When we performed melezitose assimilation test in industrial yeasts, most sake yeasts failed to assimilate melezitose, while the other industrial yeasts could. We therefore tried to elucidate differences for melezitose assimilation among industrial yeasts. Results showed industrial yeasts had no melezitose resolving power on the cell surface, but had this in the cell. Also, the sake yeasts had melezitose resolving power in the cell. There were remarkable differences among industrial yeasts when we examined transportation ability in a cell. In addition, both melezitose transportation ability into cells and resolving power in cells were increased by using maltose as a carbon source.
IL-12 is known to be one of the cytokines that causes an immunity balance shift to the Th 1 side. It was examined whether products from a Japanese sake-brewing process influence the production of IL-12 p40. When the extracts of the products were added to the assay system, the production of IL-12 p40 by the mouse macrophages (J 774.1) was promoted. The production of IL-12 p40 was stimulated not only by the addition of the alkaline extract from the moromi mash in the sake-brewing process but also the extracts from Japanese sake and sake cake.
In this study, we examined the sensory attributes of furfural exerting effects upon quality and correlation between the ingredient analysis value in barley-shochu mash and furfural in barley-shochu distillation. Results showed the sensory attribute of furfural was recognized as “sweet” and “smoky”. The detection and recognition threshold of furfural were respectively 8.3 mg/1 and 21.0 mg/1 in barley-shochu. Moreover, it was suggested that furfural was formed from xylose in barley-shochu making.