Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes cognitive impairment (CI). In the preliminary study, Lactobacillus gasseri NK109 suppressed LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Therefore, the effect of NK109 on LPS-increased CI was investigated in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS caused CI-like behaviors and neuroinflammation. However, orally administered NK109 reduced LPS-increased CI-like behaviors and hippocampal IL-1β and TNF-α expression, whereas LPS-decreased BDNF expression increased. NK109 also reduced LPS-increased colonic myeloperoxidase, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression. The efficacy of NK109 was increased by the combination of soybean embryo ethanol extract (SE). These findings suggest that NK109 with SE can improve CI by alleviating inflammation-mediated BDNF expression, thereby being beneficial for dementia therapy.

This study was conducted to screen for superior strains for preparation of Cheonggukjang and identify the optimal fermentation time based on fermentation of lentils by various Bacillus subtilis strains. Bacillus count was significantly high at 48 hrs of fermentation (9.22-9.51 log CFU/g). In addition, the pH was significantly high in the range of 7.60-7.92 at 48 hrs fermentation, and the reducing sugar content was significantly high (0.89-1.45). The amino-type nitrogen content and ammonia-type nitrogen content were significantly increased with fermentation time. Additionally, the amylase activity was significantly high (3.05-4.22) at 48 hrs of fermentation, as was the protease activity (4.80-5.63). Bacillus subtilis S3 (5.63), S4 (5.60) were higher than S1 (4.80), S2 (4.92). The viscous substances and DPPH radical scavenging activity increased at 48 hrs, then decreased. Sensory evaluation revealed that lentil Cheonggukjang fermented by S3 showed the highest scores in color, smell, savory taste, sweet taste, viscous substance and overall acceptability. Therefore, 48 hrs of fermentation should be suitable for lentil Cheonggukjang fermented by Bacillus subtilis S3.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the quality characteristics of Jeungpyun added with goji berry powder (0, 2, 4, 6%) and to develop functional Jeungpyun as snack for the elderly. The volume of batter without goji berry powder increased 2.9 times after 4 hrs of fermentation, whereas those with 2, 4, and 6% goji berry powder increased 1.8~1.9 times. The pH and brix of the batter increased by increasing the concentration of goji berry powder. The expansion volume of Jeungpyun decreased by increasing the concentration of goji berry powder. The pH of Jeungpyun was higher than that of Jeungpyun batter in all groups. However, the brix of Jeungpyun was lower than that of Jeungpyun batter in all groups. The L value of Jeungpyun decreased, whereas a and b values increased by increasing the concentration of goji berry powder. The consumer acceptability score was higher in the elderly than in university students. Jeungpyun with 4% goji berry powder had best ratings in taste and overall preference. The DPPH free radical scavenging antioxidant activity of Jeungpyun significantly increased with increasing concentration of goji berry powder. Therefore, goji berry Jeungpyun is available as a snack for the elderly and can be added to goji berry powder up to 4%.

The objective of this study was to determine the quality characteristics of fermenting mash and pasteurized ginseng Makgeolli added with different concentrations of ginseng powder. Total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria counts of mash added with 0, 1, 2, and 4% ginseng powder during 4 days of fermentation significantly increased, whereas yeast count decreased. Viable cell count remarkably decreased after pasteurization. Pasteurized 4% ginseng Makgeolli (4.30) showed a higher pH than 0, 1, and 2 % ginseng Makgeolli (4.09, 4.08, and 4.06, respectively) after 15 days of aging. After aging, amylase activity of pasteurized Makgeolli decreased, and 0% and 1% ginseng Makgeolli (22.35, 21.55oBrix) showed higher Brix content than 4% ginseng Makgeolli (20.15 °Brix). Before aging, alcohol contents of 0, 1, 2, and 4% pasteurized ginseng Makgeolli were 5.80, 5.50, 5.20, and 5.10%, respectively. After 15 days of aging, 0% ginseng Makgeolli (7.00) showed higher alcohol content than 1, 2, and 4% ginseng Makgeolli (5.90, 5.80, and 5.60%, respectively). The results of the sensory evaluation show that 2% ginseng Makgeolli after 3 days of aging at 4oC had the highest scores for taste (5.19), flavor (5.04), and overall acceptability (5.22) among the samples.

The objective of this study was to determine the perception of monosodium glutamate (MSG) contents in eating out menu and MSG symptom complex. Respondents in the Seoul area were surveyed from Feb. 10 to 20, 2014. The results are summarized as follows. The 51.3% of respondents were male and 48.7% of them were female. As for age, 73.5% of respondents were 20~24 years old. Favorite menu of respondents’ eating out were Korean food (57.8%), Western food (17.6%), Fast food (9.5%), Japanese food (6.2%), Chinese food (5.2%). Male respondents favored Korean food (62.4%), Fast food (10.2%) and Western food (9.6%), but female respondents favored Korean food (53.0%), Western food (26.2%) and Fast food (8.7%). The 48.7% of respondents considered Chinese food containing high amount of MSG. A few respondents (18.6%) recognized to usage amount of MSG as consideration factor to select eating out menu. However, most respondents (55.2%) perceived harmful to take excessive amount of MSG contained food. The 37.9% of respondents had experience of MSG symptom complex after eating out. Respondents’ self recognized MSG symptom complex were thirstiness (84.5%), drowsiness (55.7%), weakness (34.5%), nausea (30.2%), tightness (20.7%) and headache (14.7%). The 19.9% of respondents like MSG contained food. The reason for disliking MSG contained food were ‘bad for health’ (66.3%) and ‘MSG symptom’ (33.2%). The reason for liking MSG contained food were ‘good taste (83.6%) and ‘habitual eating’ (14.8%). The result of this study showed that some sensitive people have unpleasant reaction after eating out. Therefore, it is suggested that natural flavor enhancer may develop to replace the use of MSG.

Various Korean healthy foods containing Deoduk were developed and standardized recipe. Sensory evaluations of Koreans and foreigners for these developed foods were performed by using the 5-point hedonic scale. The results of the sensory test on foods containing Deoduk were as follows: Deoduk bap (2.90~3.91), Deoduk seolgidduk (3.19~4.40), Deoduk gangjeong (3.00~4.60), riasted Deoduk with red pepper paste (2.73~4.20), Deoduk pine nut juice salad (2.40~3.96), and Seopsansam (3.91~3.81). Deoduk seolgidduk, developed by using a recipe for Sansambyeong which in a Chosun dynasty cook-book, was highly preferred by Africans, Japanese, and Koreans. In particular, all foreigners except Southeast Asians liked Deoduk gangjeong, and both Koreans and foreigners liked Seopsansam. Foreigners’ experience of eating foods containing Deoduk was high at ‘No’ (68.9%), whereas Japanese (60.0%) had previous experience. Exactly 91.6% of Koreans responded ‘Yes’ to the question of whether or not Deoduk food is good for health, whereas the proportion of foreign respondents who said ‘Yes’ was 43.2%, ‘No’ was 5.4%, and ‘I don’t know’ was 51.4%. Deoduk seolgidduk was preferred by Japanese, and most foreigners preferred Deoduk gangjeong and Seopsansam. Therefore, Deoduk could be developed as a healthy food for globalization of Korean food. However, as foreigners’ awareness of Deoduk is low, we must positively promote the health function of traditional food ingredients and develop various menus suitable forforeigners’ tastes for the globalization of Korean food.

The objective of this study was to prepare bioactive ginseng yogurts containing compound K, which is transformed from ginsenosides, and to investigate the compound’s cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Milk containng ginseng was fermented by Bifidobacteria KK-l and KK-2, and their activities for transforming ginsenosides to compound K were measured. Among the tested concentrations of ginseng in the milk, compound K was effectively produced in the 3% and 6% ginseng yogurts fermented for 48 hrs. These fermented ginseng yogurts were extracted with BuOH, and their cytotoxicities against tumor cells were examined. The BuOH extract of the yogurt made from the 3% ginseng milk showed cytotooxic activity against P388 and HeLa tumor cells. However, the nonfermented ginseng milk did not exhibit cytotoxicity against these cells. Therefore, we deem that the ginseng yogurt, which contained compound K, could be developed as a potential fermented drink product.

재배상황버섯의 유산균 증식 효과를 측정한 결과 B. breve에 대한 증식 효과와 배양배지의 pH 저하 효과가 우수했다. 사람 및 흰쥐의 장내 세균을 버섯추출물 함유 배지에서 배양시 배지의 pH 저하 효과가 우수할 뿐만 아니라 β-glucosidase의 효소 활성을 억제하였다. 그 외에도 대장암 및 방광암 등의 원인효소로 주목되고 있는 사람 및 흰쥐의 장내 세균층 효소인 β-glucosidase 및 tryptophanase 효소 활성을 억제하였다. 이외에도 인슐린 비의 존형 당뇨병의 치료제로 사용되는 acarbose보다는 약하지만 maltase, sucrase 및 알파아밀라제를 효과적으로 저해하였다.