• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 2015

Objectives: Capsaicin (CAP) is the chief pungent principle found in the hot red peppers and the chili peppers that have long been used as spices, food additives and drugs. This study investigated the anticancer potential of CAP through its ability to modify extracellular matrix components and proteases during mice lung carcinogenesis. Methods: Swiss albino mice were treated with benzo(a) pyrene (50 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) orally twice a week for four successive weeks to induce lung cancer at the end of $14^{th}$ week. CAP was administrated (10 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) intraperitoneally. Extracellular matrix components were assayed; Masson's trichome staining of lung tissues was performed. Western blot analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 were also carried out. Results: In comparison with the control animals, animals in which benzo(a)pyrene had induced lung cancer showed significant increases in extracellular matrix components such as collagen (hydroxy proline), elastin, uronic acid and hexosamine and in glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. The above alterations in extracellular matrix components were effectively counteracted in benzo(a)pyrene along with CAP supplemented animals when compared to benzo(a) pyrene alone supplemented animals. The results of Masson's trichome staining for collagen and of, immunoblotting analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 further supported the biochemical findings. Conclusion: The apparent potential of CAP in modulating extracellular matrix components and proteases suggests that CAP plays a chemomodulatory and anti-cancer role working against experimentally induced lung carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify factors that influence the consumption of temple food and to find systematic methods improving the popularization of temple food. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was applied to 304 temple food restaurant visitors, including 232 local and 72 foreign individuals. The questionnaire was designed to investigate recognition, consumption, preference and popularization of temple food among restaurant visitors. Results: The study population consisted of 30.6% men, 69.4% women. 76.3% were Korean while 23.7% were foreigners. The responses on their impression on temple food contained the words, "vegetarian" (4.64), "plain and familiar" (4.19), and "good for dieting" (4.16). The most commont reason to favor temple food was its "mild taste" (63.0%) in the local group while foreigners preferred it because it is "good for health" (35.8%). The preferred kind of side dish of the local group was roasted dish (4.40), stir-fried dish (4.39), blanched vegetables (4.36), and food boiled with sauce (4.23); foreigner's high preference was for stir-fried (4.67), Jangachi (4.63), food boiled with sauce (4.56), and Buggak (4.55).. Most respondents thought that it is necessary to maintain the traditional form of temple food. While 43.5 percent of Koreans responded that "the five pungent vegetables" could be allowed, 62.8 percent of foreign respondents said it is permissible. Conclusions: A systematic approach to improve the temple food that reflects both foreign and local preference while maintaining its originality is necessary for its globalization. Furthermore, restaurants specialized in temple food should be expanded and promoted through effective marketing strategies that would make the cuisine easily accessible and spread throughout the world.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.203-217
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• 2015

Scolpendra subspinipes (centipede) is pungent in flavor, activates the channels to stop pain, and, removes toxins and resolves masses. So it has been used as a folk remedy. We researched folk remedies which used centipede as a single medicine and results of its prior clinical and experimental study, and figured out that centipedes are effective on ulcerative disease, herpes zoster, clavus, insect bite, inflammatory disease, furunculus, pain disease by external therapy, and oral administration is effective on anti-cancer such as hepatoma and uterine cancer, cerebrovascular disease, inhibition of atherosclerosis, sedation of central nervous system, antipyretic action, and anti-inflammation, and centipede Herb-Acupuncture is effective on inflammatory disease and pain disease. Centipede preparation materials for external therapy were sesame oil, perilla oil, vinegar, salt, and, burnt alum. Fumigation of centipede treated paronychia, pertussis, and hemorrhoids. For the external therapy, the way of centipede powder mixing with other materials has been used. It is needed that we use dusted powder to make skin absorb its ingredients more easily, and we study intensely minor ingredients to make centipede components absorbed more effectively and do pharmacological action. Also, fumigation, a kind of another external therapy, is considered to be effective treatment of upper respiratory infection like pertussis, so it needs an in-depth study on centipede fumigation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.296-300
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• 1991

Seven different cultivars of Korean red pepper, Capsicum annuum L., were collected from different growing areas and analyzed for pungent principles, redness, size and weight. Length of the pod varied in the range of $7.0{\sim}9.4\;cm$ total weight, $1.2{\sim}3.1\;g$, capsaicin content, $11.5{\sim}45.0\;mg%$, dihydrocapsaicin content, $8.5{\sim}35.1mg%$, and redness (absorbance at 460 nm), $6,270{\sim}7,810$ conventional color unit. Contents of capsaicins and redness were significantly different according to the cultivars but the two components were not correlated each other. According to the growing areas, contents of capsaicins and redness were significantly different. Capsaicins content was not significantly different but redness was significantly different between sun-drying and hot air-drying of the pods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.271-276
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• 2000

Electron beam (EB) irradiation was compared with gamma ray (GR) in terms of their effects on physicochemical qualities of microbial-decontaminated red pepper powder. The pH and soluble solid of the samples were relatively constant when exposed to EB and GR up to 15 kGy, which also did not induce significant chances in total and reducing sugars. The water soluble pigment and capsanthin content of red pepper powder showed a decreasing tendency as the irradiation dose increased. However, the pungent components, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin were shown resistant to irradiation doses applied. Based upon the results, EB was similar to GR in its effect on the physicochemical attributes of the samples, and the irradiation doses required for microbial control were not detrimental to the quality attributes of red pepper powder.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.656-662
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• 2005

Ginger (Zingiber of oficinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is one of the most frequently and heavily consumed dietary condiments throughout the world. Besides its extensive use as a spice, the rhizome of ginger has also been used in traditional oriental herbal medicine for the management of symptoms such as common cold, digestive disorders, rheumatism, neurologia, colic, and motion-sickness. The oleoresin from rhizomes of ginger contains [6] -gingerol (1- [4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone) and its homologs as pungent ingredients that have been found to possess many interesting pharmacological and physiological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiheatotoxic, and cardiotonic effects. However, the effect of [6]-gingerol on cell proliferation in breast cancer cell are not currently well known. Therefore, in this study, we examined effect of [6]-gingerol on protein and mRNA expression associated with cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 human breast. cancer cell lines. We cultured MDA-MB-231 cells in presence of 0, 2.5, 5 and $10{\mu}M$ of [6] -gingerol. [6]-Gingerol inhibited breast cancer cell growth in a dose-depenent manner as determined by MTT assay. ErbB2 and ErbB3 protein and mRNA expression were decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In addition, phosphorylated Akt levels and total hぉ levels were markedly decreased in cells treated with $2.5{\mu}M$ [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell proliferation through ErbB2 and ErbB3, reduction in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2013

The anti-obesity effects of a hot water extract from wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum.) leaves (WLE), without its specific pungent constituents, such as allyl-isothiocyanate, were investigated in high fat-diet induced mice. C57J/BL mice were fed a high-fat diet (control group) or a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% WLE (WLE group). Physical parameters and blood profiles were determined. Gene expression associated with lipid metabolism in liver and white adipose tissue were analyzed. After 120 days of feeding, significantly lower body weight gain, liver weight and epididymal white adipose tissue weight was observed in the WLE group compared to the control group. In liver gene expression within the WLE group, PPAR${\alpha}$ was significantly enhanced and SREBP-1c was significantly suppressed. Subsequent downstream genes controlled by these regulators were significantly suppressed. In epididymal white adipose tissue of the WLE group, expression of leptin, PPAR${\gamma}$, and C/EBP${\alpha}$ were significantly suppressed and adiponectin was significantly enhanced. Acox, related to fatty acid oxidization in adipocytes, was also enhanced. Our results demonstrate that the WLE dietary supplement induces mild suppression of obesity in a high-fat diet induced mice, possibly due to suppression of lipid accumulation in liver and white adipose tissue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.598-606
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• 2010

Kimchi is the most well-known Korean traditional food, but it is also the main leftover of school lunch and dinner menus. This study aimed to familiarize teenagers with kimchi through school meals and to increase their daily kimchi intake, ultimately by appealing to the young generation's taste. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Ansan area to examine student's acceptability of kimchi and their attitudes toward kimchi. Approximately 65% of males and 67% of female students liked the moderately fermented and pungent taste of kimchi. Kimchi served in school meals was regarded as nutritional but cheap. Approximately 72% of male and 82% of female students responded that they liked menu items using kimchi. Approximately 48% of students responded that menu items using kimchi in schools are not diverse. Students preferred meat as an ingredient in kimchi. The preferred cooking methods were stir-frying and frying, whereas boiling was the least favorite. Based on the survey results, ten kimchi menu items had been developed. The suitability of the menu was evaluated by students and cooks. Six kimchi items, including Kimchi mixed with rice, chicken, soybean sprouts, Kimchi cheese rice, stewed beef ribs with kimchi, rice topped with kimchi curry, kimchi cheese meat roast, and kimchi udong were considered appropriate for school meals, whereas kimchi kangchong, kimchi topokki, kimchi stew with surimi, and frozen Pollack kimchi soup were not suitable as menu items. Kimchi topokki was not accepted by students, while kimchi kangchong was not accepted by cooks. Cooks judged the suitability of a menu item by the cooking process and cooking times, whereas students judged an item by its sensory preference. Approximately 63% of students responded that kimchi intake has increased by participating in the development of kimchi dishes.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.303-319
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• 2023

Pitfall traps that use ethylene glycol as a preservative solution are commonly used in arthropod research. However, a recent surge in cases involving damage to these traps by roe deer or wild boars owing to the sweet taste of ethylene glycol has prompted the addition of quinone sulfate, a substance with a pungent taste, to deter such wildlife interference. This study aimed to assess the effects of quinone sulfate on arthropods collected from pitfall traps containing ethylene glycol. We strategically positioned 50 traps using ethylene glycol alone and 50 traps containing a small amount of quinone sulfate mixed with ethylene glycol in a grid pattern for systematic sampling at the Gwangneung Forest long-term ecological research (LTER) site. Traps were collected 10 days later. The results revealed a notable effect on ants when quinone sulfate was introduced. Specifically, it decreased the number of ants. In a species-specific analysis of ants, only Nylanderia flavipes showed a significant decline in response to quinone sulfate, whereas other ant species remained unaffected. Additionally, among the arthropod samples obtained in this survey, we identified species or morpho-species of spiders, beetles, and ants and assessed species diversity. Consequently, the utilization of quinone sulfate should be undertaken judiciously, taking into account the specific species composition and environmental characteristics of the monitoring site. Our study also highlighted the significant response of various arthropod groups to variations in leaf litter depth, underscoring the crucial role of the leaf litter layer in providing sustenance and shelter for ground-foraging arthropods. Furthermore, we have compiled comprehensive species lists of both spiders and ants in Gwangneung forest by amalgamating data from this investigation with findings from previous studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 2009

The effects of heat treated and herb added garlic (Allium sativum L.) on the antioxidant activities were investigated. Boiling ($100^{\circ}C$, 60 min), steaming ($100^{\circ}C$, 30 min), baking ($120^{\circ}C$, 10 min), or high temperature and high pressure (HTHP, $120^{\circ}C$, 20 min, 1.5 kgf/$cm^2$) were applied, and several herbs were added to garlic. Hunter color L-value of heated garlic was significantly decreased, compared to that of control (fresh garlic), whereas a-value and b-value were increased (p<0.05). In the texture profile analysis, hardness, chewiness and gumminess of heated garlic were decreased, whereas adhesiveness was increased. The antioxidant activities determined by DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were decreased in HTHP garlic. The pungent taste and garlic odor were the weakest in HTHP garlic. Especially, the pungent taste of HTHP garlic was not detectable. Green tea among several herbs (bay leaf, cinnamon bark, pine needles) showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity. Addition of green tea to HTHP garlic was appropriate for decreasing antioxidative activity of HTHP garlic compared to fresh garlic. Based on these results, it was suggested that high temperature and high pressure treated garlic with green tea might be very useful as a substitute for odorless functional garlic products.