• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.648-654
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• 2010

This study investigated the antioxidant activities and antimicrobial effects of MeOH extracts from some spices. The total flavonoid contents of MeOH extracts from ginger, garlic, onion, Chinese pepper (Zanthoxylum schinifolium) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) were 20.3%, 10.0%, 4.3%, 6.6% and 12.8%, while the total phenol contents were 19.3%, 1.0%, 0.5%, 3.4% and 7.9%, respectively. The order of the nitrite-scavenging abilities of spice extracts were ginger> black pepper> Chinese pepper> garlic> onion (p<0.05). MeOH extract from ginger showed antimicrobial activity to Bacillus cereus, and garlic extract showed strong antimicrobial activity to Salmonella enteritidis. However, onion extract did not show any antimicrobial activity. The electron donating ability of MeOH extract from ginger was markedly higher than those of garlic, Chinese pepper, black pepper and onion extracts. Antioxidative activities in linoleic acid substrates were in order of BHT> ginger> Chinese pepper> black pepper> garlic> $\alpha$-tocopherol> onion. Antioxidative activities in linoleic acid emulsion substrates were in order of BHT> $\alpha$-tocopherol> ginger> black pepper> Chinese pepper> garlic> onion.