당화공정이 간편한 장점이 있는 팽화미의 이용성을 높이기 위하여 팽화미를 당화한 후 항산화 효과가 좋은 레몬밤을 첨가하여 알코올 발효를 하고, 이를 이용하여 제조한 식초의 품질 특성과 항산화 활성을 조사하였다. 효소로 당화한 팽화미에 레몬밤 추출물을 농도별로 첨가하여 Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCCM 11201로 알코올 발효 후 알코올 함량 6% 및 초기 산도 2%로 조절한 다음, Acetobacter aceti KCCM 40229로 30oC, 200 rpm로 15일간 초산 발효를 하여 식초를 제조하였다. 팽화미 식초의 pH 및 알코올 함량은 발효가 진행되면서 전체적으로 감소하였고, 총산은 발효 15일째 5.20±0.01%(레몬밤 2.0%)-5.80±0.01%(레몬밤 0.0%)로 레몬밤 첨가량이 증가할수록 총산이 약간 낮게 나타났다. 팽화미 식초의 유기산 함량은 발효 15일에 5.26%(레몬밤 2.0%)-5.97%(레몬밤 0.0%)이었으며, acetic acid의 함량이 가장 높았다. 팽화미 식초의 총 폴리페놀 함량과 총 플라보노이드 함량은 레몬밤 첨가량이 많을수록 함량이 높았으며, 발효 15 일에 각각 179.4±4.5 mg/kg(레몬밤 0.0%)-340.8±2.6 mg/kg(레몬밤 2.0%) 및 1.5±0.3 mg/kg(레몬밤 0.0%)-31.7±0.3 mg/ kg(레몬밤 2.0%)이었다. 레몬밤 첨가량이 많을수록 DPPH 라디칼 소거 활성, FRAP(환원력) 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성이 높게 나타나 레몬밤 2.0% 처리구는 발효 15일에 각각 82.99±0.61%, 1.08±0.01 abs.(at 593 nm), 87.67±0.68%를 나타냈다. 본 연구결과 레몬밤을 첨가한 팽화미 식초가 항산화 활성을 갖는 식초로 활용될 수 있는 가능성이 있다는 것을 확인하였다.
To enhance the usability of puffed rice, we evaluated the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of vinegar made with puffed rice and lemon balm. First, puffed rice containing lemon balm extracts was fermented for alcohol production. The alcoholic fermented liquid was adjusted to an alcohol content of 6% and an initial acidity of 2% for vinegar fermentation. The pH and alcohol content of the lemon balm vinegar decreased overall as fermentation progressed. The total acidity was 5.20±0.01% (2.0% lemon balm) to 5.80±0.01% (0.0% lemon balm) on the 15th day of fermentation, and the total acidity was slightly lower as the amount of added lemon balm was increased. Citric, succinic, and acetic organic acids were detected in the vinegar and the acetic acid content was highest at 4.81% to 5.37% on the 15th day of fermentation. We found that the total polyphenol and total flavonoid content of the lemon balm vinegar increased as we added lemon balm, and the content on the 15th day of fermentation was 179.4±4.5 (0.0% lemon balm) - 340.8±2.6 mg/kg (2.0% lemon balm) and 1.5±0.3 (0.0% lemon balm) - 31.7±0.3 mg/ kg (2.0% lemon balm), respectively. The higher the amount of lemon balm added, the higher the DPPH radical scavenging activity, the FRAP (reducing power), and the ABTS radical scavenging activity. Moreover, those activities after 2.0% lemon balm treatment were 82.99±0.61%, 1.08±0.01 abs., and 87.67±0.68%, respectively, on the 15th day of fermentation. These results suggest that vinegar with added lemon balm may be used as an antioxidant agent.