• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2009

Halitosis is a generally accepted marker of diseases in the oral cavity and of systemic and gastrointestinal disorders. Based on these authors' previous findings (that (1) there is a close association between H. pylori infection and halitosis; (2) Korea red ginseng may suppress the colonization of H. pylori, fight H. pylori-induced cytotoxicity, and impose significant anti-inflammatory actions in patients with chronic gastritis; and (3) H. pylori infection is linked with the generation of significant levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), and the levels of VSCs correlate significantly with H. pylori-associated mucosal damages), in the current study, the authors documented the molecular mechanisms of Korea red ginseng's efficacy in ameliorating halitosis. When the RAW 264.7 cells were treated with the $H_2S$ releasing compound NaHS, the mRNA expression of cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CSE), IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS were more significantly induced compared with the vehicle-treated group. The cytoskeletal components of ezrin's and moesin's mRNA expressions were elevated by NaHS treatment accompanied by the activation of MAPK, p38, and ERK. Korea red ginseng pretreatment reduced both the NaHS-induced CSE expression and the proinflammatory genes (e.g., IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS) in a concentration-dependent manner. The ERM expression and the phosphorylation of p38 were also significantly reduced by Korea-red-ginseng pretreatment. Overall, Korea red ginseng pretreatment imposed significant anti-inflammatory effects through the downregulation of the NaHS-triggered proinflammatory gene expression, CSE, and ERM mRNA expression. Korea red ginseng could thus be said to be a key remedy of halitosis and to be effective in relieving gastric inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.500-506
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• 1994

For comparison of beef quality, four kinds of beef (Korean native cattle beef, dairy cattle beef, imported beef, cross-bred beef) were investigated through tenderness, juiciness and flavor related components measurement and organoleptic tests. Flavor related chemical components such as NPN, IMP, free fatty acid and free amino acids were analyzed, water holding capacity, contents of hydroxyproline and intramuscular fat were measured for evaluation of beef tenderness. Instron was also used for measuring beef tenderness as an objective method. Triangle test and descriptive analysis test were conducted for comparison and evaluation of preference of various beef samples. In hardness analysis using Instron, imported and cross-bred beefs had higher value than that of Korean native cattle or dairy cattle beef. Water holding capacity and pH of Korean cattle beef was higher than that of others. The intramuscular fat content of Korean cattle beef was highest, so it was expected juicier than other beef. In flavor related compound analysis, NPN content of Korean native cattle beef was the lowest, which shows it spent the least time among sample meats after slaughter. IMP, hypoxantine and inosine were most abundant in Korean native cattle beef. In free amino acids analysis showed that the proportion of basic acid and aromatic acid content of Korean native cattle beef was highest, whereas that of sulfur containing amino acid of imported beef was highest. TBA value of Korean native cattle beef was the lowest, and analysis of fatty acid composition revealed that the proportion of unsaturated fatty acid of Korean native cattle beef was higher than imported and dairy cattle beef, but similar to cross-bred beef. Organoleptic test was performed by triangle test and descriptive analysis. In triangle test, most panelist could distinguish Korea native cattle beef from imported beef and cross-bred beef, imported beef from cross-bred beef. In descriptive analysis which relys on subjective standards of panelists, there was no difference among beef in aroma, flavor and tenderness except juiciness. Even though contents of non volatile flavor compounds in Korean native cattle beef were higher than those of other beef samples, there were no significant differences in subjective panel test. The results showed that Korean consumers do not have common standards for beef quality evaluation.