• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.4 s.100
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• pp.461-468
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• 2007

The quality characteristics of bread made from domestic Korean wheat flour that contained different amounts of cactus Chounnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) powder were investigated. The water absorption and peak time, as determined by a farinograph, increased with increasing amounts of cactus powder, while stability, elasticity, and weakness decreased (p<0.05). RVA(Rapid Visco Analyzer) analysis showed that wheat flour retrogradation was retarded by increasing cactus powder content (p<0.05). The fermentation time of the bread increased with increasing cactus powder content, while the fermented volume and baking loss decreased (p<0.05). According to the sensory test, the most preferred bread contained 3% cactus powder (p0.05).

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 2009

This study was conducted to identify the optimal mixing ratios of pomegranate powder or Opuntia humifusa powder for the production of jelly. To establish the amount of pomegranate powder or Opuntia humifusa powder that could be added to jelly, physicochemical sensory characteristics and textural properties were measured. Specifically, jellies were prepared using gelatin that contained a ratio of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%(w/w) pomegranate powder or Opuntia humifusa powder. Sensory evaluation of the sweetness, chewiness, springiness, hardness, transparency and overall acceptability of jelly prepared using 0.5% pomegranate powder resulted in a high score. Similarly, the appearance, sweetness, chewiness, springiness, hardness, transparency and overall acceptability of jelly prepared using 0.5% Opuntia humifusa powder received a high score. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that pomegranate and Opuntia humifusa can be useful in the production of high quality jelly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OPH) extracts and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) supplementations on the laying productivity, egg quality and sensory characteristics of eggs in hens. Six hundred forty, 35-wk-old Lohmann brown, laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: 1) water (control), 0.12% OPH extract, 0.1% MSM, and 0.12% OPH extract+0.1% MSM. They were mixed into the feed and given for 5 weeks. Egg production rates, egg weight, feed demand ratio were not significantly different among the groups. However, OPH or MSM decreased broken egg rates by increasing thickness and firmness of egg shell but they did not show the additive effects. In addition, OPH or MSM enhanced Haugh unit, an indicator of freshness of egg, and viscosity of egg white and egg yolk. OPH or MSM maintained the freshness of eggs better the control during their storage for 10 day at $4^{\circ}C$. However, OPH+MSM did not show additive effects in their freshness. Sensory test revealed that OPH or MSM decreased fishy taste and greasy flavor and they improved texture. Overall OPH or MSM enhanced the preference of eggs. In conclusion, the supplementation of either OPH or MSM enhances egg freshness and egg quality in laying hens but they should not be supplemented together due to no additive effects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.711-717
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• 2016

Opuntia humifusa fruits were investigated. The length of minor and major axis, and weight of O. ficus-indica and O. humifusa fruits were compared as the morphological features. The characteristics of components such as color, moisture, crude protein, ash, fat, dietary fiber, mineral, and amino acids were evaluated. The values of O. ficus-indica fruits were higher than those of O. humifusa fruits in each morphological feature such as minor axis, major axis, and weight. According to the Hunter color index results, O. humifusa fruits showed higher values of L (lightness) and b (yellowness), whereas O. ficus-indica fruits showed higher value of a (redness). The ${\Delta}E$ value between two samples was 19.80. The O. ficus-indica fruits had higher carbohydrate content and lower content of crude ash than those of O. humifusa fruits. Both samples showed very high dietary fiber contents, and the major minerals were K and Ca. Glutamic acid was the major amino acids in both samples. In free amino acids contents, O. ficus-indica had higher tyrosine and lower glutamic acid level than those of O. humifusa fruits. ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid was found in both samples, whereas taurine was found in O. ficus-indica fruits only. Taken together, the morphological features and chemical quality of O. ficus-indica and O. humifusa fruits showed difference although both of them were originated from the same genus.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.502-509
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• 2016

The seasonal appearance and the chemical composition characteristics of cladode of Opuntia humifusa were investigated in this study. The minor (horizontal) and major (vertical) axes, the width, and weight of O. humifusa cladode were compared for its appearance features. Moisture, crude protein, ash, fat, color, dietary fiber, mineral, and amino acids contents were measured for the comparison of their chemical composition characteristics. The cladode of O. humifusa harvested in summer showed higher values of minor and major axis, width, and weight than those harvested in winter. According to the results of Hunter color index, cladode of O. humifusa harvested in summer showed the highest lightness level (Hunter L value). In the meanwhile, cladode of O. humifusa harvested in spring showed the highest Hunter a (redness) and b (yellowness) values. Cladode of O. humifusa harvested in summer had the lowest crude protein and crude fat contents, while it showed the highest crude ash content. The total contents of moisture and dietary fiber were significantly greater than summer-harvested cladode of O. humifusa followed by spring- and winter-harvested cladode of O. humifusa. The major mineral content of all seasonal cladode of O. humifusa was $Ca^{2+}$. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid were the major amino acids in all seasonal samples. Contrary, the contents of total amino acids and free amino acids were the lowest in summer-harvested cladode of O. humifusa. Taken together, it was concluded that the appearance and chemical quality of cladode of O. humifusa was versatile depending on the harvesting season.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2017

To increase the bioavailability of Opuntia humifusa, O. humifusa was fermented using L. plantarum, and the characteristics of the fermented extract were confirmed. The characteristics of fermented extracts were investigated through viscosity, total polyphenol content, amino acid, antibacterial activity, cytokine analysis and zymography. The viscosity decreased by half and vitamin C remained almost unchanged during fermentation. Total polyphenols, most amino acids, total amino acids and major minerals were increased by fermentation. There was no cytotoxicity, and the activity of cytokines and MMP-9 in inflammation was inhibited. The inhibitory effect on inflammation and tissue destruction was found to be inhibited in L. plantarum fermentation extracts compared to hot water extracts. These results are expected to be the basis for the development of materials that enhance the functionality of L. plantarum-fermented O. humifusa extract.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1680-1687
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• 2012

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, primarily due to dyslipidemia that accompanies the loss of estrogen secretion. This study was performed to investigate the effects of Opuntia humifusa seed extracts on blood flow and serum lipid level in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-eight 9-week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups as sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Opuntia humifusa seed extracts (OVX-OHS 2% and OVX-OHS 6%). The diets were fed to the rats for 7 weeks after operation. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in the SHAM group compared to the OVX-CON group. Seven weeks of feeding of Opuntia humifusa seed extracts resulted in significant (p<0.05) lowering of serum triglyceride and a decreasing tendency in total cholesterol levels. The level of HDL-cholesterol in serum increased significantly by feeding diets containing the 2% and 6% Opuntia humifusa seed hot-water extract (p<0.05). Blood passage times were shorter in the Opuntia humifusa seed extract-supplemented groups than in the untreated group (OVX-CON). The platelet aggregation ability was lower in groups treated with Opuntia humifusa seed extracts than in the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that Opuntia humifusa seed extracts may have benefits in improving metabolic syndrome in menopausal women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of Opuntia humifusa (OH) stems. OH stems were extracted with hexane, methanol, butanol and water. The methanol and hexane fraction exhibited strong antimicrobial activities on three strains of microbes, Rhodococcus equi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens. In the peroxynitrite scavenging effect ($ONOO^-$) of OH stems, the antioxidative activity of methanol, butanol and water fraction but not hexane fraction showed significant increases in a concentration-dependent manner. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of OH stems were high in the butanol fraction compared with other fractions. Anti-proliferation effects on the B16-F10, HepG2, HT29, and MCF-7 cell lines were significantly higher in the methanol and hexane fractions than in the water and butanol fractions at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration of extracts. These results suggest that OH stems can be used for the development of functional foods with biological activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2014

The taxonomic status of a new forma, Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf. f. jeollaensis E. J. Kim & S. S. Whang, and the taxonomic relationships of three Korean cladodes were studied based on DNA sequences of three genes. The new forma O. humifusa f. jeollaensis (Wanggasi-Chunnyuncho) is simlilar to O. humifusa (Chunnyuncho), but differ in having both flower with the reddish inner center, and strong and many 3 cm long spines. Molecular studies showed that the new forma grouped into Macrocentra series instead of Humifusa series which included Korean O. humifusa. We designated the new taxa firstly studied here as a new forma, because the taxa have been mainly cultivated in farmlands in Jeolla-do area rather than distributed in nature. The taxonomic relationships of three Korean cladodes are discussed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.485-490
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypocholesterol effects of Opuntia humifusa extract in hypercholesterolemic rats. Rats (8-week-old, male) were randomly divided into four groups (n=4) as follows: N-control, normal diet; H-control, hypercholesterolemic diet; OH-1, 2% O. humifusa extract-supplemented hypercholesterolemic diet; OH-2, 4% O. humifusa extract-supplemented hypercholesterolemic diet. After 4 weeks, we observed that hypercholesterolemia induced significant increases in serum lipids (total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol), hepatic lipids (total cholesterol and triglyceride), and hepatic function parameters (ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase) (P<0.05). Treatment with O. humifusa extract for 2 weeks normalized these indexes up to the levels of normal rats. O. humifusa extract tended to increase fecal lipid (H-control: 142.74 mg/day vs. OH-1: 214.05 mg/day; OH-2: 200.95 mg/day, P<0.05) and bile acid (H-control: 37.07 ${\mu}M/day$ vs. OH-1: 47.23 ${\mu}M/day$, OH-2: 47.93 ${\mu}M/day$, P<0.05) contents of hypercholesterolemic rats. We concluded that oral administration of O. humifusa extract effectively improved cholesterol metabolism in a hypercholesterolemic animal model induced by hypercholesterol diet.