• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.524-529
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• 2019

Medicinal plants resources are becoming important assets since their usages have been expanded to the development of functional foods for human health, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. However, their phylogenetic origins and names are different from each country and quite often they are mixed each other resulting in the confusion for consumers. Particularly when they are very similar based on their morphological characteristics and distributed, it is extremely difficult to differentiate their origins even by specialists. Therefore, identification of each plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. Thistle is a medicinal and perennial plant. Obtaining information about the genetic diversity of plant populations is highly important for conservation and germplasm utilization. Although thistle is an important medicinal plant species registered in South Korea, no molecular markers are currently available to distinguish from other similar species from different countries. In this study, we developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from chloroplast genomic sequences to identify distinct Korean-specific thistle species via high resolution melting (HRM) curve analyses. We performed molecular authentication of four different kinds of thistle species from different regions using DNA sequences in the trnL-F and matK chloroplast intergenic region. The SNP markers developed in this study are useful for rapidly identifying specific thistle species from different country.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.111-111
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• 2018

Aronia (black chokeberry), a species of berries is source to a very large number of bioactive compounds like polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins in comparison to any other species. Owing to its antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. Fermentation- a bioconversion process exploiting the biological metabolic reaction of micro-organisms, has several benefits like improving the efficacy and safety of physiologically active substances, generation of new functional material, improving the adsorption rate and many others. Antigens like pathogens, food, pollen etc., generate a protective immune response in body tissues, and the process be referred to as inflammation. However, this when excessive results in a condition referred to as refractory inflammatory disease, whose incidence is increasing in the recent times, especially amongst children. The current study intended to assess the anti-oxidant activity, presence of polyphenols and anti-inflammatory efficacy of Aronia extract fermented by Lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented sea foods. Aronia fruits collected from Sunchang, Chonbuk were lyophilized for fermentation. So as to maximise the efficacy of the fermented Aronia extract, the quantitative effects of lactic acid bacteria species, composition of extraction solution, influence of temperature and time on antioxidant activity and total polyphenol contents were investigated using an experimental design. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on NO and cytokine ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6) production in LPS activated Raw 264.7 cells. Results indicated that antioxidant effect and total polyphenol contents were best improved in extract of Aronia fermented by P. pentosaceus. In addition, NO and cytokine ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6) levels were decreased significantly after fermentation. Thus, it was found that the anti-inflammatory activity of Aronia greatly increased after fermentation process using P. pentosaceus.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.650-654
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• 2007

Many vegetables contain oxalate at various levels depending on their type and family. Oxalate is known to reduce mineral bioavailability from foods. The following study was conducted to determine soluble and total oxalate contents in 32 plant samples commonly consumed in Korea using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chard, amaranth, and spinach contained total oxalate of >1,000 mg/100 g. Approximately 45% of the oxalate in amaranth is insoluble, whereas 74.46 and 92.45% of the oxalates in chard and spinach, respectively, was soluble oxalates, which may be removed by blanching. Eggplant, carrot, leak, ginger root, spinach, burdock, and sweet pepper contained more than 90% soluble oxalate in total oxalate content. However, all oxalates detected in lettuce and celery were insoluble. Oxalate was not detected in shepherd's purse, bellflower root, garlic, radish root, broccoli, cabbage, onion, lotus root, adlay, cucumber, kale, and pumpkin. These observations provide useful information needed for selection of vegetables.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2013

Ten major residual biogenic amines including toxic histamine and tyramine were investigated in the plant-based minor Korean fermented food. From the analyses of pickled vegetables, fermented vegetable extracts, fermented tea, black garlic and herbal rice wines, more than 100 mg/kg of histamine were found in pickled soy leaf and pickled mulberry leaf, and also over 1,000 mg/kg of total biogenic amines were found in pickled soy leaf. No sample was found over in black garlic, fermented tea, fermented vegetable extracts and herbal rice wine, less than 100 mg/kg of histamine and/or 1,000 mg/kg of total biogenic amines were observed. Interestingly, all the tested rice wines were found to be over 100 mg/kg of agmatine residue.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.492-505
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was undertaken to examine the perception of Korean consumers regarding soybean meat. Using the Dietary Identify Questionnaire (DIQ), the data obtained were analyzed to identify various factors related to a plant-based diet. Methods: A consumer survey was conducted from June 1^st to 30^th, 2021, targeting 260 Korean consumers over the age of 20 years. Subjects were asked to answer six questions related to the perception of soybean meat. Of the 52 items present in the DIQ, 33 items were verified and reconstructed. All data were analyzed using the SPSS statistics (ver.25). Results: The subjects were divided into two groups, 'passive consuming group' and 'active consuming group', based on their perception of soybean meat. Demographic analysis according to the perception of soybean meat showed significant differences in age, marital status, academic background, and family members. The DIQ was categorized into 7 types: prosocial motivation, out-group regard, centrality, public regard, personal motivation, strictness, and private regard. Comparing by perception about soybean meat, significant differences were obtained between both groups for 'prosocial motivation (p < 0.01)', 'centrality (p < 0.01)', 'private norm (p < 0.05)', and 'personal motivation (p < 0.001)'. The 'passive consuming group' showed relatively low scores in all 4 factors. Conclusion: In the future, the results of this study can be applied to define the meaning of vegan in Korea. We believe our results will provide basic marketing data for the plant-based meat market. This will help expand the soybean meat market for a sustainable life for consumers, which is based on various needs such as health and the environment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to measure and/or estimate the total antioxidant capacity of the Korean diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Eighty-one plant foods that were expected to exhibit rather high antioxidant activities were selected from the Korean diet using the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES V). These foods were categorized into 11 food groups: cereals, potatoes, legumes, nuts, vegetables, kimchies, mushrooms, fruits, fruit juices, sea weeds, and oils. The foods were mixed in the proportions specified in traditional Korean recipes and analyzed. The measured indicators for antioxidant capacities were total phenolics, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). RESULTS: Total phenolics were high in the fruit juices, nuts, vegetables, and fruits; and the average DPPH, ORAC, and TEAC values were high in the vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, and nuts. The correlation coefficient between the content of total phenolics of each food and the in vitro antioxidant capacity was relatively high at 0.851. The intake of total phenolics per capita per day in the Republic of Korea was estimated to be 127 mg. The total dietary antioxidant capacity (TDAC) values, which were obtained from the total antioxidant capacity of each food, taking into account the intake of each food, were 20,763, 54,335, and $876.4{\mu}mol$ of Trolox equivalents using the DPPH, ORAC, and TEAC methods, respectively. The food group that contributed the most to the Korean TDAC was cereals at 39.7%, followed by fruits and vegetables at 27.8% and 13.9%, respectively. The contribution of legumes, nuts, fruit juices, and mushrooms was quite minimal at less than 2% each. CONCLUSIONS: The content of total phenolics and the antioxidant capacity of the Korean diet are significantly correlated and the high contributing food groups are cereals, fruits, and vegetables.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 1990

The dose calculations were carried out using environmental montoring data around Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center(KfK). Ingestion of plant foods was the most important pathway, and the K-40 and Pb-210 natural radioisotopes in food were the most effective radiation source to man. The dose received from artificial nuclides were mostly emitted by gamma irradiation of Cs-134 and Cs-137 deposited on the ground. The effective dose equivalent in the KfK environment was far less than the dose equivalent limit recommended by ICRP.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2016

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate Korean people's awareness about impact of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan and radioactive contamination caused by it. Materials and Methods: The respondents of the survey were 600 adults who resided in the Seoul metropolitan area. Results and discussion: The survey results show that the majority of respondents were concerned about impact of radiation leakage that might have an effect on our environment. They were worried about radioactive contamination of foodstuffs, particularly fishery products and preferred to acquire information through TV(49.8%) or the Internet(31.3%). Meanwhile, respondents mentioned that the information on the Fukushima nuclear accident and radioactive contamination had not been sufficient and they didn't know well about the follow-up measures of the government on the accident. Most respondents answered that information on radioactive contamination levels and safety of foods and environment was most needed. Conclusion: The results of this study could be useful to enhance awareness on radioactivity and improve risk communication on nuclear power plant accidents.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2017

Rice endosperm, the portion that remains after milling, is the part of the rice seed that is primarily consumed as a source of nutrients. There have been many studies on polysaccharides, such as hemicellulose, cellulose, and pectins, derived from the cell walls of various plant groups. It has been reported that the acidic polysaccharide fractions, which contain water-soluble pectins that have been shown to have pharmacological effects in vivo and in vitro, have common chemical structures that include galacturonic acid polymers, rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose. However, few studies have been conducted on the acidic polysaccharides contained in the endosperm of rice. In this study, we quantitatively compared the differences in the acidic polysaccharide contents from samples from two of the main varieties of rice consumed as staple foods, japonica and indica, using a colorimetric method. Rice samples were collected from 39 different regions in Korea, China, Thailand and Vietnam. Acidic polysaccharide fractions were obtained by precipitation of the alcohol-insoluble residue (AIR) and enzyme treatment of each sample. The total amount of carbohydrates and uronic acid in each acidic polysaccharide fraction were measured using the phenol-sulfuric acid method and the carbazole-sulfuric acid method, respectively. The differences in the total polysaccharide contents in the acidic polysaccharide fractions were not statistically significant (p = 0.07), but the uronic acid contents were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.04).

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2015

The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family, native to south-central China. It is cultivated in relatively warm areas such as Spain, Japan and South Korea. It is used commercially as an ornamental plant and for its yellow fruit, which contains much carotenoid, sugar and a little organic acid. In this study, chiffon cakes were prepared with the addition of 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% loquat fruit powder (LFP) in order to invest the mixing conditions. When more LFP was added to the dough, the pH level of the dough became lower. Specific gravity and viscosity of the dough significantly increased as higher amounts of LFP were added. In baked cakes, the weight and baking loss rate of LFP were not significantly different between samples, and the height of the risen test samples were lower than that of the controls. Moisture content was 33.58% in the 12% LFP sample (12% LFPS), which was the highest of all the samples. With respect to crust color, lightness, redness and, yellowness, these significantly decreased as the amount of LFP was increased, the 12% LFP being the lowest of all the samples. Lightness and yellowness of crumbs significantly decreased as the amount of LFP was increased, whereas redness showed the reverse effect. When looking at hardness and adhesiveness, the 12% LFPS was the highest of all the samples, nevertheless a difference in resilience was not significant among the samples. According to consumer perception, bitterness was significantly increased as amounts of LFP increased, however a difference in salty, astringency and oily tastes were not significant among the samples. The 12% LFPS showed the lowest score with respect to softness and overall acceptability. In conclusion, LFP could be considered a functional material, with the optimum amount of LFP for a chiffon cake of 3~9%.