Natural compounds are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional hair loss treatments. This review examines various natural ingredients, including green tea (EGCG), pea sprout extract, red ginseng, pumpkin seed oil, rosemary oil, chia seeds, and micronutrients. It summarizes their mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, and safety profiles. These compounds target pathways related to androgenetic alopecia, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), oxidative stress, and inflammation. Clinical and animal studies indicate benefits such as stimulating hair growth, preserving hair follicles, and exhibiting anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, with increasing evidence supporting their use among patients with hair loss disorders.
This study analyzed the dietary education status and needs of 283 Vietnamese marriage migrant women in Korea from February 3 to 28, 2025, focusing on dietary adaptation factors. Overall, 20.8% of participants engaged in education, primarily in the complete-assimilation and assimilation-separation categories. The internet was the main source of dietary information, utilized by 65.4% of respondents, while those in the integrated-separation and marginalized categories more frequently accessed support from multicultural family centers. The primary challenges in managing family dietary life included educating children about healthy eating habits and, for those in the assimilation-separation category, adjusting family meal preferences. The dietary education content experienced by participants included traditional Korean dietary practices, fermented foods, and Korean cooking practices. Reasons for non-participation were primarily childcare or household responsibilities (29.5%) and busy work schedules (27.7%). In terms of family dietary education needs, topics such as healthy eating and health, healthy eating for families, and food hygiene and safety management all received scores above 4.0. For children's dietary education needs, all topics also scored above 4.0, with the complete-assimilation group ranking highest for education on children's Korean dietary practices and culture, while the passive-adaptation group ranked lowest in both areas. The importance-satisfaction analysis (ISA) identified food hygiene and safety management, as well as Korean cooking practices, as areas needing maintenance, while understanding Korean culinary culture was highlighted as a priority for improvement. This finding indicates the necessity for tailored, practice-based, bilingual programs.
To confirm the industrial applicability of crabapple (Malus prunifolia; MP), which shows greater potential than conventional apples (Malus domestica; MD) as a raw material for developing immunostimulants, we compared the macrophage-activating effects of hot-water extracts (MP-HW and MD-HW) and fractionated the active components to identify their characteristics. MP-HW significantly enhanced the secretion of macrophage-activating factors such as NO, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-12, stimulating macrophages more effectively than MD-HW. Subsequently, when MP-HW was fractionated into a low-molecular-weight fraction (MP-L) and crude polysaccharides (MP-CP) through ethanol precipitation, MP-CP exhibited significantly higher activity than the other fractions. Furthermore, MP-CP, the macrophage-activating crude polysaccharides, was further fractionated into four sub-fractions (MP-CP-0, -I, -II, and -III) using DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B (Cl- form), with MP-CP-III identified as the active fraction responsible for macrophage stimulation. In HPLC molecular analysis, the active fraction MP-CP-III displayed a nearly purified single peak around 115 kDa, and its main component sugars were identified as galacturonic acid, rhamnose, galactose, and arabinose, suggesting that they are pectic-like polysaccharides. In conclusion, polysaccharides derived from crabapple promote macrophage activation, confirming their industrial applicability as immunostimulants.
This study examined the impact of Artemisia argyi extract (AE) on bone health using a mouse model of ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis. A total of seven sham-operated mice and twenty-one OVX mice were assigned to three groups: control (OVX), estradiol-treated (E2, 10 μg/kg), and AE-treated (100 mg/kg). The treatment lasted for 12 weeks, during which body weight, food intake, hindlimb thickness, grip strength, and various bone parameters were recorded. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was employed to evaluate body composition, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD). The administration of AE significantly increased BMC and BMD compared to the OVX group, with no notable changes in body composition. Although AE did not enhance hindlimb thickness, it did significantly improve grip strength. These findings indicate that AE selectively promotes bone metabolism and may serve as a potential functional food component for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
This study analyzed the changes in quality characteristics and functionality of Cheongsoo fortified wine based on aging temperature and duration. The pH levels of Cheongsoo fortified wine ranged from 2.85 to 3.23, and total acidity was between 0.56% and 0.80%. After fortification, the soluble solids measured 14.7 to 15.8 °Brix, while the alcohol content remained stable during aging, ranging from 21.9% to 22.2%. Color analysis revealed that lightness (L) decreased more rapidly at higher aging temperatures, whereas redness (a*), yellowness (b*), hue value, and color intensity increased, indicating a deepening of color during aging. In the free sugar analysis, fructose levels were between 41.96 and 42.22 mg/mL, glucose ranged from 15.68 to 17.88 mg/mL, and sucrose was found at 0.64 to 0.88 mg/mL, indicating that sucrose remained as residual sugar. For organic acids, citric acid levels were between 0.022 and 0.039 mg/mL, tartaric acid ranged from 2.715 to 3.133 mg/mL, malic acid was between 1.126 and 1.265 mg/mL, and lactic acid measured 0.172 to 0.173 mg/mL. Aroma analysis identified a total of 32 compounds: 6 alcohols, 17 esters, 3 ketones, 3 furans, 1 pyran, 1 acid, and 1 ethane compound. This study highlights the potential for developing premium fortified wines from Cheongsoo and suggests that the findings can be applied across various sectors of the wine industry.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a widely consumed leafy green vegetable known for its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds with nutraceutical potential. This study analyzed the flavonoid content in three regionally cultivated Korean spinach varieties—Seomcho, Pohangcho, and Bomulcho—in both raw and blanched samples using high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-QTOF/MS). A total of 18 flavonoids were identified and characterized, including flavonol glycosides (spinacetin, patuletin, jaceidin, axillarin) and a flavone glycoside (6:7-methylenedioxyflavone). Notably, acylated compounds such as coumaric acid and ferulic acid were observed among the spinach flavonoids. The total flavonoid content ranged from 1,112.03 to 1,368.39 mg/100 g of dry weight in the raw spinach samples, with no significant changes noted after blanching. In Seomcho, the predominant flavonoids were patuletin 3-O-(2''-O-apiosyl)gentiobioside and spinacetin 3-O-(2''-O-apiosyl)gentiobioside, while Pohangcho featured spinacetin 3-O-gentiobioside and Bomulcho highlighted axillarin 4'O-glucuronide as the major compounds. These findings provide a comprehensive profile of flavonoids in Korean spinach, reveal regional differences, and suggest their potential as functional food ingredients.
This study assessed how fruit size and cultivation region affect the distribution of carotenoids and flavonoids in sweet persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.). We quantified concentrations in the whole fruit, peel, and pulp, and compared them across different size grades and cultivation regions. The fruit size did not significantly influence the levels of carotenoids or flavonoids, suggesting a limited direct relationship with phytochemical accumulation. Notably, the peel consistently contained the highest concentrations of the compounds analyzed. Regional comparisons revealed significant variability. In the whole fruit, flavonoids—except for quercetin 3-O-galactoside (Q3Gal)—were most concentrated in Gwangyang. In the peel, Q3Gal, quercetin 3-O-glucoside (Q3Glu), and zeaxanthin were most abundant in Naju–Yeongam, while β-carotene peaked in Gimhae–Changwon. To identify environmental influences, we examined climatic variables and found that a larger diurnal temperature range during the dormancy stage of fruit development correlated positively with higher flavonoid levels. Overall, these findings indicate that the functional components of sweet persimmon are primarily influenced by the growing region—potentially due to local weather conditions—rather than by fruit size. Additionally, consuming persimmons with their peel may enhance the intake of beneficial plant-derived compounds.
Flavonoids extracted from the roots of Petasites japonicus were evaluated for their cytoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-aging effects. The MTT assay confirmed that cell viability remained above 95% across concentrations up to 12 μg/mL, indicating no cytotoxicity. The extract demonstrated strong DPPH radical scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner, reaching 86.7% at 12 μg/mL, which is comparable to vitamin C. ROS scavenging activity also increased with dosage, showing significant suppression at concentrations of 6 μg/mL and above, thus effectively mitigating oxidative stress. Collagen synthesis assays revealed an initial decrease at low concentrations, followed by a clear recovery and significant enhancement at higher doses (10–12 μg/mL). Additionally, the extract inhibited collagenase activity, with notable suppression occurring at concentrations above 10 μg/mL, suggesting protective effects against collagen degradation. Elastase activity was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, achieving over 60% inhibition at 10–12 μg/mL. These results imply that flavonoids have dual functions: they stimulate collagen production while suppressing the enzymes that degrade collagen and elastin. The strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of these flavonoids likely contributes to their protective effects on dermal structure and function. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of flavonoids as promising natural ingredients for anti-aging cosmetics and skin health applications.
Older adults face a heightened risk of chronic diseases due to physiological changes, functional decline, and dietary imbalances. Although nutrition education can enhance dietary habits, its influence on physical activity is less clear. This study, conducted at the Seongnam Senior Industry Innovation Center in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, assessed the effects of group-based nutrition education on 24 adults aged 65 and older (10 men, and 14 women; mean age 76.08 years). Participants engaged in a 12-week program that focused on hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and nutrition management. Anthropometric measurements, physical activity capacity, and dietary intake were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results showed significant reductions in body weight (p=0.038) and waist circumference (p=0.003), while BMI, body fat, and blood pressure remained unchanged. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass, muscle mass index, and right-hand grip strength decreased. Dietary fiber intake saw a slight increase, while cholesterol intake decreased significantly (p=0.007). Waist circumference decreased in both the groups consuming less than 300 mg and those consuming 300 mg or more of cholesterol. Overall, group-based nutrition education led to improvements in dietary habits and anthropometric outcomes, but did not enhance physical activity levels. Combining nutrition education with structured exercise may be more effective in promoting muscle strength and functional health in older adults.
The physiological activities of solvent fractions derived from the celtus methanol extract were measured. Following the extraction of celtus with methanol, the yields of the resulting fractions—methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water—were found to be 19.57%, 3.24%, 26.02%, 8.15%, 8.72%, and 63.57%, respectively. The total flavonoid contents of the celtus methanol extract were 13.76, 4.96, 8.20, 31.99, 28.33, and 5.02 mg CE/g, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50%) was measured at 22.48, 6.14, 11.15, 24.20, 19.18, and 20.71 μg/mL, with the highest activity observed in the ethyl acetate layer. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC50%) results were 14.27, 2.97, 9.19, 13.93, 3.90, and 3.10 μg/mL, also showing the highest activity in the ethyl acetate layer. The SOD-like activity measurements for the solvent fractions yielded values of 22.07, 9.65, 16.24, 32.63, 39.64, and 32.76 units/mL, with the highest activity in the butanol layer. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity results were 16.42%, 11.29%, 16.60%, 27.40%, 2.86%, and 36.19%. Correlation analysis of antioxidant components and antioxidant activity indicated a very high correlation between total flavonoid content and both DPPH and SOD-like activities, suggesting that the celtus methanol extract positively influences antioxidant activity.