2019~2020년 동안 강원도 강릉지역의 아마란스 포장에서 진딧물류 3종(잠두진딧물, 목화진딧물, 복숭아혹진딧물), 노린재류 12종(애긴 노린재, 각시장님노린재, 풀밭장님노린재 등), 나방류 4종(흰띠명나방, 파밤나방, 담배거세미나방, 도둑나방) 등 총 7과 18종의 해충을 확인하였다. 이 가운데 발생량이 많아 경제적으로 큰 피해를 주는 종류는 잠두진딧물, 애긴노린재, 각시장님노린재, 파밤나방, 흰띠명나방 등 5종이었다. 진딧물류는 4월 하순부터 발생하기 시작하여 6월 초순에 최대 발생을 보였다. 애긴노린재는 5월 중순부터 발생하여 8월 하순에 최대 발생량을 보이다가 9월 초순부터 밀도가 감소하였고, 각시장님노린재는 9월 중순부터 밀도가 급격히 늘어나서 10월 하순까지 지속적으로 발생하는 경향을 보였다. 흰띠명나방과 파밤나방은 8월 중순부터 유충 발생이 시작되어 10월 중순까지 아마란스에 피해를 주었다. 각각의 해충에 대한 방제구와 무방제구의 수량을 비교한 결과, 진딧물류와 노린재류에 의한 종실 수량 감소율은 각각 51.9%, 69.8%였다. 또한 흰띠명나방과 파밤나방에 의한 잎 생체량 감소율은 각각 72.5%, 36.5%였다.

본 연구는 식물공장에서 고흡수성 합성고분자(Super absorbent polymer; SAP)를 수경재배에서 배지로서의 활용가능성을 구명하고자 홍화 및 아마란스 새싹의 생육특성과 페놀함량 및 항산화도를 평가하였다. 대조구는 새싹 재배기(19 × 14 × 9cm, W × D × L)에 거즈를 깔고, 처리구에는 거즈 위에 SAP 를 추가하여 비교 분석하였다. 홍화 새싹 종자를 30°C의 증류수에 5시간 동안 침지한 뒤, 새싹 재배기에 파종 후 식물생장 상에서 재배하였다. 식물생장상의 내부 온도는 25 ± 1°C, 습도는 70 ± 4%로 유지되었고 광조건은 35 ± 6μmol·m -2 ·s -1 (광 주기 12h)로 설정하였다. 아마란스 새싹은 새싹 재배기에 파종 후 식물생장상 내부 온도 25 ± 2°C, 습도는 70 ± 5%, 광조건은 188 ± 10μmol·m -2 ·s -1 (광주기 16h)로 설정하였다. SAP 의 기본적인 특성으로 물리/화학적 분석과 홍화 및 아마란스의 발아율과 생육특성 및 기능성 물질을 분석하였다. 홍화는 발아율, 생육 및 기능성 물질에서 처리구와 대조구간 차이가 없었으나, 아마란스는 생육 측면에서는 대조구와 차이가 없었으나 발아율, 건물중, 페놀함량 및 항산화도에서 처리구가 각각 1.16배, 1.16배, 1.40배, 1.12배의 높은 결과를 보였다. 결과적으로, 이번 연구를 통해 식물공장에서 SAP을 활용한 새싹재배가 가능할 것으로 판단하였으며 추후 SAP가 식물 생리적으로 작용하는 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

This study investigated the antidiabetic effect of amaranth grain ethanol extract (AEE) in a diabetic animal model, db/db mouse. The mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control mice (C57BL/6J), diabetic mice (C57BL/6J db/db), diabetic mice fed a lower concentration of AEE (0.3 mg/kg), and diabetic mice fed a higher concentration of AEE (0.5 mg/kg). After 10 weeks of treatment, body weights, blood insulin levels and blood glucose levels of each group were compared. At the end of treatment, the results showed that both AEE supplemented groups had lower body weights than those in the diabetic groups although higher than those in the normal groups. Moreover, in both AEE supplemented groups, serum insulin levels were higher and blood glucose levels were lower than those in the diabetic groups although both values were higher than those in the normal groups. The results of this study suggest that AEE can alleviate many of the common symptoms of diabetes in diabetic mice and, therefore, has potential as a therapeutic supplement for normalization of blood glucose and insulin levels in humans.

This study investigated the antioxidant activities of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp. L.) seed extracts. Methanol and hotwater extracts of the seeds were evaluated for their total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content, antioxidant activ-ities, and protective effects against oxidative stress on L-132 cells. The hot water extracts showed higher total phe-nol (4.23mg GAE/g) and tannin (0.511mg TAE/g) content, while the methanol extracts showed higher flavonoidcontent (1.53mg CE/g). The methanol extracts performed better than the water extracts for DPPH radical-scavengingactivity, while the water extracts performed better for ABTS radical-scavenging activity and SOD-like activity. WithL-132 cells, the water extracts showed strong protective effects against oxidative stress in a dose dependent mannerwith an effect three-fold higher than that of the methanol extracts at a concentration of 500µg/mL. A higher inhi-bition activity of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells was observed with the water extracts than with the methanolextracts at a concentration of 250µg/mL. In summary, the water extracts showed the highest total polyphenol andtannin content and a more powerful protective effect against oxidative stress and inhibition effect of NO. Our resultssuggest that amaranth seeds may be useful as natural antioxidant compounds.

본 연구는 아마란스의 붉은 색과 보라색 꽃 열수 추출물과 메탄올 추출물의 폴리페놀과 플라보노이드 함량 측정과 DPPH와 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성, SOD 유사 활성을 측정하였으며, 세포내에서 생성된 superoxide 라디칼 제거 활성과 산화질소 생성 억제 활성을 분석하여 새로운 식물 유래 라디칼 소거 활성 물질을 개발하기 위하여 시행하였다. 총 폴리페놀의 함량은 아마란스 추출물 중 보라색 꽃 메탄올 추출물이 606.95 ㎎ GAE/100 g으로 가장 높았으며, 플라보노이드 함량도 254.69 ㎎ CE/100 g으로 가장 높았다. 또한 DPPH 라디칼 소거 활성에서도 보라색 꽃 메탄올 추출물의 RC50 값이 155.06 ㎍/㎖로 나타났다. ABTS 라디칼 소거능 측정에서는 250 ㎍/㎖의 농도에서 보라색 꽃 메탄올 추출물의 활성이 53.16%로 가장 좋았으며, 보라색 꽃 열수 추출물(41.55%), 붉은 꽃 열수 추출물(30.52%), 붉은 꽃 메탄올 추출물(30.34%)의 순으로 활성을 나타내었다. 이와 반대로 SOD 유사 활성은 보라색 꽃 열수 추출물에서 메탄올 추출물의 활성보다 3배나 높은 결과를 보여주었다. 세포내 superoxide 라디칼 제거 활성은 200 ㎍/㎖의 농도에서 보라색 꽃 메탄올 추출물 (72.34%)이 붉은 색 꽃 열수 추출물(40.40%)보다 1.79배 높은 활성을 보였다. 세포내 NO 생성 억제 활성을 조사한 결과에서는 보라색 꽃 메탄올 추출물이 250 ㎍/㎖의 농도에서 46.90%의 가장 높은 저해 활성을 보여주었다. 본 연구의 결과, 플라보노이드 함량이 높은 보라색 꽃 메탄올 추출물에서 라디컬소거능이 높았으며 강력한 항산화제 활성을 보여주었다. 이러한 결과로 보아 아마란스 꽃의 새로운 항산화 소재로서 개발 가능성을 보여주었다.

아마란스를 충분한 양의 물에 침지한 후 물기를 제거하고 수분함량이 30 ~ 50 중량 % 일 때 가열 솥에서 이취가 없어지고 고소한 냄새가 나며 색이 더 노랗게 변하면서 입자가 puffing될 때까지 볶아준 다음 비스킷에 첨가하여 관능성과 상품성을 향상시켰다. 가수량에 따른 팽창용적 측정 결과 1.3배에서 1.6배 가수량에서 가장 큰 부피의 팽창이 있었고, 가공 방법에 따른 호화도 측정 결과 취반의 경우는 가수량이 증가함에 따라 호화도가 증가하였고, 볶은 아마란스의 호화도가 64.10%로 쪄서 말린 아마란스의 호화도 57.59% 보다 높은 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 찐 후 말린 아마란스와 생 아마란스는 경도 (×10^5dyn/㎠)가 각각 16, 197과 13, 601로 단단한 것으로 측정되었고, 볶은 아마란스가 1, 580으로 가장 무른 것으로 측정되었다. 생 아마란스와 볶은 아마란스 찐후의 아마란스를 첨가하여 비스킷을 제조한 결과 생 아마란스는 이취와 이질감이 문제가 되었고 찐 후 말린 아마란스는 점성은 제거할 수 있었으나 색이 검게 변화하는 것을 개선할 수 없었으며 볶은 아마란스의 경우 비스킷 첨가시 이취나 이질감이 거의 없었고 흰색으로 변화함에 따라 비스킷의 색을 더욱 밝게 해주는 효과도 있었다. 또한 비스킷에 첨가될 볶은 아마란스의 함량은 5%일 때 가장 적절한 미감을 보이는 것으로 여겨진다. 볶은 아마란스를 5% 첨가한 비스킷과 볶은 아마란스 자체의 시간에 따란 산패도 변화를 측정하였을 때 볶은 아마란스 자체의 산가와 과산화물가는 어느 정도 높고 서서히 산패가 진행되지만, 이를 5% 함유한 비스켓의 산가와 과산화 물가는 매우 낮게 나타나 실험결과로 미루어 제품의 품질은 약 6개월 정도의 유통기한에서는 매우 안정한 것으로 추정되었다. ◁표삽입▷ 원문을 참조하세요

Amaranth (Amaranth caudatus) is attracting attention as a preference crop in Gyeongsangbuk-do province. To determine its growth potential and cultivation requirements, we investigated its growth characteristics, dry matter productivity, and grain yield according to the growing period. Growth and dry matter productivity were significantly higher for plants that were sown on May 10th when the temperature was the highest, whereas the yield was significantly higher for plants that were sown on April 10th. Amaranth grain yield ranged from 96 to 243 kg according to the sowing date and cultivation year. The optimum harvest time for plants that were sown on April 10th, May 10th, and June 10th were 120, 110, and 110 days after seeding, respectively. The mean temperature and growing period had a significant quadratic function with yield. Based on these equations, the optimum growing temperature was estimated as 20.6℃ and the optimum growing period as 104-119 days after seeding.

This study examined the anti-inflammatory and whitening effects of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp L.) seed extract. Amaranthus spp L. seeds were extracted using 70% ethanol and then fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, dichloromethan, ethyl acetate and butanol. For the study of anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds significantly inhibited nitrogen oxide production as well as the protein level of iNOS. Furthermore, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds inhibited expression of TNF-α, PGE2 and the protein level of COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Inaddition, the tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the Amaranthus spp L. seed 70% ethanol extract and subfractions were also measured to see if these extracts can be used as an ingredient for whitening cosmetics. Tyrosinase is an oxidase that is a rate-limiting enzyme for controlling the production of melanin. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have become increasingly important in cosmetics and medical products with regards to hyperpigmentation. EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds showed mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. This activity was more potent than that of a positive control cynandione A. These results suggest that Amaranthus spp L. seeds may be a valuable natural ingredient for the food and cosmetics industries.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CGD3 was used as a starter for fermentation of amaranth and cultural characteristics and biological activities of amaranth were investigated. The viable cells in fermented amaranth was 4.54~8.01 log CFU/mL during 96 hr of fermentation period. Protease activities of amaranth showed the highest by 36.7 unit/mL after 72 hr of fermentation. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of amaranth increased with fermentation time while its total sugar content decreased. The total protein content was the highest in amaranth fermented for 96 hr (0.25 mg/g). The DPPH scavenging activities, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and reducing power of amaranth were highest in amaranth fermented for 72 hr, showing 84.46%, 551.91 μM, and 2.74, respectively. ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) and α-Glucosidase inhibition rates increased with fermentation time and showed the highest after 72 hr.

Amaranth (Amaranthus sp. L.) is an important group of plants that includes grain, vegetable, and ornamental types. Centers of diversity for Amaranths are Central and South America, India, and South East Asia, with secondary centers of diversity in West and East Africa. The present study was performed to determine the genetic diversity and population structure of 75 amaranth accessions: 65 from South America and 10 from South Asia as controls using 14 SSR markers. Ninety-nine alleles were detected at an average of seven alleles per SSR locus. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of two subpopulations and 3 admixtures, which was consistent with clustering based on the genetic distance. The average major allele frequency and polymorphic information content (PIC) were 0.42 and 0.39, respectively. According to the model-based structure analysis based on genetic distance, 75 accessions (96%) were classified into two clusters, and only three accessions (4%) were admixtures. Cluster 1 had a higher allele number and PIC values than Cluster 2. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of two subpopulations and three admixtures in the 75 accessions. The results of this study provide effective information for future germplasm conservation and improvement programs in Amaranthus.

Amaranths (Amaranthus sp.) are cosmopolitan and include grain, vegetable, ornamental and weed types. Forteen simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity of 59 accessions of cultivated amaranth from Asian countries. A total of 63 alleles were detected with an average of 4.5 per locus. The averaged values of gene diversity and polymorphism information content (PIC) were 0.35 and 0.33, respectively. Alleles per locus in accessions from South Asia was 4.35, whereas 2.93 and 3.79 alleles per locus were found in Nepal and India, respectively. The mean gene diversity in Central Asia and East Asia was 0.36 and 0.28, respectively, whereas the mean PIC values were 0.27 and 0.22, respectively. The genetic diversity and PIC of the India amaranths were higher than that of other Asian countries. The model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of three subpopulations, which was basically consistent with clustering based on genetic distance. An AMOVA analysis showed that the between-population component of genetic variance was less than 56.16% in contrast to 43.84% for the within-population component. The overall FST value was 0.56, reflecting genetic differentiation within Asian amaranths. These findings could be used for designing effective breeding programs aimed at broadening the genetic bases of commercially grown varieties.

This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of 70 amaranth accessions collected from South and Southeast Asia using 14 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. In total, 67 alleles were detected, with an average of 4.79 per locus. Rare alleles comprised a large portion (46.3%) of the detected alleles, and 29 unique alleles associated with rice accessions were also discovered. The mean major allele frequency (MAF), genetic diversity (GD) and polymorphic information content (PIC) of the 14 SSR loci were 0.77, 0.36, and 0.34, respectively. A model-based structural analysis revealed the presence of three subpopulations. The genetic relationships revealed by the neighbor-joining tree method were fairly consistent with the structure-based membership assignments for most of the accessions. All 70 accessions showed a clear relationship to each cluster without any admixtures. We observed a relatively low extent of genetic exchange within or among amaranth species from South and Southeast Asia. The genetic diversity results could be used to identify amaranth germplasms and so facilitate their use for crop improvement.

We investigated the expression patterns of a granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI = Waxy) gene at different developmental stages of storage and non-storage organs in Amaranthus cruentus. GBSSI transcripts were strongly expressed in the middle and mid-late stages of seed development and thereafter expression decreased. In addition, this gene was expressed in all non-storage organs tested (the leaf, stem, petiole and root) and showed a tendency to increase during plant development. Therefore, our results indicate that the amaranth GBSSI gene exhibits late expression in the perisperm, and that it is expressed in both storage and non-storage tissues. We also investigated the genetic diversity of GBSSI among 37 strains of amaranth grains originating from New World. A comparison of the GBSSI coding sequence revealed an extremely high level of sequence conservation, and a single nucleotide polymorphism between the sequences of non-waxy (Type I) and waxy (Type II) phenotypes was detected. This indicates that a G–T polymorphism in exon 10 (a nonsense mutation) was a unique event in the evolution of the GBSSI gene in amaranth grains.

Amaranth(Amaranthus spp. L.) and quinoa (Chenpodium quinoa Willd.) are old crops from South, Central America and Central Asia and their grains have been identified as very promising food crops because of their exceptional nutritive value. Squalene is an important ingredient in skin cosmetics and computer disc lubricants as well as bioactive materials such as inhibition of fungal and mammalian sterol biosynthesis, antitumor, anticancer, and immunomodulation. Amaranth has a component called squalene (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,22-tetraco-sahexaene) about 1/300 of the seed and 5~~8~% of its seed oil. Oil and squalene content in amaranth seed were different for the species investigated. Squalene content in seed oil also increased by 15.5~% due to puffing and from 6.96 to 8.01~% by refining and bleaching. Saponin concentrations in quinoa seed ranged 0.01 to 5.6~% . Saponins are located in the outer layers of quinoa grain. These layers include the perianth, pericarp, a seed coat layer, and a cuticle like structure. Oleanane-type triterpenes saponins are of great interest because of their diverse pharmacological properties, for instance, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, contraceptive, and cholesterol-lowering effects. It is known that quinoa contains a number of structurally diverse saponins including the aglycones, oleanolic acid, hederagenin, and phytolaccagenic acid, which are new potential in gredient for pharmacological properties. It is likely that these saponin levels will be considerably affected by genetic, agronomic and environmental factors as well as by processing. With the current enhanced public interest in health and nutrition amaranth and quinoa will most likely remain in the immediate future within the realm of exotic health foods until such time as agricultural production meets the quantities and qualify required by industrial food manufacturers.

국내에서 종실용 amaranth의 이용 가능성을 조사하기 위한 목적으로 종실에서 squalene을 분리, 동정하였고, squalene 추출후 부산물의 활용방안으로 그 부산물의 항암활성검색을 한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. Amaranth 종실에서 추출, 분리한 squalene 함량은 0.43%이고, GC /Mass spectrum으로 확인한 결과 99%의 순도를 나타내었으며, 분자구조식은 잠정적으로 동물성 squalene과 동일한 것으로 나타났다. 2. MTT 방법을 이용한 인간의 위암, 대장암 세포주에 대한 항암활성효과를 검색한 결과 부산물의 조추출물은 230ug/m1보다 낮은 농도에서 유의한 항암효과를 보였다.