This study evaluated the Protaetia brevitarsis larvae powder’s characteristic changes using hot air drying (60±2.5oC, 12 h) with different pre-treatment methods, including two sacrifice methods, two storage temperatures, and two defatting processes. Appearance, yield, moisture contents, pH, color, proximate analysis, volatile basic nitrogen level, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and total phenol content were assessed. Results revealed that a combination of blanching, defatting, and -20oC storage temperature resulted in higher total phenol contents, lower water contents, and lower volatile basic nitrogen levels than other methods. Defatted treatment resulted in a higher L-value than the non-defatted treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that a combination of -20oC storage, blanching, and defatting is the optimal pre-treatment method for obtaining P. brevitarsis larvae powder with high total phenol content, low water content, and low volatile basic nitrogen, taking into account cost efficiency considerations.

Currently, the storage temperature of the production factory of medicinal herbs (hGMP) is about 5~ 12℃. This temperature is possible to suppress pest but can not kill the pests. For this reason, we need to lower the temperature during lethal time because the pest has often occurred inside the packaging of medicinal herbs in the distribution process in summer. In order to solve this problem, we have investigated the lethal time of the storage insect(Tribolium castaneum Herbst) After we froze medicinal herbs(Cnidium officinale Makino and Angelica gigas N. ) at approx. –70℃ and –15℃ respectively. We then investigated the change of bioactive components and exterior characteristics of medicinal herbs in order to determine whether there is a change of quality. The results were as follows. The lethal time of Tribolium castaneum Herbst is about 2 minutes if processed at approx. –70℃, while the other time is about 16 minutes at approx. –15℃. We investigated the change of quality after the treatment of the two medicinal herbs in the similar way but could not confirm the difference of color and brightness and the bioactive components on statistics. Through this research, it has been verified that the process of quick freezing for pest control can not affect the main quality of the medicinal herbs. Therefore this technology can be introduced in the manufacturing process of medicinal herbs through additional research.

국내 유통 중인 한약재 대부분을 수입에 의존하고 있으나, 관리시설이 빈약하여 해충들에게 쉽게 노출될 수 있는 환경에 놓여 있다. 이 연구는 총 67과 134속 158종의 저장 한약재들을 대상으로 이들에서 발생하고 있는 저장물해충들을 조사하였다. 그 결과, Cassia 속의 육계, Juniperus 속의 자단향 그리고 Artemisia 속 애엽을 비롯한 44종의 한약재들에서는 곤충의 발생을 확인할 수 없었다. 한약재들에서 나타난 해충들의 발생빈도는 쌀머리대장 (A. advena) 12.3%, 권연벌레 (L. serricorne) 11.5%, 머리대장가는납작벌레 (O. surinamensis) 10.3%, 거짓쌀도둑거저리 (T. castaneum) 9.4%, 인삼벌레 (S. paniceum) 8.4% 그리고 화랑곡나방 (P. interpunctella) 7.9% 순이었다. 또한 이들 곤충들은 저장 중인 한약재들 중에서도 뿌리 또는 뿌리줄기 형태의 한약재들을 가장 선호한 것으로 보였다. 이 연구는 천연물 연구자들에게 곤충들이 발생하지 않았던 한약재들에 대한 기본 정보를 제공해줌으로써 향후 이들이 살충활성 또는 훈증활성물질을 탐색하는데 있어 이들 한약재들을 우선적으로 검토할 수 있는 유용한 자료로서 활용될 수 있을 것이다.