This research investigated the immunoenhancing effect through the intracellular MAPKs and NF-B signaling pathways in macrophages activated by crude polysaccharides (YBP) of barley sprouts. YBP extracted from barley sprouts is composed of xylose (25.8%), arabinose (24.1%), galactose (23.4%), and galacturonic acid (11.7%). YBP did not affect the cytotoxicity and showed superior secretion of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- by RAW264.7 cells. Also, YBP dose dependently increased IL-6, TNF-, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA gene expression. In the western blot, YBP strongly induced the phosphorylation of the p38, JNK, ERK, and IB pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. In the anti-pattern recognition receptor (anti-PRRs) assay, the effect of YBP on NO secretion strongly decreased toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and Dectin1 antibodies, whereas IL-6 and TNF- secretion by YBP mainly decreased SR and CD14. Therefore, we concluded that YBPinduced NO, IL-6, and TNF- were secreted via the MAPKs, while NF-B pathways through TLR4, Dectin1, SR, and CD14 receptors existed in a macrophage surface and were involved in the immunoenhancing effect.

This study investigated the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of sponge cakes made using different amounts (2 and 4%) of barley sprout powder (BSP) and green tea powder (GTP), respectively. The results showed that the baking loss rate of GS2 (2% green tea) and GS4 (4% green tea) was 12.39% and 11.96%, respectively in the green tea addition group, which was higher than that of the barley sprout group, but significantly lower than that of the control group at 13.34% (p<0.05). The specific volumes of the sponge cake containing barley sprout and green tea 2% and 4% were between 2.84- 2.95 mL/g, which was significantly higher compared to the control group at 2.69 mL/g (p<0.05). The sugar content was significantly higher in the control group and the barley sprout addition group at 2.30oBrix (p<0.05). As for the volume index, the control group with the lowest value at 13.43 showed a significant difference compared to the addition groups. The volume index significantly decreased as the addition amount increased, measuring 14.07 in BS4 (4% BSP) compared to 14.87 of BS2 (2% BSP) in the barley sprout group (p<0.05). In cross-sectional photography, the color became darker than that of the control group as the quantum of additives increased. In terms of the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, the total phenol content, and total flavonoid content, the groups with the addition of barley sprout and green tea showed higher antioxidant activity than the control group (p<0.05).

This study was carried out to compare the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity by varying the barley sprout powder addition time, production temperature, and powder addition ratio (0, 2, 4, 6, 8%) on the prepared rice during the manufacturing process of Nurungji. When we manufactured for 2 min at 200oC, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were the highest in Nurungji with 4% of barley sprout powder. In this way, we measured the weight, water content, water binding capacity, soluble solids content, reducing sugar, color, hardness, sensory evaluation experiments by varying the powder content. The weight, water binding capacity, soluble solids content, reducing sugar, and hardness increased with an increasing proportion of barley sprout powder, however the water content decreased. The L value and b value decreased and the a value increased with the influence of chlorophyll pigments in barley sprout. Sensory evaluation showed that Nurungji with 4% sprout barley powder was the highest. Therefore, we judged that it is desirable to add 4% of the powder when manufacture the barley sprout powder Nurungji.

The physicochemical and antioxidant properties of cookies prepared using powders of barley sprout (BS), lemon balm (LB), and green tea (GT) were studied. The same dough density was maintained in all the sample groups. The experimental group to which the natural ingredients containing antioxidants were added did not show any significant change in the appearance of cookies compared to the control. LB and GT cookies showed significantly lower hardness compared to the control (p<0.05). Control showed the lowest antioxidant effect when assessed with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. (DPPH) and this gradually increased in the order of BS, LB, and GT. The antioxidant activity of GT was 7 times higher as compared to the control (p<0.05). The antioxidant activity assessed using 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) also showed results similar to that seen with DPPH. GT showed a significantly higher total phenol content, about 2-3 times higher compared to the control (p<0.05). GT had significantly higher total flavonoid content than that of the control (p<0.05). Thus, the addition of natural antioxidant ingredients such as sprout barley, lemon balm and specifically green tea, in the preparation of cookies, resulted in excellent antioxidant activity with similar physicochemical quality characteristics. The study suggests that it is possible to develop cookies that are competitive in terms of nutritional and physiologically active functions.

This study examined the quality characteristics of cookies comprised of various amounts of barley-sprout powder by analyzing the physico-chemical characteristics of the cookies and investigating a sensory evaluation. For the study, the cookies were cooked with the following levels of barley-sprout powder: 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%. The results show that the moisture content of the cookies was increased in accordance with the level of barley-sprout powder and this result is the same as the spreadability factor of the cookies (p<0.001). Also, the pH and brix values of the samples decreased in accordance with the level of barley-sprout powder (p<0.001). Regarding hunter's colors, the values of L (lightness), a (redness), and b (yellowness) are significantly decreased, increasing the quantity of barley-sprout powder (p<0.001). For the textural characteristics, the results show that the hardness of the cookies decreased in accordance with the addition of the barleysprout powder; furthermore, the results indicate a tendency whereby the DPPH-radical-scavenging activity and the total polyphenol content of the cookies were increased, thereby increasing the quantity of the barley-sprout powder (p<0.001). For the sensory evaluation, the cookies that were made with 6 % barley-sprout powder received the highest scores in terms of appearance, taste, and overall preference (p<0.05, p<0.001). This study suggests that barley-sprout powder is an excellent ingredient for improving the acceptability and functionality of cookies, and that, in relation to the flour quantity the ideal proportion of barley-sprout powder is 6%.

Background: An imbalance in energy intake and expenditure can cause obesity, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cancers and hyperlipidemia. Methods and Results: In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of a water extract from the young leaves of barley sprout (BS) in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (HF). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that BS markedly inhibited adipogenesis by reducing lipid droplet production in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and fatty acid synthetase, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α and fatty acid binding protein 4 in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly inhibited by BS treatment. In an in vivo test, the BSadministered group of HFD-induced mice showed less body weight gain, and lower liver and epididymal white adipose tissue weights. The BS-treated mice showed decreased serum levels of leptin and lipids compared to untreated HFD mice and the levels of adiponectin and the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio increased. These results indicate that BS inhibits body fat accumulation by reducing the mRNA expression of lipogenesis transcription factors and increasing serum adipokine concentration in in vitro and in vivo tests. Conclusions: BS reduced high fat diet-induced weight gain and had a positive effect on dyslipidemia.