• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.376-381
• /
• 2013

In this study, we monitored total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in tuna, billfish, and deep-sea fish distributed in Seoul city. With the acquired data, we carried out statistical analysis and an exposure assessment for intake. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of total mercury and methylmercury were $0.32{\pm}0.31/0.20{\pm}0.20$ for tuna, $0.43{\pm}0.48/0.20{\pm}0.17$ for patagonian toothfish, $0.99{\pm}0.72/0.51{\pm}0.40$ for billfish and $1.20{\pm}0.70/0.95{\pm}0.51$ for sharks, respectively. We found that sharks, billfish, patagonian toothfish, and tuna were more contaminated with total mercury and methylmercury, in sequence, and that 66% of the total mercury concentration consisted of methylmercury, on average. Although the estimated weekly intakes of methylmercury from commercial deep-sea fish were lower than the weekly intakes recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), we identified that the total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in tuna, billfish, and deep-sea fish continued to increase with the passage of time. Therefore, we confirmed the necessity of continuous monitoring and comprehensive analysis for general safety.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.359-363
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the differences in the physicochemical properties of organic and conventional milk from Chungnam and Jeonbuk, Korea. The milk was collected from 10 organic and 10 conventional milk farms in February, March and August, and then analyzed for milk composition, minerals and fatty acids. Organic milk showed lower fat (p<0.01) and total solid (p<0.05), but higher phosphorous (p<0.01) content than conventional milk. However, there was no difference in the content of lactose or the somatic cell count. Organic milk showed lower (p<0.01) stearic acid and total saturated fatty acid content, but higher (p<0.01) total, mono-, and poly-unsaturated fatty acid content. These results showed that organic and conventional milks differ mainly in their fat and unsaturated fatty acid content. Due to increasing consumer interest in food safety and health, organic milk, which contains more beneficial fatty acids, might be preferred over conventional milk.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 2008

The objective of this study is to estimate the shelf-life of Tteokgalbi containing dietary fiber extracted from rice bran by using the predictive microbiology. This Tteokgalbi was made with 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% dietary fiber. The number of total viable cells, anaerobic, psychrotrophic, and heat-stable bacteria and coliforms was calculated during 15 days of storage under $4{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and the obtained data was applied to Baranyi function. The evaluation of fitness between predicted and observed data showed that these were matched in a satisfactory way. Heat-stable bacteria was detected lower than <1 log CFU/g and coliforms were not detected during the storage. The changes of total viable cells and psychrotrophic bacteria in Tteokgalbi were increased gradually, but dramatically increased after 3 days of storage. The models of total viable cells and anaerobic bacteria showed very similar growth trends and values of growth parameters each other. The estimated shelf-life of each Tteokgalbi was calculated from the predictive model of total viable cells and the estimated shelf-life was 1.7, 2.3, 2.3, and 2.4 days, respectively. The results suggested that the prediction of bacteria growth could be used to evaluate the microbiological safety and determine the shelf-life of Tteokgalbi as ready-to-eat food in the local market.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.783-791
• /
• 2012

The purpose of the study was to provide baseline information that could encourage consumers and establish the direction of development for sprouts and leafy vegetables. A survey on the consumption and preference for sprouts and leafy vegetables of 823 people over 20 years of age in Seoul and Gyeonggi province was conducted. The preference for sprouts was higher in men ($3.75{\pm}0.96$) than in women ($3.64{\pm}0.84$), whereas the preference for leafy vegetables was higher in women ($4.06{\pm}0.74$) than in men ($3.88{\pm}0.90$). Based on age, the respondents in their 40s or above had high preferences for sprouts and leaf vegetables due to the importance that they accorded to health and nutrition (p<0.01). The sprouts and leafy vegetables were purchased mainly for their high nutritional value. The purchase frequency of once a month or more for leafy vegetables (82.7%) was higher than that for sprouts (57.1%). The consumers purchased sprouts and leafy vegetables mainly from a large discount store. The respondents in their 20s showed the highest percentage of purchasing from a local store whereas the older ones showed a high preference for traditional markets. The reason for the choice of the place of purchase was convenience. The freshness and price were important factors in the consumption of sprouts and leafy vegetables. In the case of leafy vegetables, the consumers preferred to buy them using the conventional weight measurement system rather than in small packages. On the other hand, mixed small packages were preferred for sprouts. The purchase frequency was correlated with the preferences, need for improvement and purchase intent for sprouts and leafy vegetables. The aspects that require improvement for producing high-quality sprouts and leafy vegetables were the nutritional and functional properties. To increase the consumption of sprouts and leafy vegetables, there is need for variations and improvement of the quality and safety of the products.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 2014

Nuruk samples collected from various regions in Korea were investigated in terms of fungal contents and diversity. In measurement of colony forming unit (CFU) in Nuruk suspensions on DRBC agar, Nuruk samples MS4, MS8, and MS10 were among the highest fungal density, with $1,278.9{\pm}21.6$ (${\times}10^4$), $1,868.0{\pm}27.7$ (${\times}10^4$), and $775.1{\pm}19.2$ (${\times}10^4$) were among the samples showing the highest fungal density. CFU per 20 mg Nuruk, respectively. The majority of fungal components were yeasts, including Pichia anomala, P. kudriavzevii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, whereas Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oryzae, the representative Nuruk fungi, were predominant only in the low fungal density Nuruks (MS2, MS5, and MS11). Saccharification capability of the fungal isolates was assessed by measurement of amylase activity in the culture broth. The highest amylase activity was found in A. niger and A. luchuensis, followed by S. fibuligera. A. oryzae and R. oryzae showed fair amylase activity but significantly lower than those of the three fungal species. R. oryzae was suggested to play an additional role in degradation of ${\beta}$-glucan in crop component of Nuruk since R. oryzae was the only fungus that showed ${\beta}$-glucanase activity among the fungal isolates. To confirm the safety of Nuruk, aflatoxigenicity of the isolated Aspergillus was estimated using the DNA markers norB-cypA, aflR, and omtA. All of the isolates turned out to be non-aflatoxigenic as evidenced by the deletion of gene markers, norB-cypA and aflR, and the absence of aflatoxin in the culture supernatants shown by TLC analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.10
• /
• pp.1326-1333
• /
• 2007

For preparing the basic ingredients of Gomtang-like products from the extracts of salmon frame, the extraction conditions of salmon frame were examined, and the characteristics of the extracts were compared with commercial Gomtang. Based on the crude protein, Ex-N and sensory attributes, the extractions were optimized by extracting pretreated-salmon frame in 12 times (v/w) of water for 12 hrs, before filtering with cheese cloth to yield 3 times the volume of the raw material. The concentrations of heavy metals in extracts from salmon frame were below the safety limits suggested by KFDA. The mai or amino acids were glutamic acid and aspartic acid as the free amino acids, and glycine, proline, and glutamic acid as the total amino acids. The calcium and phosphorus contents were 18.0 mg/100 mL and 33.1 mg/100 mL, respectively, and they accounted for 20% and 18% of the recommended daily allowance for mineral intake. The angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was improved by incubation with Flavourzyme for 4 hrs and its $IC_{50}$ was 2 mg/mL. The results above suggested that the enzymatic hydrolysates from extracts of salmon frame could be used as a basic ingredient for preparing Gomtang-like products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.437-444
• /
• 2008

Anti-obesity effects of ginseng and herbal plant mixtures were investigated to develop natural materials for anti-obesity. After inducing obesity with high fat diet for 8 weeks in male SD rats, ginseng and herbal plant mixtures DM1 (ginseng, puer tea, opuntia) and DM2 (ginseng, puer tea) were administrated orally to rats for another 8 weeks. During administration, food efficacy ratio and body weight of rat were measured twice weekly. After administration, body weight, body fat contents, and serum lipid level were estimated for anti-obesity effect and hematological analysis blood level of ALP and ASP was checked for safety. Body weight in rats fed high fat diet was significantly increased. Body weight in obese rats induced by high fat diet was significantly decreased by DM1 and DM2 feedings. The amount of body fat (epididymal, perirenal and visceral fat, brown adipose tissue) was significantly reduced by DM1 and DM2 treatments. The amount of TG, the concentration of leptin in blood plasma, and the concentration of insulin in blood plasma were significantly diminished by DM1 and DM2. Lipid accumulation on liver was reduced in DM2. There were no side effects among all groups according to blood analysis, hematological findings, and body weight. The findings of this study suggest that DM1 and DM2 may be effective materials for anti-obesity through reducing plasma triglyceride and body fats, and also decreasing body weight without side effects.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2022

Natural products have gained increasing attention due to their advantage of long-term safety and low toxicity for a very long time. Torreya nucifera is widespread in southern Korea and Jeju Island and its seeds are commonly used as edible food. Oriental ingredients have often been reported for their insecticidal, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, but there have not yet been any studies on their antidiabetic effect. In this study, we investigated several biological activities of T. nucifera pericarp (TNP) and seeds (TNS) extracts and proceeded to characterize the antidiabetic compounds of TNS. The initial results suggested that TNS extract at 15 and 10 ㎍/ml concentration has inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, that is 14.5 and 4.35 times higher than TNP, respectively. Thus, the stronger antidiabetic TNS was selected for the subsequent experiments to characterize its active compounds. Ultrafiltration was used to determine the apparent molecular weight of the active compounds, showing 300 kDa or more. Finally the mixture was then partially purified using Diaion HP-20 column chromatography by eluting with 50~100% methanol. Therefore we concluded that the active compounds of TNS have potential as therapeutic agents in functional food or supplemental treatment to improve diabetic diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2022

In this research, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiaging, and skin whitening properties of pulp and seed extracts of passion fruit were studied. The result of the primary skin irritation test using a skin-attached patch determined the skin irritation index to be 0.00 for the passion fruit extract. In addition, RAW 264.7 macrophages produce NO by stimulation of lipopolysaccharides, and the application of extracts to this resulted in significantly lower NOs, confirming the excellent anti-inflammatory properties of passion fruit extracts. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test further confirmed that the passion fruit extract exhibits a good 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate radical scavenging ability of 5.11% and strong antioxidant properties. The presence of collagen type I in the skin is a measure of aging and various skin diseases. The results obtained from the analysis of the activity of human procollagen I alpha 1 confirmed that the passion fruit extract reduces the synthesis of procollagen. In addition, the skin whitening property of the passion fruit extract was confirmed by the melanin inhibition test, and a sample was obtained that contained more than 2% of arbutin, a whitening agent approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which is generally present in the form of a white powder and is used as a functional ingredient. This confirms that the whitening efficacy of the passion fruit extract obtained from nature contributes to the development of functional raw materials for cosmetics and food.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.549-556
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of mulberry leaf extract supplement on blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin ($HbA_{1C}$) and serum lipids in type II diabetic patients, and also to assess safety in liver function after mulberry leaf extract supplement. The study was a randomized placebo-controlled trial and total 23 type II diabetic patients were divided into a MLE group taking 1,000 mg mulberry leaf extract supplement per day as experimental group and a placebo group taking 1,000 mg cellulose Powder supplement per day for 12 weeks. After 2 weeks of wash-out period, fasting blood glucose, $HbA_{1C}$, serum lipid levels and liver function test were analyzed before and after treatment of 12 weeks. The general baseline characteristics, nutrient intake and life style factors of study subjects were similar between two groups during intervention. The concentrations of fasting blood glucose and $HbA_{1C}$ (p<0.05) decreased significantly after mulberry leaf extract supplement in MLE group, while there were no changes found in placebo group. We also found it showed that mulberry leaf extract supplement for 12 weeks decreased significantly (p<0.05) the fasting blood glucose in poor fasting blood glucose group and $HbA_{1C}$ concentration in poor $HbA_{1C}$ group. The concentrations of LDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) and triglyceride (p<0.01) decreased significantly in MLE group after 12 weeks of taking the supplement, while there were no changes found in placebo group. The mulberry leaf extract supplement for 12 weeks didn't show hepatotoxicity. These results suggested that mulberry leaf extract supplement could be effective in improving fasting blood glucose and $HbA_{1C}$ levels in the diabetic patients, specially having high concentrations of fasting blood glucose and $HbA_{1C}$ among type II diabetic patients.