• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 2017

This study examined the anti-inflammatory and whitening effects of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp L.) seed extract. Amaranthus spp L. seeds were extracted using 70% ethanol and then fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, dichloromethan, ethyl acetate and butanol. For the study of anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds significantly inhibited nitrogen oxide production as well as the protein level of iNOS. Furthermore, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds inhibited expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, PGE2 and the protein level of COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Inaddition, the tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the Amaranthus spp L. seed 70% ethanol extract and subfractions were also measured to see if these extracts can be used as an ingredient for whitening cosmetics. Tyrosinase is an oxidase that is a rate-limiting enzyme for controlling the production of melanin. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have become increasingly important in cosmetics and medical products with regards to hyperpigmentation. EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds showed mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. This activity was more potent than that of a positive control cynandione A. These results suggest that Amaranthus spp L. seeds may be a valuable natural ingredient for the food and cosmetics industries.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2020

In this study, the efficacy of Amaranth(Amaranthus spp. L.) as a natural dye resource was investigated for wool fabrics. It is known that a large amount of flavonoid and anthocyanin colorant are contained in leaves and stems, as well as red flowers. The optimum condition of dyeing was 1.3% of dye concentration(o.w.b.) at 100℃ for 60 minutes, resulting the K/S value, 23.43 and R Munsell color on the wool fabrics. Al, Fe, Zinc and Titanium were used as a mordant. The mordant improved the dye uptake, regardless of the mordant type and mordant method. The pre-mordanting method was more effective than the post-mordanting method. Al pre-mordanted fabric showed the highest K/S, 30.02. Light fastness and washing fastness were high in grades 4-5 and 5, and rubbing fastness was good in grades 4 and 4-5 in dry condition, but low in grades 2-3 and 3 in wet condition. The dry cleaning fastness was excellent in all 5 grades. However, the alkaline perspiration fastness ratings were low in grades 2-3 and 3. The results show Amaranthus spp. L. colorant can be used as a functional natural dye for wool fabrics.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.168-174
• /
• 2016

Anti-melanogenic effects of amaranth (AT), one of the key source of squalene, were investigated in melanocytes. Amaranth seed powder was extracted with water and melan-a cells were treated with various concentrations of AT. By using HPLC, content of myo-inositol, one of potential active components, was measured in the crude extract of AT.AT reduced the melanin content in melan-a melanocytes and down-regulated melanogenic enzyme activity such as tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. By regulating melanogenic enzyme activity, AT may be a potential natural source for whitening agent. Myo-inositol was detected in AT by HPLC and may be one of the active compounds from AT involved in the regulation of anti-melanogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that AT has anti-melanogenesis properties. This new function of amaranth may be useful in the development of new skin-whitening products and its value as food.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.41 no.spc1
• /
• pp.145-165
• /
• 1996

Amaranth(Amaranthus spp. L.) and quinoa (Chenpodium quinoa Willd.) are old crops from South, Central America and Central Asia and their grains have been identified as very promising food crops because of their exceptional nutritive value. Squalene is an important ingredient in skin cosmetics and computer disc lubricants as well as bioactive materials such as inhibition of fungal and mammalian sterol biosynthesis, antitumor, anticancer, and immunomodulation. Amaranth has a component called squalene (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,22-tetraco-sahexaene) about 1/300 of the seed and $5\~8\%$ of its seed oil. Oil and squalene content in amaranth seed were different for the species investigated. Squalene content in seed oil also increased by $15.5\%$ due to puffing and from 6.96 to $8.01\%$ by refining and bleaching. Saponin concentrations in quinoa seed ranged 0.01 to $5.6\%$. Saponins are located in the outer layers of quinoa grain. These layers include the perianth, pericarp, a seed coat layer, and a cuticle like structure. Oleanane-type triterpenes saponins are of great interest because of their diverse pharmacological properties, for instance, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, contraceptive, and cholesterol-lowering effects. It is known that quinoa contains a number of structurally diverse saponins including the aglycones, oleanolic acid, hederagenin, and phytolaccagenic acid, which are new potential in gredient for pharmacological properties. It is likely that these saponin levels will be considerably affected by genetic, agronomic and environmental factors as well as by processing. With the current enhanced public interest in health and nutrition amaranth and quinoa will most likely remain in the immediate future within the realm of exotic health foods until such time as agricultural production meets the quantities and qualify required by industrial food manufacturers.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2014

This study investigates the free radical-scavenging activities of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp. L.) red and purple flower extracts. The methanol and hot water extracts of flower are being evaluated for its total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, scavenging activities by the DPPH and ABTS analysis, SOD-like activity, and inhibition activities of superoxide radical on the HL-60 cells and nitric oxide of the RAW 264.7 cells. The PFM (purple flower extracted with MeOH) showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content, 606.95 mg GAE/100 g and 254.69 mg CE/100 g, respectively. Amongst the scavenging activities of the DPPH radicals, PFM($RC_{50}=155.06{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) is the highest of all the samples. The ABTS radical-scavenging activity is also highest for PFM (53.16%) at the $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. But, the SOD-like activity of the PFW (purple flower extracted with hot water) increases more than 3 folds of the PFM. In the leukemia HL-60 cell, the PFM shows strongly inhibited superoxide radical generations at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ at 72.34%, which increases with 1.79 folds more than the RFW (red flower extracted with hot water). The inhibition activity of nitric oxide in Raw 264.7 cells is the highest for PMF (46.90%) at a $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. In conclusion, PMF show the highest flavonoid contents and the most powerful free radical-scavenging activity. Our results suggest that the increase of antioxidant activities depend on flavonoid contents. Thus, Amaranth flower can be useful for natural antioxidant compounds.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth characteristics, phenolic concentration and antioxidant capacity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) sprout and investigate the possibility of using super absorbent polymer (SAP) as a medium in hydroponic cultivation in a plant factory. The control was used a commercial sprout cultivation tool (19 × 14 × 9 cm, W × D × L), and a treatment (SAP) was added on the cultivation tool to compare the effect of SAP. Safflower sprouts were immersed in a distilled water at 30 ℃ for 5 hours, and then grown in a plant growth chamber. The temperature and relative humidity were maintained at 25 ± 1℃ and 70 ± 4%, respectively. The light condition was maintained at 35 ± 6 μmol·m-2·s-1 (12h). Amaranth sprouts were grown in a plant growth chamber maintained with temperature of 25 ± 2℃, relative humidity of 70 ± 5% and light condition of 188 ± 10 μmol·m-2·s-1 (16h). A physical and chemical characteristic of SAP, and a germination rate, growth characteristics and secondary metabolites were analyzed in both safflower and amaranth. There was no significant effect on SAP in a germination rate, growth and secondary metabolites of safflower compared to the control, whereas amaranth grown under SAP was higher in germination rate, dry weight, phenolic concentration, and antioxidant capacity compared to the control. As a result, this study was suggested that cultivation of sprouts using SAP would be possible in a plant factory, and further studies on SAP on plant physiological response are required.