This study was conducted to investigate the anthropometric data, nutrient intakes and serum profiles in premenopausal and postmenopausal women living in Gyeonggi-do Province, Republic of Korea. The subjects were 49 premenopausal women and 63 postmenopausal women who are not taking any hormone or cardiovascular drugs. Anthropometric measurements were taken by a trained practitioner and the data for dietary intakes were obtained by a 24-hour recall method. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for the total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and lipoprotein fractions. The mean age of the premenopausal women was 45.17±3.28 years and that of the postmenopausal women was 62.52±4.14 years. The height and weight were 157.86±4.35 ㎝, 58.75±6.01 ㎏ in premenopausal women and 156.42±3.62 ㎝, 57.63±5.38 ㎏ in postmenopausal women, respectively. WHR (waist hip ratio) in postmenopausal women was significantly higher than that of premenopausal women (p<0.05). There were no differences between the pre-and postmenopausal women in the intakes of energy, protein, fat, Ca, Fe, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C and vitamin E. However carbohydrate and Na intakes in postmenopausal women were significantly higher than those of premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, Ca intake was below and Na intake was extremely high considering KDRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans). Serum triglyceride in postmenopausal women was positively correlated with age, BMI (body mass index) and WHR. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in postmenopausal women showed significantly negative correlations with fiber intake. These results suggest that it is necessary to help postmenopausal women maintain a healthy body weight. Postmenopausal women needs to increase Ca (calcium) intakes and diet quality by decreasing the intakes of Na (sodium). In addition, an adequate intakes of fiber is recommended for postmenopausal women to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Zanthoxylum piperitum D.C. (ZP) peels has been used as a natural spice and herb medicine for hypertension reduction, for strokes, and for its anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activity. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms employed by ZP have yet to be completely understood. In this study, we elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ZP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. We evaluated the effects of ZP in LPS-induced levels of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and caspase-1 using ELISA. The expression levels of inflammatoryrelated genes, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were assayed by Western blot analysis. We elucidated the effect of ZP on nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation by means of a luciferase activity assay. The findings of this study demonstrated that ZP inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokine and PGE2 and inhibited the increased levels of COX-2 and iNOS caused by LPS. Additionally, we showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of ZP arises by suppressing the activation of NF-κB and caspase-1 in LPS- induced RAW264.7 cells. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of ZP as a potential candidate for development of new drugs to treat inflammatory diseases.

본 연구에서는 기호성을 향상시킬 수 있는 고부가가치 간장을 개발하고자 황기 첨가량에 따른 간장의 이화학적 특성 및 관능평가를 실시하였다. 식염변화에서는 황기 10% 첨가 간장에서 약간 감소하는 경향을 보였다. pH 변화는 실험군 모두 숙성기간에 따른 변화는 뚜렷하지 않았으며, 가용성 고형분 함량은 황기 10% 첨가 간장를 제외하고 모두 2개월까지 급격히 증가되었으며 그 이후 일정한 양상 을 보였다. 그 반면 황기 10% 첨가 간장는 숙성 초기에 증가되었지만 무첨가 및 황기 5% 첨가 간장 보다 낮은 경향을 보였다. 갈색도 변화는 숙성이 진행될수록 증가되 는 경향을 보였으며 조단백질 함량은 무첨가 및 황기 5% 첨가 간장은 숙성 기간이 지남에 따라 증가되는 경향을 보였지만 황기 10% 첨가구는 숙성 기간에 따른 차이를 보지 않았다. 유리 아미노산 측정결과 황기 5% 첨가 간장의 6개월 때가 가장 높은 함량을 나타내었다. 관능평가에서는 황기 5% 첨가 간장의 숙성기간이 증가됨에 따라 기호도가 점차 향상되었으며 이러한 결과를 미루어 보아 황기 5% 첨가 간장이 황기 무첨가 간장에 비해 염도가 낮고 아미노 태질소가 높으며 기호도는 6개월 때가 가장 우수하였으며, 풍미가 좋은 간장으로의 활용 가능성이 있음을 제시하였 다.