• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2003

The protective effects of onion extract (OE), onion powder extracted in ethanol for 2 days. on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicities and the possible mechanisms involved in this protection were investigated in mice. Pretreatment with OE prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ significantly reduced the increase in serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities and hepatic lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with OE significantly prevented the depletion of reduced glutathione content in the liver of $CCl_4$-intoxicated mice. $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity was also prevented, as indicated by a liver histopathologic findings. The effects of OE on the cytochrome P450 (P450) 2E1, the major isozyme involved in $CCl_4$ biotransformation were investigated. Treatment of mice with OE resulted in a significant decrease in P450 2E1-dependent p-nitrophenol and aniline hydroxylation in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these observations, the P450 2E1 expressions were also decreased, as determined by immunoblot analysis. OE also exhibited antioxidant effects in FeCl$_2$-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates and in superoxide radical scavenging activity. These results show that the protective effects of OE against the $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity may be due to its ability to block bioactivation of $CCl_4$, mainly tty inhibiting the expression and activities of P450 2E1 and by scavenging free radicals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.229-235
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• 2017

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary onion (Allium cepa) extract (OE) supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract retention (ATTR), blood profile, carcass characteristics and meat quality in broilers. Methods: Four hundred male broiler chicks (Ross 308, 3-d old) were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments for 28 d feeding trial. Each treatment has five replications with 20 birds each. Four dietary treatments were designated according to the OE supplementation levels (0 as control, 5, 7.5, and 10 g of OE per kg of basal diet respectively). On d 28, a total of 20 birds from each treatment were subjected for ATTR, serum biochemical assay, carcass characteristic and organ weight measurement. Results: Overall weight gain of OE 7.5 g/kg group was higher (p = 0.04) than control group. The ATTRs of dietary energy (p<0.01) and ether extract (p = 0.04) linearly increased with increasing levels of dietary OE. However, no difference in ATTR of dry matter and crude protein was evident. Furthermore, serum IgG concentration increased linearly (p<0.01) and quadratically (p = 0.03) with increasing OE supplementation. No differences in carcass dressing weight and amount of abdominal fat by treatments were observed. Also, the weight of organ including immune organ was not different among the treatments. The TBARS values of 10 d stored breast meat decreased linearly (p<0.01) and quadratically (p<0.01) with increasing dietary OE levels. The meat color was also affected, with lower (p<0.01) redness score in meats from OE supplemented groups. This study showed that dietary OE improved broiler weight gain presumably by increasing feed intake and ATTR of both energy and ether extract. The dietary OE increased serum IgG level and meat anti-oxidation capacity. Conclusion: This study implies that the recommended level of dietary OE supplementation could be beneficial for improving broiler performance and meat quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1997

This procedure describes the method for gas chromatographic determination of 31 organophosphorus and 28 organochlorine pesticides in 10g of spinach, tomato and onion. After the pesticides were extracted with several solvents, the amount of coextractives and recovery rates of acephate and methamidophos were calculated. Samples for organochlorine pesticides were cleaned up with florisil solid phase extraction columns. NaBH$_4$ was added to onion extracts, which contained sulfur compound. All the concentrated extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with ECD and NPD. The smallest amount of coextractives resulted from the spinach samples extracted with 5% MeOH in ethyl acetate. 5% EOH in ethyl acetate had the highest extractability for acephate and methamidophos and gave the best overall performance as an extraction solvent. The ability of 5% EOH in ethyl acetate to extract various organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides from spinach, tomato and onion was examined. Recovery of 59 insecticides ranged from 58.0% to 110.5%. The average recoveries of fortified spinach, tomato and onion were 90.08%, 94.54% and 84.90%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.445-454
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• 2022

This study aimed to improve the physiological activity of onion juice via lactic acid bacterial fermentation. Seven types of lactic acid bacteria were used for the fermentation of onion juice. The pH and sugar content of the onion juice decreased, while its titratable acidity increased after lactic acid bacteria fermentation, and the cell count of lactic acid bacteria was 7.31-10.40 log CFU/mL. The total free sugar content decreased, while the total organic acid content increased in the fermented onion juice. Quercetin content of the fermented juice was 0.13-0.53 mg/kg. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents increased after fermentation. Additionally, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate free radical and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical cation scavenging activities were increased by fermentation. Overall, lactic acid bacteria fermentation of onion juice enhanced its physiological activity. Based on these findings, Bifidobacterium breve KCTC 3441 was selected as the onion juice fermentation strain.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2005

The objectives of present study were to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects of onion extracts. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated with 1.5 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP), potent oxidizing agent for liver injury for 1 hr in the presence or absence of various concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/ml) of onion extract. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by measuring glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activity, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) value. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) assay. Effects on antioxidant system were determined by measuring catalase, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), glutathione reductase(GSH-Rd) activities as well as DNA strand breaking assay. Incubation with t-BHP alone increased GOT and LDH activities and TBARS concentration but decreased MTT reduction. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml began to decrease GOT and LDH activities induced by 1.5 mM t-BHP. Decreased MTT reduction began to be increased by onion extract at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml. Onion extracts at the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml began to decrease TBARS concentration induced by t-BHP. Taken together, onion extracts prevented t-BHP-induced hepatocyte injury and lipid peroxidation. Catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities of hepatocytes were significantly decreased by 1.5 mM t-BHP for 1 hr incubation. Onion extracts, on the other hand, at the concentration of 0.1 mg/ml began to prevent t-BHP-induced decrease in catalase, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd activities. Onion extracts prevented hydroxyl radical-induced single-strand breakage in dose-dependent manner when plasmid DNA was incubated with various concentrations of onion extracts in the presence of Fenton regents producing hydroxyl radical. These results demonstrate that onion extracts suppressed t-BHP-induced cytoctoxicity, decreased viability and lipid peroxidation and increased GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and catalase activities. Thus hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of onion extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities as well as prevention from hydroxyl radical-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition in lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1027-1033
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• 1998

Stewed pumpkin juice(SPJ) has recently become popular as a health drink, and its consumption is growing rapidly. Well ripened pumpkin was heated in a pressure cooker and squeezed to an extract and then packed in retort pouches. The ingredient of ginger, onion, jujube and boxthorn was added to samples of SPJ in order to observe the effect on the composition of SPJ during production and storage at 28oC for 60 days. The level of the main mineral(K) in pumpkin varied when the ingredients were added. The pH of control SPJ showed more changes than the SPJs with ingredients added, and there was almost no change in the samples with boxthorn. During storage, titrable acidity decreased in all samples, and the SPJs with ginger and jujube showed relatively little change compared to the samples of control SPJ and SPJ with onion. As for soluble solid and reducting sugar, the SPJs with jujube and boxthorn showed the highest reading. For carotenoid, the SPJs with jujube, ginger, boxthorn and onion listed according to the amount of carotenoid contained more total carotenoid than the control SPJ. Most of the carotenoid in pumpkin and its extract was found to be carotene by HPLC and Chandler's method. Sensory evaluation of the SPJ samples with ingredients revealed preference for the taste of the SPJs with jujube, ginger and boxthorn in declining order of preference. The taste of SPJs with ingredients added was generally preferent over the control SPJ except the case of SPJ with onion.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.11-26
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to reduce the waste rate of onion peel, which has excellent functionalities, and to promote its industrial utilization. The methodology involved preparing beef jerkies using liquid seasonings with 0% (OPE0), 50% (OPE50) and 100% (OPE100) onion peel extract (OPE) of domestically produced onion, respectively; and assessing their antioxidant activities and quality characteristics. As the amount of added OPE increased, the contents of crude protein and crude ash increased, while those of crude fat decreased. As for color values, increase in the amount of added OPE led to increase in L value and b value, but decrease in a value. The measurement of mechanical texture showed that hardness and cohesiveness decreased as the amount of added OPE increased. TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) content decreased as the amount of added OPE increased. And the amount of added OPE increased, all the antioxidant activity of beef jerky increased. Acceptability test showed the highest preference for OPE50 with regard to flavor, taste texture and overall acceptability. Quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) showed that increase in the amount of added OPE led to increase in meat color, salty taste, sweet taste, meat flavor and chewiness and decrease in off-flavor. According to principal component analysis (PCA), OPE50 and OPE100 had high levels of the sensory attributes that increase preference-such as meat color, salty taste, sweet taste, meat flavor and chewiness. Based on such results, it was established that 50% is the optimal mixing ratio of OPE for preparing a beef jerky of high preference that also has excellent quality characteristics and antioxidant activity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Onion, particularly onion peel, is a quercetin-rich food with, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, the effect of onion peel extract (OPE) in humans is unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether OPE improves natural killer (NK) cell activity and cytokine concentration in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Eighty participants aged 19-64 yrs old with a white blood cell count of 4,000-10,000 cells/µL, symptoms of upper respiratory infection at least once within the previous 12 mon, and perceived stress scale (PSS) over 14 were included. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 1,000 mg/day OPE or a placebo for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Compliance were 87.4 ± 8.6% and 86.9 ± 79.0% in OPE and placebo groups. Compared to the placebo, OPE supplementation improved "Hoarseness" (P = 0.038) of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS)-21 symptom, and stress scores (P = 0.001; 0.021) of PSS. Supplementation of OPE had no significant effect on NK cell activity and concentrations of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1β, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α. At baseline, the WURSS-21 symptom and PSS score (P = 0.024; 0.026) were higher in the OPE group than the placebo group. Among participants with higher than median WURSS-21 symptom score, OPE supplementation increased NK cell activity (P = 0.038). Supplementation of OPE had no significant effects on safety measurements and adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that OPE supplementation improves NK cell activity in participants with moderate upper respiratory symptoms without any significant adverse effects.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2013

In this study, the domestic onion skin has been used to investigate the anti-wrinkle effect of the ethanolic extract. The onion skin has been known to contain a large amount of antioxidant including quercetin. Solvent extraction by 80% ethanol was carried out of the onion skin. The high amount of quercetin have been identified using HPLC as a bioactive compound. The extraction yield of the quercetin increased according to temperature up to $80^{\circ}C$. Two different antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS) were performed to determine the free-radical scavenging activity of onion skin extracts. The antioxidant activities ($EC_{50}$ of DPPH) of the vitamin C and the onion extracts were 2.2 and $5.09{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The results of ABTS tests were 2.33 (of vitamin C) and $2.40{\mu}g/mL$ (of the onion extracts), respectively. In a clinical study, a panel of 10 female volunteers between the ages of 30 and 40 (mean age: 42 years) was given a mask pack containing 1% of this extracts for 4 weeks. It was shown that a highly significant reduction in the deep and moderate wrinkled was obtained with those treated with this onion extracts as compared to the control group. The reduction in deep wrinkles increased with time. Eye wrinkle were reduced statistically significant (p<0.05). The application of the proper topical cream and mask pack containing onion skin extracts has therefore shown to be effective enhancing anti-wrinkle activities.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.596-602
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of onion and acanthopanax senticosus on body weight change, serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, total lipid, phospholipid level, renal and liver function test, and CBC in obese rats and mice. Obese rats induced by high-fat fed are medicated for 7 weeks. Rats are divided into four groups depending on the medication; normal group (general-fat fed and no-medication), control group (high-fat fed and no medication), sample A group (high-fat fed and onion 100% extracted medication), sample B group (high-fat fed and onion 50% & acanthopanax senticosus 50% extracted medication), sample C group (high-fat fed and red onion 50% & acanthopanax senticosus 50% extracted medication). After medication, obesity related index, renal and liver function test, and CBC are analysed. There are significant statistical differences among control group and all experimental groups for the body weight change. There are significant statistical differences among control groups and all experimental groups for the total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride level, free fatty acid, and phospholipid level. These results suggest that medications of onion and acanthopanax senticosus extracted products are effective for the treatment of obesity. Especially, onion 100% extracted product is more effective than the others.