In this study, using the surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) produced at atmospheric pressure to improve the physiological activities of quercetin was investigated. Quercetin (at 200 ppm) was treated using air DBD with an input power of 250 W. The tyrosinase inhibition effect and total phenolic content of quercetin increased from 38.96 to 91.58% and from 134.53 to 152.93 ppm, respectively, after 20 min of plasma treatment. The antioxidant activity of quercetin treated for 20 min in the lipid models was higher than that of quercetin treated for 0, 5, and 10 min. Furthermore, plasma-treated quercetin exhibited antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas activity was not shown in the control. Structural modifications of the quercetin molecule induced by plasma might be responsible for the improvements in its physiological activity. These results indicate that DBD plasma could be used to enhance the physiological activity of quercetin for various applications in food.

The influence of aging on the flavor precursors and volatile compounds of top round beef was studied. The concentrations of free amino acids, nucleotides, creatine, dipeptides, and volatile compounds were measured after top round from Hanwoo was aged at 4℃ for 21 days. The amount of free amino acids in top round significantly increased with the increase of aging period. There was no effect of aging on the concentrations of adenosine monophosphate or inosine in top round. The inosine monophosphate content of top round significantly decreased with age, while the hypoxanthine content increased. The concentrations of creatine, carnosine, and anserine in top round were not influenced by aging. In total, 24 volatile compound were identified in aged, cooked top round. Of these, the quantities of aldehydes (propanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, and nonanal), hydrocarbons (pentane and octane), 2-butanone, ethyl acetate, and pyridines (4-ethynyl-pyridine and 4-acetyl-pyridine) significantly increased after aging. We conclude that the flavor of top round can be improved by aging.

국내에서 생산되는 벼의 저장안전성 확보를 위한 기초기 반연구로 플라즈마 기술을 이용하여 벼의 저장기간 및 온도에 따른 미생물 생육 및 성분 변화를 관찰하였다. 플라즈마 시스템은 컨테이너형 유전격벽 플라즈마로 공기방전방식을 이용하여 삼광, 청품, 미소미, 팔방미 품종을 0, 10 및 20분간 처리하여 4℃, 25℃에서 2달간 저장하여 실험하였 다. 미생물 생육 변화를 관찰한 결과 저장 초기에는 일반호기성 미생물은 3.46-3.86 log CFU/g, 곰팡이는 2.27-2.86 log CFU/g이 검출되었다. 저장온도 및 기간에 따라 일반호기성 미생물 및 곰팡이의 생육은 증가하였으며, 품종간의 큰 차이는 없었다. 저장한 후의 미생물 분석 결과 플라즈마 처리 군의 미생물이 약 1.50 log CFU/g 적게 생육되었다. 플라즈마 처리한 벼의 수분함량을 측정한 결과 플라즈마 처리에 의한 큰 차이는 관찰되지 않았으나, 저장온도가 올라가면 수분함량이 감소하는 것을 확인하였다. 지방은 플라즈마에 의해 감소하는 경향을 보였으나, 단백질 함량은 플라즈마 및 저장조건에 따른 일관적인 변화는 관찰되지 않았다. 아밀로스 함량의 경우 삼광, 청품, 미소미 품종은 플라즈마에 의한 함량 변화는 관찰되지 않았으나 팔방미는 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 이상의 결과를 종합하여 볼 때 플라즈마에 의해 벼의 저장안전성을 개선할 수 있으며 품질 변화의 최소화를 위하여 저온저장이 효과적이라고 판단된다.

This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in the quality of rice wine (Makgeolli) treated with UV-C and electron beam (EB) irradiation during its storage at 4℃ for 15 days. The EB irradiation was found to be more effective than the UV-C irradiation for microbiological control. The pH tended to be increased by UV-C, EB irradiation, and storage period. Acidity was significantly higher in rice wine treated with EB irradiation than those of control and UV-C irradiation during storage period. The L*-value of the samples treated with UV-C and EB irradiation tended to be proportionately higher than that of the control, but this was not consistent during storage period. The a*-value of the sample treated with EB was higher than that of the others, but this was not consistent during the storage period. The reducing sugar content was higher in the control at day 0, but it rapidly decreased compared with the control during the storage. The results indicate that EB irradiation was more effective than UV-C irradiation in controlling microorganisms of rice wine. However, a further study is needed to minimize the rice wine quality deterioration caused by UV-C or EB irradiation during storage.