This study was undertaken to investigate whether HEPA filter-equipped air purifiers can remove aerosolized virus, whether the removed virus can re-scatter through the filter, and how long the removed virus keeps its infectivity in the filter. For this investigation, six HEPA filter-equipped air purifiers produced by different companies were tested against PhiX174 and MS2 phages aerosolized by nebulizers. For viral detection from the air, LB agar plates covered with Escherichia coli hosts and an Andersen air sampler were used, and from the surface, the swab method was used. Both the aerosolized PhiX174 and MS2 viruses absorbed by the HEPA filters in the air purifiers were not detected from the air through filters or the surface of the outlet of the air purifiers. During the operation of the air purifiers at medium mode, the infectious viral concentration of these viruses in the HEPA filters decreased to 0%~12.3% as the time period passed. These results regarding infectious viral concentration differences were assumed to be due to the different wind speed and air volume among the six air purifiers. Based on observations over 5 days, the infectious viral concentration of the PhiX174 phage was 8,600 times lower when the air purifier was operated than when it was not operated. Overall, our results demonstrate that HEPA filter-equipped air purifiers can efficiently remove the two aerosolized viruses and the removed viruses in the HEPA filter could not re-spread and maintain their infectivity.

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activities on hydropoic-cultured ginseng roots (HGR) and leaves (HGL). The samples were lyophilized, extracted with 80% ethanol, and then evaluated the antioxidant activities compare with conventional- cultured ginseng. Total polyphenol content of ginseng, HGR, and HGL were 128.85±0.41, 115.74±1.28, and 282.15±5.15 mg/g, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity(IC50) was the highest value of 6.47±0.13 mg/mL in the HGL. The ABTS radical scavenging activity was the highest value of 29.37±0.37 mg AA eq/g in HGL, and ginseng and HGR were 10.23±0.49 and 8.18±0.37 mg AA eq/g, respectively. The reducing power of ginseng, HGR, and HGL were 0.56±0.01, 0.53±0.01, and 0.68±0.01, respectively. Chelating effect was the highest value of 92.65±3.42% in HGL. The results of this study suggest that antioxidant activities in hydropoic-cultured ginseng leaves could have significant health benefits.