This study compared the quality and antioxidant characteristics of commercial and traditional Doenjangs from various regions of Korea. The pH, salinity, and brix degree of the samples tested ranged from 4.61～6.36, 0.90～1.00% and 0.97～1.10 °Bx, respectively. The pH was highest for Doenjang made in the Jeonnam region. No significant differences in the salinity or brix degree of Doenjang from different regions of Korea were found(p>0.05). The L, a, and b-values for color of the Doenjang samples ranged from 52.92～55.00, 0.03～0.62 and －0.74～2.70, respectively. The total polyphenol content(TPC) ranged from 18.71～25.78 ㎎ GAE/㎖, and the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2, 2-azinobis(3-ethyl benzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid(ABTS) radical scavenging activities ranged from 6.43～14.38 and 2.46～7.08 ㎎ AE/㎖, respectively. The TPC was highest for Doenjang from Gyeongnam, while that from Gyeongbuk had the lowest content. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest for Doenjang from Jeonnam and lowest for Doenjang from Gangwon. The ABTS radical scavenging activities for Doenjang from Gyeonggi and Gyeongbuk were lower in comparison to samples from other regions. Consequently these results should provide better information for standardizing and improving the quality and functional activity of commercial Doenjang in Korea.

This study was executed to evaluate the immune activity, nitrite scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity against extracts of various concentration of ethanol solvent from Codonopsis lanceolata cultured at 6 local regions. The immune responses from both human T and B cell line was significantly enhanced in the cell growth compared to control while the cell growth was influenced at a certain period of culture. The results revealed that the cell growth of both human T and B cell was altered in a time dependent manner. The nitrite scavenging activity of ethanol extracts from various solvent concentration of C. lanceolata were affected by pH. At a pH of 1.2, the nitrite scavenging effect of all of the extracts tested observed higher than that of the other two pH ranges. There was no distinct detection of nitrite scavenging effects of the pH range 6.0. The ABTS radical scavenging activity was progressively increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the activity was the highest in 100% ethanol extract. The result from this investigation suggests that the extract of Codonopsis lanceolata could be an addition to basic medicine for immune modulation and natural food additives.