본 연구는 국내산 및 중국산 단메밀과 쓴메밀의 일반성 분, 아미노산 조성, 지방산 조성과 루틴 함량을 분석하였다. 다양한 메밀의 수분, 조단백질, 조지방, 조회분, 탄수화물의 함량은 각각 8.78~13.37, 11.00~12.11, 2.87~3.18, 1.80~2.58, 70.2~73.8%로 분석되었다. 국내산 및 중국산 메밀의 주요 아미노산은 aspartic acid(1,105.1~1,403.5mg%), glutamine (2,250.9~2,996.1 mg%), arginine(932.5~1,388.6 mg%)로 분 석되었으며, K(423.7~569.4 mg%), Mg(181.8~255.9 mg%), P(328.6~555.0 mg%)가 주요 미네랄로 분석되었다. 한편, 지방산 조성은 포화지방산인 palmitic acid(14.2~16.1%)와 불포화 지방산인 oleic acid(37.0~40.8%), linoleic acid (31.7~38.6%)가 주요 지방산으로 분석되었다. 또한, 국내산 및 중국산 메밀의 주요 phenolic compound는 루틴으로 분석 되었으며, 쓴메밀(261.0~265.0 mg/g)이 단메밀(4.39~5.68 mg/g)보다 높은 함량을 보였다. 본 연구를 종합하면, 국내산 단메밀은 중국산 단메밀과 비교하여 영양성분은 크게 차이 를 보이지 않았으나, 메밀의 주요 활성성분인 루틴은 약간 높게 함유되어 있었다. 또한 국내산 쓴메밀은 중국산 쓴메 밀에 비하여 Ca, Fe 함량이 높았으며, 루틴 역시 약간 높은 함유량을 보였다. 따라서, 메밀에서 주요 활성성분으로 제 시되고 있는 루틴의 함량이 중국산 메밀보다 국내산 메밀에 높게 함유되어 있기 때문에 국내산 메밀에서 더 높은 생리 활성이 나타날 것으로 기대된다.

This study was performed in order to provide basic data for predicting the usefulness of Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) as a food raw material. The changes in the physicochemical properties of freeze-dried and hot air-dried Jicama were investigated and analyzed. The moisture content of raw Jicama was 81.84%. The crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and carbohydrate content of hot air-dried Jicama powder were 2.85, 0.79, 7.93 and 88.44%, while those of freeze-dried Jicama powder were 3.93, 0.83, 7.92 and 87.32%, respectively on dry basis. Regarding the color values, the lightness of freeze-dried Jicama (92.86) was higher than that of the hot air-dried Jicama (88.01), whereas the redness (-0.67) and yellowness (3.21) of freeze-dried Jicama were lower than those of the hot air-dried Jicama (0.43) and (11.96), respectively. The brown index was lower in the freeze-dried Jicama (0.029) than in hot air-dried Jicama (0.107). The total sugar content showed no significant differences between freeze (46.49 mg/g) and hot air-dried Jicama (45.11 mg/g). Finally, the amylose content was higher in freeze-dried Jicama (5.66%) than in hot air-dried Jicama (6.63%).

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.

In this study, 80% ethanolic extracts of tartary and common buckwheats were assessed for their total phenol content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power), and anti-adipogenic effects. Our results show that total phenol contents of 80% ethanolic extract from tartary and common buckwheats were 17.35±0.41 and 8.20±0.28 μg GAE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities of 80% ethanolic extract from tartary buckwheat were significantly higher than that of common buckwheat extract (p<0.05). During adipocyte differentiation, 80% ethanolic extracts of tartary and common buckwheat significantly inhibited lipid accumulation compared to control cells. We further evaluated the effect of buckwheat extracts on the changes of key gene expression associated with 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and ROS production. Tartary buckwheat extract was more suppressed the mRNA expressions (PPARγ and aP2) than that of common buckwheat extract. Moreover, tartary buckwheat inhibited the mRNA expression of both NOX4 (NADPH oxidase 4) and G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). These results indicate that anti-adipogenesis effect of tartary buckwheat can be attributed to phenolic compound that may potentially inhibit ROS production.