• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.218-223
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• 2003

This study is proceeded on the development of standard method for making soybean paste by Korean traditional method. Fermentation condition of Meju was 1) Pre-fermentation : 30 days in about 20$^{\circ}C$ room, 2) Main fermentation : 5 days in 30$^{\circ}C$ or upper temperature, 3) Post fermentation and drying : 30 days in well sunlightened room in January. Meju was soaked in 18% salt solution(Meju 7kg/salt solution 20L) for 35～40 days (from late February to early April) and after soaking Meju was filtered as unsoluble solute and crushed and put into traditional Korean receptacle(named 'Dok'). Crushed Meju was stored from early April to mid September and Meju was changed into soybean paste(Doen-jang). During fermentation amino acid nitrogen in Doen-jang was slightly increased in early period and decreased lately. It has been proved that by panel test soybean paste made by the method suggested in this study was more excellent than commercially fermented soybean paste. This study has presented the possibility of commercial production of soybean paste made by traditional method.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2023

This study was conducted to analyze the distribution and characteristics of fungal species in meju using the traditional method. Fungal distribution in meju was investigated using metagenomic and morphological analyses, based on which Aspergillus flavus/oryzae strains were identified as the dominant fungi in all meju samples, followed by Pichia, Rhizopus and Lichtheimia spp. As A. flavus/oryzae was dominant, we further evaluated the aflatoxin production ability and enzymatic activity of the isolates. Thin-layer chromatography and polymerase chain reaction revealed that the A. flavus/oryzae strains isolated from meju are non-aflatoxigenic fungi. Based on the analyses of amylase and protease activities, strains with high activities of amylase or protease were identified, which are proposed to be used as starters for meju fermentation.

• 한국식품저장유통학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.397-406
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• 2011

메주의 산업화를 위해, 종균으로서는 A. oryze와 A. sojae 그리고 B. subtilis를 병용하고, 습도조절과 함께 $28^{\circ}C$에서 12일간 발효하면서 메주의 품질특성 변화를 조사하였다. 그리고 이들 종균 접종 메주와 순창 고추장 민속마을에서 입수한 된장용 전통메주의 효소 활성도를 비교하였다. 즉, A. oryzae를 접종한 메주(=AO메주), A. oryze와 B. subtilis를 접종한 메주(AOBS메주), A. sojae를 접종한 메주(=AS메주), A. sojae와 B. subtilis를 접종한 메주(=ASBS메주)를 12일 동안 발효시키면서 메주별로 품질 변화를 관찰하였다. 세균수와 곰팡이수는 각각 발효초기 6.48~6.69 log cfu/g, 5.00~5.71 log cfu/g에서 발효 2일에 8 log cfu/g 이상, 6 log cfu/g 이상으로 증가한 후 발효 12일 까지 세균수는 유지되었고, 곰팡이수는 감소 경향을 보였다. 아미노태 질소 함량은 발효 2일에 430.5~577.5 mg% 범위를 나타내었다. 중성 protease 활성도는 전통메주 $1,258.0{\pm}38.8$, AS메주 $1,238.3{\pm}38.6$, AO메주 $1,204.1{\pm}24.1$, ASBS메주 $1,040.6{\pm}10.6$, AOBS메주 $1,033.5{\pm}11.2$ unit/g순으로 나타났다. 산성 protease활성도는 AO메주 $1,030.1{\pm}19.1$, 전통메주 $1007.7{\pm}30.5$, AS메주 $990.9{\pm}25.0$, AOBS메주 $910.9{\pm}15.3$, ASBS메주 $888.2{\pm}15.7$ unit/g 순이었다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.493-502
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• 2013

In this study, we designed to confirm the dietary effect of anti-obesity of fermented soybean curd residue (FSCR; SCR-Meju; Biji-meju) by A. oryzae, which is well known as a Korean traditional meju microbe. We observed that body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profile, as well as the activity of ROS generating enzyme and ROS scavenging enzyme in high-fat diet induced obese mice fed experimental diet (SCR and SCR-meju). Body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of HC (high-fat diet control) was markedly higher than that of NC (Normal control). Conversely, body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of the SCR (Biji) and SCR-meju (Biji-meju) group was significantly lower than that of HC; these of the SCR-meju group was lower than that of the SCR group. Furthermore, serum TG and total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents of SCR and SCR-meju groups were lower than that of HC, and HDL-cholesterol level of the SCR-meju group was significantly higher than that of HC. In conclusion, although precise mechanisms of the antiobese effects of SCR-meju in this study are unknown, the present study provides an experimental evidence that SCR-meju may prevent obesity and obesity related metabolic syndromes, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes, and liver disease by high-fat diet. Nevertheless, further study in this filed will be needed.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권3호
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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.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.250-255
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• 2001

Effect of molding temperature on the quality changes of extruded meju was studied. Meju was molded at 8$0^{\circ}C$, 6$0^{\circ}C$ and 4$0^{\circ}C$, and then stored at $25^{\circ}C$ with 50% of relative humidity for 30 days. The texture of the cooked soybean grain showed that the firmness and cohesiveness were increased, and consistency was decreased by decrease of molding temperature. The density of the meju molded at 8$0^{\circ}C$, 6$0^{\circ}C$ and 4$0^{\circ}C$ were 1.072g/mL, 1.079g/mL and 1.203g/mL, respectively. The meju molded at 4$0^{\circ}C$ had significantly higher density than those molded at 8$0^{\circ}C$ or 6$0^{\circ}C$. Also, delay of water evaporation, acidification, and rapid growth of fungal mycellium were observed on the sample with molding temperature at 4$0^{\circ}C$ during fermentation. Activity of amylase and protease, contents of total reducing sugar and amino nitrogen of 4$0^{\circ}C$-molded meju were represented lower level than those of 6$0^{\circ}C$ or 8$0^{\circ}C$-molded sample. Therefore, it was considered that the molding temperature was an important factor for meju fermentation and molding temperature of 6$0^{\circ}C$ or over would be acceptable.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.248-253
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• 1992

재래식 메주와 개량식 메주로 각각 담아 숙성시킨 된장의 향기성분을 연속 수증기증류 추출장치로 추출하여 상압에서 농축한 후, preparative GC로 GC-관능검사를 하고 GC/MC 분석과 Kovats retention index를 비교하여 동정하였다. 재래식 메주로 담은 된장의 향기성분으로는 alcohol류 11종, aldehyde류 4종, pyrazine류 2종, acid류 4종, furan류 3종, phenol류 3종, ester류 3종, hydrocarbon류 3종, ketone류 1종, 기타 성분 5종 등 39가지의 성분을 동정하였다. 개량식 메주로 담은 된장의 향기성분으로는 alcohol류 4종, aldehyde류 2종, pyrazine류 2종, acid류 2종, furan류 1종, ester류 2종, hydrocarbon류 1종, ketone류 2종, 함황 화합물 1종, 기타 성분 4종 등 21가지의 성분을 동정하였다. 한편, 재래식 메주로 담은 된장과 개량식 메주로 담은 된장에서 함께 동정된 향기성분으로는 3-methyl-1-butanol, 4-methyl-3-heptanol, trimethyl-pyrazine, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, tetramethyl-pyrazine, benzaldehyde, 3-methyl-butanoic acid, naphthalene, 2-ethyl-3-methyl-oxetane 등 10가지 성분이었다.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.549-554
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• 2006

To standardize a manufacturing method and improve the quality of traditional kochujang, eight-types of meju with different shapes (brick, grain) were prepared using Aspergillus oryzae (A.o) or Aspergillus sojae (A.s) alone or in combination with Bacillus subtilis (B.s). The physicochemical characteristics and enzyme activities of the various meju were compared during fermentation for 12 days at $28^{\circ}C$. The moisture content of both the brick- and grain-shaped meju were gradually decreased from an initial content of 50.47 to 54.89% to a content of 12.91 to 16.25% on day 12 of fermentation. The neutral protease activities of the brick-shaped meju ranged from $1.19{\pm}0.12$ to $1.25{\pm}0.28\;unit/mL$, and were similar for all treatments. The ${\alpha}$-amylase activities in A.s+B.s treatment of brick-shaped and grain-shaped meju were the highest, $11{\pm}0.6$ and $9{\pm}0.7\;unit/mL$, respectively. The ${\beta}$-amylase activities ranged from $1.53{\pm}0.01$ to $1.56{\pm}0.02\;unit/mL$, and were similar for all treatments. The amino type nitrogen content of A.o+B.s brick-shaped meju was the highest, $0.39{\pm}0.03%$. We confirmed that the brick-shaped meju prepared with A. oryzae and B. subtilis could be used to prepare traditional kochujang to improve the quality of the product.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.863-870
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• 2024

Meju, a fermented soybean brick, is a key component in soybean foods like doenjang and ganjang, harboring a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms significantly contribute to the nutritional and sensory characteristics of doenjang and ganjang. Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing was applied to investigate how the microbial communities of meju fermented at low and high temperatures differ and how this variation affects the microbial communities of doenjang, a subsequently fermented soybean food. Our metagenomic data showed distinct patterns depending on the fermentation temperature. The microbial abundance in the bacterial community was increased under both temperatures during the fermentation of meju and doenjang. Weissella was the most abundant genus before the fermentation of meju, however, it was replaced by Bacillus at high temperature-fermented meju and lactic acid bacteria such as Weissella and Latilactobacillus at low temperature-fermented meju. Leuconostoc, Logiolactobacillus, and Tetragenococcus gradually took over the dominant role during the fermentation process of doenjang, replacing the previous dominant microorganisms. Mucor was dominant in the fungal community before and after meju fermentation, whereas Debaryomyces was dominant under both temperatures during doenjang fermentation. The dominant fungal genus of doenjang was not affected regardless of the fermentation temperature of meju. Strong correlations were shown for specific bacteria and fungi linked to specific fermentation temperatures. This study helps our understanding of meju fermentation process at different fermentation temperatures and highlights different bacteria and fungi associated with specific fermentation periods which may influence the nutritional and organoleptic properties of the final fermented soybean foods doenjang.

• Mycobiology
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• 제43권3호
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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.