• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2008

Onions are commonly available and easily processed, and since their skins are thrown away they could be very useful materials from the viewpoint of environmental preservation. This study aimed to process onion skins into the state of powder and look into the optimum condition for hair dyeing by decoloring virgin hair four times and observing the hair dyeing quality and its mechanical and morphologic changes by the different condition of onion skins in duration, temperature, density, pH, and mordant treatment. The observations of hair surface through scanning microscopy showed the formation of cuticle layer, though in a little blown-up state in the case of the hair dyed with onion skin application, when compared with bleaching hair with the completely dissolved cuticle layer. According to the above findings of experiments, the dyeing quality of the hair dyes with onion skin application was excellent, the dyeing was also feasible without mordants, and the use of Fe as the mordant increased dyeing exhaustion more, which would make it an effective hair dye. These results of the experiments indicate that the natural pigment extracted from onion skins can be actually used for hair dyeing from the viewpoints of the dyeing quality and the skin treatment.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.108-112
• /
• 2009

Antioxidant and anticancer effects of methanolic extracts from the flesh (WFME) and peel (WPME) of white onion, the flesh (YFME) and peel (YPME) of yellow onion, the flesh (RFME) and peel (RPME) of red onion were studied. The content of total phenolics in WFME, WPME, YPME, YFME, RPME, and RFME were $0.260{\pm}0.01$, $4.480{\pm}0.23$, $0.319{\pm}0.02$, $719.12{\pm}37.36$, $0.248{\pm}0.01$, and $806.21{\pm}26.38\;mg/g$, respectively. The quercetin content of WFME, WPME, YFME, YPME, RFME, and RPME were $12.56{\pm}0.19$, $3.57{\pm}0.14$, $15.24{\pm}0.65$, $755.29{\pm}22.24$, $5.70{\pm}0.23$, and $774.03{\pm}29.48\;mg$/100 g, respectively. Like total phenolics, the highest 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities were found in RPME. However, inhibitory effects on lipid oxidation of RPME were similar to those of WPME and YPME. In addition, inhibitory effect of WPME, YPME, and RPME for human breast cancer cell (MCF-7) growth were 78.43, 81.90, and 96.52% while those on human prostate cancer cell (LNcap) were 71.58, 77.93, and 98.47% at $100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Total phenolics, quercetin content, antioxidant, and anticancer activities exhibited significant variation among the 3 onion varieties in this experiment. Therefore, it is assumed that antioxidant and anticancer activities were affected by the total phenolics and quercetin level of onion.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2013

The inhibitory effect of citrus peel extract, onion peel extract, calcium lactate and phosvitin on microbial growth was investigated in seasoned chicken breast meat during aerobic storage at $4^{\circ}C$, $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. Citrus peel and onion peel extract significantly improved (p<0.05) the microbial quality of the sample by reducing the initial counts of the microbial flora compared to control and other two treatments. Data clearly revealed that the counts of the total aerobic bacteria significantly increased with the increase in storage temperature. The shelf life of all samples stored under $20^{\circ}C$ was less than 6 days, while the shelf life of citrus and onion treatment can be extended more than 9 days at $4^{\circ}C$ and more than 6 days at $10^{\circ}C$ in aerobic storage condition. These results indicated that citrus and onion peel extracts are efficient treatment methods to prevent microbial spoilage of seasoned chicken products during storage at $4^{\circ}C$. However, there was an adverse effect of addition of citrus and onion peel extract on several sensory attributes which need to be improved by reformulation of seasoning.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.762-768
• /
• 2006

To assess utilization of onions extract as natural food additives, ethyl acetate, ethanol and hot water extract of freeze dried onions (red, white and yellow) were exmined for their chemical component and nitrite scavenging activity. Contents of total organic acid and total free sugar were in the range of $135.4{\sim}1,2557mg%$ and $51.7{\sim}62.9%$ as dry matter bases, respectively, and then their content of three onions were higher in ethylacetate and hor water extracts than in ethanol extract. Contents of total phenol and total flavonoids were in the range of $9.3{\sim}$13.3 % and $159.8{\sim}584.1mg%$ as dry matter bases, respectively, and their content of red onion extract by three solvent were higher than those of other onion extract. Nitrite-scavenging activities (NSA) of onion extracts were increased by lowering pH and elevating onion concentrations, and their values of ethanol and hot water were about 55% in addition of 10 mg/mL of red onion extract showing that NSA of red onion was twice higher than that of the other onions. In conclusion, the result indicated that red onion extract was very effective to inhibit nitrosamine formation at low pH condition as natural nitrite scavenging agent.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.828-831
• /
• 2007

We evaluated the effects of heat treatment on various properties of onion extracts (Allium cepa). Onion was heated at various temperatures ($110-150^{\circ}C$) for various times (1-5 hr), and the total polyphenol, flavonoid, and free sugar contents, and antioxidant activity were investigated. With increased heating temperatures and exposure times, the total contents of polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity increased. The highest total polyphenol content (189.80 mg/100g) occurred after heating for 2 hr at $140^{\circ}C$. The highest total flavonoid content (252.51 mg/100g) occurred after heating for 3 hr at $150^{\circ}C$. The antioxidant activity assessed using the DPPH method was highest, at 2.1 mg/mL ($IC_{50}$ value), after heating for 2 hr at $150^{\circ}C$. Correlations between antioxidant activity and the total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and fructose contents were highly significant (all p<0.01). The optimal heating time and temperature were 2 hr and $130^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2016

Drying process was applied to increase the antioxidant activity of onion powder: freeze-drying or air-drying at 50, 70, and $90^{\circ}C$ and onion extracts were obtained from each powder using water or aqueous ethanol (50%) at $25^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$. In the color analysis, the freeze-dried powders showed higher $L^*$ and lower $a^*$ and $b^*$ values than did the air-dried ones. The browning index of powders air-dried at $90^{\circ}C$ was significantly higher than that of freeze-dried powders or those air-dried at temperatures below $90^{\circ}C$. Phenolic content in the extracts was 4.02-23.12 mg gallic acid equivalent/g sample, and was the highest in the extract from the sample air-dried at $90^{\circ}C$, regardless of the extraction condition. The highest antioxidant activity, measured by 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl methods, was found in the powder air-dried at $90^{\circ}C$, which induced browning. These findings indicate that antioxidant activity depends more on browning during drying than on extraction conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.1430-1436
• /
• 2017

This study assessed the effects of treatment with sap extract from onion residues postharvest and purslane on the quality and quantity of organic onions. At the bending stage, onions treated with the sap extract showed vigorous growth, with higher plant heights, more leaves, and longer sheath lengths than untreated onions. The onion yield was significantly increased when the plant was treated with extracted sap as compared with that of untreated plants (p<0.05). The bulb weight distribution of onions in the mixed onion and purslane treatment was also significantly increased (~300 g) as compared with that of the other treatment (p<0.05). Except for CaO and S, the mineral content of the onions produced from plants treated with the onion and purslane extract mixture was higher than those of onions in the other treatment. The hardness of onions produced from plants treated with the onion and purslane extract was significantly increased (8% and 20%, respectively) as compared with that of onions produced from plants treated with the onion extract only or no treatment (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the sugar contents of the onions produced from extract-treated and nonextract-treated plants. Postharvest, the content of inorganic components (phosphate, calcium, sulfuric acid, and manganese) was higher in soil treated with the onion extract than in soil treated with the onion and purslane extract and non-treated soil. It can be concluded that residues left after onion harvests and purslane extract can be used as natural and environmentally friendly materials for the cultivation of organic onions.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.43-56
• /
• 2012

Objective : In this study, we assessed the anti-bacterial effects and epidermal permeability barrier function of red onion juice comparing to yellow onion juice and $Houttuynia$ $cordata$ extract $in$ $vitro$. Methods : 3types of red and yellow onion juice were prepared as antibacterial agent candidates with Houttuynia cordata hot water extract using 4 different bacterial strains ($Escherichia$ $coil$, $Salmonella$ $enterica$ $subsp.$ $enterica$, $Staphylococcus$ $epidermidis$, $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ $subsp$) by colony counting method. The expression of filaggrin, a marker of keratinocyte differentiation, and serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT), a marker of the formation of the stratum corneum lipid barrier, in human HaCat keratinocytes were analyzed using HaCaT cell line. The expression of COX-2 and AP-1 which is a factor of COX-2 transcription were also analyzed by western blotting method. Results : There was detectable anti-bacterial effects on $Staphylococcus$ $epidermidis$, $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ $subsp$ among 1%, 5%, 10% extracts of yellow and red onion.(81%-100%) The bacteriocidal effects were not shown on $Escherichia$ $coil$, $Salmonella$ $enterica$ $subsp.$ $enterica$ among $Houttuynia$ $cordata$, yellow onion and red onion extracts. The in vitro results showed the concentration-dependent effects on the expression of both filaggrin and SPT in HaCat cells among 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% extracts in Houttuynia cordata and red onion, reflecting the notion that $Houttuynia$ $cordata$ and red onion can induce epidermal keratinocyte differentiation and improve the recovery of skin barrier functions. The concentration-dependent effects also have been shown on the expression of both COX-2 and AP-1 among 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% extracts in $Houttuynia$ $cordata$ and red onion, while slight effect in yellow onion. Conclusion : Red onion juice could be a potential candidate enhanser for the skin care and cosmetology.

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

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.418-426
• /
• 2015

Total phenol contents, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of 70% methanol, 70% ethanol and chloroform-methanol (CM, 2:1, v/v) extracts from onion (Allium cepa L.) peels were studied. The $IC_{50}$ values of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical and ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt] radical scavenging activity in 70% ethanol extract were remained to be lowest followed by 70% methanol extract and CM extract. And the total phenol content ($113.56{\pm}0.86mg\;CAE/g$), total flavonoid content (49.63 mg QE/g) and ferric reducing antioxidant power value were also found to be the highest. In contrast, 70% methanol extract possessed the strongest antioxidant activity by ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching assay. CM extract displayed the lowest antioxidant activity compared with other extracts. Onion peels exhibited strong antioxidant activity and abundant phytochemicals, which could be used in a various food products to add phytochemicals and promote good health.