Earticle

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary chlorella intake could have an effect on antioxidative capacity in rats oxidatively stressed with cadmium (Cd). Sprague-Dawley rats fed dietary chlorella (0, 5, and 10%) for 4 weeks after induction of oxidative stress by exposing to Cd (200 ppm) for 8 weeks. After the oxidative stress applied, plasma and liver malondialdehyde concentrations and xanthine oxidase activities were decreased in 5% chlorella fed group compared to chlorella free group. Although liver heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was not affected by chlorella, the enzyme activity was improved in 5% chlorella fed group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity and hepatic metallothionein concentration were increased in 5% chlorella fed group. However, 10% chlorella intake had no effect on the improvement of oxidative stress-related enzymes and proteins. These findings suggest that, after induction of oxidative stress with Cd, 5% chlorella intake might improve antioxidative capacity against oxidative stress.

Dangyuja (Citrus grandis Osbeck) is a native plant growing only on Jeju Island in Korea. In this study, antiinflammatory effect of dangyuja leaves on a murine macrophage cell line was investigated. RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL) to induce expression of pro-inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL)-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)]. The crude extract (80% MeOH Ex.) and solvent fractions (hexane, CHCl3, EtOAc, BuOH, and H2O Ex.) were obtained from dangyuja leaves. The CHCl3 fraction inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) and IL- 6 production in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the CHCl3 fraction inhibited mRNA expression and protein levels of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the CHCl3 fraction inhibited LPS-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs: ERK, JNK, and p38). These results suggest that dangyuja leaves may inhibit LPS-induced production of inflammatory markers by blocking NF-κB and MAPKs signaling in RAW 264.7 cells.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AI), a volatile compound of mustard, has excellent antimicrobial effects, but its volatility hinders its wide usage as an ingredient of food products. Microencapsulation technique, therefore, was applied for delaying the release time of AI. For delaying the release time of AI, the mustard powder, which contained AI, was microencapsulated with 5% modified starch by using fluidized bed processing. The efficiency of the controlled release of AI at various pH was analyzed by the head space (HS) analysis and solid phase microextraction (SPME) method using gas chromatography (GC). Also, modified starch encapsulated powder was added into kimchi for applying in food industry. As the result, the release time of AI was delayed by microencapsulation with modified starch and the higher pH could be the faster release of AI. Also, the period until the pH values and total acidity of kimchi reached up to 4.5 and 0.6%, which give its malsour taste, was extended by microencapsulation. These results showed that modified starch encapsulated powder could prolong the preservation in food system

Six pesticides were determined in hot pepper leaves after successive processing steps of washing, blanching, and drying. The tested pesticides included dichlofluanid, flusilazole, folpet, iprodione, λ-cyhalothrin, and lufenuron. Each pesticide was singly applied to the leaves of the pepper plants, which were being cultivated in a greenhouse. The processing factors were dependent on the type of pesticide, and were in the following ranges: 0.09-0.73 by washing, <0.00-0.48 after blanching, and <0.00-3.30 after drying. Only lufenuron showed a processing factor of more than 1, at 3.30 in dried leaves, while the processing factors of the other pesticides were less than 1. The removal ratios of the tested pesticides by washing ranged from 27 to 90%. The blanching step increased their removals by 10-25%. However, drying did not have an effect on residue reduction. Finally, after proceeding to the drying step, removal ratios ranged from 85 to 100%, with the exception of lufenuron at 47%.

Fermentation of wort was investigated with an ultimate goal to develop a fermented beverage rich in prebiotics and functional ingredients as well as desirable in flavors. Wort was fermented with Leuconostoc citreum HJ-P4 originated from kimchi and subjected to sensory descriptive analysis. L. citreum HJ-P4 produced various organic acids (e.g., lactic acid, acetic acid) as well as functional sugars (e.g., mannitol, panose) during wort fermentation. The concentration and ratio of lactic acid and acetic acid were significantly influenced by roasting conditions of malts used for wort preparation and aeration conditions during fermentation. The concentration of mannitol and panose varied depending on the sucrose content of wort and aeration conditions. Sensory characteristics of the fermented worts were clearly differentiated according to the roasting conditions of malts used for wort preparation and aeration conditions during fermentation. These results indicate that metabolite concentration of fermented wort and its sensory properties can be manipulated with roasting conditions of malts and fermentation conditions.

The aim of this study investigated the fluctuations of 3 characters from 3 ecotypes [early ripening (ER), middle ripening (MR), and late ripening (LR)] of 20 Korean brown rice cultivars in different storage systems [time: 12 and 24 weeks, temperature: low (10oC) and room (25oC)]. With increase of storage time and temperature, lipoxygenase activity, and fat acidity increased, whereas germination rate was reduced. ER cultivars exhibited the highest lipoxygenase activity of 35.49±2.46 unit/mg protein during 24 weeks storage at 25oC, followed by LR (32.73±1.33) and MR (32.66±1.62) cultivars. The amounts of fat acidity also were observed by the same order (ER: 20.40±2.12>LR: 19.68±1.86>MR: 19.64±1.35 mg KOH/100 g). Germination rate slightly decreased with increase of time and temperature (MR>LR>ER), but MR and LR cultivars showed the most significant changes (ER: 60.90±23.47%, MR: 32.66±13.95%, and LR: 32.53±5.87%). On the basis of above results, MR cultivars were evaluated the highest quality, because high lipoxygenase activity, high fat acidity, and low germination rate have deteriorated in quality and generated off-odor. Thus, MR cultivars might be very important sources in food processing and stored dietary supplement aspects.

This study investigated change in the chemical components and antioxidant activity of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) leaves (RL) for the development of functional foods. Proximate compositions of protein, crude ash, and crude fat were 24.49, 11.41, and 4.89%, respectively. Contents of minerals of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) were 1,874, 1,433, 362, and 16 mg/100 g, respectively. α, β, and γ-Tocopherol contents were 9.79, 0.18, and 1.44 mg/100 g, respectively. Linoleic and linolenic acid contents were higher than those of palmatic and stearic acid. Total phenolic and flavonoids contents showed the high level of 149 and 49 mg/g. The IC50 values of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging of RL extracts were 688, 424, and 596 μg/mL, respectively, while the radical scavenging values by butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) were 92, 58, and 98 μg/mL, respectively. Thus, RL has the potential to be used as a healthy and functional food ingredient.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from various fruits and vegetables were screened in order to determine appropriate fermentation starters for manufacturing functional fermented onion juice. From the initial screening test comprising more than 700 isolated LAB, 16 isolates were selected based on their acid production rate. Among the selected isolates, the fermentation broth of KC-007 exhibited the highest electron donating and nitrite scavenging activities, with values at pH 1.2 of 95.6 and 68.7%, respectively. From the overall results obtained in this study, we finally selected the bacterium KC-007 as a fermentation starter. This bacterium was identified and named as Pediococcus pentosaceus based on its morphological and physiological characteristics, carbon-utilization pattern (as assessed using an API 50CHL kit), and molecular genetic characteristics (as assessed using the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene). The optimal temperature, pH, and starter inoculation concentration (v/v) required for growth of the isolated strain were 40oC, pH 4.0-6.0, and 2%(v/v), respectively.

This study was conducted to examine the chemical and sensory characteristics of fermented worts and consumer acceptability according to added flavorings. The worts were fermented by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) following fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc citreum) at different aeration conditions. Chemical and sensory descriptive analyses were conducted to examine the effects of the fermentation conditions. The consumer acceptability of the worts with added flavorings was also examined. Organic acids, functional sugars, and ethanol were produced by L. citreum and S. cerevisiae, respectively. Ethanol concentrations ranged from 10 to 25 g/L depending on the fermentation conditions. The sensory characteristics of the fermented worts were clearly differentiated by the fermentation conditions. Yeast fermentation resulted in high intensities for certain sensory attributes such as ‘alcohol’, ‘fermented barley’, ‘fermented white grape’, and ‘grassy’. Consumer acceptability changed with different levels of sugar and lemon flavoring, and the optimum levels were determined as 14.08% sugar and 0.98% lemon flavoring. Under these conditions, it was shown that a relatively acceptable fermented wort beverage containing functional materials can be produced.

Event-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method for genetically modified (GM) maize MIR604 was developed based on integration junction sequences between the host plant genome and the integrated transgene. In this study, 2 primer pairs and probes were designed for specific amplification of 100 and 111 bp DNA fragments from the zSSIIb gene (the maize endogenous reference gene) and MIR604. The quantitative method was validated using 3 certified reference materials (CRMs) with levels of 0.1, 1, and 10% MIR604. The method was also assayed with 14 different plants and other GM maize. No amplification signal was observed in real-time PCR assays with any of the species tested other than MIR604 maize. As a result, the bias from the true value and the relative deviation for MIR604 was within the range from 0 to 9%. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), varied from 2.7 to 10% for MIR604. Limits of detections (LODs) of qualitative and quantitative methods were all 0.1%. These results indicated that the event-specific quantitative PCR detection system for MIR604 is accurate and useful.

Acanthopanax senticosus has been used in East Asia as a traditional medicine. The purpose of this study is the investigation of an extraction method for A. senticosus var. subinermis (ASvS) leaves to improve their antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. Six extracts were prepared: extracted with water (W), ethanol (Eth), water or ethanol after ultra high pressure (WP, EthP), and water or ethanol after an extrusion process (WEx, EthEx). Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing ability showed that all extracts had a significant antioxidant activity. In anti-inflammatory activities, Eth and EthEx significantly inhibited the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β independent of cell viability in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein was significantly decreased by EthEx. These findings present that Eth and EthEx extracts of ASvS leaves have anti-inflammatory activities, and EthEx extract suppresses LPS-induced NO through the down-regulation of iNOS and proinflammatory cytokines.

Successive application of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DSM 70424 and Saccharomyces rouxii DSM 2535 or DSM 2531 in the production of non-alcoholic beer was investigated. The aim of the study was to consider the impact of the 2 mentioned strains of S. rouxii on the reduction of alcohol content in wort fermented at 12 or 24oC for 96 hr, applying periodic aeration. The 2 S. rouxii strains were added at the 48th hr of fermentation after thermal inactivation of S. cerevisiae cells. The greatest alcohol decrease rate was observed for the treatment containing S. rouxii DSM 2535-fermented at 24oC (from 1.56 to 0.36%). The concentration of acetaldehyde, diacetyl, and 2,3-pentandione, that have a key role in appearance of ‘wort’ and ‘buttery’ off flavors, were significantly lower in S. rouxii-containing treatments fermented at 24oC. S. rouxii-containing treatment fermented at 24oC showed slightly lower overall flavor acceptability compared to S. cerevisiae-containing treatment fermented at the same temperature. Such score was improved for the products obtained at 12oC.

This study was carried out to investigate the cooking properties and lipid oxidation stability during storage at 4±1oC when the various levels (5 to 20%) of doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) were added to pork patties cooked by pan frying (PF) and convection oven (CO). With increasing the addition of doenjang, cooking properties of pork patties revealed the improved cooking yield, less diameter reduction, and less thickness increase. Also, the shear force, hardness, and chewiness of pork patties were reduced. The PF cooking method showed better cooking properties than CO. Lipid oxidation expressed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values was significantly reduced by the addition of more than 5% doenjang (p<0.05). The TBARS values of cooked pork patties by PF were significantly lower than CO during the 8 days of the storage (p<0.05). The development of warmed-over flavor (WOF) in cooked pork patties was delayed as the amount of the doenjang was increased. It was suggested that the addition of doenjang and PF favorably affected the cooking properties and stability of lipid oxidation in pork patties.

Physicochemical properties of native and acid-modified Job’s tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) starches were investigated. Starch extracted from Job’s tears was treated with 2.2 N hydrochloric acid for different length of time (3, 6, 12, and 18 hr). The hydrolysis pattern of starches with the acid proceeded rapidly up to 12 hr and then the approached constant values. The swelling power of acid-modified starches measured at all temperatures was lower than that of its native counterparts and the water solubility index increased as temperature and hydrolysis time increased. Rapid visco analyzer viscograms of acid-modified starches demonstrated a very low viscosity as compared with that of native starch. However, Xray diffraction did not show any significant alteration in the crystallinity after acid-modification.

Low levels of virus contamination and naturally occurring reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) inhibitors restrain virus detection in oysters. A rapid and efficient oyster-processing procedure that can be used for sensitive virus detection in oysters was developed. Poliovirus type 1 Sabin strain was used to evaluate the efficacy of virus recovery. The procedure included (a) acid-adsorption and elution with buffers (0.25M glycine-0.14 M NaCl, pH 7.5; 0.25M threonine-0.14M NaCl, pH 7.5); (b) polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation; (c) resuspension in Tween 80/Tris solution and chloroform extraction; (d) the second PEG precipitation; (e) viral RNA extraction with TRIzol and isopropanol precipitation; and (f) RT-PCR combined with semi-nested PCR. The overall recovery of elution/concentration was 19.5% with poliovirus. The whole procedure usually takes 19 hr. The overall detection sensitivity was 4 RT-PCR units of genogroup I norovirus (NoV) and 6.4 RT-PCR units of genogroup II Nov/25 g of oysters initially seeded. The virus-detecting method developed in this study should facilitate the detection of low levels of NoV in oysters.

Poly(lactide) (PLA)-coated paperboards were prepared by solution coating and thermo-compression coating methods and their effect of coating on the packaging properties such as tensile, water resistance, water vapor barrier, and heat sealing properties was tested. Compared with uncoated control paperboard, tensile strength (TS) of PLA-coated paperboard increased profoundly (2.2-2.6 folds) with slight increase in elongation at break (E). Water absorptiveness (WA) of the paperboard decreased 74-170 folds and water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased 6.3-22.1 folds by coating with PLA, which indicates an increase in the hydrophobicity of the surface of paperboard. Compared with polyethylene (PE)-coated paperboard, both PLA-coated paperboard exhibited 2.3 time higher heat sealing strength. In addition, the PLA-coated paperboards showed equal or higher wet TS than PE-coated paperboard. All the test results showed that the paperboard coated by the thermo-compression coating method was similar to or better than those of coated by the solution coating method.

Food nanoemulsion systems consisting of water and oleoresin capsicum (OC), polyoxythylene sorbitan esters (Tween 20, 40, 60, and 80), propylene glycol (PG), sucrose monostearate (SM), and their corresponding mixtures were formulated to use as food vehicles. Tween 80 produced OC nanoemulsions with stable dispersions as one-phase systems, and the dertermined emulsification efficiencies clearly distinguished the ability of the various surfactants to emulsify OC. The nanoemulsions were prepared by both ultrasonication and self-assembly, and the nanoemulsion areas were determined using phase diagrams by measuring the sizes of the emulsions. One-phase nanoemulsions were presented, with a multiple cloudy region and phase separation that were dependent on the particle size of the emulsion. The OC nanoemulsions prepared by ultrasonication using systems of OC/Tween 80/water, OC/Tween 80/water+PG, and OC/Tween 80/water+SM, resulted in particle sizes ranging from 15 to 100 nm. Finally, the nanoemulsions maintained their initial sizes during storage, ranging from 65 to 92 nm.

Trypsin inhibitors and lectins are defense proteins produced by many organisms. From Chinese ‘Large Black Soybeans’, a 60 kDa lectin and a 20 Da trypsin inhibitor (TI) were isolated using chromatography on Q-Sepharose, Mono Q, and Superdex 75. The TI inhibited trypsin and chymotrypsin with an IC50 of 5.7 and 5 μM, respectively. Trypsin inhibitory activity of the TI was stable from pH 3 to 13 and from 0 to 65oC. Hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was stable from pH 2 to 13 and from 0 to 65oC. The TI was inhibited by dithiothreitol, signifying the importance of disulfide bond. The TI and the lectin inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (IC50=44 and 26 μM), and proliferation of breast cancer cells (IC50=42 and 13.5 μM) and hepatoma cells (IC50=96 and 17 μM). The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was inhibited most potently by Larabinose. Neither the lectin nor the TI displayed antifungal activity

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of glycine supplementation on the growth of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum during kimchi fermentation. As preliminary experiment, the effect of supplementation of glycine (0-2.0%, w/v) to MRS medium on the growth of Leuc. mesenteroides and L. plantarum was evaluated. At 2.0% glycine in the MRS medium, cell growth rate was inhibited by 79% for L. plantarum and 27% for Leuc. mesenteroides. Subsequently, different concentrations of glycine (0, 0.5, and 2.0%, w/v) were applied for kimchi fermentation for 21 days, at 5oC. At day 14, the pH and titratable acidity (TA) of kimchi supplemented with 2.0% glycine were 4.83 and 0.38%, respectively, whilst the control kimchi had a pH of 4.49 and TA of 0.44%, respectively. The ratio of Leuconostoc/ Lactobacillus in kimchi increased as the concentration of glycine increased. The results show that the presence of glycine affected the growth of the 2 lactic acid bacteria, particularly of L. plantarum.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Chlorella vulgaris extract (CVE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The mice received silymarin (100 mg/kg), intragastrieally (i.g.) and CVE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.g.), respectively, every other day, for 4 weeks before CCl4 administration. Twenty-four hr after the administration of CCl4, the serum and liver were analyzed. Our study found that in the CVE groups, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels had decreased significantly and the tissue injury was notably diminished compared to the CCl4 group. The antioxidant activities of CVE groups, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione (GSH), were significantly increased and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was remarkably increased in a CVE concentration-dependent manner. In the CVE groups, cytochrome P450 2B1/2B2 (CYP2B1/2) content was decreased. These results indicate that CVE has protective effects against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity via stimulation of the antioxidant activity and nitric oxide (NO) production, and through inhibition of CYP2B1/2.

Ethylacetate and butanol fractions of leaf extracts (OLE) showed the higher contents of total phenolic compounds than hexane and water fractions. Oleuropein contents were 4.21±0.57, 3.92±0.43, 0.32±0.03, 5.76±0.32, and 32.47±0.25 mg/ 100 g for ethanol extract, and hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol fraction, respectively. Treatment of ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiated cells with 3 OLEs prepared by using ethylacetate and butanol at concentrations 0.001, 0.005, and 0.01% respectively showed significant recovery of cell viabilities. Treatment of dexametason 1 mM reduced tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α secretion by about 40%. UVB irradiated immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells were treated with 3 different OLEs at the same concentrations. Ethylacetate fraction showed the strongest inhibition activity with respect of reduction of the elevated TNF-α. Cytotoxicity of OLEs on the B16-F1 cells was evaluated through thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Ethylacetate fraction has no cytotoxicity in the range of 0.005-0.01%. A slight cytotoxicity was observed at the concentration of 0.1% butanol fraction of OLE that caused 10% decrease in cell viability.

Melamine is a chemical intermediate to manufacture amino resins and plastics, which cannot be used as food additive since it can cause kidney stones. A qualitative determination method of melamine residue in powdered and liquid milk was developed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique. The calibration sets consisted of 21 standard melamine solutions, in which 1% trichloroacetic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile (3:1, v/v) were used as solvent. The model was validated using 10 standard melamine solutions which were unused to build up the calibration set. Infrared (IR) absorbance peaks specific to almost all chemical groups in melamine molecule were shown in the spectral range between 1,100 and 1,800/cm. Combined partial least squares (PLS)-2nd derivative calibration model coupled with mean centering (MC) mathematical enhancement showed the highest correlation coefficients (R2>0.99). In brief, the FTIR technique can be used for quantitative analysis of melamine in milk samples.

Hericium erinaceus is an edible mushroom used as a medicinal food in Asian countries. In this study, the chemopreventive effects of H. erinaceus mycelia hot water extract (HEW) were evaluated. HEW remarkably induced the luciferase activity of the antioxidant response element (ARE), located in the promoter region of phase 2 and antioxidant genes and regulated by nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The up-regulation of ARE activity by HEW corresponded with the induction of Nrf2 and the antioxidant enzyme, hemeoxygenase-1. The inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity is a promising effective approach in cancer chemoprevention, and HEW prominently suppressed COX-2 protein expression in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, HEW showed anti-inflammatory activity by modulating inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and the transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that H. erinaceus possessed anti-tumor and antiinflammatory effects via the modulation of Nrf2/ARE and inflammatory signaling pathways, and may therefore have potential use as a natural chemopreventive agent.

This study examined the influence of manufacturing processes and extraction conditions on the chemical compositions of green tea. Green tea samples grown in various areas (Korea, China, and Japan) and processed by 4 different methods (steaming, pan-firing, steaming and pan-firing, and heavy roasting after steaming and pan-firing) were collected for study. The chemical compositions of the green tea extracts and infusions were different according to their processing methods and extraction conditions, including catechins, caffeine, and free amino acids contents. In all samples analyzed, (−)- epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), and theanine were determined as the major catechins and free amino acid, respectively. Studies of samples grown in the same area (Jeju; Korea) showed that there were significant differences in the concentrations of catechins and caffeine in extract and infusion according to the processing methods. These results indicate that processing methods influenced the chemical compositions of the green tea extracts and infusions.

Total phenolics and antioxidant activities of water and 80% methanol extract of chestnut inner skin were investigated. The antioxidant properties of both extracts of chestnut inner skin were evaluated using different antioxidant tests, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, reducing power, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and inhibitory effects on β-carotene bleaching. The 80% methanol extract of inner skin exhibited the higher DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activities, reducing power, and FRAP than water extract of inner skin and did also in a concentration-dependent manner. However, inhibitory effects on β-carotene bleaching of 80% methanol extract was similar to those of water extract, 35.09 and 39.07% at 1 mg/mL, respectively. The total phenolic contents of water and 80% methanol extract from chestnut inner skin were 5,801.42 and 9,735.56 mg/100 g, respectively. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that gallic acid was the predominant phenolic compound in water and 80% methanol extract from inner skin. These water and 80% methanol extracts of chestnut inner skin can be utilized as an effective and safe source of antioxidants.

The main objective of this study was to investigate possible application of citron (Citrus junos Sieb. ex TANAKA) seeds, which are massively produced as by-products during citron tea process, into functional food materials. First of all, citron seeds were germinated and produced citron shoots were examined for their functional properties. When contents of flavonoids in citron seeds and their germinated shoots were compared, naringenin, neohesperitin, and hesperitin were remarkably increased in shoots after germination while naringin and didymin were decreased. Concentrations of limonin and nomilin were decreased by germination otherwise their unidentified derivatives were newly formed. A methanol extract of citron shoot had lower IC50 values [0.13 and 0.07 mg/mL for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS, respectively] than citron seed extract in radical scavenging activities. Addition of 500 mg/mL of citron shoot extract suppressed fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by 36.9%. Oral administration of olive oil along with citron shoot extract (33 mg/kg body weight) to Sprague Dawley rats effectively inhibited absorption of lipid into a body by decreasing blood triglyceride levels from 105.1 to 74.9 mg/dL 2 hr after olive oil administration. According to these results, citron shoot extract as a rich source of flavonoids can be utilized for functional food ingredients with effective antioxidant and anti-adipogenic properties.

Optimum conditions for the freeze-thaw stability (FTS) of mung bean starch (MBS) paste as a main ingredient in omija-eui were investigated. For the optimization of the paste preparation condition, the FTS of MBS prepared by boiling in a shaking water bath (BMSW) or by pressure-cooking in an autoclave (PCMA) were analyzed using a response surface methodology (RSM). In addition, the effects of various additives such as gums, sugars, and emulsifier were evaluated on the FTS of MBS paste prepared under optimal conditions. The predicted maximal FTS of MBS paste prepared by the PCMA method (73%) was higher than that of the paste prepared by the BMSW method (36%). In case of additives, gellan gum and sodium alginate effectively prevented the syneresis of MBS paste in the BMSW method and in the PCMA method, respectively. The use of a fructose fatty acid ester as an emulsifier decreased syneresis in a dose-dependent, while the addition of sugars accelerated syneresis. Consequently, MBS paste for omija-eui preparation may be efficiently prepared by adding sodium alginate and fructose fatty acid ester under the optimal conditions of 4.3% MBS content, 121oC heating temperature, and 89oC cooling temperature by pressure-cooking in an autoclave.

Polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) extracted from Citrus sinensis ‘Jincheng’ peel were characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Seven individual PMF were identified. 3, 3', 4', 5, 6, 7-hexamethoxyflavone (HEX), nobiletin (NOB), heptamethoxyflavone (HEP), 5-demethylnobiletin (DN), and tangeretin (TAN) were characterized through electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in positive mode of protonated molecular ions [M+H]+, the diagnostic fragment ions, together with the UV-Vis spectra and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) elution order from literature data. Sinensetin (SIN) and tetramethyl-O-scutellarein (SCU) were isolated and identified through their MS, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and UV-Vis spectral studies. The levels of PMFs in peels from different cultivars of citrus fruits grown in China were determined for the first time. The results showed that C. aurantium ‘Bitter orange’ peel was the most promising variety for HEP. C. sinensis peel was a good source for SIN and SCU.

User-friendly software was developed to determine the shelf-life of perishable Korean seasoned side dishes in real time based on growth models of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. In the program algorithm, the primary spoilage and fastest-growing pathogenic organisms are selected according to the product characteristics, and their growth is simulated based on the previously monitored or recorded temperature history. To predict the growth of spoilage organisms with confidence limits, kinetic models for aerobic bacteria or molds/yeasts from published works are used. Growth models of pathogenic bacteria were obtained from the literature or derived with regression of their growth rate data estimated from established software packages. These models are also used to check whether the risk of pathogenic bacterial growth exceeds that of food spoilage organisms. Many example simulations showed that the shelf-lives of the examined foods are predominantly limited by the growth of spoilage organism rather than by pathogenic bacterial growth.

Exo-polysaccharide isolated from the culture of Grifola frondosa was modified by sodium periodate (NaIO4) and sodium chlorite (NaClO2) to delete polysaccharide part and phenolic compound, respectively, and was investigated what effect has each part of exo-polysaccharide against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress in porcine kidney epithelial cells (LLC-PK1). Oxidative stress on LLC-PK1 cell was measured by cell viability, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity. Exposure of LLC-PK1 cells to 1 mM AAPH for 24 hr resulted in significant decrease in cell viability, SOD, and GSH-px action, and significant increase in lipid peroxidation. The treatment of exo-polysaccharide and NaIO4 modified sample protected LLC-PK1 cells from AAPHinduced cell damage such as cell viability, lipid peroxidation, SOD, and GSH-px activity in a dose dependant manner (10, 100, and 500 μg/mL). However, the treatment of NaClO2 modified sample did not affect for cell viability, lipid peroxidation, SOD, and GSH-px activity. The antioxidant activity of exo-polysaccharide was significantly decreased on AAPH-induced LLC-PK1 cell system when phenolic compound was deleted. The antioxidant activity was significantly correlated with the content of phenolic compound of exo-polysaccharide.