• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.398-402
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• 2022

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), a rich source of polyphenols, exerts hypocholesterolemic effects. However, little is known about its effects on the regulation of the hepatic cholesterol metabolism and the underlying mechanisms. In the present study, the effects of polyphenol-rich black chokeberry extract (CBE) on hepatic cholesterol metabolism were investigated by measuring the expression of genes involved in the absorption, de novo synthesis, and efflux of cholesterol in HepG2 cells. There was a significant reduction in the expression levels of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism, the low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, in CBE-treated HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, CBE increased the expression levels of genes involved in cholesterol and bile acid efflux. The expression levels of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation genes increased, whereas those of lipogenic genes decreased following CBE treatment. These data suggest that the consumption of black chokeberry may be beneficial for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2017

Effects of different soil water conditions on fruit characteristics were investigated in 5-year-old 'Nero' black chokeberry trees (Aronia melanocarpa). Three kinds of drought stresses, including low water deficit, severe water deficit, and very severe water deficit, due to decline of soil water decreased the fruit quality of weight of 10 berries, soluble solid content, and anthocyanin, compared with the control (consistent water supply) during the harvest period. After longer drought stress, supply of soil water could induce berry cracking because cell size of epidermis of fruits contracted, whereas cell size of sub-epidermis and flesh expanded. Thus periodic water supply using water supply facility is needed for yield and quality of 'Nero' black chokeberry fruits.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2017

Leaf spot disease on black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) was observed at several locations in Korea during 2014-2015. Leaf spots were distinct, scattered over the leaf surface and along the leaf border, subcircular to irregular and brown surrounded by a distinct dark color, and were expanded and coalesced into irregularly shaped lesions. Severely infected leaves became dry and fell off eventually. The causative agent was identified as Pseudocercospora pyricola. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of multiple genes, including internal transcribed spacer, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, actin, and the large subunit ribosomal DNA were conducted. The pathogenicity test was conducted twice yielding similar results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on P. pyricola infection of A. melanocarpa globally.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2020

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) has been suggested to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects due to its high polyphenol content. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of black chokeberry on the alterations of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in macrophages have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of polyphenol-rich black chokeberry extract (CBE) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. CBE significantly attenuated the increase of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the nuclear translocation of NRF-2 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. The mRNA abundances of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes were significantly decreased in LPS-stimulated macrophages. The LPS-induced mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines was significantly inhibited by reducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by CBE. These data suggest that black chokeberry may be used for the prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation-associated disease.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2016

In early June 2014, leaf spot symptoms were observed on black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) in Yesan-gun and Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do in Korea. The initial symptoms on leave surfaces were brown small-circular spots with a yellow halo lesion, and gradually the small spots were fused, all of infected leaves dropped eventually. A fungus were isolated from the initial lesion, and cultured on potato dextrose agar. Colony color on upper surface of plate varied from olive gray to charcoal gray. Size of conidia mostly extend to $19-50{\times}5-9{\mu}m$ in nature and $20-59{\times}8-13{\mu}m$ in culture, with 3-8 transverse septa and usually no longitudinal septum or only 1 longitudinal septum in 1-3 of the transverse compartments, and also have a short or long beak. Pathogenicity was investigated using wounded or unwounded black chokeberry and apple leaves. After 7 days of inoculation, leaf spots were similar to the symptoms naturally occurred in the field. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity, and ITS rDNA sequence analysis, this fungus was identified as Alternaria mali. This is the first report of Alternaria leaf spot on black chokeberry caused by A. mali in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.136-148
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• 2018

The study was performed to investigate basic tree growth and fruit characteristics of 'Nero' black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) depending on the different cultivation regions and altitudes in 2014, 2015. Tree growth and change of developmental stages of 'Nero' were similar regardless of meteorological environment of the four cultivation regions (Danyang, Okcheon, Yeongdong, and Geumsan) in 2014. Fruit characteristics of 'Nero' were significant differences in berry weight and anthocyanin content among the four orchards due to difference in cultivation techniques and relatively wide daily temperature range just before harvest, respectively. Tree growth and change of developmental stages of 'Nero' grown at the two orchards with different altitudes appeared to be similar during the successive years 2014 and 2015. Soluble solids content of the berries cultivated at low altitude (117 m) was higher than at high altitude (342 m). Acidity showed an inverse pattern with soluble solids content. Anthocyanin content increased progressively until at the middle of August, 2014-15 and then it decreased. Our results showed that black chokeberry is a species adaptive to the domestic environment as there were no differences in tree growth and change of developmental stages of 'Nero'. Considering fruit quality of black chokeberry such as soluble solids content, acidity, and anthocyanin content, our results suggest that optimal harvest period of black chokeberry 'Nero' is August 8 to 19.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2020

The study was initiated to reduce production cost and environmental pollution with the evaluation of nutrient requirement of 'Nero' black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and optimum amount of oil cake application. 100% of a recommended amount (RA) of oil cake was designated as a 100-RA, with 0-RA, 25-RA, 50-RA, and 75-RA for 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% RA, respectively. The oil cake was scattered around the black chokeberry at every year for two years from 2018 to 2019, with investigation conducted for the second year. Soil mineral nutrient concentrations were not significantly different among the treatments. Dry weight (DW) of root and leaves was low for 0-RA-treated black chokeberry, with no significant difference observed for the all treatments for the DW of stems. 75-RA increased the fruit DW of 615 g and yield efficiency of 45.3%. Top:root ratio was the highest of 4.7 for 75-RA. Increased amount of oil cake application expanded the tree volume. Tree volume had a strong positive relationship with the root DW (r²=0.977). Mineral nutrient uptake in the root was the highest on the 25-RA-treated black chokeberry, except for Fe uptake. Mineral nutrient uptake in the leaves were similar to all the black chokeberries, except for T-N and Fe uptake. 75-RA increased mineral nutrient uptake in the fruit, except for Cu, in particular, 7.45 g in fruit N, which was the highest level compared to those of the other organs. T-N and P uptake were evenly distributed in the leaves, stems, and fruit, with high K uptake for leaves and fruit. 75-RA maximized to 17.2 g of the total nutrient uptake in a black chokeberry, with 4.9 g for the 0-RA. All mineral nutrient uptake were overall higher on the black chokeberry treated with 50-RA, 75-RA, and 100-RA compared to those of 0-RA and 25-RA.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.247-252
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• 2015

Aronia (Black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa) belonging to the Rosaceae family, is native to eastern North America. Aronia contain high levels of flavonoids, mostly anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which are known as condensed tannins. The dominant proanthocyanidins in aronia are (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin. The concentration of proanthocyanidins in aronia is higher than in other berries, however due to the astringent taste it is not desirable for consumption. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of aronia on the reduction in tannins by yeast isolated from regional Jeotgal. We isolated strains of yeast with high ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity from Jeotgal, with the MTY2 strains exhibiting a reduction in final tannin concentration according to thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. MTY2 was confirmed as Kazachstania servazzii using an 18S rDNA sequence and named as K. servazzii MTY2. K. servazzii MTY2 showed most significant growth when K. servazzii MTY2 was cultured in a solution of 10% (w/v) glucose, 3% (w/v) tryptone and 0.1% (w/v) sodium chloride. According to the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, the (+) - catechin peak is present, but (-) - epicatechin peak was reduced at culture condition added with 10% glucose in medium.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.599-608
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• 2017

This study investigated the quality characteristics and volatile flavor components of aronia wine (Aronia melanocarpa (0~100%)). After 12 days of fermentation, the alcohol contents of aronia wines ranged between 9.0~12.0%. The pH level and total acidity of aronia wines were 3.20~3.68 and 0.57~0.76 g/100 mL, respectively. The organic acid analysis of wine containing 100% aronia, revealed malic acid content at 3.70 mg/mL, followed by tartaric acid, lactic acid, and citric acid. As the aronia content increased, both the total polyphenol content and the antioxidant activity (the DPPH radical scavenging activity) also significantly increased. The total polyphenol content was the highest in the wine with 100% aronia (461.33 mg%), and the antioxidant activity showed the highest values in the wine with 100% aronia (91.91%). Volatile flavor component analysis of aronia wines identified 8 alcohols, 12 esters, 4 ketones, and 7 other compounds. In the sensory evaluation, the color, flavor, and taste of wine with 20% aronia showed higher values than other aronia wines. Based on the results of the present study, we suggest that 20% aronia is most beneficial in improving the quality as well as sensory characteristics of the wine.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.602-611
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• 2015

Aronia melanocarpa (Rosaceae family), black chokeberry, has significantly higher anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity than other berries. The aim of this study is to characterize the content of aronia makgeolli prepared with the additive method such as fresh-type and crushed-type and to investigate the effect of aronia on the quality of makgeolli at $25^{\circ}C$ for 8 days. The changes in pH, total acidity, ethanol content, color, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and sensory testing were determined. The pH values were 3.9~4.2 in fresh aronia makgeolli (the fresh group), and 3.6~3.9 in crushed aronia makgeolli (the crushed group). The total acidity of all samples gradually increased during the fermentation period. The ethanol content was 10~15% after the second stage of fermentation, and was reduced followed by an increase in the addition rate of aronia, showing the lowest values in 50% crushed aronia makgeolli. As the aronia content increased, both the antioxidant activity and the total polyphenol content significantly increased. In the fresh group, low values were seen in early fermentation, which significantly increased according to the progress of fermentation, while the crushed group showed high values for 6 days. In the sensory evaluation, the color, flavor, bitterness, and overall acceptance of the makgeolli with 30% fresh aronia showed higher values than the control and other samples. In conclusion, the present study suggests that fresh aronia without undergoing the breaking process is a more suitable additive method than the crushed type for antioxidant activity and palatability of aronia makgeolli.