• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.256-261
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• 2014

This study was conducted to determine the effect of gamma-ray and electron-beam irradiation on dried spices (black pepper, red pepper, parsley, and basil) using the photostimulated luminescence (PSL), thermoluminescence (TL) and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods. The spices were irradiated at 0, 1, 5, and 10 kGy. All non-irradiated spices had photon counts (PCs) less than 700 PCs. The PCs of three irradiated spices (red pepper, parsley, and basil) were clearly distinguishable from those of non-irradiated ones, exhibiting PSL signals higher than 5000 PCs. However, negative PSL counts (<700 PCs) were obtained for most irradiated black pepper, except those irradiated with 5 kGy gamma rays and 10 kGy electron-beams. TL glow curves of the irradiated spices showed a higher peak at $150-250^{\circ}C$. TL ratios were found to be less than 0.1 for non-irradiated spices and higher than 0.1 for irradiated ones. No ESR signal was observed for any irradiated spice except red pepper, which displayed cellulose-based ESR spectra. Therefore, the results suggest that the PSL, TL, and ESR methods are effective detection techniques for dried spices irradiated with electron beams as well as gamma rays.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1060-1063
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• 2003

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the effects of irradiation doses and storage times on three spices. Three imported spices (Brassica juncea, Origanum vulgare, Laurus nobilis) were irradiated with doss of 0, 1, 5 and 10 kGy using a Co-60 irradiator at room temperature. ESR signals were measured from each sample by a Bruker-EPR spectrometer. The gamma-irradiated Brassica and Laurus nobilis exhibited characteristic signals, which were different from those of the non-irradiated ones. Non-irradiated and irradiated Origanum vulgare exhibited single lines, with higher ESR signals in irradiated sample than in non-irradiated sample. The ESR signals increased linearly with increasing irradiation doses $(1{\sim}10kGy)$. A strong positive correlation coefficient $(R^2=0.9939{\sim}0.9993)$ was obtained between the irradiation doses and the corresponding ESR signal intensities. Although the ESR signal intensities decreased with storage time, signals from the three irradiated spices were observed even after 12 weeks of storage at room temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.239-242
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• 2001

Electron spin resonance(ESR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the effect of irradiation dose on the ESR signal intensity of irradiated spices and to identify the stability of radicals after storage. Red, white and black peppers, and garlic powders were irradiated with doses of 0, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 kGy at room temperature using a Co-60 irradiator. Triplet ESR signals were observed in irradiated pepper powders, while singlet ESR signals were observed in irradiated garlic powders. Those characteristic signals were not detected in non-irradiated samples. The strength of ESR signals linearly increased with the applied doses(1~3 kGy). Highly positive correlation coefficients ($R^2$=0.9757~0.9933) were obtained between the irradiation doses and the corresponding ESR signal intensities. The signal intensities of irradiated samples were stable even after 97 days of storage at room temperature.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2004

Photostimulated Luminescence (PSL), Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Thermoluminescence (TL) analysis were conducted to detect irradiation treatment of imported whole and ground spices. The screening by PSL detected no irradiation treatment, except un the ground thyme and bay leaves which exhibited photon counts in the intermediate level. Irradiation of the two spices was detected after irradiating them at 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 kGy, and then subjecting them to PSL analysis, which resulted in the significantly low photons of non-irradiated spices compared to that at 1.0 kGy, indicating that the photon counts varied depending on the amount of inorganic mineral debris in the spices. To confirm a successful detection by using PSL, ESR and TL methods, some spices were selected, irradiated at 5.0 and 10.0 kGy, and subjected to the detection methods. PSL identified the irradiated spices except the cassia, which showed very weak PSL sensitivity, but was identified by ESR analysis. Also, the ESR and TL exhibited the typical signals induced by irradiation treatment and were able to successfully detect all of the irradiated spices. In addition, we found a positive correlation between the intensity of ESR and TL signals and irradiation doses.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 1985

This review was intended to develop the sterilization method of spices by gamma irradiation and the results are summarized as follows. Microbial load of spices was different according to the kind of spices and the number was ranged from $10^{2}$-$10^{5}/g$ to $10^{7}$-$10^{8}/g$, gamma irradiation up to 4-10 kGy could decreased or sterilized to the microorganism of spices. In physicochemical properties of spices such as chemical components,essential oil and flavor, irradiated group with optimum dose was almost similar to the nonirradiated one, while fumigant treated group was remarkably deteriorated in the properties of spices compared with control, and free radicals produced by irradiation was disappeared during a few days storage. Irradiated spices should be an aptitude for good quality the storeability of processing food. Optimum dose irradiation below less than that proposed by FAO/IAEA/WHO Joint Committee and FDA was remarkably effect on the sterilization of spices and superior in wholesomeness and economic feasibiity compared with traditional methods. Irradiation might be an alternative to traditional sterilization methods of spices by fumigants such as ethylene oxide and ethylene dibromide because their treatments have been banned in U.S.A and other countries since 1982.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.427-430
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• 1986

Ionizing irradiation and E.O were used for sterilization of 5 different types of spices and mixed spices, and then each treated sample was evaluated using rank-order test to compare the sensory quality of the E.O fumigated sample to that of the irradiated sample. Preference of tested samples was in the descending order of control, the irradiated and the fumigated samples. According to the results of analysis of variance. 5 spices were significantly different at the 1% (P<0.01) or 5% (P<0.05), while mixed spices showed no significance. The results of Duncan's multiple range test showed that there was no significance difference between control and the irradiated sample, while the E.O fumigated sample was significantly different from control and irradiated samples. In conclusion, no adverse effects was found in quality of spices by ionizing radiation for sterilization, but the E.O fumigated sample showed deterioration of quality. The results were corresponded with the changes in major physicochemical components of each sample.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2010

This study attempted to determine whether Photostimulated Luminescence (PSL) is applicable for the detection of post-irradiated foods by measuring the PSL photon counts of unirradiated and irradiated dried spices and herbs. A total of 19 dried spices and herbs was irradiated with a $^{60}Co$ $\gamma$-ray source at 1, 5 and 10 kGy followed by measurement of PSL photon. The photon counts of unirradiated samples below 700 correspond to negative. Fifteen samples irradiated over 1 kGy showed photon counts of more than 5,000, indicating irradiation treatment. Intermediate counts (photon count 700-5,000) were observed in irradiated white/black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon bark at 10 kGy. These results suggest that it is possible to detect whether dried spices and herbs were irradiated by analyzing PSL, with the exception of white/black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon bark. Irradiated white/black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon bark containing low levels of minerals were not sensitive to PSL. Therefore, further investigation is sugguested to be performed by Thermoluminescence (TL) analysis or another validated or standardized method.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2013

The detection characteristics of irradiated spices were investigated depending on radiation sources and doses by photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and Thermoluminescence (TL). 6 kinds of spices (turmeric, onion powder, red pepper, basil, parsley, black pepper) were irradiated at 0 to 10 kGy under ambient conditions by both a $^{60}Co$ gamma irradiator and an electron beam (EB) accelerator, respectively. The PSL analysis showed negative results for non-irradiated spices, while irradiated spices gave intermediate and positive value, which presented the limited potential of PSL technique. In TL measurement, TL glow curves on non-irradiated samples appeared at about $300^{\circ}C$ with low intensity. All irradiated samples were easily distinguishable through radiation-specific strong TL glow curves with maximum peak in range of $150{\sim}200^{\circ}C$. TL ratio ($TL_1/TL_2$) obtained by a re-irradiation step could verify the detection result of $TL_1$ glow curves, showing ratios lower than 0.1 in the non-irradiated sample and higher than 0.1 in irradiated ones. Therefore, in PSL measurement, the identification of irradiated spices showed more clear results in electron beam irradiated samples. TL analysis showed obvious difference between non-irradiated and irradiated samples in gamma ray and electron beam irradiated samples.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.203-207
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• 1995

Spices(Tumeric, Celery-seed, Cumin, Black pepper, Coriander) were irradiated at dose levels of 0, 5, 7 and 9kGy using Co60 source and stored at room temperature. After 12 months of storage following 9kGy irradiated spice, total aerobic bacteria were significantly decreased. When the irradiation dose was 7kGy, microbial levels showed l02-103 levels. However, total lactic acid bacteria and E-coli were shown negative at below 5kGy.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.152-157
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• 2001

Accumulated photon counts in immediate measurement after irradiation of marjoram, basil and thyme were shown to be below 625$\pm$162, 577$\pm$178 and 1261$\pm$640 Pc, respectively. The accumulated photon counts increased linearly with increasing irradiation doses up to 5 kGy and slightly increased from 5 kGy to 10 kGy. This trend was similar after storage periods. According to storage conditions, the difference of the accumulated photon counts was net clearly observed. The accumulated photon counts of irradiated spice samples decreased with increasing storage periods. The rate of decrease was higher in 5 and 10 kGy irradiated samples than that in 1 kGy, and in room conditions than that in darkroom conditions. The photon counts of the irradiated spice samples measured for 120 s were higher than those measured for 60 s. The irradiated spice samples showed higher photon counts than those of unirradiated samples in both room and darkroom conditions during all the storage periods. These results indicate that detection of irradiation was still possible after 24 weeks, although the PPSL signal of all spice samples decreased with increasing storage times.