This current survey was conducted to examine consumer attitudes toward factors determining beef purchasing and improving distribution systems. The frequency of beef purchasing was shown to reflect social and economic status, where inhabitants in large cities, such as Seoul, with higher salaries showed a higher frequency. In addition, consumers that were in their forties bought beef more frequently than consumers that were in their twenties. Consumers in Seoul and the megalopolis with a monthly income of higher than 200 million won preferred to purchase meat from department stores and discount markets. In contrast, people in small cities with lower incomes tended to buy meat from butcher shops and brand shops. In a question regarding unsatisfaction factors of retail beef, individuals that were in their thirties with a high income had concerns associated with packaging problems. For people under thirty with low income, the consistency of quality and price were the prime concerns. In regards to the beef grading system, consumer response varied between inhabitants, monthly income and age group, where consumers from small cities that were in their twenties and forties with a low income had a negative viewpoint. For the differential beef distribution system, housewives between the ages of 30 and 40 from a small city with an income higher than 200 million won had a positive response; however, a large number of consumers were not familiar with this system. The most demanding beef cuts were in the following order: loin, flank and rib. In addition, the most important factors determining purchasing beef were as follows: price, breed and portion.

This study was conducted to investigate the physicochemical characteristic of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed and to assess its total phenol content, total flavonoids content and antimicrobial activity. The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and carbohydrates of the Carthamus tinctorius L. seed were 5.58, 37.16, 13.69, 3.52, and 40.05%, respectively. Total amino acid in Carthamus tinctorius L. seed was 391.99 mg%. The major free sugar of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed were fructose(3.29%) and sucrose(1.74%). Linoleic acid(79.46%) was a major fatty acids in the crude fat of Carthamus tinctorius L. seed. The K and Ca contents were the highest in Carthamus tinctorius L. seed. Total phenol and total flavonoids contents of the ethanolic extract were 55.52 ± 0.99 mg GAE/g and 78.69 ± 0.91 mg QE/g, respectively. The extract from Carthamus tinctorius L. seed showed growth inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escheria coli, Candida albicans, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Clustridium perfringens. These results indicate that the Carthamus tinctorius L. seed extract can inhibit food pathogen associated with total phenol and total flavonoids contents.

Recently, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was proposed to accelerate adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell. We have previously shown that Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation via downregulation of PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) gene expression. In this study, we focused on the molecular mechanism(s) of NOX4, G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes in anti-oxidative activities of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts markedly inhibits ROS production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Cheonnyuncho extracts suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme such as NOX4 and theNADPH-producing G6PDH enzyme. In addition, treatment with Cheonnyuncho extract was found to upregulate mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn-SOD (manganese-superoxide dismutase), Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathion reductase (GR), and catalase, all of which are important for endogenous antioxidant responses. These data suggest that Cheonnyuncho extract may be effective in preventing the rise of oxidative stress during adipocyte differentiation through mechanism(s) that involves direct down regulation of NOX4 and G6PDH gene expression or via upregulation of endogenous antioxidant responses.