• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to nutritional aspect of tofu. Tofu is a widely-enjoyed food made from soybeans, and it is a great example of how a simple food like soybeans can be woven into human food traditions in a way that is natural, inexpensive, and nourishing. One of the most important things to remember about tofu is its basic whole food nature. Tofu is produced with significantly less processing than most low-fat soymilks, it is a soy food that is much closer to a "whole foods" category than soy protein isolates and concentrates. From a health benefits standpoint, there are also benefits to tofu that has been fermented. Replacing meat and dairy with tofu and other soy products would also lower our total cholesterol intake by about 125 mg per day and our saturated fat by about 2.4 g per day. These nutritional changes, in turn, would lower our risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.273-278
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• 2008

Various biological resources from plants, animals, mushrooms, microorganisms, and foods were tested for the inhibitory activity against squalene synthase (SQS). Among 32 samples, more than one fourths (9 samples) exhibited significant SQS inhibitory activity. Interestingly, SQS inhibitory activity was detected in the samples such as green tea, fermented soybean paste, and plum juice. The SQS inhibitory activity of green tea was not only high but also stable. Its SQS inhibitors were supposed to be catechin derivatives, which have been known to be main bioactive components in green tea. The galloyl catechins showed higher SQS inhibitory activity compared to the nongalloyl catechins. Especially, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate appeared to be strongest inhibitor against squalene synthase ($IC_{50}=90{\mu}M$).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 2009

Cheongkukjang is a traditional fermented soybean food in Korea that is used in the manufacture of functional foods. This study was conducted to assess vitamin contents and sensory qualities of powdered Cheongkukjang dried by oven drying, far-infrared drying and freeze drying. Vitamins $B_1$, $B_2$, $B_6$, E, niacin and pantothenic acid were detected using all drying methods. However, vitamin D was not detected in the oven drying samples, and was most prevalent($82.47{\mu}g$/100 g) in the far-infrared drying samples. The sensory characteristics included color, off flavor, salty taste, bitter taste, sweet taste, roasted taste and after-taste. Oven drying and freeze drying samples exhibited highest and lowest color scores(5.62 and 2.0, respectively). Oven drying samples also exhibited the highest roasted taste score(4.76), although not significantly different from far-infrared drying samples(4.0, p<0.05), while the score of freeze drying samples(2.38) was significantly different from the other methods(p<0.05). It is concluded that freeze drying is most suitable.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.210-215
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• 2002

A bacterium degrading soy protein was isolated from Korean traditional fermented foods. The isolated strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis, and named as B. subtilis EB464. The optimum pH and temperature of the protease produced by 5. subtilis EB464 were pH 9.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The protease was stable in the range of pH 6~10 and below $40^{\circ}C$. The content of water-soluble protein and free amino acid of the medium were increased from 4.2% to 20.6% and ken 1.9% to 22.0%, respectively, by solid-state fermentation of soybean meal with B. subtilis EB464 for 72 h.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.339-344
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• 2012

This study was carried out to research microorganisms having the antifungal activity against ginseng Alternaria blight pathogen Alternaria panax and ginseng anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Eleven Bacillus strains. were isolated from Korean traditional soybean paste and Kimchi. Among the 11 isolates, DJ5, KC1, KC2 and KC4 showing antagonistic activity on the mycelial growth of A. panax and C. gloeosporioides in pairing culture were finally selected as the antagonistic microorganisms. Based on 16s rRNA sequence and phylogenetic tree analysis, they were identified as Bacillus spp.. The selected microorganisms were investigated antagonistic activity by measured leaf-segment colonization in pot test. When Bacillus sp. were injected after A. panax treatment, KC1, KC2 and KC4 showed similar effect to chemical pesticides treated control. To measure preventive effect of Bacillus sp, antagonistic microorganisms were injected and C. gloeosporioides was treated in pot. When measuring the effectiveness for the prevention of Anthracnose, All Bacillus spp. showed approximately 83~90 % degree of superior preventive effect. In general, The four Bacillus spp. isolated from Korean traditional fermented foods showed therapeutic effect of Alternaria blight and preventive effect of Anthracnose.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2007-2017
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• 2016

Background: Modifying lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can reduce the risk of cancer. Psychological stress (PS) might be indirectly associated with cancer because it alters lifestyle factors. However, the relationship among these variables has not been fully investigated. Thus, we examined interactions between self-reported PS (SRPS) and habitual exercise on diet. Materials and Methods: In all, 5,587 men and 2,718 women were divided into "exerciser" and :non-exerciser" groips, based on whether they exercised reguarly, and classified into three SRPS levels: low, moderate and high. Diet was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Using a general linear model, food and nutrient consumption was estimated for each SRPS level in the 2 exercise groups, and the interactions between SRPS levels and exercise were calculated. Results: In women, the intake of pork and beef, low fat milk and yogurt, natto (fermented soybean), carrots and squash, other root vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, and wine along with the nutrients vegetable protein, soluble, insoluble and total dietary fiber, daidzein, genistein, carotene, retinol equivalents, vitamin B2, pantothenic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron demonstrated significant interaction with SRPS and habitual exercise (p for interaction <0.05). In men, raw and green leafy vegetable and fruit and vegetable juice significantly interacted with SRPS and habitual exercise (p for interaction <0.05). Conclusions: We suggest that certain foods and nutrients, which are thought to have a protective effect against cancer, interact with SRPS and habitual exercise, especially in women. This information is valuable for understanding and improving interventions for cancer prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.142-156
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• 2012

This study examined the food culture of Koreans aged over 80-years-old living in the areas of Goorye and Gokseong. The research method was based on examination of individual cases through in-depth interviews. The total number of survey subjects was 38; males constituted 34 percent of the subjects while females constituted 66 percent of the subjects. Average age of male subjects was 85.3 years while average age of females was 84.8 years. The results were summarized in the following properties of the typical and traditional Korean table, which was the most common food life's property in the longevity area of was centered around rice, watery soup, vegetables, and fish. The first, as the supply step's property of food ingredients, various spices and ingredients such as piperitum, tumeric, ginger, garlic, chili pepper, and salted fish were used. Senior persons also supplied fresh vegetables at the kitchen garden, and they led a nature-friendly food life. The second, as the production of food and cooking of food step's property, there were multigrain rice and fermented foods such as soybean paste, kimchi, red pepper paste, salted fish, vegetables picked in soy sauce, etc. The recipe was cookery intermediated with water, soup, steamed vegetables, seasonings, etc., and it was characterized by a deep and rich taste due to the various spices and rich ingredients. The third, as the consumption of food step's property, senior persons regularly ate a balanced diet three times a day. They also had active personal relationships with their neighbors by sharing food, which increased their sense of belonging and improved their life satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.594-599
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• 2001

This study was attempted to isolate and identify the strain revealing high angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity from various soy fermented foods, i.e. meju, soybean paste and soy sauce. Forty-two strains with morphologically different characteristics were selected and the ACE inhibitory and proteolytic activities were examined. Of the strains tested, SS103 which was isolated from soy sauce showed the highest ACE inhibitory and proteolytic activities and was finally selected for further studies. The SS103 strain showed motility, rod form and ellipsoidal spores. The shape of colonies on the agar media was irregular, mucoidal and surface dull. The strain could grow under aerobic conditions of pH 5~9 and 10~$50^{\circ}C$. Main cellular fatty acid was $C_{15:0}$ anteiso, $C_{17:0}$ cis and $C_{17:0}$ iso, which was 33.9%, 18.8% and 16.5%, respectively. Based upon these morphological, biochemical and cultural properties, SS103 was identified as a Bacillus subtilis. Optimum cultural condition of Bacillus subtilis SS103 was pH 8.0, $37^{\circ}C$ and 48 hr.48 hr.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.888-891
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• 2008

Twenty-three fungal strains were isolated from meju that had originated from the Sunchang province, the famous location for making fermented soybean foods in Korea. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA (ITS-RFLP) was applied to differentiate the isolated fungal strains. First, the ITS region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers was amplified and then cleaved the products with different restriction enzymes. Cleavage of the amplified fragments with the restriction enzymes AluI, HaeIII, HhaI, and TaqI revealed extensive polymorphisms. The ITS-RFLP results highly correlated with ITS sequence analysis. All of the 23 fungal strains were classified into 5 groups by ITS-RFLP analysis. Aspergillus oryzae was the major fungal strain isolated from Sunchang meju (12 out of 23), while Aspergillus fumigatus was the next most frequently isolated strain (7 out of 23). In contrast, it was found that Fusarium asiaticum, Aspergillus sydowii, and Arthrinium sp. were the minor fungal strains in meju.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.663-673
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a natural polymer found in fermented soybean products, has been reported to play a prebiotic role in the gut. This intervention study investigated the effects of γ-PGA-containing supplement consumption on urinary microbiota in healthy adults because of limited data on such investigation. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A 4-week parallel trial including 39 male and female Korean adults, who were free of chronic diseases and infection, was designed as a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. A total of 30 participants completed the study wherein the intervention group (n = 17) received a mixture supplement containing 600 mg/day of γ-PGA and 100 mg/day of vitamin B6, while the control group (n = 13) received a placebo. Paired datasets (baseline and endpoint data) of microbiota profiles, which were constructed via urinary assays of microbe-derived extracellular vesicles, were analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Only the intervention group yielded significant results for the Bray-Curtis and Jaccard dissimilarity indices between baseline and endpoint data (P < 0.05). In the phylum-level analysis of microbial composition, the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (FB ratio) tended to decrease from baseline in the intervention group; however, it increased in the control group. Differences between the baseline and endpoint FB ratios were significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study's findings suggest that γ-PGA-vitamin B6 supplementation potentially alters the microbial community composition of a host. Further investigation into the biological consequences of commensal microbiota alteration by γ-PGA-containing supplement consumption is warranted.