• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the changes of amino nitrogen, total amino acids, free amino acids, and color of Korean traditional soy sauce (kan-jang) during the ripening and storage for 12 months and the characteristics of the changes. All of the preparation methods for soy sauce followed the recommendations of the Korea Food Research Institute. The components of soy sauce were analyzed at 0,6, and 12 months. The contents of amino nitrogen of soy sauce were significantly higher than that of soybeans or meju (soybean cakes) at the initial stage of storage (p<0.05), and decreased during the storage. The content of total amino acids of soybean sauce was significantly lower than that of soybeans, and the content of free amino acids was higher than that of soybeans (p<0.05). The contents of total and free amino acids decreased in soy sauce after 12 months of storage (p<0.05). The composition of total and free amino acids and their ratios of soy sauce were changed during the storage. The ratios of free to total amino acids of soybeans, meju, and soy sauce were 0.8％, 17.3％, and 53.1-59.8％, respectively. Glutamic acid, which represents the savory taste, was detected the most abundantly in soy sauce during the storage. The ratios of free to total amino acids of glutamic acid were 42.9-59.5％ in soy sauce. Lightness of Hunter color of soy sauce decreased over time (p<0.05). This study indicates that the ratios of free to total amino acids of soy sauce were much higher than those of soybeans, although its contents of total amino acids were much lower than those of soybeans. This study also indicates that this comes from the preparation and fermentation of meju. It was suspected that the organoleptic characteristics of soy sauce derived from the amino nitrogen, amino acids, and color might be inferior over 1 year of storage time. However, more detailed research should be conducted to interpretate this characteristics more accurately.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2013

Diverse fungi are present in Korean traditional meju and they are known to play an important role in fermented soybean products. To determine the origin of the fungi in meju, we examined the mycoflora of soybeans from 10 traditional meju factories. The samples were untreated or treated with sodium hypochlorite, and placed on malt extract agar (MEA), dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18), and dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar (DRBC) medium. A total of 794 fungal strains were isolated and they were identified as 41 genera and 86 species. From sodium hypochlorite untreated soybeans, the genera, Cladosporium (55%), Eurotium (51%), Fusarium (33%), Penicillium (22%), and Aspergillus (exclusion of Eurotium) (20%), were mainly isolated, and Eurotium herbariorum (22%), Eurotium repens (18%), Cladosporium tenuissimum (18%), F. fujikuroi (18%), Aspergillus oryzae/flavus (7%), and Penicillium steckii (6%) were the predominant species. In case of sodium hypochloritetreated soybeans, Eurotium (31%) and Cladosporium (5%) were frequently isolated, but Aspergillus (excluding Eurotium), Penicillium and Fusarium which were frequently isolated from untreated soybeans, were rarely isolated. Eurotium herbariorum (21%), Eurotium repens (8%), and Cladosporium tenuissimum (3%) were the predominant species. Of the 41 genera and 86 species isolated from soybeans, 13 genera and 33 species were also found in meju. These results suggest that the fungi on soybeans may influence the mycoflora of meju.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.734-739
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• 2007

This study was conducted to observe the quality characteristics of cheonggukjang fermented with new small-seed soybeans ('Agakong') according to the degree of germination of the raw soybeans. The sprouting rate was $8.6{\pm}5.6%$ after 12 hr of germination, but at 24 hr it increased rapidly to $85.4{\pm}4.7%$. We confirmed that the total isoflavone content immediately after soaking was 273.9 mg%, which was at least 3 times greater than for common soybeans; content increased at the start of germination, and increased to 338.4 mg% by 24 hr of germination, but then decreased. The quantity of viscous substance of the cheonggukjang increased in proportion to the degree of germination of the raw soybeans. The levels of amino acids in the cheonggukjang made from non-germinated soybeans, and soybeans germinated 48 hr, were 12.45 and 10.06%, respectively. The isoflavone levels in the cheonggukjang were determined by the degree of germination of the raw soybeans. There were no significant differences between the odor, sweet taste, savory taste, bitter taste, and overall acceptability of the cheonggukjang with different germination times of 0 to 36 hr.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.643-646
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• 2006

Cheonggukjang, a popular Korean traditional fermented soyfood, was manufactured by fermenting steamed soybeans in a temperature-controlled room by traditional methods in which steamed soy was exposed to rice straw naturally rich in Bacillus species. B. subtilus and B. licheniformis were found to be the major microorganisms present in cheonggukjang made by the traditional method. We analyzed the composition of 12 kinds of isoflavones and their glycosides present in cheonggukjang collected at various fermentation times. Total isoflavone content in raw soybeans was 2,867 mg/kg and this decreased by about 50% during cooking prior to cheonggukjang preparation. However, total isoflavone content changed slightly during 45 hr of fermentation. Total content of isoflavone glycosides, consisting mainly of daidzin, glycitein, and genistin, decreased by about 40% during 45 hr of fermenting cooked soybeans. The contents of tree isoflavones including daidzein, glycitein, and genistein showed a dramatic increase during fermentation in cheonggukjang preparation, with a 2.9-, 54.0-, and 20.6-fold increase in concentration, respectively, by the end of fermentation (45 hr). In conclusion, short-term fermentation of cooked soybeans with Bacillus species caused conspicuous changes in the composition of isoflavone derivatives, and its implication in terms of health benefits deserves further study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 1990

Antimutagenic effect of doenjag (Korean fermented soy paste) on mutagenesis induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 was studied. AFB1 revealed maximum mutagenicity at dose level of 1 $\mu$g/plate with metabolic activation system in both strains. Strong antiutagenic activity toward AFB1 was completely inhibited at the level of 50% of the doenjang extract. At the same concentration 64-66% and 39-53% of the AFB1 induced mutageneses were blocked when the methanol extracts of raw and cooked soybeans were added in the system respectively Raw soybeans showed higher ihhibition rate to the mutagenicity than cooked soybeans but the fermented soybeans(doenjang) was the most effective (p<0.05) Other soybean fermented foods such as commercial doenjang natto and miso were also exhibited some antimutagenic activities however the traditional doenjang was the most effective and then commercial doenjang. Natto and miso were less effective.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2007

The objective of present study was to examine the composition of functional components (isoflavones, phytic acid, and saponin) in hypocotyls and cotyledons of six traditional Korean soybeans, namely Cheongtae, Seoritae, Jinjoori, Subaktae, Yutae, and Huktae. Three 'family' of isoflavones, as four chemical structures were present in hypocotyls and cotyledons of six soybean cultivars: the aglycones genistein, daidzein, and glycitein; the glycosides genistin, daidzin, and glycitin; the acetylglycosides 6"-O-acetylgenistin, 6"-O-acetyldaidzin, and 6"-O-acetylglycitin; and the malonylglycosides 6"-O-malonylgenistin, 6"-O-malonyldaidzin, and 6"-O-malonylglycitin. Isoflavone contents of hypocotyls and cotyledons differed among the cultivars, and glucosides and malonylglucosides accounted for more than 90% of the total phytoestrogens, with the remaining $1\sim7%$ taken up by aglycones. Concentrations of isoflavones in cotyledons were approximately about $10\sim20%$ of respective hypocotyls. Contents of phytic acids in hypocotyls and cotyledons of the selected soybean cultivars were $1.21\sim1.70%$ and $2.59\sim3.01%$, respectively. Hypocotyls of Seoritae showed the lowest content of phytic acid with 1.21%, while cotyledons of Cheongtae showed the highest content with 3.01%. The sapogenol concentrations ranged from $13.58mg/100g\sim20.82mg/100g$ for hypocotyls and $0.95mg/100g\sim2.55mg/100g$ for cotyledons showing that concentrations of saponin are $7\sim10$ times higher in hypocotyls than in cotyledons of respective soybeans. For both hypocotyls and cotyledons the sapogenol A were present in higher concentrations than soyasapogenol B.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 1987

Thirty mael Sprague Dawley rats of 3 weeks of age were adopted to investigate changes in nutritive quality of the traditional, fermented soybean foods, Meju and Chungkugjang prepared by culturing with Aspergillus oryzae and the rice straw, respectively. The levels of each dietary protein were set at 10% . The effect of supplementation of fermented soybean on the rat diet was evaluated by measuring growth rate, feed efficiency. weight of the pancreas and biological values, such as NPU, PER and NPR on day 10. After incubation of soybean with Aspergilllus oryzae and the rice straw, the contents of crude protein, crude fat and crude ash were increased, but the levels of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract were reduced. The amounts of feed intake, body weight gain an feed efficiency were greater for the rats fed dietscontaining heated unfermented soybeans or Meju compared to rats fed the diet containing raw soybeans. Pancreating enlargement was observed in the rats fed diets containing raw soybeans. The values of NPR and PER in rats fed diets containing Meju and Chungkugjang were significantly higher than those of rats fed diets containing raw soybeans. The values of NPU in rats fed diets containing raw soybans, heated unfermeted soybeans. Meju and Chungkugjang were 39.40%, 40.60%, 45.00% and 46.205, respectively, demonstrating no significant differences.

• 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.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different kinds of traditional Korean soybeans on blood and liver lipids and lipid peroxidation. SD male rats (n=48) were assigned to six different groups and provided experimental diets for 28 days. The protein source of the diet was casein, isolated soy protein (ISP), or casein plus traditional soy powders (yellow bean, huktae, jinuni or seorietae). The ISP, jinuni and seorietae diet decreased blood triglyceride compared to casein group. The ISP groups had lower hepatic total lipid and triglycerides than casein groups. The yellow bean and seorietae group had hepatic lipid lowering effects, but the effect was not found in huktae and jinuni group. The glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase activity was significantly decreased in ISP and jinuni groups than in casein group. The glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activity was also decreased in ISP group. The results of this study suggest that jinuni, yellow bean and seorietae groups are more effective in lowering body lipids than huktae group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.390-396
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• 1997

Meju is a basis for manufacturing Kanjang, Meju was traditionally prepared at home by different types of process depending on the regional area. It is necessary to standardize and simplify the process of Meju-preparation for Kanjang of good quality. For these purposes, the process of Meju and Kangjang making as well as analysis of commercial Kanjang, were compared. Generally, traditional Meju was prepared by steeping and dehulling the whole soybean. After steeping for 24hr. soybean absorbed water up to 110~120% of its weight. The soaked soybeans were steamed for 2hr. and cooled to 5$0^{\circ}C$. Cooked soybeans were crushed down to the size of 10~15 mesh and molded. Molded soybeans were dried for 2 days in the air, hung up by rice straw and fermented for 20~30 days under natural environmental condition. On the other hand, commercial soybean koji was made of defatted soybean. Defatted soybeans were steeped in water and steamed for 15~30min at 0.7~1.2 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Steamed and defatted soybean was cooled to 4$0^{\circ}C$. Separately, wheat power was roasted at 200~30$0^{\circ}C$ by wheat roaster. Mixture of steamed defatted soybean and roasted wheat powder (5/5 to 7/3) were inoculated with 0.1~0.2% Aspergillus sojae and incubated for 2 days at 3$0^{\circ}C$ with occasional stirring. Chemical analysis showed that traditional soy sauces contained the following composition: NaCl, 20.12~25.42%; total nitrogen, 0.64~0.91%; pure extract, 9.47~11.20%; color, 2.34~4.01; pH, 4.92~5.12. Commercial products contained: NaCl, 15.20~17.19%; total nitrogen, 1.25~1.40%; pure extract, 18.17~21.47%; color, 5.41~21.12; pH, 4.51~4.66 and ethalnol. 2.97~3.12%. Organoleptic test on taste, color and flavor of traditional and commercial soysauce indicated that most of the consumers prefer commercial products to traditional products. Preferrable formulation of Kanjang based on organoleptic test of soy sauces was assumed as containing; NaCl, 16.0%; total nitrogen, 1.40%; pure extract, 19.97%; color, 12.98; pH, 4.61 and ethanol, 2.96.