This study analyzed the changes in quality characteristics and functionality of Campbell Early fortified wine based on aging temperature and duration. The pH levels of the wine ranged from 3.74 to 3.87, while total acidity was between 0.40% and 0.49%. After fortification, the soluble solids measured 15.4 to 16.1 °Brix, and the alcohol content remained stable throughout aging, consistently between 24.2% and 24.9%. Color analysis revealed that lightness (L) increased with higher aging temperatures, while redness (a*) decreased. Concurrently, yellowness (b*) and hue values rose, indicating a gradual fading of red color as the wine aged, transitioning toward a yellowish-brown hue. In the free sugar analysis, fructose levels were found to be between 36.24 and 36.71 mg/mL, glucose ranged from 7.67 to 8.51 mg/mL, and sucrose was measured at 1.07 to 1.09 mg/mL. For organic acids, citric acid ranged from 0.013 to 0.027 mg/mL, tartaric acid from 1.033 to 1.228 mg/mL, malic acid from 0.645 to 0.689 mg/mL, and lactic acid from 0.274 to 0.314 mg/mL. Aroma analysis identified a total of 41 compounds, including 9 alcohols, 22 esters, 5 ketones, 2 furans, 1 pyran, 1 acid, and 1 ethane compound. This study highlights the potential for developing premium fortified wines from Campbell Early and suggests that the findings could be beneficial across various sectors of the wine industry.
This study optimized the extraction of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds from orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) using response surface methodology (RSM) with ethyl lactate as a green solvent. A central composite design (CCD) was utilized to evaluate how the solvent-to-sample ratio, temperature, and extraction time affected efficiency. The regression model was statistically significant (Adj. R2=0.67), revealing that the solvent-to-sample ratio was the most influential factor, while temperature and time had relatively minor effects. The optimal conditions identified were a ratio of 12 mL/g, a temperature of 35°C, and an extraction time of 30 minutes, which resulted in a yield of 27 mg/100g of β-carotene, along with high levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and strong antioxidant activities as measured by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid)) assays. Validation experiments demonstrated a close alignment between predicted and experimental values, confirming the model's robustness. These findings indicate that ethyl lactate effectively extracts not only carotenoids but also a wide range of antioxidants, underscoring its potential as a sustainable solvent for developing functional food ingredients.
This study developed a calibration model using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) for the rapid and non-destructive prediction of functional components—total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activities—in sweetpotato. Analysis of 473 sweetpotato genetic resources revealed significant variation and diversity in total polyphenols (4.67 to 2,419 mg/100g, CV 74.26%), total flavonoids (7.71 to 1,057.67 mg/100g, CV 122.88%), DPPH radical scavenging activity (7.83 to 532.56 mg/100g, CV 111%), and ABTS radical scavenging activity (11.84 to 615.87 mg/100g, CV 70.02%). The NIR spectra (400 to 2,500 nm), following pretreatment and modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression, were utilized to create the calibration model. Cross-validation indicated high predictive performance for total polyphenols (R2 cv 0.895), total flavonoids (0.940), DPPH (0.955), and ABTS (0.940). External validation yielded R2 ev values ranging from 0.623 to 0.726 and RPD values between 1.58 and 2.13, confirming the model's practical applicability for large-scale screening and classification. However, further enhancements are needed to improve the accuracy of quantitative analysis. Future studies should focus on refining the predictive model by incorporating samples from diverse genetic resources and cultivation environments. This research demonstrates that NIR spectroscopy can be effectively employed for the rapid, non-destructive evaluation of sweetpotato functional quality, facilitating the efficient selection of high-value cultivars.
This study explored how enzyme type (cellulase and pectinase), concentration, and mixing ratio influence the functional compounds and antioxidant activities of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). The enzyme treatment significantly impacted all measured parameters. At a cellulase concentration of 30 units, the total anthocyanin content reached 399.4 mg/100g dry weight (DW), representing a 163% increase compared to the control (151.6 mg/100g DW). Total polyphenol (1,799.7 mg GAE/100g DW) and flavonoid (475.3 mg CE/100g DW) contents also peaked under these conditions, while higher enzyme concentrations or increased pectinase ratios reduced extraction efficiency. The highest ABTS radical scavenging activity was noted at 30 units of cellulase (954.0 mg TE/100g DW) and at 80 units in a combined treatment of cellulase (2) to pectinase (1) (927.2 mg TE/100g DW), suggesting that moderate enzyme synergy enhances antioxidant release. Conversely, DPPH activity decreased with higher enzyme concentrations, with all combined treatments yielding lower results than the control. Overall, the optimal condition for enhancing both functional compound extraction and antioxidant activity in purple sweet potato was identified as a single treatment with cellulase at 30 units.
This study examined the structural, physicochemical, and functional characteristics of five black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars—Cheongja5, Danheuk, Socheongja, Seum, and Soriheuk—bred and cultivated in Korea. We conducted comprehensive analyses on morphology, microstructure, thermal and hydration properties, pasting behavior, and antioxidant activity to identify cultivar-specific differences in processing suitability and functional properties. The results indicated significant varietal variations in seed coat ratio, cotyledon density, and color, which affected thermal stability, hydration, and viscosity development during heating. Cultivars with compact cotyledon matrices, such as Cheongja5 and Danheuk, displayed high enthalpy (ΔH), low solubility, and limited viscosity development, suggesting high structural stability and low thermal reactivity-traits favorable for thermally stable or beverage-type applications. In contrast, cultivars with looser structures and greater surface exposure, like Seum and Socheongja, exhibited higher swelling power, dispersion stability, and RVA viscosities, indicating their suitability for viscous or semi-solid systems. Notably, Soriheuk showed the highest antioxidant activity and levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, correlating with its high seed coat ratio and dark pigmentation, positioning it as a promising functional ingredient. These findings underscore that the physicochemical and structural diversity among black soybean cultivars significantly influences their processing performance and functional potential, providing a scientific foundation for selecting and developing functional cultivars.
This study evaluated the whitening effects of flavonoids extracted from Petasites japonicus root (PJR) using in vitro and cell-based assays to assess their cytoprotective, enzyme-inhibitory, and melanogenesis-suppressive activities. PJR flavonoids (30~60 μg/mL) showed no cytotoxicity and slightly enhanced cell proliferation at 40 μg/mL. Sodium nitroprusside (0.3 mM) decreased cell viability to 31%, whereas PJR restored it to 68.3%. PJR exhibited dose-dependent α-glucosidase inhibition (20.3~63.2%), indicating its potential to modulate skin glycation and pigmentation. In the malondialdehyde inhibition assay, PJR reduced lipid peroxidation by 35~60%, further supporting its antioxidative capacity. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine oxidation was suppressed by up to 68.9%, indicating reduced formation of the melanin precursor. The tyrosinase activity decreased from 145% to 86.9% and melanin synthesis was reduced from 105% to 66.9% in a concentration-dependent manner, showing a whitening efficacy comparable to that of arbutin. Overall, these findings indicate that PJR flavonoids possess antioxidative, antiglycation, and antimelanogenic properties and offer strong potential as safe multifunctional ingredients for functional cosmetic and food applications.
This study investigated the use of weakly supervised learning (WSL) and partial annotation-based semantic segmentation for recognizing ingredients in the traditional Korean dish bulgogi. A dataset was created to encompass various cooking stages and imaging conditions, with pixel-level labels generated for major ingredients: beef, onion, green onion, carrot, chili pepper, mushroom, button mushroom, and king oyster mushroom, using partial annotations. To enhance model robustness, data augmentation techniques such as rotation, scaling, horizontal flipping, and color jittering were employed. The DeepLabV3+ architecture was utilized, with ResNet50 and ResNet101 serving as backbone networks. The results demonstrated that ResNet50 provided stable performance with lower computational costs, while ResNet101 achieved higher segmentation accuracy for smaller or visually complex ingredients. Models trained with data augmentation showed improved recall and F1-scores, especially for smaller ingredient classes. Overall, both backbone models exhibited consistent performance across key segmentation metrics, including mean Intersection over Union (mIoU), precision, recall, and F1-score. These findings indicate that WSL, in conjunction with partial annotation, can effectively facilitate ingredient-level segmentation in mixed dishes like bulgogi.
This study aimed to assess adults' perceptions and practices regarding sustainable diets and to identify sociodemographic factors influencing these outcomes. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 337 adults from February 5 to 21, 2025. Participants' awareness, willingness to engage in education, and practices related to environmental, health, and consideration aspects of sustainable diets were measured using a 5-point scale. The findings revealed low awareness of sustainable diets (1.80) and moderate willingness to participate in educational initiatives (3.18). Practice scores were highest in the health area (3.53), followed by environmental (3.06) and consideration (2.34) aspects. Females demonstrated significantly greater awareness of sustainable diets (2.06 vs. 1.64, p<0.001) and higher practice scores in the environmental (p<0.01), health (p<0.05), and consideration areas (p<0.001). Adults aged 50 to 59 exhibited the highest practice levels across all areas, including environmental (3.52) and health (3.83). One-person households reported lower practice scores compared to larger households in all areas (all p<0.01). Regression analyses indicated that female gender, older age, and larger household size were positively associated with sustainable dietary practices. In conclusion, while adults exhibited low awareness of sustainable diets, there was moderate interest in education. Sustainable diet practices varied significantly based on gender, age, and household size.
This study assessed how the removal of specific sub-ingredients affects the quality characteristics of traditionally brewed soy sauce. Five samples were prepared using the same base formulation: a control with all ingredients (CON) and variants lacking garlic (GR), all chili peppers (CR), whole pepper (PR), or ginger wine (GWR). The sample without ginger wine (GWR) exhibited the highest moisture content and lightness, while the chili pepper-removed sample (CR) showed a darker color due to increased Maillard browning. Soy sauces without chili or pepper had significantly higher °Brix and salt contents but lower pH levels (p<0.05). Amino acid profiling revealed that the CR-removed sample had the highest levels of glutamic acid and branched-chain amino acids, whereas the GWR-removed sample had the lowest total amino acid content (p<0.05). Additionally, the CR-removed sample demonstrated the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, along with the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities (p<0.05). Instrumental flavor analyses conducted with an electronic nose and an electronic tongue confirmed distinct taste and aroma profiles. Overall, the removal of chili peppers enhanced antioxidant capacity and improved the instrumental flavor profile.
This study explored how Korea's national image influences Malaysian consumers' attitudes toward Korean Home Meal Replacement (HMR) products and their purchase intentions, highlighting the mediating role of the Korean government's crisis response measures. Data were gathered through an online survey targeting Malaysian consumers aged 19 to 39 who had previously purchased Korean HMR. A total of 515 valid responses were analyzed, yielding a response rate of 90.48%. The analyses included exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and mediation analysis. The findings revealed that all three dimensions of national image—stability, democracy, and development—positively impacted perceptions of Korea's crisis response measures. Democracy had the strongest effect on policy-related perceptions, stability most significantly influenced management-related perceptions, and development was linked to administrative capability. Additionally, national image positively affected attitudes toward Korean HMR, with stability being the most influential factor. Positive perceptions of Korea's crisis response measures further enhanced product attitudes, indicating that trust established through government crisis management can influence product evaluations. Furthermore, positive attitudes toward Korean HMR were associated with higher purchase intentions. Mediation analysis confirmed that perceptions of Korea's crisis response measures partially mediated the relationship between national image and product attitudes.
This study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the hot-water extract of Allium wakegi Araki roots (ARE). The extract was prepared by reflux extraction, concentration, and freeze-drying. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity was assessed by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. ARE showed dosedependent scavenging activity reaching 62.26±0.95% at 20 mg/mL. RAW 264.7 macrophages were used to examine anti-inflammatory activity. ARE did not exhibit cytotoxicity at concentrations ≤100 μg/mL. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly reduced by ARE in a dose-dependent manner with the highest inhibition observed at 100, 200 μg/mL. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that ARE suppressed the mRNA expression of iNOS (Nos2) and COX-2 (Ptgs2). Western blot analysis further showed that ARE inhibited LPS-induced p-ERK phosphorylation and reduced the protein levels of iNOS and TNF-α. These results indicate that ARE possesses antioxidant capacity and effectively attenuates inflammation by inhibiting NO production, suppressing pro-inflammatory gene expression, and modulating MAPK signaling. Therefore, ARE may serve as a promising natural ingredient for functional foods targeting oxidative stress and inflammation.
Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, known for their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, have recently been recognized as significant contributors to metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes. This study examined the effects of Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides on cell viability and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rat insulinoma (INS-1) cells. Aβ40 treatment demonstrated no significant toxicity at lower concentrations; however, it did reduce cell viability at higher concentrations and with prolonged exposure. Conversely, Aβ42 exhibited notable cytotoxicity even at lower concentrations within 24 hours. The combined treatment of Aβ40 and Aβ42 at a 10:1 ratio further accelerated the decline in cell viability, indicating a synergistic toxic effect. Importantly, Aβ40/42 treatment did not impair glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in INS-1 cells under the conditions tested. These findings suggest that Aβ peptides may contribute to β-cell loss in type 2 diabetes through their cytotoxic effects, although the direct impact on insulin secretion requires further study. Nutritional interventions aimed at reducing Aβ aggregation and associated oxidative stress could offer promising strategies to protect β-cell viability, warranting further research to clarify the underlying mechanisms of such dietary modulation.