• Research Article

    Effect of Debranched Starch-Onion Peel Extract Composites on in Vitro Starch Digestibility and Physicochemical Properties of Rice Porridge
    Jin-Hyeok Choi, Gang-Sik Kwon, Da-Hui Kim, So-Yun Kim, Jong-Yea Kim
    In this study, the effects of a digestion-resistant material encapsulated in debranched starch (DBS) on elderly-friendly foods were investigated to address the … + READ MORE
    In this study, the effects of a digestion-resistant material encapsulated in debranched starch (DBS) on elderly-friendly foods were investigated to address the issue of rapid starch digestion in the elderly-friendly food industry. The digestion-resistant components (quercetin, rutin, gallic acid, saponin, and chlorogenic acid) were assessed for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. At 100 mM, quercetin exhibited a remarkable α-glucosidase inhibition rate of 87.72 ± 1.19%. Onion peel extract, which is rich in quercetin, showed a concentration-dependent increase in α-glucosidase inhibition, reaching 91.41 ± 0.41% inhibition at 3%. The DBS-onion peel extract complex demonstrated stability in simulated oral and gastric digestion during in vitro digestion and exhibited sustained release in the intestinal phase. After in vitro digestion, the DBS-onion peel extract complex was not fully hydrolyzed, retaining 54.50% ± 3.89%. When 0.1%-5% (w/w) of the DBS-onion peel extract complex was added to rice porridge, the in vitro starch digestion inhibition rate increased with concentration, ranging from 1.01% to 18.58%. The addition of the DBS-onion peel extract complex reduced the apparent viscosity of rice porridge (4784-4384 cP), increased pH (5.52-5.81), and elevated ΔE (0.30-2.27). Moreover, the incorporation of the DBS-onion peel extract complex altered the flavor profile of rice porridge, the most significant variation in flavor pattern observed at a 5% addition level. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
  • Research Article

    Anticancer Properties of Global Sorghum bicolor Seed Extracts via Apoptosis-Related Gene Regulation in Human Cancer Cells
    Da Ye Ham, Ji Won Seo, Hong Ju Choi, Jiu Park, Jae Geun Lee, Na Young Kim, Chang Yeon Yu, Eun Soo Seong
    Sorghum is a crop with various biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as it contains abundant phenolic substances. In this study, … + READ MORE
    Sorghum is a crop with various biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as it contains abundant phenolic substances. In this study, the apoptotic effects of sorghum seed extracts collected from foreign regions on AGS and HCT116 cancer cells were evaluated. Cell viability was tested using the MTT assay, and morphological analysis was performed using a microscope. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of Bax/Bcl-2, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 were analyzed using real-time PCR. According to the MTT analysis, when AGS cells were treated with the K159042 sorghum extract, the survival rate was the lowest at 5.2%, and when applied to HCT116 cells, the K159081 sorghum extract showed the lowest cell survival rate of 7.2%. Morphological analysis of sorghum seed extract-treated AGS and HCT116 cells showed that extracts of K159041, K159042, K159081, K159088, K159089, K159093, K159096, K159097, and K159100, but not K159048, K159077, and K159078, induced apoptosis. Analysis of the mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 showed that the sorghum resource with the highest Bax/Bcl-2 expression level in AGS cells was K159078, whereas K159081 and K159089 showed the highest expression levels of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, respectively. In HCT116 cells, Bax/Bcl-2 expression was the highest under K159088, Caspase-9 expression was the highest under K159100, and Caspase-3 expression was the highest under K159093. These findings demonstrate that several sorghum seed extracts, particularly K159081, K159088, and K159093, significantly induced apoptosis via upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspases in AGS and HCT116 cells. Thus, the study successfully identified sorghum lines with potent anticancer potential, providing a basis for further phytochemical and mechanistic studies. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
  • Research Article

    Safety of Public Tap Water and Influencing Factors of Spatio-temporal Variability of Water Quality in Coastal Islands: Recommendations for Efficient Raw Water Management in Fisheries and Food-related Industries
    Jong Myong Park, Da-Sol Kwon, A Hyun Lee, Ji-Hyeung Kim, Hwa-Jung Nam
    This study investigated the safety of public drinking water distributed to coastal islands and its spatial, seasonal, and annual quality variability as … + READ MORE
    This study investigated the safety of public drinking water distributed to coastal islands and its spatial, seasonal, and annual quality variability as an industrial resource, and to derive its influencing factors to provide indicators for differentiated industrial water management practices. Tap water supplied to coastal islands (Yeongheung and Seonjae Islands) on the west coast of Korea was analyzed for 24 legal quality items over a five-year period. All of them remained safe within the standards. In the case of metals, the maximum level of zinc was 0.016 mg/L (0.5% of the standard), copper/iron 0.049 mg/L (4.9%), and aluminum 0.2 mg/L (20.0%); and for disinfection by-products (DBPs), THMs 0.055 mg/L (54.7%), chloroform 0.037 mg/L (45.8%), chloral hydrate 0.009 mg/L (28.7%). When comparing the water quality between islands with the water purification plant, changes in metals and DBPs were observed as the geographical distance of the regional water supply chain increased. Furthermore, seasonal factors that cause changes in the floating population sizes in coastal regions and social factors (e.g., COVID-19/social distancing) have been found to cause changes in the metal or DBP level because these factors cause water usage in coastal tourist cities. Furthermore, as tap water is an essential resource for coastal industries (e.g., food/beverage services or fishery industries affiliation), this study discussed how the tap water quality variation and its influencing factors, which are different from inland sources, can influence the industry type. Guidelines or standards for raw industrial water management (e.g., GMP) that are differentiated from inland workplaces are suggested to be established based on water quality variability and its influencing factors, especially on food facilities/equipment, which influence consumers’ sensory quality and efficacy of cleaning/disinfection of manufacturing facilities. Administrative efforts are concentrated on balanced regional development in coastal islands, and regional industries are developing accordingly. This study could help manage raw water, an important factor for the quality of products from these industries. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
  • Research Article

    Impact of Cassava Value Addition on Smallholder Farmers’ Income: The Case of Kogi State, Nigeria
    Portia Iheyi, Youngjune Kim
    This study investigates the impact of cassava value addition on the income of smallholder farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Data from 340 … + READ MORE
    This study investigates the impact of cassava value addition on the income of smallholder farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Data from 340 respondents were analyzed using propensity score matching, means, standard deviation, and logit regression model. The primary objective was to assess how value addition practices affect the income levels of smallholder cassava farmers. The results showed significant differences between value adders and non-value adders. Value adders had higher mean ages, education levels, farm sizes, access to credit, market linkages, cooperative membership, and usage of processing equipment. In contrast, non-value adders were predominantly male farmers with more farming experience. Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors such as age, education, farm size, access to credit, and market linkages positively influenced the likelihood of engaging in value addition. Conversely, being male and having more farming experience were negatively associated with value addition. The propensity score matching analysis demonstrated that value addition significantly increased the income of smallholder farmers. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) for income was substantial, with nearest neighbor matching showing an increase of ₦113,945.8 and radius matching (0.01) showing an increase of ₦106,141.1. Policymakers and stakeholders should support and promote value addition practices to enhance the income and economic resilience of smallholder cassava farmers. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
  • Research Article

    Study on the Solid-state Fermentation of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Enhance the Antioxidant Activity of Dunggulle (Polygonatum odoratum)
    Youn-Kyung Ham, Ah-Yeong Choi, Hyouk Yoon, Ha Guyn Sung
    Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and probiotics are receiving growing interest since microbial fermentation has been demonstrated to improve the function of natural herbal … + READ MORE
    Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and probiotics are receiving growing interest since microbial fermentation has been demonstrated to improve the function of natural herbal medicines. The current study therefore aimed to investigate the fermentation characteristics and antioxidant activity changes of Dunggulle (Polygonatum odoratum) root during SSF by controlling the temperature using probiotic lactic acid bacteria. More specifically, SSF was performed in the presence of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum and L. buchneri, with L. buchneri exhibiting the greatest degree of growth (p < 0.05). Subsequently, SSF of the Dunggulle radix was performed using L. buchneri at 25, 30, and 35°C for 8 d, and both the degree of bacterial growth and the generated bioactive substances were observed. L. buchneri reached its maximum growth peak on the 4th day of incubation at 30°C, and on the 6th day of incubation at 25 and 35°C (p < 0.05). Notably, L. buchneri exhibited superior growth at 30°C than at other temperatures during the SSF process (p < 0.05), and the antioxidant activity of Dunggulle was enhanced following SSF at all temperatures, compared to the case before SSF. More specifically, at a temperature of 30°C, the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, ABTS (2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging activity, total phenol content, and total flavonoid content were increased by up to 165% on day 6, 120% on the day 4, 117% on days 4 and 6, and 118% on day 2 compared with the non-fermented herb (22.96%, 49.31%, 0.30 mM gallic acid equivalent, 67.75 µg/mL quercetin equivalent), respectively. These results demonstrate that SSF performed using L. buchneri can improve the antioxidant function of natural Dunggulle. Moreover, this work is expected to provide scientific data for utilizing probiotic-based SSF technology to enhance the quality and physiological functions of herbal medicines. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
  • Research Article

    Impacts of Surface Temperature Change and Climate Vulnerability on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity across Countries
    Minji Kang, Yoonsuk Lee
    This study selected three developing countries situated in similar climate zones and three developed countries that provide the largest amounts of international … + READ MORE
    This study selected three developing countries situated in similar climate zones and three developed countries that provide the largest amounts of international aid to these nations. The analysis of temperature changes and climate vulnerability resulting from land use and land cover changes indicates that climate change has a significantly greater impact on the agricultural systems of developing countries. In particular, these countries exhibit relatively high vulnerability to extreme climatic events, which increases the likelihood of a sharp decline in agricultural productivity. Since the effects of climate change on agriculture differ between developed and developing countries, policy responses must be tailored and formulated in consideration of each country’s socio-economic conditions and agricultural structure. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
  • Research Article

    Investigation of 3D Food-Printing Materials Derived from Chickpea Cooking Water (Aquafaba)
    JooYoung Lee, Yeonggeol Hong, Kyoung-Je Jang
    In contemporary society, growing concerns about health and the environment have encouraged a shift toward vegan and vegetarian diets. Aquafaba, the cooking … + READ MORE
    In contemporary society, growing concerns about health and the environment have encouraged a shift toward vegan and vegetarian diets. Aquafaba, the cooking water of chickpeas, has gained attention as a potential egg substitute owing to its foaming capacity and viscosity. This study investigated the optimal dough formulation and printing conditions for aquafaba-based cookie dough using 3D food printing. A fused deposition modeling 3D printer was modified to enable syringe-based extrusion of the dough. Among the tested conditions, the 1:2 and 1:2.5 aquafaba ratios showed the most favorable results, exhibiting foaming stability of 86.27% and 77.76%, moisture losses of 22% and 23%, post-baking pH values close to neutral, and minimal color differences. These findings demonstrate that aquafaba possesses physical and visual properties comparable to those of egg-based dough and may serve as a functional plant-based material for 3D food printing and vegan baking applications. - COLLAPSE
    30 June 2025
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