• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2006

Priming of seeds in 150 mM KCI at $10^{\circ}C$ for 6 days was most effective in increasing germination rate and shortening germination time. Germination rate of primed seeds was increased to 96% which is about 14% higher than that of non-primed seeds. Germination temperature for better priming effects from primed onion seeds was 10 to $15^{\circ}C$ which is relatively lower than that of normal germination temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. Drying primed seeds at $20^{\circ}C$ for 5 hours resulted in best priming effects.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.377-381
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• 2010

This study was carried out to access the stauts of pyruvic acid and sugars in onion bulbs during storage at room temperature. Pyruvic acid content remained in a steady state until 3 months of storage. However the pyruvic acid content gradually increased as the onions started to root, and rapidly increased after sprouting. There was no difference in dry matter contents during storage.e. Sucrose content increased as storage duration extended, and then gradually decreased right after the onions started to sprout. Fructose content gradually decreased after 45 days of storage, and remained in a steady state after sprouting. Glucose content had a tendency to increase as storage duration extended. Pyruvic acid/total sugar (PA/TS) ratio decreased after 1 month of storage, and then increased after 135 days, and was 83% higher at 150 days of storage than at harvest. Sweetness gradually decreased until 1 month of storage, but thereafter remained steady. Therefore it is desirable that pyruvic acid analysis for sweet onion selection should be conducted before breaking the dormancy.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2004

Transplantings of onion (Allium cepa L.) seedlings are required for higher germinability and uniformity. This study was done to determine effects of various seed treatments (seed cleaning, priming, GA$_3$, prechilling, drying, and light quality during seed drying) on germination and seedling emergence. Nongwoodaego and Changnyungdaego were used as cultivars for checking seed germination, and two cultivars and Cheonjuguhyeonghwang were investigated with seedling production rate. Seed cleaning using water prior to the other treatments greatly increased germination rate. Priming with 200mM Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ solution somewhat alleviated the germination rate while GA$_3$ did not. Prechilling had the highest rate among the treatments. Seed drying after prechilling enhanced the rate compared to non drying, and during drying the prechilled seeds red light illumination showed the greatest rate in comparison with dark, blue, and far-red ones. Seedling production rate was enhanced in sequential treatments of seed cleaning, prechilling for 3 to 5 days, and red light treatment during 6 hour seed drying.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2009

This study was undertaken the effect of high temperature and high humidity on protein expression and especially plasma membrane (PM) $H^{+}ATPase$ of umbel with flowers of early cultivar 'Shinsunhwang' and intermediate cultivar 'Maebsihwang' of onion (Allium cepa L.). There were no visible any difference on the protein pattern from before flowering stage to full flowering stage of two onion cultivars, however, seed set stages were revealed induced/deduced protein patterns. At day 18, protein expression pattern of the high temperature and high humidity treatments of two cultivars was significantly reduced compared to controls. Furthermore, various protein expression of the high temperature treatment was more reduced compared to high humidity treatment. PM $H^{+}ATPase$ expression of the control plants of two onion cultivars was clearly shown, but was not detectable under high temperature treatment of the two onion cultivars using western blot analysis. PM $H^{+}ATPase$ expression of the high humidity treatment was faintly detected intermediate cultivar 'Maebsihwang', not early cultivar 'Shinsunhwang'. These results indicate that protein expression pattern and PM $H^{+}ATPase$ under high temperature treatment was considered to be more damaged compared to high humidity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1565-1572
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• 2010

Onion (Allium cepa L.) production in Korea has increased gradually over the past 15 years, placing second in food consumption survey with 20.6 g daily intake in 2006. Onions, used as an ingredient in many dishes and accepted by almost all traditions and cultures, have been reported to have a range of health benefits which include anticarcinogenic, antiasthmatic, antibiotic, and antioxidative effects. These effects may be attributable to a powerful flavonoid pigment-containing compounds, such as quercetin and alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxides (ACSOs). Although antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of onion have been confirmed by many of in vitro or animal studies, only a few human intervention studies have been examined. The majority of human studies identified that onion improves some cardiovascular markers such as lipid profile and platelet coagulant. With regard to antioxidative effects, somewhat positive effects are confirmed through strengthening the resistance of oxidative DNA damage in lymphocyte and urine, while most studies failed to find inhibitory effects on LDL oxidation. The discrepancies among studies might be ascribed to producing area, processing methods of onion, dosage, subject characteristics, study duration, and measurement methods. In this review, we focused on the preventive effect of cardiovascular disease through onion consumption in human intervention studies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.806-811
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of plant extracts on methanogenesis and rumen microbial diversity in in vitro. Plant extracts (Artemisia princeps var. Orientalis; Wormwood, Allium sativum for. Pekinense; Garlic, Allium cepa; Onion, Zingiber officinale; Ginger, Citrus unshiu; Mandarin orange, Lonicera japonica; Honeysuckle) were obtained from the Plant Extract Bank at Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. The rumen fluid was collected before morning feeding from a fistulated Holstein cow fed timothy and commercial concentrate (TDN; 73.5%, crude protein; 19%, crude fat; 3%, crude fiber; 12%, crude ash; 10%, Ca; 0.8%, P; 1.2%) in the ratio of 3 to 2. The 30 ml of mixture, comprising McDougall buffer and rumen liquor in the ratio of 4 to 1, was dispensed anaerobically into serum bottles containing 0.3 g of timothy substrate and plant extracts (1% of total volume, respectively) filled with $O_2$-free $N_2$ gas and capped with a rubber stopper. The serum bottles were held in a shaking incubator at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Total gas production in all plant extracts was higher (p<0.05) than that of the control, and total gas production of ginger extract was highest (p<0.05). The methane emission was highest (p<0.05) at control, but lowest (p<0.05) at garlic extract which was reduced to about 20% of methane emission (40.2 vs 32.5 ml/g DM). Other plant extracts also resulted in a decrease in methane emissions (wormwood; 8%, onion; 16%, ginger; 16.7%, mandarin orange; 12%, honeysuckle; 12.2%). Total VFAs concentration and pH were not influenced by the addition of plant extracts. Acetate to propionate ratios from garlic and ginger extracts addition samples were lower (p<0.05, 3.36 and 3.38 vs 3.53) than that of the control. Real-time PCR indicted that the ciliate-associated methanogen population in all added plant extracts decreased more than that of the control, while the fibrolytic bacteria population increased. In particular, the F. succinogens community in added wormwood, garlic, mandarin orange and honeysuckle extracts increased more than that of the others. The addition of onion extract increased R. albus diversity, while other extracts did not influence the R. albus community. The R. flavefaciens population in added wormwood and garlic extracts decreased, while other extracts increased its abundance compared to the control. In conclusion, the results indicated that the plant extracts used in the experiment could be promising feed additives to decrease methane gas emission from ruminant animals while improving ruminal fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.598-604
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• 1995

The contents in large intestine of Sprague Dawley rats fed polygalae radix(Polygala tennuifolia), onion(Allium cepa) and mugwort(Artemisia asiatica)-supplemented diets for 14 days were analysed for changes of major intestinal microflora, activities of ${\beta}-glucosidase\;and\;{\beta}-glucuronidase$ and amounts of putrefactive products such as indole and volatile basic nitrogen. The rats having ingested $5%{\sim}10%$ mugwort water or ethanol extract-supplemented diets showed a significant increase in intestinal bifido-bacteria and a decrease in clostridia and E. coli (p<0.05). And 10% onion juice group also showed a similar beneficial microflora change. In 5% mugwort powder-supplemented group, ${\beta}-glucosidase\;and\;{\beta}-glucuronidase$ activities in the intestinal contents were lowered, but the changes were not significant. Indole contents and pH in this group were significantly low compared with that of control (p<0.05). However, the activities of ${\beta}-glucosidase$ in 5% polygalae radix water extract and 10% onion juice-supplemented group and ${\beta}-glucuronidase\;in\;5%{\sim}10%$ mugwort water and ethanol extract-supplemented group were significantly higher than those of control (p<0.05). The intestinal indole contents of rats were significantly increased by feeding diet with water extract of polygalae radix and ethanol extract of mugwort which had brought comparatively large amount of protein in intestine (p<0.05). However, polygalae radix, onion, and mugwort-supplemented group had no effect on volatile basic nitrogen.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.591-595
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of changes in onion (cv. 'Turbo' and 'Changnyongdaego') bulb quality during storage at room and cold temperature. Increased weight loss was found in the onion bulb stored at both cold and room temperature conditions. 4% weight loss was found in bulbs stored at room temperature and 2% at cold storage as compared to fresh cultivated onion bulb; after three months. Initially, there was no significant difference in the firmness of bulbs between cultivars and storage conditions. Hunter a value of bulb stored at room temperature was higher than the value of bulb stored at cold temperature. 27% and 7.9% decay was found after three months in 'Changnyongdaego' and 'Turbo' cultivars stored under room temperature condition respectively. In contrast, only 2% decay was noticed in both cultivars stored at cold storage condition. Hunter L value of onion bulb gradually decreased in both room and cold temperature storage conditions. In conclusion, quality of onion bulb can be maintained until three months. For long term storage and quality maintenance, under room temperature conditions a resistance cultivar should be selected.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2006

It is very important to improve fertilizer use efficiency for the saving of fertilizers and for environmental purposes as well. However, there was no effective ways for the fertilization in the mid of growth under the plastic film mulching cultivation so far. For this, a Band Spotty Fertilization (BSF) machine was developed recently. So, we tried to establish a low input fertilization technique using this BSF machine in the vinyl mulching cultivation of onion (Allium cepa L.). Fertilization efficiency, soil properties, and crop yield were examined and compared among treatments from 2000 to 2001. The content of exchangeable K in soils were higher after fertilization but that of available $P_2O_5$ was lower than before the experiment in all plots. The content of nitrate-N was highest at the early growth stage, and higher in BSF plots than that of conventional fertilization (CF). BSF plot showed higher growth rate, and uptake amount of nitrogen of onion by 59-69% than that of CF. N use efficiency in BSF was higher in the order of two time-split application, one time-split application, and three time application. K use efficiency was high 13-17% BSF plots than that in CF($63kg\;ha^{-1}$) plots. The amount of residual N in soils was high by 8-14% in BSF plots compared to that in CF plots, and the loss of N was lowered 26-34% by BSF. Also, the amount of residual K in soils was high by 13-18% and the loss of K was low by 29-31% in BSF plots compared to that in CF plots. The yield of onions increased by 7-13% by BSF due to increased diameter and weight of bulbs. As the results, N fertilization efficiency increased by 22-42% by BSF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1612-1620
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• 2015

Inflammation is a complex process involving a variety of immune cells, which defend the body from harmful stimuli. However, pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators can also exacerbate diseases such as cancer. Onion peel contains several phenolic compounds, including quercetin at an amount 20 times greater in peel than edible flesh. Therefore, in this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of onion peel ethanol extract (OPEE) were investigated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response. In our results, NO production decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Secretion of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ was suppressed by 44%, 53%, and 60% respectively, at $100{\mu}g/mL$. Moreover, OPEE also suppressed expression of COX-2, iNOS, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and MAPKs in a dose-dependent manner. Formation of mice ear edema was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to the control, and reduction of ear thickness was observed in the histological analysis as well. In the acute toxicity test, no morality was observed in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of OPEE over a 2-week observation period. These results suggest that OPEE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and be a potential anti-inflammatory material.