Use of Bacillus subtilis to enrich isoflavone aglycones in fermented natto

BACKGROUND: Natto is a food made by fermenting cooked soybeans with Bacillus subtilis. Soybean isoflavones are reported to provide many health benefits, including oestrogenic effects. However, isoflavone aglycones may be absorbed faster and in higher amounts in the human intestine than their glucosides. This study aimed to investigate the content of isoflavone components in commercial natto products as well as the use of B. subtilis strains to ferment cooked soybeans to produce a high level of isoflavone aglycones in natto. RESULTS: The content and composition of isoflavones in commercial natto products were predominantly (> 76%) isoflavone glucosides. Fermentation of cooked soybeans with B. subtilis BCRC 14718 at 37 degrees C for 48h was more effective in converting glucosides to aglycones than with other strains of B. subtilis, increasing the proportion of isoflavone aglycones from 12 to 68% of the total isoflavones in the fermented natto. The proportions of the isoflavone aglycones daidzein and genistein in cooked soybeans fermented with B. subtilis BCRC 14718 for 48 h increased from 6 to 54% and from S to 13% respectively. CONCLUSION: Bacillus subtilis BCRC 14718 incubated with cooked soybeans produces higher levels of isoflavone aglycones, which may enhance health benefits over traditional fermented natto. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.