• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2012

The present study was designed to examine the potential antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of ethanol extract from $Prunus$ $mume$ fruit (PME) against alloxan-induced oxidative stress in pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells, HIT-T15. To evaluate the antidiabetic effect of PME, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliu bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, $NAD^+$/NADH ratio and insulin secretion were assessed. We also measured its antioxidant effect against alloxan-induced oxidative stress in the cells by assessing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The results of this analysis showed that alloxan significantly decreased cell viability, increased LDH leakage, and lowered $NAD^+$ /NADH ratio and insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells. However, PME significantly increased the viability of alloxan-treated cells and lowered LDH leakage. The intracellular $NAD^+$ /NADH ratio and insulin secretion were also increased by 1.5~1.9-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively, after treatment with the PME. The HIT-T15 cells treated with alloxan showed significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, while PME significantly elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. Based on these results, we suggest that PME could have a protective effect against the cytotoxicity and dysfunction of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells in the presence of alloxan-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.621-628
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• 2002

Effect of the thickness of packaging film on the ripening of mature-green mume (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc) fruit was investigated by measuring physicochemical changes of the fruit during storage. Fruits were packaged using low density polyethylene (LDPE) films with thicknesses of 20, 30, and 40$\mu$m and stored at the room temperature. The physicochemical properties such as contents of various pectic substances, molecular weight distribution of soluble pectic substances, and surface image of the fruit were determined during storage of 8 days. In general, regardless of the thickness of the films applied, a content of water-soluble pectin (WSP) in the fruit was increased during storage, but both contents of HCI- soluble pectin (HSP), and Ca and Mg in total alcohol-insoluble solids were decreased. Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration study revealed that fractions of high molecular weight HSP and WSP decomposed into lower molecular weight pectins during storage. The scanning electronic microscope also identified a significant structural change of the fruit skin over the storage time. It could be concluded from the results that fruits packaged with LDPE 30${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ film maintained the highest physicochemical quality of green mume fruit during storage.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 1999

The changes in firmness, mineral compositions and pectic substances of Mume(Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc) fruits during maturation were determined. An average weight of the fruits in 92days after full bloom was increased during maturation proceeded up to the range of 212∼232%, as compared with that of 64days. The rate of weight increase of 'Ohshuku' fruits was 257%, and it was highest among four varieties. The ratio of stone to flesh weight was decreased, but the diameter of the flesh of fruits was increased during maturation. The firmness of 'Koume' fruits was rapidly decreased from 78days after full bloom. Three varieties, except 'Koume' fruits, showed similar changes in firmness. Potassium content of fruits was 85%. Calcium and Mg were decreased as the flesh of fruits became plump. The ratios of hydrochloric acid-soluble pectin(HSP) , water-soluble pectin(WSP), sodium hexamethaphosphate-soluble pectin(PSP), and sodium hydroxode-soluble pectin(SSP) contents to the total pectin content of the fruits were 66∼76, 8.4∼19.7, 5.4∼7.5 and 7.1∼8.3%, respectively. The total pectin content was increased up to 71days after full bloom, but it was decreased thereafter. Also, a significant increase of WSP and a decrease of HSP were observed during the softening process of fruits.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.100-100
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• 2019

매실에는 구연산, 사과산, 주석산, 피루브산 등의 유기산 등이 함유되어 있어서 체내의 대사작용을 돕고 세포와 근육에 필요물질인 젖산을 분해하여 피로를 감소시켜주며 신진대사를 촉진하고 있다. 또한 피루브산은 간의 피로, 해독작용을 활발하게 도와주며 카테킨산은 장내의 유해균의 번식을 억제하여 식중독을 예방하고 있다. 또한 이러한 작용은 설사와 변비를 치료하는데도 효과가 있으며 다량의 비타민C의 함유로 인하여 체내의 피로회복을 돕고 있다. 이러한 효능을 가진 매실은 전라남도 해안가에서 주로 재배하고 있다. 특히 순천과 광양지역에서 다양한 품종들을 재배하고 있다. 따라서 본 실험에서는 순천과 광양지역에 재배되고 있는 남고, 천매, 고성, 앵숙, 풍후, 옥영, 임주, 청축, 백가하 등의 잎과 과육, 핵의 추출물로부터 폴리페놀 성분은 핵, 과육보다 잎에서 양호한 반응을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과들을 중심으로 매실의 각 부위별 항산화 활성을 조사하였던 바, 매실의 대부분의 품종에서 항산화 활성이 양호하게 나타났으며 부위별에서는 핵보다는 잎과 과육에서 양호한 항산화 활성을 보였다. 품종별로는 앵숙, 남고, 청축에서 다소 양호한 항산화 활성을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과들로 미루어 볼 때 매실의 항산화 활성은 품종별, 부위별로 상이한 반응을 나타내었다.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.29-35
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• 2012

Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) is the national symbol and was once the most important temperate fruit crop in Taiwan. Fruiting cultivars were originally introduced from southern China but commercial production was not significant until the 1970s. Currently 6,400 ha of Japanese apricot orchards distribute on shallow mountain hills in the central and the southern part of the island. Taiwanese commercial fruiting cultivars are plausibly chance seedlings or sports from the early introduction and are very low chilling required for budbreak. Ornamental cultivars have been mainly introduced from Japan but cultivations have been limited in high altitude area due to their high chilling requirement. In 2009, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute's breeding program released the first low chill ornamental cultivar 'Tainung No.2' with a great ornamental potential in subtropical regions. Cultivation and production of Japanese apricot fruit in Taiwan continue to dwindle due to the declining Japanese market share. Ongoing industry transformation to increase domestic consumption and consumer's interest will sustain the future of Japanese apricot in Taiwan.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1304-1309
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• 1999

The respiratory characteristics and quality attributes of mature green mume fruits as influenced by modified atmosphere packaging(MAP) conditions during storage at 25oC for 8 days were investigated. The quality attributes of mume fruits were evaluated in terms of fresh weight loss, physiological injury and yellowing. The packaging materials used for MAP were low density polyethylene(LDPE) films with various different thicknesses. Yellowing and fresh weight loss of mume fruits were noticeably reduced by the packaging treatments with LDPE A and B. The physiological injury of the fruits during storage was found to be more severe in LDPE C than others. For LDPE A and B, the oxygen and carbon dioxide contents within the packages of Mume fruits maintained at the levels of 2~3% and 7~8%, respectively. With respect to visual quality, MAP prolonged the shelf life of the fruits much longer compared with the unsealed control. From the experimental results, it is suggested that the LDPE films with the gas trans mission rates of about 2,100 O2 ml/m2.day.atm and 6,700 CO2 ml/m2.day.atm would be proper for MAP of mature green mume fruits during storage at ambient temperature.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2021

Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc is widely distributed in East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China), and its fruit is often used as a medication and food material. However, because most previous studies have only investigated the state of Prunus mume fruit extract, studies on the various ways of processing this extract are still needed to increase its utilization. In this study, we evaluated the physicochemical properties and physiological activities of spray-dried Prunus mume vinegar powder (SPP). The sugar content, pH, total acidity, and moisture content of the SPP were 8.90 °Brix, 3.19, 1.05%, and 3.07%, respectively. The SPP exhibited significantly high antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging activity (65.55%), reducing power (1.48), and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (48.07%). In addition, the SPP remarkably decreased the cell viability of human breast MDA-MB-231 and human skin cancer SK-MEL-28 in a dose-dependent manner. The morphological results of the treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with SPP were distorted, shrunken cell masses. Furthermore, apoptotic bodies and nuclear condensation formed in the SPP-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the SPP were 59.58 ㎍/g (gallic acid equivalent) and 57.56 ㎍/g (quercetin equivalent). The results of this study indicate that SPP, which has antioxidant activity and anticancer effects, can be useful in the development of natural medicines and functional food ingredients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality characteristics of pork jerky added with the extracts of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) and Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.). Color stability, lipid oxidation, texture, and consumer acceptability of the pork jerky were also compared before and after storage of 70 days. The pork jerky added with 0.5% paprika extract and 3.5% Japanese apricot extract had the highest score for overall acceptability. The redness (a-value) of the pork jerky added with the natural extracts had a similar level as the one with nitrite. The extracts of paprika and Japanese apricot were also effective in inhibiting the lipid oxidation of the pork jerky during storage. In texture measurement, the total shear force of the natural extracts-treated sample was lower than that of control (the natural extracts-untreated samples). All sensory properties of the pork jerky were significantly (p<0.05) improved by the addition of the natural extracts. The results of this study indicated that the extracts of paprika and Japanese apricot could be used as natural agents for retarding color and lipid oxidations.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.388-392
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• 2023

A yeast strain, designated as JAF-11^T, was isolated from flower of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. in Gwangyang, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain JAF-11^T was closely related to Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T with 2.07 % sequence divergence (12 nucleotide substitutions and three gaps in 581 nucleotides) in the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79^T with 4.66 % sequence divergence (25 nucleotide substitutions and five gaps in 535 nucleotides) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Further analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the ITS region confirmed that strain JAF-11^T was well-separated from Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T. In addition to the phylogenetic differences, strain JAF-11^T was distinguished from its closest species, Neodothiora populina CPC 39399^T and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79^T belonging to the family Dothioraceae by its phenotypic characteristics, such as assimilation of carbon sources. Hence, the name Neodothiora pruni sp. nov. is proposed with type strain JAF-11^T (KACC 48808^T; MB 850034).

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.242-247
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• 2008

MSS, a comprising mixture of maesil (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc) concentrate, disodium succinate and Span80 (3.6 : 4.6 : 1 ratio) showed a significant improvement of memory when daily administered (460 mg/kg day, p.o.) into the normal rats for 3 weeks. During the spatial learning of 4 days in Morris water maze test, both working memory and short-term working memory index were significantly increased when compared to untreated controls. We investigated a molecular signal transduction mechanism of MSS on the behaviors of spatial learning and memory. MSS treatment increased hippocampal mRNA levels of NR2B and TrkB without changes of NR1, NR2A, ERK1, ERK2 and CREB. However, the protein levels of pERK/ERK and pCREB/CREB were all significantly increased to $1.5{\pm}0.17$ times. These results suggest that the improving effect of spatial memory for MSS is linked to MAPK/ERK signaling pathway that ends up in the phosphorylation of CREB through TrkB and/or NR2B of NMDA receptor.