• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.604-613
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• 1994

Hydrophilic brown pigments(HBPs) produced during fermentation and aging the domestic Meju and Doenjang were separated by dialysis and chromatography , and their antioxidant activity were measured . The chemical properties of HBP were determined by UV and IR spectrophotometry. HBPs contents were found to be 93.1 mg/g and 183.2mg/g in Meju fermentated for 30 days and 80 days , respectively. The ratio of dialysate to diffusate of the HBPs were appeared to be 70 : 30 and 87 :13 in the Meju fermented for 30 days and 80 days, respectively. and the rtio in the Doenjang aged for 60 days was 91 :9 , indicating that dialysate slowly days, respectively, and the ratio in the Doenjang aged for 60 days was 91 : 9, incidatin that dialysate slowly increased by the fermentation . Both portion exhibited strong antioxidant activity, but more stronger antioxidant activity was found in the dialysate. DEAE-celluose column chromatography showed that dialysate contained more materials eluted by 0.01-0.03M HCI solution than 0.01M acetate buffer, but diffusate showed opposite results. The degree of browning reaction and antioxdiant activity found in the fraction eluted by HCI solution was stronger than that of the fraction eluted by acetate buffer. The fraction eluted from DEAE-cellulose column chormatogrphy was further fractionaged by TLC and found that strong antioxidant activity was present in the fractions which did not possess fluorescenece and showed a negative ninhydrin reaction. TLC fractions of HCI eluant in Meju exhibited a strong absorbance at 260-280nm, but most of other fractions did not show any absorbance at UV region. TLC fractions from dialysate and diffusate showed fairly identical IR spectrum with absorbance at 3400cm-1, 2800cm-3000cm -1, 1600cm, -1 1400cm-1 and 1100 cm-1 , however, in addition to these absorbances, the spectrum from HCI eluant of Meju exhibited a strong absorbance at 1750cm , indicating the carbonic acid or carbonate ester.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.378-383
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• 2007

To study the characteristics and processing of Kochujang which is rapidly fermented by commercial enzymes, three kinds of Kochujang(KP-FA, KP-FN, and KP-BN) using commercial proteases and one Kochujang(KM) using Meju were prepared and their qualities investigated. There were only small differences in pH and acidity between each Kochujang. The moisture contents were high tendency in the three kinds of Kochujangs using the commercial proteases at 20 days of fermentation. Reducing sugars had a tendency to decrease during the fermentation in the Kochujangs using the proteases. During the first half of fermentation, the Kochujangs made with proteases showed higher amino nitrogen contents than the Kochujang(KM) made using Meju. Acidic protease activity was high in KP-FA at 20 days of fermentation and neutral protease activity was high in KP-FN and KP-BN at the beginning of fermentation. The Kochujangs made using the proteases, through 20 days of fermentation, obtained high preference in the sensory evaluation for color, texture, and overall acceptability. However, the hot taste was stronger in these Kochujangs during the fermentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.251-261
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• 2017

Initially, we screened 18 Aspergillus sojae-like strains from Aspergillus spp. isolated from meju (Korean traditional fermented soybean brick) according to their morphological characteristics. Because members of Aspergillus section Flavi are often incorrectly identified because of their phylogenetic similarity, we re-identified these strains at the morphological and molecular genetic levels. Fourteen strains were finally identified as A. sojae. The isolates produced protease and ${\alpha}-amylase$ with ranges of 2.66-10.64 and 21.53-106.73 unit/g-initial dry substrate (U/g-IDS), respectively, which were equivalent to those of the koji (starter mold) strains employed to produce Japanese soy sauce. Among the isolates and Japanese koji strains, strains SMF 127 and SMF 131 had the highest leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities at 6.00 and 6.06 U/g-IDS, respectively. LAP plays an important role in flavor development because of the production of low-molecular-weight peptides that affect the taste and decrease bitterness. SMF 127 and SMF 131 appeared to be non-aflatoxigenic because of a termination point mutation in aflR and the lack of the polyketide synthase gene found in other A. sojae strains. In addition, SMF 127 and SMF 131 were not cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) producers because of the deletion of maoA, dmaT, and pks/nrps, which are involved in CPA biosynthesis. Therefore, A. sojae strains such as SMF 127 and SMF 131, which have high protease and LAP activities and are free of safety issues, can be considered good starters for soybean fermentations, such as in the production of the Korean fermented soybean products meju, doenjang, and ganjang.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.712-719
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• 2018

This study was carried out to obtain basic data on Korean traditional Meju collected from 18 regions (TM1~TM18) in Korea and to define and control quality. The shape of Meju was mostly rectangular and the weight was 0.84~2.04 kg. The physicochemical analysis showed: pH, 5.31~8.21; total acidity, 0.91~2.74%; moisture content, 4.79~42.16%; and soluble protein content, 41.37~23.48%. Hunter color values for L (lightness), a (redness), and b (yellowness) ranged from 39.07~67.92, 3.57~8.87, and 7.48~20.67, respectively. The amino nitrogen contents of all samples were in the range of 257.29 to 839.58 mg% and TM13 showed the highest content (839.58 mg%). Total viable cells, yeast and mold counts of Meju were 8.43~5.91 log CFU/g, 2.48~5.19 log CFU/g, and 3.42~7.48 log CFU/g, respectively. Based on the results, it is proposed that quality standards and management of Meju fermentation conditions and information about different varieties of soybeans used should be made available.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.405-409
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• 1998

This work was carried out to investigate the behavior of sugars contained in raw soybean during cooking and meju preparation processes, and the effects of sugar addition to the raw kanjang digestion liquor made from G8 and SB meju on the lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation of kanjang. Sharp reduction in sugars content in soybean during cooking and meju preparation process was observed. Rapid lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation in the G8 and SB kanjang with 5% added glucose was observed but not in the corresponding kanjang without sugar addition after inoculation of Pediococcus halophilus, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Candida versatilis starter culture to the low-salted raw kanjang digestion liquor made respectively from G8 and SB meju. 0.46% and 0.88% of lactic acid and 1% and 2% of alcohol content in the G8 and SB kanjang respectively was observed 160 hours after the inoculation of the lactic acid bacteria starter culture.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.490-495
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• 1999

A thermotolerant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae OE-16 was isolated from traditional Meju was investigated on their physiological characteristics and ethanol fermentation ability. Saccharomyces cerevisiae OE-16 were able to grow up to 45$^{\circ}C$ and 40% of glucose. Saccharomyces cerevisiae OE-16 was also resistant to 15% of KCl 1,200ppm of Pb2+, Hg2+ and 500ppm of potassium sorbate. From 20% glucose media Saccharomyces cerevisiae OE-16 produced 83.4g per liter of ethanol at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and 9.5g per liter of ethanol at 4$0^{\circ}C$ for 72 hours.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1158-1165
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the changes in microflora and enzyme activities of traditional kochujang during aging, which was prepared with a meju fermented for various periods of time. The number of bacteria was highest in all samples after 30 days of fermentation at $20^{\circ}C$, while that of mold in kochujang prepared with a 40-day- or 60-day-fermented meju was highest at 15th day of aging when yeast appeared. The activities of carbohydrases and proteases were highest in kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju followed by a 60-day-fermented meju. These results suggest that kochujang prepared with a meju aged for 40 days had the highest quality in terms of physicochemical, microbiological and enzyme activities of kochujang during fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1166-1174
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the changes in physicochemical and sensory characteristics of traditional kochujang during aging, which was prepared with a different meju fermented for various periods of time. The non-volatile organic acid contents in all samples gradually increased up to 90 days of fermentation. Kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju had $1.14{\sim}2.54$ times highter organic acid content after 90 days of aging as compared to other kochujang preparations. The most abundant free sugars were found to be glucose and fructose representing $82.27{\sim}100%$ of total free sugar contents in kochujang. 17 kinds of free amino acid including Glu, Asp and Met were found in traditional kochujang aged for 90 days. Glu was noted as the most contributing amino acid to the brothy taste of kochujang in the light of increasing ratio and content of Glu among free amino acids during aging. The total free amino acid contents of kochujang increased with an Increase in fermentation time of meju. Results of sensory evaluation revealed that kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju was best in terms of flavor and taste. These results suggest that kochujang prepared with a 40-day-fermented meju had the highest quality in terms of physicochemical and sensory characteristics of kochujang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.383-389
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• 1997

Doenjang(fermented soybean paste) was prepared by the series of processes including soaking, cooking, first fermentation(3 days at 30$\pm$2$^{\circ}C$) for the preparation of meju(soybean koji) after inoclulation of Aspergillus oryzae, and further fermentation (60 days at 30$\pm$2$^{\circ}C$) for the ripening after addition of salt 13% to meju. the crude phenolics extracted from defatted soybean and doenjang were fractionated onto the neutral phenolics(isofavonoids) and acidic phenolics(phenolic acids), respectively. Composition and antioxidative characteristics of phenolic fractions were determined. The neutral phenolic fractions contained genistin, genistein and daidzein; on the other hand, acidic phenolic fractions had syringic acid and seven other components. The content of genistin in doenjang dramatically decreased at the early stage of fermentation, whereas the content of genistein rather increased. In addition, the content of syringic acid of acidic phenolic fractions were increased during fermentation. These changes in individual phenolic components affected the antioxidative activity of neutral phenolics or acidic phenolics. antioxidative activity of phenolic compounds were evaluated during soybean fermentation. The antioxidative and free radical scavenging activity of neutral phenolic fractions and acidic phenolic fractions on linoleic acid autoxidation were also investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.640-650
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• 2013

Soy sauce, a basic ingredient in Asian cuisine, is made of fermented soybeans, salt, water, and barley or wheat flour. The sensory characteristics of soy sauce are not only determined through its main ingredients but also by various flavor compounds produced during the fermentation process. This study was conducted to identify the sensory attributes of five different commercial soy sauce samples that differ in Meju types (traditional Meju or modified Meju) and usage types. Thirty three sensory attributes, including appearance (1), odor (16), flavor (14), and mouthfeel (2) attributes, were generated and evaluated by eight trained panelists. The collected data were analyzed by analysis of variance and principal component analysis. There were significant differences in the intensities of all sensory attributes among the soy sauce samples. Soy sauce made with traditional Meju had high intensity of fermented fish, beany, musty odors and salt, Cheonggukjang, fermented fish flavors. Whereas two soy sauces made with modified Meju were strong in alcohol, sweet, Doenjang, roasted soybean flavors. Two soy sauces for soup made with modified Meju had medium levels of briny, sulfury, fermented odors and bitter, chemical flavors and biting mouthfeel characteristic.