Our new material "Midori Jiuqu"-
By using the Euglena when making Jiuqu,
Confirmed research results that improve the content of sulfur compounds with antioxidant activity

Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo) is conducting research on the newly developed new material "Midori Koji", which is a microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: wovn.io). We have confirmed the research results that the content of sulfur compounds with antioxidant activity is improved by making Jiuqu * 1 using Euglena (Euglena).
* 1 Jiuqu: Making Jiuqu.

　In the "Local Innovation Induction Promotion Project" conducted by Akita Prefecture, we received adoption with Akita Konno Shoten and others under the theme of "Research and development of new fermented foods using Euglena Euglena and Jiuqu, and developed a new material, "Midori Jiuqu".
　And now, Euglena where respectively koji using AOK-139 strain is steamed rice and regular Akita Konno Shoten own species koji steamed rice with added powder was comprehensively analyzed sulfur compounds with each koji, Euglena It was confirmed that the content of sulfur compounds with antioxidant activity is improved in the koji (green koji) made from steamed rice with powder added.
　The details are as follows.

About research results on antioxidant components of "Midori Jiuqu"

■ Research content and results
　Euglena rice with euglena powder added and ordinary steamed rice were made using AOK-139 strain, which is a seed koji unique to Akita Konno Shoten, and the sulfur compounds of each koji were comprehensively analyzed. As a result, the content of glutathione, ergothioneine, etc., which has an antioxidant effect) * 2 in the koji (green koji) made with steamed rice to Euglena powder is added, as compared with the koji made from normal steamed rice (control group). Was confirmed to be improved (Fig. 1).
　For the analysis of sulfur compounds, we used the sulfur index technology * 3, which we started service in April 2018.​

Fig. 1 Comparison of the antioxidant components of the green koji made with the AOK-139 strain and the control group

* 2 Antioxidant action: A function that attenuates or eliminates harmful reactions caused by active oxygen in which part of oxygen is changed. It is said that when active oxygen with high oxidative power acts excessively in the body to damage genes and proteins and accumulate oxidative stress, it accelerates aging and increases the risk of diseases.

* 3 Sulfur index technology: By performing mass analysis using derivatizing reagents specific for sulfur compounds, highly sensitive and comprehensive detection of trace amounts of sulfur compounds that cannot be detected by general methods, and organic sulfur compounds , Inorganic sulfur compounds, as well as technologies that can simultaneously analyze sulfur compounds regardless of whether they are oxidized or reduced.

■ Consideration
We have confirmed the effect of improving the content of sulfur compounds, which have an antioxidant effect, by making Jiuqu using Euglena

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Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division