chemical analysis showed that traditional soy sauces contained the following composition: NaCl, 20.12~25.42%; total nitrogen, 0.64~0.91%; pure extract, 9.47~11.20%; color, 2.34~4.01; pH, 4.92~5.12. Commercial products contained: NaCl, 15.20~17.19%; total nitrogen, 1.25~1.40%; pure extract, 18.17~21.47%; color, 5.41~21.12; pH, 4.51~4.66 and ethalnol. 2.97~3.12%. Organoleptic test on taste, color and flavor of traditional and commercial soysauce indicated that most of the consumers prefer commercial products to traditional products. Preferrable formulation of Kanjang based on organoleptic test of soy sauces was assumed as containing; NaCl, 16.0%; total nitrogen, 1.40%; pure extract, 19.97%; color, 12.98; pH, 4.61 and ethanol, 2.96.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.258-265
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• 2015

The fungi on Meju are known to play an important role as degrader of macromolecule of soybeans. In order to elucidate the origin of fungi on traditional Meju, mycobiota of the air both inside and outside traditional Meju fermentation rooms was examined. From 11 samples of air collected from inside and outside of 7 Meju fermentation rooms, 37 genera and 90 species of fungi were identified. In outside air of the fermentation room, Cladosporium sp. and Cladosporium cladosporioides were the dominant species, followed by Cladosporium tenuissimum, Eurotium sp., Phoma sp., Sistotrema brinkmannii, Alternaria sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Schizophyllum commune, and Penicillium glabrum. In inside air of the fermentation room, Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium chrysogenum, Asp. nidulans, Aspergillus sp., Cla. cladosporioides, Eurotium sp., Penicillium sp., Cla. tenuissimum, Asp. niger, Eur. herbariorum, Asp. sydowii, and Eur. repens were collected with high frequency. The concentrations of the genera Aspergillus, Eurotium, and Penicillium were significantly higher in inside air than outside air. From this result and those of previous reports, the origin of fungi present on Meju was inferred. Of the dominant fungal species present on Meju, Lichtheimia ramosa, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor racemosus, and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis are thought to be originated from outside air, because these species are not or are rarely isolated from rice straw and soybean; however, they were detected outside air of fermentation room and are species commonly found in indoor environments. However, Asp. oryzae, Pen. polonicum, Eur. repens, Pen. solitum, and Eur. chevalieri, which are frequently found on Meju, are common in rice straw and could be transferred from rice straw to Meju. The fungi grow and produce abundant spores during Meju fermentation, and after the spores accumulate in the air of fermentation room, they could influence mycobiota of Meju fermentation in the following year. This could explain why concentrations of the genera Aspergillus, Eurotium, and Penicillium are much higher inside than outside of the fermentation rooms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1854-1859
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• 2010

Three kinds of Korean traditional Meju were selected and the counts of microorganisms in these Meju were determined. The counts of total aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts and molds were 107~108, 106~108 and 107~108 cfu/g, respectively in three Meju and lactic acid bacteria were important microorganisms in the fermentation of Meju. Therefore, we isolated three kinds of dominant lactic acid bacteria from these Meju. They were identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides (98%, Lm-SMm), Lactobacillus plantarum (99%, Lp-SMm) and Lactococcus lactis (98%, Ll-GAm). Then, enzyme activities and physiological functionalities of three lactic acid bacteria were investigated. Protease, lipase and $\alpha$-amylase activities were detected in three lactic acid bacteria, Ll-GAm showed relatively higher activities than other two lactic acid bacteria. Lm-SMm, Lp-SMm and Ll-GAm showed 45, 48 and 60% of antioxidative activity to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH), and exhibited 45, 67 and 70% of inhibitory effects in HT-29 human colon cancer cells, respectively. These results indicate that three lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Meju, especially Ll-GAm are applicable to Meju preparation for soybean paste industry.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.527-533
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• 2008

For preparation of high quality kochujang by the traditional fermentation method, 4 types of kochujang were prepared with brick- or grain-shaped meju fermented with different strains (Aspergillus sojae, Aspergillus oryzae+Bacillus subtilis). After 100 days of fermentation at $25^{\circ}C$, the moisture, pH, salt, and ethanol content of kochujang were 40.52-43.20%, 4.71-4.82, 8.7-9.1%, and 0.75-0.94%, respectively, showing slight differences according to the strains and shapes of meju. Titratable acidities were slightly increased for up to 60 days of fermentation. The amino-type nitrogen content of kochujang prepared with brick-shaped meju (A. oryzae+B. subtilis) was the highest (164.20 mg%) among all of the kochujang types. The redness (a) value of kochujang prepared with brick-shaped meju (A. sojae) were higher (19.08) than those of other treatments (18.37-18.59). Sensory evaluation of kochujang prepared with grain-shaped meju (A. sojae) showed the highest scores for color and overall acceptability, 'at $6.43{\pm}1.87$ and $6.29{\pm}1.44$, respectively. It was estimated that high quality kochujang could be made by using meju fermented with selected strains.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2009

This study was carried out to acquire basic data for industrial production of Korean traditional kanjang (soy sauce). Five types of meju, $23{\times}11{\times}12$ ($L{\times}W{\times}H$, cm), $23{\times}11{\times}7$, $15{\times}11{\times}7$, $11{\times}11{\times}6$, $11{\times}11{\times}6$ (made a hole $\varphi$ 1.5 cm) were prepared. The temperature and humidity of meju preparation were $15{\sim}20^{\circ}C$ and 40~50% respectively. The smaller size of meju, the lower free amino acid and non-volatile organic acid content of that. And, two types of meju, conventional method (CM-meju, the temperature and humidity were prepared at $15{\sim}20^{\circ}C$ and 40~50% of relative humidity) and improved method(IM-meju, the temperature and humidity were prepared at $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ and 80~90% of relative humidity) for kanjang production were prepared. There was no difference of total nitrogen content and soluble nitrogen content in the size of meju. In total free amino acid content and total free sugar content, IM-meju was the higher than CM-meju. So, the quality of IM-meju was better than that of CM-meju.