• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 2021

Red yeast rice has been extensively used as food and traditional medicine for thousands of years in East Asian countries. It is produced by the fermentation of a particular yeast (in general, Monascus purpureus) as rice and various cereals (barley, soybean, etc.). Monascus sp. produces many secondary metabolites during its growth, including pigments, monacolins, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Some metabolites―specifically, monacolin K, γ-aminobutyric acid, dimerumic acid, and monascus pigments―have been reported to lower cholesterol and blood pressure while showing anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of ethanol extract from red yeast barley (RYB) fermented with Monascus sp. BHN-MK 2 on 3T3-L1 cells. The anti-obesity effects of RYB extract were examined: its lipid accumulation inhibitory effect was tested by Oil Red O staining, and obesity-related mRNA expression levels were tested by real-time RT-PCR in MDI stimulated 3T3-L1 cells. The intracellular lipid content of MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells decreased significantly to 5.04%, 12.24%, and 23.52% in response to 200, 400, and 800 ㎍/ml RYB, respectively. Moreovers, we evaluated that RYB extract significantly downregulated the expression of C/EBPα, SREBP-1, and PPAR-γ gene in a dose-dependent manner. As a result, red yeast barley ethanol extracts exerted the strongest anti-obesity effects. Also, the results indicate that red yeast barley could be used as a functional anti-obesity food material.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.530-535
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• 2019

Diverse types of nuruks (traditional Korean fermentation initiators) were examined in order to isolate thermotolerant yeast strains capable of utilizing xylose as a carbon source. Among twenty yeast strains that grew at 46℃, MBY/L1597 showed a notably higher specific growth rate than other strains. This strain was identified as Millerozyma farinosa. While the control strain M. farinosa KCTC27412 (= CBS7064) did not show xylose reductase (XR) activity and apparent growth at 46℃, M. farinosa MBY/L1597 exhibited XR activity of 4.98 ± 0.49 U/mg protein when NADPH was used as a cofactor. M. farinosa MBY/L1597 cultured at 46℃ produced (9.87 ± 1.00 g/l) xylitol from 20 g/l xylose, corresponding to approximately 50% yield. M. farinosa MBY/L1597 was deposited at the Korean Collection for Type Cultures as KCTC27797.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.184-189
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• 2005

In order to select probiotics having both a high survival rate and an ability to inhibit virulent pathogens, we have screened lactic acid bacteria and yeasts from Jeot-gal to examine their resistance to artificial gastric and bile juice. After being introduced in the artificial gastric acid for 2 hr, the isolated lactic acid bacteria and yeast were incubated for 24 hrs in the artificial bile juice. In particular, the strain ML 36, ML 128, and ML 178 survived the longest during 2 hr incubation period in the artificial gastric acid. All 3 strains of lactic acid bacteria, and 2 strains of yeast demonstrated higher growth rates than control in the artificial bile. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts was investigated to determine their efficiency as probiotic organisms. The lactic acid bacteria inhibited Gram positive and negative bacteria, while the yeast was marginally inhibited.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2021

The increasing demand for baked products has given a boost to research on isolation and selection of novel yeast strains with improved leavening activity. Twelve sourdough samples were collected from several localities of the Fez region in Morocco. The pH and total titratable acidity (TTA) values of these samples varied from 3.03-4.63 and 14-17.5 ml of 0.1 N NaOH/10 g of sourdough, respectively, while yeast counts ranged from 5.3 6.77 Log CFU/g. Thirty-two yeast isolates were obtained and evaluated for their leavening ability. Out of all isolates, four yeasts molecularly identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (three strains) and Kluyveromyces marxianus (one strain) showed highest specific volumes of 4.69, 4.55, 4.35 and 4.1 cm³/g, respectively. These strains were further assessed for their tolerance to high concentrations of salt, sugar, elevated temperatures, and low pH conditions. K. marxianus showed higher resistance than the S. cerevisiae. Thus, Moroccan sourdoughs harbor technologically relevant yeasts that could be used as potential starters for bread preparation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.244-249
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• 2006

In order to select the best strains to have the feasibility of Cheonghju brewing, 10 wild type yeast strains from 300 different types of Nuruk were investigated on their ethanol resistance, resistance to glucose and flocculation. The amounts of alcohol, organic acids, and volatile compounds, Brix, pH were also examined for the alcoholic beverages made with the 10 selected strains. Almost all strains showed alcohol production activities in the medium containing 18%(v/v) ethanol and 29%(w/v) glucose. The strains 90-2 showed a higher flocculation activity than other strains. Strains 54-3, 90-2 and 91-5 produced more alcohol than control strain (7.42%(w/w)) when fermented with wild type yeast strains. In addition, alcoholic beverages containing low acetic acid also showed low levels of total acidity. GC/MS analysis of the product showed 4 alcohols, 11 esters and 1 acid as volatile compounds. Selected strains were tentatively identified as Phichia sydowiorum (91-5), Zygosaccharomyces cidri (192-2 and 271-4), and as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (18-2, 54-3, 90-2, 91-2, 98-2, 99-5 and 272-7) by BIIOLOG method.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 1996

To investigate the yeast florae in the traditional and commercial Kochujang, computer identification systems, Vitek, API kit and conventional identification methods were used. Yeast florae of each process were compared and their typical physiological characteristics were also tested. Various process intervals yielded 330 colonies, which resulted in 11 species 184 strains classified. They were identified into Candida glabrata C. guilliermondii. C. humicola. C. rugosa, C. zeylanoides, Cryptococcus uniguttulatus, Pichia farinosa, Rhodotorula glutinis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. The strains of Candida, Pichia, Saccharomyces and Zygosaccharomyces were existing in both processes. In case of commercial process, the maximum distribution of Z. rouxii and S. cerevisiae were 33% at 15 day fermentation and 13% at 21 day, respectively. The distribution of Candida spp. was gradually decreased throughtout the fermentation period from 40% to 10%. In the traditional process, the maximum distribution of Z. rouxii and S. cerevisiae were 53% after 3 months and 26% after 7 months, respectively, S. cerevisiae and Z. rouxii showed distintive growth pattern at the high concentration of glucose and sodium chloride and played important roles in both processes of fermentation. Physiological tests revealed that only two major yeasts. S. cerevisiae and Z. rouxii, showed vigorous carbon dioxide formation under the tested conditions.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2009

To evaluate the quality of brown rice vinegar made by traditional fermentation in terms of Zymotechnic data and material content, vinegars prepared using a traditional leavening agent and yeast were compared. Amino acid, total nitrogen, free sugar, organic acid, and mineral levels were assessed, with vinegars made with initial brown rice contents of 12.36% (w/v). Vinegar made using Nuruk as fermenting agent (traditional fermentation, TF), with a brown rice content of 20% (w/v), and vinegar prepared using yeast for fermentation (control fermentation, CF), with a brown rice content of 12% (w/v) were compared. TF vinegar had a total nitrogen content about 2.0.4.6-fold that of CF vinegar. Total nitrogen in TF vinegar was 350.460 mg/100g, and in CF vinegar the level was 100.140 mg/100g. TF vinegar had more minerals, free sugars, and amino acids compared with CF vinegar. When free sugar was assessed, TF vinegar had a glucose level of 3.45 g/100g, double that of CF vinegar. Amino acid levels were five-fold higher in TF vinegar then in CF vinegar. When brown rice content was 36% (w/v), the amino acid level was $6088.22\;{\mu}g/mL$ in TF vinegar and $1194.05\;{\mu}g/mL$ in CF vinegar.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2010

The goal of this study was to screen a useful yeast for Korean traditional pear Yakju (KTPY) brewing and develop its brewing process. Cooked non-glutinous rice and nuruk were mixed, and added into pear juice with various Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then fermented at $25^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. Among several alcohol fermentation yeasts, ethanol contents was the highest in pear Yakju made by S. cerevisiae K-7 and also showed high ethanol content in pear Yakju which was made by commercial S. cerevisiae C-2. Therefore, we selected S. cerevisiae K-7 and S. cerevisiae C-2 as suitable yeasts for brewing of KTPY. Maximal ethanol production (10.4%) was obtained when cooked non-glutinous rice (100 g) and nuruk (30 sp/g) were mixed and added into pear juice (600 ml) with S. cerevisiae K-7 (5%) and fermented at $25^{\circ}C$ for 7 days and also its antihypertensive angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was 57.2%. Addition of antihypertensive starchy materials into the mash was not affected in ACE inhibitory activity and total acceptability of KTPY.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1035-1037
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• 2009

In this study we analyzed the dynamic changes in microbiota composition during kochujang fermentation at $30^{\circ}C$. During fermentation, the viable cell counts slowly increased and reached $3.2{\times}10^7$ for aerobic bacteria, $8.3{\times}10^3$ for yeast, and $1.4{\times}10^3$ CFU/mL for fungi after 60 days. Bacilli were found to be the most dominant microorganisms throughout the fermentation process. Using the culture dependent method Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus amyloquefaciens were found to be the main species during the early stages of fermentation; however, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus stearothermophilus became the most dominant species during the late stage of fermentation. In contrast, when the polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method was used Bacillus ehimensis was found to be the dominant species during the early stage of fermentation and Bacillus megaterium, B. pumilus, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis were dominant in the ate stages. These results indicate various other Bacillus species rather than just B. subtilis and B. licheniformis might be involved in the fermentation of kochujang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.259-267
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• 1998

Typical characteristics of Mejus must be understood to get the basic data for setting up mass production system of traditional fermented soybean products. One hundred and twenty one Mejus were collected from various places and analyed. Most of shapes were rectangular and some were spherical, conical, cylindrical and doughnut types. The weight of Mejus was 0.4~4.2kg. Chemical analysis showed: moisture content, 9.73~58.22% ; pH, 4.95~8.15; acidity, 0.6~3.8% ; soluble protein content, 4.45~12.31%; soluble sugar content, 0.82~10.95%. Enzyme assay showed: $\alpha$-amylase activity, 5.0~874.2 units/g; $\beta$-amylase activity, 0.02~27.74units/g; acidic protease activity, 31.3~225.1unts/g; lipase activity 1.0~53.0units/g. Total viable cells were 3.72$\times$107~1.35$\times$1010cfu/g, and yeast and mold count 6.46$\times$104~8.91$\times$106cfu/g. respectively. $\alpha$-Amylase activity of a traditional Meju from Incheon showed the highest activity of 732.8 units/g(interior section) and 823.2units/g (exterior section). $\beta$-Amylase activity was the highest{3.57 units/g (interior sectin) and 4.25units/g (exterior section)} in Meju from Chunbuk. Acidic protease activity was the highest in sample from Seoul, whereas traditional Meju from Kyongnam showed the highest activity of 21.5units/g(interior section) and 37.5units/g(exterior sectin).