• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 2008

To isolate Bacillus cereus presenting at a level of 5 log CFU/g in kochujang, a primary dilution ($10^{-1}$) of kochujang was heated at $85^{\circ}C$ for 5 min. Two isolated strains Voges-Proskauer positive colony (KBC) and a negative colony (KBM) were identified as B. cereus and Bacillus mycoides, respectively, by biochemical test and 16S rDNA sequencing. $D_{100^{\circ}C}$-Values of KBC and KBM strains was 8.37 and 7.08 min, respectively. When spores of KBC strain were inoculated to kochujang at the level of 4-5 log spores/g, the number of spores was no significant difference (p<0.05) for each sample from 1 up to 60 day of aging. When kochujang was inoculated with 4 log spores/g and heated at $85^{\circ}C$ for 15 min, the number of spores was similar to that of unheated kochujang. Therefore, we estimated that B. cereus isolated from kochujang resistant on the heat treatment ($85^{\circ}C$, 15 min) and its heat resistance characteristics could be used to count the number in kochtjang.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.641-649
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• 2014

The antiobesity effect of commercial kochujang and fermented wheat grains in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was studied. The experiment was consisted of 6 groups. Normal, high fat diet (HFD), HFD+raw wheat grains, HFD+first fermented wheat grains (FFWG, with Aspergillus oryzae) HFD+final fermented wheat grains (FiFWG, fermented more for 30~40 days), and HFD+ commercial kochujang. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and adipose tissue weight were markedly decreased by the commercial kochujang and the fermented wheat grains, whereas non-fermented raw wheat grains had no such effect. Lipid contents such as total lipid, total triglyceride and total cholesterol decreased in the serum and organs of liver and adipose tissues by the commercial kochujang and the fermented wheat grains as well. These results also indicated that fermented wheat grains exhibited more suppressive effects on high fat induced-obesity than raw wheat grains. Increased fermentation time and adding the red pepper powder resulted in increased the anti-obesity effect. Especially, commercial kochujang showed higher antiobestic effects than fermented wheat grains. These in vivo findings suggested that well-fermented end products of the wheat grains and red pepper powder in kochujang could be useful in the prevention of obesity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.247-253
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• 1996

Changes in microorganisms, enzyme activities and major components of two types of Doenjang prepared with spring Meju and autumn Meju and Kochujang were investigated during 4 months of fermentation. The viable cell counts of aerobic bacteria in Doenjang and Kochujang were increased up to 60 days of fermentation, but viable cell counts of anaerobic bacteria did not show remarkable changes during fermentation. Viable cell count of yeast showed a rapid increase up to 15 days of fermentation in Doenjang and 60 days in Kochujang. It was found that $\alpha$-amylase activity of autumn Meju Doenjang and glucoamylase activity of Kochujang were higher than the other. Acidic and neutral protease showed the highest activity during 15-30 days of fermentation. The pH of Doenjang was increased up to pH 7.0 until 60 days of fermentation, but pH of Kochujang gradually decreased during fermentation. Moisture content of spring Meju Doenjang and Kochujang decreased to 40% during ferme- ntation and reducing sugar content of Kochujang increased up to 15 days of fermentation, but decreased after that.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.924-933
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• 1998

Kochujang, fermented hot pepper-soybean paste, was prepared by two common varieties of red pepper and natural fermented (NF) or pure cultured (PC) meju (soybean mass that is soaked, steamed, mashed and fermented by natural microflora or pure strain) and monitored their taste related component, enzyme activity and microflora during fermentation at $25^{\circ}C$ for 120 days for confirming possibility of kochujang fermentation control. The reducing sugars, amino type nitrogen (reference quality factor) and amino acid content in PC kochujang were 11.4%, 0.58% and 1,372.9 mg% respectively, 7.1%, 0.42% and 1,038.7 mg% in NF kochujang. It is concerned higher ${\alpha}-{\;}and{\;}{\beta}-{\;}amylase$ and, acid and neutral protease in PC kochujang during fermentation. The meju fermented by selected pure strain (A. oryzae CBU) can be applied to produced better quality of kochujang instead of natural meju.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to identify essential oils (EOs) and their concentrations that improved the sensory characteristics of Kochujang by analyzing the effect of the essential oil on the sensory characteristics of Kochujang. EOs from Chrysanthemum indicum, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Zanthoxylum piperitum and Zanthoxylum schnifolium, which have an outstanding flavor, were added to Kochujang and the resulting products were subjected to sensory evaluation as a function of storage period. The change in the color of Kochujang by the addition of these EOs from Chrysanthemum indicum, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Zanthoxylum piperitum and Zanthoxylum schnifolium was not observed. Kochujang's characteristic flavor was decreased by an increase in the concentrarion of EOs; however, no significant difference was observed when 0.0005% EOs were added relative to the none-additive groups (p<0.05). EOs addition did not affect the hot taste of Kochujang and as the additive quantity increased Kochujang's characteristic taste significantly decreased (p<0.05). After a storage period of 12 weeks, the overall preference of Chrysanthemum indicum, Chrysanthemum morifolium, and Zanthoxylum piperitum was same as the none-additive groups (p<0.05). Therefore, it is suggested that EOs from Chrysanthemum indicum, Chrysanthemum morifolium, and Zanthoxylum piperitum can be applied as additives to improve the characteristic taste and flavor of Kochujang and the recommended concentration level is 0.0005%.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.389-392
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• 1994

Changes in free amino acids and amino nitrogen of traditional kochujang were investigated during 180 days of fermentation. Tested kochujang included Sunchang kochujang prepared with glutinous rice, Boeun kochujang prepared with barley, and Sachun kochujang prepared with wheat. Amino acids remarkably increased during fermentation were methionine, glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine and tyrosine. However, regardless of kinds of kochujang major free amino acids were serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and proline. Glutamic acid was noted as the most contributing to the savory taste of kochujang in relation to the increasing ratio and content among tree amino acids during fermentaion. The correlation coefficent between totals of free amino acids and the contents of amino nitrogen were relatively high (0.87

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-168
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• 1984

The three kinds of Kochujang were prepared with liquid koji equivalent to 30, 50 and 70% of brewing water and the composition of fatty acid and alcohols in the Kochujang aged at $25^{\circ}C$ for 3 months were compared with solid koji Kochujang. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid were found in all Kochujangs; but myristic, stearic and linolenic acid were detected in only the 50 and 70% liquid koji group. The predominant fatty acid of all Kochujang was linoleic acid, followed by oleic and palmitic acid. The total percentage of linoleic acid in the Kochujang was 58.47-83.39%. Linolenic, myristic and stearic acid were less than 3%. Ethyl, iso-butyl and iso-amyl alcohol were detected from all kinds of Kochujang. Iso-propyl alcohol was found in the Kochujang prepared from solid koji and 30% liquid koji. The contents of iso-butyl and iso-amyl alcohol were high in solid koji Kochujang and 50% liquid koji Kochujang. There were no significant difference in the contents of ethyl alcohol among tested Kochujangs.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.349-352
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• 2005

The growth inhibitory effect of wheat grain, fermented wheat grain products, red pepper powder and kochujang was examined in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. The kochujang samples were prepared by mixing red pepper powder and each fermented wheat grain products, such as first fermented wheat grain (FFWG), second fermented wheat grain (SFWG) and final fermented wheat grain (FiFWG). The methanol extract of FiFWG showed the highest growth inhibitory effects. In order to investigate the effects of fermented wheat grain products at each stage of fermentation on anticancer activity, the kochujang prepared with red pepper powder and each of FFWG, SFWG and FiFWG were fermented until reaching pH 5.1. The kochujang adjusted to pH 5.1 by fermentation increased the growth inhibitory effect; however, the kochujang prepared with FiFWG showed the highest effect. Increased fermentation time increased the growth inhibitory effect of kochujang when prepared with FiFWG. These results suggested that the anticancer effect of the kochujang on the gastric cancer cells was affected by the fermentation periods of the wheat grains. The well-fermented end products of the wheat grains seem to be one of the major components that showed anticancer activity of kochujang.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.934-940
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• 1998

Kochujang, fermented hot pepper soybean paste, was prepared by traditional method, and irradiated with gamma ray of $^{60}Co{\;}up{\;}to{\;}15{\pm}1.5{\;}kGy$ for confirming main factor of kochujang fermentation. Nonirradiated (control) and irradiated samples kochujang were fermented at $25^{\circ}C$ and analyzed biochemical properties including enzyme activities and viable cell count during fermentation for 60 days. The total viable count in irradiated kochujang decreased to $10^4{\;}CFU/g$ which was $10^8{\;}CFU/g$ in the control. Because of a little changing enzyme activities of ${\alpha}{\cdot}{\beta}{\;}amylase$ and acid neutral protease by irradiation at the above level, amino type nitrogen which is the main quality reference of kochujang was comparable to the control. By irradiation, gas production was completely stopped which is one of biggest problems during distribution of kochujang. Total volume of gas produced at $25^{\circ}C$ from the control kochujang was 453 mL/100 g which was composed of over 90% of $CO_2$. The odor of irradiated kochujang was inferior to the control which seemed to be related to reduced microbial populations.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1149-1157
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• 2000

To confirm the factors concerning color changes of traditional kochujang, heating, U.V. and $N_2$ gas substitution treatment were conducted on duk(rice cake) kochujang and shikhae(malt digested syrup) kochujang. The value of L, a and b value by Hunter of each kochujang were gradually decreased during fermentation and ${\delta}E$ increased. The ${\delta}E$ value of duk kochujang treated by U.V. was higher than those of the other treatments and non heated shikhae kochujang showed higher ${\delta}E$ value. The main cause of color change by factor analysis on various factors of duk kochujang and shikhae kochujang were light, and light and heat respectively. The acetone and water extracted pigments had maximum absorbance at 450-470 nm and 200-205 nm respectively.