Soybean germs were soaked by Yongchun Monascus aged vinegar
or Recovered Yongchun Monascus aged vinegar at 4 times their
weight and incubated for 72 h at 25 C. The soybean germs and the
resultant soaking liquor (Yongchun Monascus aged vinegar) were
then lyophilized, ground to uniformity by a coffee mill, and
prepared as samples for isoflavone analysis by high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Soaking in water and cooking were as the controls. Soaking in
water: soybean germ was soaked by adding distilled water (natural
pH) at 4 times their weight and incubated at 25 C for 72 h.
Recovered vinegar soaking: soybean germ was soaked by the
recovered Yongchun Monascus aged vinegar (the vinegar has used
for soaking soy germ once, and then the resolution was recovered
from the last time soking) at 4 times their weight and incubated at
25 C for 72 h. Cooking: soybean germ was soaked by distilled
water and cooked at 121 C for 30 min. Finally, the soybean germs
and soaking liquor were lyophilized to yield soybean germ powder
for isoflavone analysis by HPLC.