This study was performed to investigate the increase of S-allylcysteine content, a biomarker of black garlic, during its aging period, as well as the serum lipid-lowering effects of black garlic extract in high fat diet fed rats. The highest content of S-allylcysteine was observed on the 15th day of the aging period. Sensory evaluation was also estimated to be extremely good on the 15th day of the aging period. High fat diet rats with induced hyperlipidemia were fed diets containing black garlic extract of low, medium, and high doses for 6 weeks. No significant difference in body weight gain and food efficiency was observed between normal, placebo and black garlic fed groups. Liver weight was significantly higher in black garlic fed groups than in the normal group. Total serum cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly lower in low, medium, and high dose groups than in the normal group. Also, HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher and LDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in black garlic diet fed groups than in the normal group. Hepatic levels including total lipid and cholesterol were especially decreased in the black garlic diet fed group than in the placebo group. These results suggest that black garlic intake reduces the levels of serum and hepatic cholesterol in high fat diet fed rats. In conclusion, black garlic has a potential to be used as a functional health food ingredient with beneficial effects on lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In the present study, we screened suitable yeasts for wine fermentation and evaluated the fermentative characteristics of Saccharomyces sp. BCNU 6006 and its anti-oxidant activities. Firstly, various yeasts were isolated from Makgeolli, fruits, and fermented foods. Then, the preliminary selections of suitable yeasts were made using an enzymatic activity assay of glucosidase, glycosidase, protease and tolerance to ethanol and SO2. In addition, the production of biogenic amines and hydrogen sulfide was also monitored. The 9 yeast strains initially selected were determined to belong to the genera Saccharomyces and Kazachtania phylogenetically. We investigated the optimal conditions for wine fermented with black garlic juice (BGJ). The optimal conditions of alcohol fermentation using BGJ were 26 brix, 28°C, and 10 days. Finally, the fermentation products of black garlic wine (BGW) fermented with Saccharomyces sp. BCNU 6006 exhibited 15.03% ethanol, 12 brix of sugar, and pH 4.01. The contents of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, tannin, and 5-HMF compound of BGW were 3.85 mg/ml, 0.51mg/ml, 5.90 mg/ml, and 0.07 mg/ml respectively, lower than that of BGJ. DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and reducing power of BGW were 90.77%, 95.20% and 1.261 respectively, lower than that of BGJ. Superoxide anion (O 2 -) radical scavenging activity was 94.42%, higher than that of BGJ. Based on the above results, the industrial potential of Saccharomyces sp. BCNU 6006 as a wine-making yeast was confirmed in the present study.Key words : Antioxidant activities, black garlic, black garlic wine, total flavonoid, total polyphenol *Corresponding author *Tel : +82-55-213-3453, Fax : +82-55-213-3459 *E-mail : whjoo@changwon.ac.kr This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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