• Food Quality and Culture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2009

To evaluate the hypolipidemic effects of Cheonggukjang (CGJ), which is frequently used in Korea similar to Natto in Japan and Douchi in China like a dairy product, boiled soybeans were fermented with two Bacillus strains, B. subtilis and B. licheniforms, isolated from rice straw and their antihyperlipidemic effects of their products were investigated. Treatment with the CGJs significantly reduced blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice. The treatment of non-fermented soybeans alone also reduced blood TG and TC levels, but not significantly. Feeding the CGJs significantly lowered high blood TG and TC levels as well as body and epididymal mass weights in hyperlipidemic mice induced by the long-term feeding of a high-fat diet that increased blood HDL cholesterol levels. The B. subtilis-fermented CGJ products more potently reduced TG and TC levels, although the differences between the starters were not significant. These finding suggest that CGJ products may be effective as hypolipidemic foods by the synergistic interaction of soy and Bacillus strains.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2013

In order to investigate changes in quality and enzyme activity during Chungkookjang fermentation, germinated- and nongerminated yellow soybeans were fermented by Bacillus subtilis and traditional methods. When the soybean was soaked for 6 h and then watered for 4 days with 2 h-interval at $25^{\circ}C$, the highest germination rate was obtained. The germinated soybeans had a higher total isoflavone ($988.4{\mu}g/g$) than that of the nongerminated soybeans ($859.5{\mu}g/g$). Amino type nitrogen contents, protease and amylase activities were higher in germinated soybean Chungkookjang, which was fermented with B. subtilis, than nongerminated soybean Chungkookjang, which was fermented with B. subtilis and traditional methods. Reducing sugar and amino type nitrogen contents, the number of viable cells and protease and amylase activities, were higher for Chungkookjang fermented with B. subtilis, than Chungkookjang fermented by traditional methods. ALP and SOD activities in the Chungkookjang diet group were considerably higher than in the control group. AST activity in the germinated soybean Chungkookjang diet group was higher than in the nongerminated soybean Chungkookjang diet group. In conclusion, it is suggested that Chungkookjang prepared with germinated soybeans using B. subtilis D7 could be practically used as a functional product.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2009

The changes in components and biological activities of doenjang samples prepared with black soybeans and fermented with Bacillus subtilis SCB were investigated. The amino nitrogen (A-N) contents of samples increased with increasing black soybean content. A doenjang product made using a 1:1 ratio of soybeans-black soybeans showed a maximum level of genistein and daidzein isoflavones ($1111.6{\mu}g/g$) at 110 days of fermentation, along with decreasing contents of genistin and daidzin due to the conversion to aglycones. The black soybean-only doenjang sample showed higher protease activity, including caseinolytic and fibrinolytic enzyme activities, than the other samples, and had relatively higher polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Therefore, doenjang made with additions of black soybeans and fermented by B. subtilis SCB may have improved physiological properties, suggesting this to be a valuable method of preparation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.529-536
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of white soybean Chungkookjang fermented by Bacillus subtilis D7. The highest germination rate was obtained under $25^{\circ}C$ when water was supplied for 4 days at intervals of 2 hr. The total isoflavone content was 971.3 ${\mu}g/g$ before germination and 1023.8 ${\mu}g/g$ after germination. The amino type- and ammonia type-nitrogen contents of Chungkookjang were proportional to the fermentation time. The pH values of all Chungkookjang soybeans increased up to pH 7.8-8.0 during fermentation. The number of viable cells in all Chungkookjang soybeans increased significantly up to 24 hr. The protease activity of all Chungkookjang soybeans increased up to 30-36 hr. The ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-amylase activities of Chungkookjang fermented by B. subtilis D7 were enhanced with increasing fermentation time. Analysis of the effect of Chungkookjang intake on the liver function of mouse showed that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the Chungkookjang diet group were markedly higher than those in the control group. The asparatate aminotransferase (AST) activity in the germinated soybean Chungkookjang diet group was higher than that in the nongerminated soybean Chungkookjang diet group. Therefore, Chungkookjang soybeans fermented with B. subtilis D7 can be expected to have an increased content of functional components and improved quality characteristics.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2006

Isoflavone distribution and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity in cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean whole soybean-fermented food prepared with or without addition of Bacillus subtilis, were analyzed every 6 hr for 36 hr. Thermal cooking of raw-soaked soybeans significantly increased ${\beta}$-glucoside isoflavone level by 57.1 % and decreased malonyl-${\beta}$-glucosides by 57.6% (p<0.05). Consistent changes of isoflavone profiles in cheonggukjang without B. subtilis addition (COB) and samples with addition of B. subtilis (CWB) were not observed during 36 hr fermentation. ${\beta}$-Glucosides of isoflavones are major forms in both COB and CWB. ${\beta}$-Glucosidase activity in cheonggukjang decreased significantly compared to that of soaked soybeans due to thermal denaturation, while recovery of enzyme activity in COB was observed. Two new unidentified peaks were detected, and their relative peak areas in CWB were significantly larger than those in COB with increasing fermentation period (p<0.05), which indicates both peaks could be associated with fermentation metabolites.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2013

Changes in ${\beta}$-glycosidase activity, total phenolic and isoflavone contents, and antioxidant activities during the fermentation of Korean black soybeans (Seoritae and Seomoktae) fermented food cheonggukjang by the potential probiotic Bacillus subtilis CSY191 were investigated. The levels of total phenolic and isoflavone-malonylglycoside and -aglycone contents increased, while 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) increased, but the isoflavone-glycoside contents decreased after cheonggukjang fermentation. The content of antioxidant compounds, including isoflavone-aglycones and -malonylglycosides, was increased by fermenting-processing, whereas the content of isoflavone-glycosides was decreased in the fermented soybeans. In particular, the Seoritae soybean fermented at 3 $7^{\circ}C$ for 48 h displayed the highest antioxidant activities, compared to those of the Seomoktae soybean and the fermented. The highest levels of daidzein, glycitein, and genistein were present at concentrations of 253.0 ${\mu}g/g$, 72.5 ${\mu}g/g$, and 114.1 ${\mu}g/g$ after 48 h of Seoritae soybean fermentation. From those results, we suggest that the high antioxidant activity of cheonggukjang of black soybeans might be related to the markedly higher levels of total phenolic and isoflavone-aglycone and -malonylglycoside contents achieved during fermentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.447-455
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• 2021

Strains of four Bacillus spp. were respectively inoculated into sterilized soybeans and the free amino acid profiles of the resulting cultures were analyzed to discern their metabolic traits. After 30 days of culture, B. licheniformis showed the highest production of serine, threonine, and glutamic acid; B. subtilis exhibited the highest production of alanine, asparagine, glycine, leucine, proline, tryptophan, and lysine. B. velezensis increased the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration to >200% of that in the control samples. B. sonorensis produced a somewhat similar amino acid profile with B. licheniformis. Comparative genomic analysis of the four Bacillus strains and the genetic profiles of the produced free amino acids revealed that genes involved in glutamate and arginine metabolism were not common to the four strains. The genes gadA/B (encoding a glutamate decarboxylase), rocE (amino acid permease), and puuD (γ-glutamyl-γ-aminobutyrate hydrolase) determined GABA production, and their presence was species-specific. Taken together, B. licheniformis and B. velezensis were respectively shown to have high potential to increase concentrations of glutamic acid and GABA, while B. subtilis has the ability to increase essential amino acid concentrations in fermented soybean foods.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.399-406
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• 2007

Soybean seeds were fermented by Bacillus subtilis and/or Lactobacillus bulgaricus to improve solubility, viscosity, water holding capacity and oil holding capacity of soybean proteins in Chongkukjang. The maximum colony forming unit and protease activity of B. subtilis or L bulgaricus were observed after 60 hours of fermentation, and those of the mixed fermentation by two microorganisms were steadily increased during the fermentation periods. Solubilities of soybean proteins by B. subtilis or L bulgaricus were steadily increased before the values were considerably increased to 60 hours of fermentation, whereas water holding capacities of the proteins were decreased by B. subtilis or L. bulgaricus and those of the mixed fermentation were decreased progressively. Viscosities of soybean proteins by B. subtilis and/or L. bulgaricus were decreased progressively during the fermentation. Viscosities of soybean proteins by B. subtilis and/or L. bulgaricus were decreased progressively during the fermentation. Oil holding capacities of soybeans by B. subtilis or L. bulgaricus were maximum at 20 or 80 hours of fermentation and those of the mixed fermentation were decreased after 10 hours of the fermentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.428-434
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• 2001

A viscous substance producer strain BS62, which was isolated from conventional Chungkookjang, was examined for its productivity of levansucrase and levan during soybean fermentation at $37{\circ}C$. After one day of cultivation, the enzyme activity reached the highest level, 8 units $ml^{-1}$. Extracts of fermented soybeans were precipitated by ethanol and hydrolyzed by either 0.1 N HCl or invertase, and the hydrolyzates were analyzed using thin layer and ion chromatographies. Fructose was the only sugar detected. This suggest that fructose was derived from the levan produced by the strain BS62 during soybean fermentation. The aerobic, endospore-forming bacterium BS62 was identified as a Bacillus subtilis sp., based on the composition of its cellular fatty acids and phylogeny, which was determined by its 16S rDNA sequence.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.811-818
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the amino acid content and physicochemical properties of Cheonggukjang prepared by using various soybean cultivars (Daewon, Deapung, Seadanbeak, and Taekwang) and a functional microorganism (Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9). These soybeans were conventional Cheonggukjang (control) and Cheonggukjang fermented with Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9 (treated). The moisture contents of steamed, control, and treated soybean were 62.45~67.12%, 63.28~67.14%, and 64.50~66.87%; amino-type nitrogen contents were 6.53~24.25 mg%, 27.63~122.09 mg%, and 37.29~133.48 mg%; and ammonia-type nitrogen contents were 26.92~47.95 mg%, 45.45~156.36 mg%, and 28.02~121.13 mg%, respectively. The umami taste associated with several amino acids (aspartic acid and glutamic acid) in Cheonggukjang was lower than that for steamed soybeans, while the bitter taste from amino acids (methionine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and phenylalanine) was higher than that for steamed soybeans. The result of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the molecular weight of steamed soybeans was less than 100 kDa, while control and treated groups showed low molecular weights below 34 kDa, confirming their protein hydrolysis to small molecular weight. These results are information for developing functional fermented soybean paste and diversification using soybean cultivars.