• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.857-864
• /
• 2013

This study was investigated the effects of heat treatment on polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of yacon. Raw yacon was heated at $100^{\circ}C$ and $121^{\circ}C$ for 15, 30, or 60 min by using an autoclave. The browning intensity, levels of free and bound phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) radical-scavenging activity of yacon extracts following heat treatment were measured. The browning index, free polyphenolic content, and antioxidant activities in the extracts were significantly increased (p<0.05) with both increased heating temperature and time, while bound polyphenolic levels were decreased. The levels of free phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the yacon extract heated to $121^{\circ}C$ for 60 min were increased by 1.2 and 1.1 folds compared to raw yacon respectively. Moreover, DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities of the yacon heated to $121^{\circ}C$ for 60 min were 1.7 fold and 2.0 fold higher, respectively, than those of raw yacon. A significant (p<0.01) correlation was observed among browning intensity, free and bound phenolic and flavonoid levels, and DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities in heated yacon extract. Thus, heat treatment can be used as a method to enhance the antioxidant compound content in and the antioxidant activity of yacon.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.383-389
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to develop and standardize a preparation method for low-salt yacon jangachi using rice wine lees. The proximate composition of yacon was 81.08% (moisture), 0.77% (crude protein), 0.14% (crude lipid) and 0.70% (crude ash). In order to determine the preferred sodium concentrations of soaking solution and rice wine lees, we investigated the quality characteristics of yacon jangachi during storage for 50 days at $18^{\circ}C$. The salinity of yacon jangachi using rice wine lees with 2% and 4% salt increased with storage time, but the salinity did not rise above 3% during storage for 50 days. The salinity of rice wine lees with 4% salt decreased during storage time. a and b color values along with sheared force of yacon jangachi increased as storage time increased, but L color value was reversed. In the sensory evaluation, the color preference for yacon jangachi increased during storage time, and the taste preference was highest at day 30. The flavor preference decreased during storage time, but the texture preference was reversed. In the sensory evaluation of overall preference, yacon jangachi using rice wine lees with 0% salt decreased at day 30, whereas yacon jangachi using rice wine lees with 2% and 4% salt increased during storage time. In conclusion, the salinity of yacon jangachi stored for 50 days with 4% salt did not rise above 3%, and softening was not observed.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 2014

We evaluated the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with Yacon pill, the preparation composed of Smallanthus sonchifolius, Torilis japonica and Acorus gramineus. A total of 45 rats were divided into five groups. One group was used as a control and the other groups received subcutaneous injections of testosterone for 4 weeks to induce BPH. Yacon pill extract (200 or 400 mg/kg) was administered daily for 4 weeks to two groups by oral gavage concurrently with testosterone. The rats euthanized, the prostate and body weights were recorded, and tissues were subjected to hormone assay. In addition, we investigated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in the prostate using immunoblotting. Rats with BPH showed significantly increased prostate weights, increased dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the serum and increased PCNA expression in the prostate; however, Yacon pill extracts treated rats showed significant reduction of prostate weights, DHT levels and PCNA expression compared with the BPH group. Conclusively, Yacon pill showed the possibility as ameliorable agents of BPH symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.545-552
• /
• 2012

To improve a low-salted yacon pickle, the change of quality characteristics during the storage of yacon pickles were investigated at $18^{\circ}C$ for 50 days using two-way ANOVA. One factor that was added was the leaf-mustard and pepper (A), the other was storage time (B). The leaf-mustard and pepper were added to increase the yacon pickle's taste, flavor, and properties. The sugar content, total acidity and salinity were significant for factor A and B. With the interaction effect of the two factors, yacon pickles increased as storage time increased. The L value was not significant for factor A but significant for factor B. The a and b values were significant for the two factors. All Hunter's color value had the interaction effect. The shearing force was not significant for each factor, and yacon pickles did not show a softening effect. In the results of the sensory evaluation, color, taste, and overall preference were significant for factor A and B, yet the flavor was only significant for factor B. The texture was not significant at all. In the overall preference, yacon pickles were higher at 30 and 40 days and also, had the interaction effect. Yacon pickles were not above the 3.0% of salinity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2014

This study were investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of yacon by-products and mugwort powder on performance, carcass characteristics, pH, TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance), WHC (water holding capacity), shear force and meat color of broiler thigh meat. Broiler chicks were fed diets for five weeks containing 0% yacon by-products and mugwort powder (Control), 0.5% yacon by-products powder (T1), 1.0% yacon by-products powder (T2), 0.5% mugwort powder (T3), and 1.0% mugwort powder (T4). There were no significant difference in performance among treatments, but mortality was decreased in diets by the supplementation of yacon by-products and mugwort powder than that of control. The total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride of control were higher than treatment groups and HDL-cholesterol of control was lower than treatment. The TBARS was significantly decreased by the supplementation of yacon by-products and mugwort powder compared to the control (P<0.05), especially, mugwort powder treatment group was significantly (P<0.05) more effective in improving freshness compared to other treatment groups. The WHC and shear force were not significantly different. CIE $L^*$ and $a^*$ value of treatment groups showed significantly higher value compared to the control, however, no difference in the CIE $b^*$ values was observed among treatment groups. In conclusion, a supplementation of yacon by-products and mugwort powder were effective in decreasing TBARS, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and increasing HDL-cholesterol concentration. Mugwort powder supplementation was most effective.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.40-48
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical and functional properties of Yacon (Polymnia Sonchifolia) powder. The proximate composition of Yacon powder as a dry matter basis was 3.53% moisture content, 1.13% crude protein, 0.40% crude fat, 0.79% crude ash, 1.63% dietary fiber and 92.52% carbohydrate. The major free sugars were identified as fructose and glucose. Analysing total amino acids, 18 kinds of components were isolated from Yacon powder. The essential amino acid contained in Yacon powder accounted for 28.40% of total amino acid, while the non-essential amino acid accounted for 73.61%. Analysing total fatty acids, only 2 kinds - palmitic acid and lauric acid - were detected. Oxalic acid was the major organic acid. The contents of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E were 0.057 mg%, 0.670 mg% and 0.001 mg%, respectively. The mineral contents of Yacon powder were in the order of Zn

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.311-317
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the antibiotic effects of leaves, stems, and roots in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius). Antibacterial activity of leaf extract by disk diffusion method with Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli respectively showed 13.3 and 13.75mm diameters of clear zone. There was no significant difference between the stems and leaves. The minimum inhibitory concentration of leaves' heating and agitation extraction showed a restrain of strain at 1mg/ml, but the stems and root extract did not appear. Yacon is a functional antibacterial material, and methanol extraction is more effective than water. This research was to investigate the growth stage of collection has the most effective antibacterial effects. It has collected yacon's leaves from June to October, which is an appropriate time for collection right before reaping. Yacon leaf has antibacterial effects on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, and Salmonella enteritifis. There were no significant differences by the growth stage of collection. Leaves collected in July are high in phenol which helps in sulfating activity works well considering the high scavenging capability of DPPH. Leaves collected in September are high in total flavonoid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.759-765
• /
• 2012

This study was performed to investigate improvements in diabetes mellitus by extracts of yacon in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Fifty rats were divided into a normal group and four experimental groups. STZ (45 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to induce type I diabetes in the four experimental groups. Yacon extracts were administered for 5 weeks. Forty-five ICR mice were also divided into one positive control group and four experimental groups for the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after fed yacon extract. The control group did not eat any yacon extracts, while Group 1 (GI) was fed 125 mg/kg of yacon extracts, Group 2 (GII) was fed 250 mg/kg of yacon extracts, and Group 3 (GIII) was fed 500 mg/kg of yacon extracts. After treatment for 5 weeks, blood glucose in GIII group showed decreased tendency at the 5 week. In OGTT by glucose, the glucose level of yacon treatment group in diabetic rats was significantly decreased compared to the glucose level of the control group, but there was no difference in OGTT by maltose. In ICR mice, the glucose level of the experimental group in OGTT by maltose was significantly decreased compared to the control group. The area of the islets of Langerhans was increased by yacon treatment in a dose-dependent manner on diabetic rats. Insulin concentration of the GIII group was also decreased compared to the control group, while the concentration of fructosamine, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in serum showed no difference. OGTT by glucose or maltose in ICR mice or diabetic rats, area of the Islets of Langerhans, and insulin concentration improved. Yacon treatment may be a useful therapeutic and preventive strategy for diabetes mellitus.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.201-209
• /
• 2020

The effect of mulberry leaves and yacon tuber extracts (MYE) on antioxidant was tested in this study. The present study investigated the in vivo effects of the anti-oxidative effect of MYE on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The seven-day acclimation of the mice was divided into six groups: Normal diet group (NOR), high fat diet group (HFD), high fat diet with 0.5% hydroxycitric acid group diet group for positive group (HHCA), high fat diet with 1% mulberry leaf and 1% yacon diet group (MYE-1), high fat diet with 3% mulberry leaf and 3% yacon group (MYE-3) and high fat diet with 5% mulberry leaf and 5% yacon group (MYE-5). The effect of serum antioxidant in the catalase of MYE-1, MYE-3, and HHCA comparing to HFD by 31.0%, 27.7% and 45.2%, respectively (P<0.05~0.01). The effect on hepatic antioxidant in the catalase of HFD was significantly increased 3.7 (77.3%) times than that of NOR (P<0.01). But, the activities of catalase were decreased significantly in MYE-1, MYE-3, MYE-5 and HHCA by 21.7%, 24.2%, 24.9%, and 28.8% compared to HFD, respectively. GSH-Px was significantly decreased in MYE-1, MYE-3, MYE-5 and HHCA by 15.5%, 37.1%, 23.4%, and 23.7% compared to HFD, respectively (P<0.05). The activities of CAT, SOD, GST, GSH-Px, and TBARS were more significantly decreased in MYE-1 and MYE-3 than those of HFD and HHCA. MYE have shown significant effects on anti-oxidative function against high fat diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.210-218
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp. & Endl.) powder on cholesterol-lowering and anti-obesity effects in rats fed a high fat-high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks to induce hyperlipidemic and obese rat model. Weight-matched male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups according to dietary fat, cholesterol levels and Yacon powder levels. Experimental groups were normal diet group (N), high fat-high cholesterol diet group (HFC), high fat-high cholesterol diet with 5% Yacon powder group (HFC-PSL) and high fat-high cholesterol diet with 10% Yacon powder group (HFC-PSH). The body weight gain and FER were increased by a high fat-high cholesterol diet, but gradually decreased in the Yacon powder fed groups compared with the HFC group. Food intake was lower in HFC groups compared with N group. The liver and adipose tissue weights of HFC group were heavier than those of N group, whereas those of groups administered Yacon powder were gradually decreased. The serum ALT, AST, ALP and LDH activities elevated by a high fat-high cholesterol diet were significantly decreased by Yacon powder administration. Levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor showed a decreasing tendency in the Yacon powder fed groups compared with HFC group. The serum HDL-cholesterol level decreased in the HFC group and markedly increased in the Yacon powder fed groups. Levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in liver and adipose tissues were lower in Yacon powder administered groups than those in HFC group. These results suggest that Yacon powder may improve lipid metabolism of serum, liver, and adipose tissue and potentially reduce lipid storage.