• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.spc1
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• pp.25-45
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• 1996

Soyfoods have potential roles in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, most notably cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. There is evidence that carcinogenesis are supressed by isolated soybean derived products in vivo such as a protease inhibitor, phytic acid, saponins and isoflavones. It is believed that supplementation of human diets with soybean products markedly reduces human cancer mortality rates. Especially, recent papers recognize the potential benefit of soybean isoflavone components for reducing the risk of various cancers. Isoflavones exhibit a multitude of medicinal effects that influence cell growth and regulation, which may have potential value in the prevention and treatment of cancer. In addition to potential biological effects, soybean isoflavones have the important physiological functions such as the induction of Bradyrizobium japonicum nod genes and the responses of soybean tissues to infection by Phytophthora megasperma as well as biochemical activities such as antifungal and antibacterial actions. Genistin, daidzin, glycitin and their aglycone (genistein, daidzein, glycitein) are the principal isoflavones found in soybean. Malonyl and acetyl forms have also been detected but they are thermally unstable and are usually transformed during the processing in glucoside form. Most soy products, with the exception of soy sauce, alcohol-extracted soy protein concentrate, and soy protein isolate, have total isoflavone concentrations similar to those in the whole soybean. Soybean-containing diets inhibit mammary tumorigenesis in animal models of breast cancer, therefore, it is possible that dietary isoflavones are an important factor accounting for the lower incidence and mortality from breast cancer. Of the total soybean seed isoflavones, $80\~90\%$ were located in cotyledons, with the remainder in the hypocotyls. The hypocotyls had a higher concentrations of isoflavones on a weight basis compared with cotyledons. Isoflavone contents were influenced by genetics, crop years, and growth locations. The effect of crop year had a greater impact on the isoflavone contents than that of location. The climate condition might be the attribution factor to variation in isoflavone contents. Also, while the isoflavone content of cotyledons exhibited large variations in response to high temperature during seed development, hypocotyls showed high concentration in isoflavone content. So, it is concluded that one of the factors affecting isoflavone content in soybean seeds is temperature during seed development. High temperature, especially in maturity stage, causes lower isoflavone content in soybean seed. It is also suggested that there may exist a different mechanism to maintain isoflavone contents between cotyledon and seed hypocotyls. In a conclusion, soy foods may be able to have a significant beneficial impact on public health.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2010

None of genes from Lespedeza bicolor involved in isoflavonoid biosynthesis have been biochemically characterized. An isoflavone synthase from Lespedeza bicolor was cloned. To verify its catalytic activity, a fusion protein of LbIFS with P450 reductase from rice was made. Using this construct, production of isoflavone from flavanone was confirmed.

• Bulletin of Food Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.3-19
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• 1999

콩의 isoflavone은 항상화, 항암활성 및 에스트로겐 유사활성을 지녀 골다공증, 심혈관질환 예방 등에 효과적이라는 연구결과가 발표되면서 isoflavone 함량 증가가 중요한 과제로 대두되고 있다. 따라서 콩이용식품인 두유, 두부, 콩나물, 된장 등의 섭취를 늘리는 한편 소비자들이 보다 간편하게 콩의 우수한 생리활성 성분을 섭취할 수 있도록 기호성이 우수한 콩 가공제품을 개발하고 다양한 식품소재로 활용하는 연구가 필요하다. 본 고에서는 고품질 콩 육성 및 콩 가공제품 개발에 활용하고자 국내산 콩과 콩제품에 함유되어 있는 isoflavone의 함량과 조성 및 그 특성을 비교하였으며 일본의 간식용 콩제품 개발 동향을 조사하였다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.603-612
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• 2003

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease. This is due to primarily dyslipidemia accompanying the loss of estrogen secretion. Soy isoflavones are known to have weak estrogenic effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether isoflavone supplement improves the risk of cardiovascular disease in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. Subjects consisted of 39 Korean postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol $\geq$ 200 mg/㎗ or LDL cholesterol $\geq$ 130 mg/㎗). Subjects were divided into 2 groups; placebo group (PG), isoflavone supplement group (IG). During 12 weeks, subjects were given placebo and 80mg isoflavone daily. Anthropometric measurement, blood sample analysis and dietary intake measurement were taken at baseline and after 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, systolic blood pressure was decreased significantly (p ＜ 0.01) and plasma HDL cholesterol level was increased significantly (p ＜ 0.05) in IG. But there were no significant changes in plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels after isoflavone supplementation. There was a negative correlation between initial plasma HDL cholesterol level and the extent of plasma HDL cholesterol reduction in IG (r＝-0.572, p＝0.012). Atherogenic index (AI), total-/LDL- cholesterol ratio and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio were improved significantly after isoflavone supplementation. In subjects whose initial plasma LDL cholesterol level were above 160 mg/㎗, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level were decreased and total antioxidant status (TAS) were increased significantly after isoflavone supplement (p ＜ 0.05). However there were no significant changes in flow-mediated dilator (FMD), the marker of endothelium-dependent vasodilation and nitroglycerine-mediated dilator (NMD), the marker of endothelium-independent vasodilation and the extent of DNA damage after isoflavone supplement. In conclusion, these results indicate that isoflavone supplement may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease via improving blood pressure, HDL cholesterol level and AI in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. Futhermore, in case of subjects with elevated LDL cholesterol level, isoflavone supplementation may have more antiatherogenic effects via improving antioxidant status.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.12
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• pp.9-22
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• 1994

The changes of the time-dependent accumulation of isoflavone aglycones(daidzein, genistein) and their glucosides(daidzin, genistin) by various stress-inducing treatment on cotyledon of soybeans(Dankyungkong and Paldalkong) were investigated. Levels of isoflavone aglycones and their glucosides in soybeans treated with UDP-glucose, $MgSO_4$ and $HgCl_2$ and infected with phytopathogen appeared to be higher than those of treatment with distilled water. When compared with data for control, the levels of isoflavone glucosides in citrate-treated soybeans were increased but those of their aglycones did not appear appreciable differences. In Paldalkong treated with UDP-glucose, $MgSO_4$ and $HgCl_2$ the levels of isoflavone aglycones and their glucosides were higher than in Dankyungkong. In particular, the accumulation of daidzein in Paldalkong was significantly higher than in Dankyungkong. By infection with Botrytis cinerea, the maximum amount of accumulation of daidzein in two cultivar did not to be a large different, but accumulation time appeared more rapidly in Paldalkong than Dankyungkong. The accumulation amount of daidzein and genistein in Dankyungkong treated with elicitors appeared to be similar at initial stage, but the level of daidzein after 48hours appeared to be higher than that of genistein. In Paldalkong, the level of daidzein was higher than that of genistein at all stage. The level of daidzein in soybeans infected with phytopathogen appeared to be higher than that of genestein.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.409-413
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to determine to which differences in the source of protein (soy vs casein) and of isoflavones in soy protein are responsible for differential effects of bone mineral density and bone mineral content. Thirty 21-d-old Sprague-Dawley young rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group was find a casein-based diet, the soy concentrate group was fed soy protein with totally reduced isoflavones content (isoflavone 0.07 mg/g protein), and soy isolate group was fed with a higher isoflavone content (isoflavone 3.4 mg/g protein) than normal. The animal was scanned to determine the BMD and BMC using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, Lunar Corporation, Madison, WI). The soy concentrate group had significantly higher total body calcium/weight and total mineral content/weight than the casein group. The soy isolate group had significantly greater total bone mineral density/weight, spine bone mineral density/weight, and femoral bone mineral density (in g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ than the control and soy concentrate group. The findings of this study suggest that soy protein and isoflavones in soy protein are beneficial for bone-formation in growing male rats. Therefore exposure to these soy protein and isoflavones early in life may have long-term health benefits for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate antioxidant component content during maturity for judgement of optimum harvest time in black soybean. For high-functional black soybean production, accumulation pattern of isoflavone and saponin contents and anti oxidative activity according to maturity stage were investigated. Varieties used in this experiment were Ilpumgemojeongkong and heukcheongkong, which are the recommended black soybean in Korea. Isoflavone and saponin contents during maturity period in black soybean was the highest at $6{\sim}7$ days earlier than general harvesting time. It was indicated that optimum harvesting time for high quality soybean were $3{\sim}7$ days earlier than harvesting time for higher yield. As a result of investigation about accumulation pattern of antioxidant components by maturity stages in seed, total isoflavone content was the highest at 61 DAF in Ilpumgeomjeongkong and at 77 DAF in Heukcheongkong. Contents of total saponin were the highest at 61 DAF and at 71 DAF, respectively. In case of leaf, total isoflavone content was the highest at 55 DAF in Ilpumgeomjeongkong and Heukcheongkong. Contents of total saponin were the highest at 18 DAF and at $55{\sim}71$ DAF, respectively. It showed that black soybean's leaf could be developed as a new health food material, owing to high contents of antioxidant components and biological activity and it's suitable harvest time was at $R_7$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1427-1433
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• 2006

The antioxidant activity, nitrite scavenging effect, and angiotensine I-converting enzyme inhibiting activity of solvent extracts of soybean isoflavone were investigated. Also anticarcinogenic activities of them were examined by MTT assay using human cancer cell line. Isoflavone aglycones showed relatively high antioxidant activity in order of glycitein, genistein, and daidzein. Methanol extract of soybean actively scavenged free radicals and was shown excellent nitrite scavenging effect. Glycitein and methanol extract of soybean inhibited the growth of human cancer cell such as stomach carcinoma (SNU-1) and colon carcinoma (SNU-C4) effectively. Genistein, daidzein and methanol extracts of soybean inhibited the growth of cancer cell such as stomach carcinoma (SNU-1), but had weak activities to colon carcinoma (SNU-C4). To applicate the soybean isoflavone as an enhancer for food quality and processibility, the stabilities on heat and pH of isolated isoflavone, isoflavone in soybean flour and isoflavone concentrate of soybean were investigated. Stability of isoflavone concentrate of soybean was decreased in pH extreme (below 3, above 8) during sterilization, but isoflavone in soybean flour showed higher stability in all pH range. All kinds of isoflavone tested in this study were very stable during the heat treatment.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2006

The 117 soybean cultivars were collected from nine provinces in Korea, and various seed quality traits along with isoflavone contents were evaluated to elucidate their relationship. The 100-seed weight of the black soybean (31.2 g) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than yellow soybeans (28.6 g). The composition of genistein, daidzein, and glycitein accounted for 75.8, 22.8, and 1.4 % of total isoflavone in yellow soybean cultivars, while their compositions in black soybeans were 58.5, 39.7, and 1.8%, respectively. The mean contents of total isoflavone in yellow and black soybean were $l,561.6{\mu}g\;g^{-1}\;and\;l,018.3{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$. The isofalvone content showed significant variation among cultivars when classified by the seed size. In the yellow soybeans, total isoflavone content was higher in small size soybean cultivars $(1,776.0{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ and medium size soybean cultivars $(1,714.3{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$ compared to large size ones $(1,518.5{\mu}g\;g^{-1})$. Genistein content was proved as the major factor determining the relationship between isoflavone content and 100-seed weights (r =-0.206*). Daidzein and glycitein, however, showed no significant relationship with the 100-seed weights. Isoflavone content was not significantly correlated with color parameters L (lightness) and a (redness) values, but color parameter b (yellowness) was positively correlated with glycitein (r=0.264*) in the yellow soybeans, while its negative correlation between daidzein (r=-0.245*) and total isoflavone (r=-0.256*) were observed in black soybeans. However, these findings suggested that the seed color value may not serve as an effective parameter for estimating the isoflavone intensity of the soybeans. Variation of protein and lipid contents between yellow soybeans (n=58) and black soybeans (n=59) was relatively stable, however, protein and lipid contents have no significant relationship with isoflavone content.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2007

The present study evaluated the effect of various dosages of soybean isoflavone extract on body weight changes, glucose tolerance and liver function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. One group of normal rats (normal control) was fed an AIN-76-based experimental diet and four groups of diabetic rats were fed the same diet supplemented with four different levels of soybean isoflavone extract for seven weeks. The daily dosages of pure isoflavone for four diabetic groups were set to be 0 mg (diabetic control), 0.5 mg (ISO-I), 3.0 mg (ISO-II) and 30.0 mg (ISO-III) per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The daily consumption of isoflavone at the level of 3.0mg per kilogram of body weight resulted in the suppression of body weight loss and increased the survival rate of diabetic animals one and half times compared to that of the diabetic control group. Blood glucose levels in a fasting state and after the oral administration of glucose were significantly lower in the ISO-II group during the oral glucose tolerance test. The ISO-II group showed a tendency to elongate the gastrointestinal transit time. The activity of serum aminotransferases, indicator of liver function, was not negatively affected by any intake level of isoflavone. The present study demonstrated that the soybean isoflavone extract may be beneficial to diabetic animals by improving their glucose tolerance and suppressing weight loss without incurring hepatotoxicity at the daily dosage of 3.0 mg per kg of body weight.