This study was conducted to establish the shelf life of β-glucan microcapsules from the medicinal mushrooms (Phellinus baumii and Ganoderma lucidum). Changes in the quality attributes, including moisture content, color, and total bacterial count, of the β-glucan microcapsules were analyzed during storage for 5 months at 10℃, 25℃, and 40℃. The moisture content of β-glucan microcapsule from P. baumii did not show any significant difference during storage at 25℃ and 40℃, but decreased after 3 months storage at 10℃. The moisture content of the β-glucan microcapsule from G. lucidum showed slight increase and decrease during storage at 25℃ and 40℃, but at 10℃, showed an initial decrease for 3 months and then increased. ΔE values of β-glucan microcapsules from P. baumii and G. lucidum did not change during 5 months at various storage temperatures. The total bacterial count of the microcapsules from both P. baumii and G. lucidum maintained their initial values without significant changes according to storage period and temperature. Overall, the shelf life of β-glucan microcapsule from P. baumii was determined to be 30.11 months according to the moisture content and β-glucan microcapsule from G. lucidum was determined to be 24.82 months according to the total bacterial count. Thus, it is desirable to establish the storage period of 24 months at 25℃.

To determine the proper picking period for Corni Fructus, the seed removal degree, free sugar contents, antioxidant capacities, and Hunter's color values were investigated at intervals of 15 days from 236 days after full bloom (DAFB) to 327 DAFB. The seed removal degree maximized at 280 DAFB (p<0.05), at this point the moisture contents were 197.40% (db) and 66.00% (wb). The seed removal degrees were also investigated during hot air drying, and the best seed removal degree was obtained at moisture contents of 191.90% (db) and 65.74% (wb), similar to those observed at 280 DAFB. Fructose and glucose were detected, and their contents decreased slowly after 280 DAFB. Total phenolic contents (TPC), and DPPH radical scavening activity both decreased over the picking periods, but total anthocyanin contents (TAC) decreased after 280 DAFB. The redness, and yellowness of Corni Fructus powders, determined by using Hunter's colorimeter, decreased after 280 DAFB, but lightness decreased over the picking periods. Studies of the physicochemical quality characteristics revealed that the proper picking period of Corni Fructus should be 280 DAFB. Key words：seed removal degree, Corni Fructus, picking periods, antioxidant capacity, free sugar contents

In order to determine a proper extraction condition of Corni Fructus, antioxidant capacities and Hunter's colors values of Corni Fructus powder (CFP) were evaluated as functions of the particle size, extraction solvents and extraction time. The antioxidant capacity was determined in terms of the total phenolic contents (TPC), total anthocyanin contents (TAC), and DPPH radical scavenging activity. CFP was classified as CFP-1 (25-45 mesh), CFP-2 (45-60 mesh), CFP-3 (60-100 mesh), and CFP-4 (>100 mesh). The antioxidant capacities and extraction yield, depending on the particle size of CFP, were the highest for CFP-2, with an extraction yield of 5.45%, a-value of 30.71, TPC of 3.52 μM GAE, TAC of 19.20 mg/L. Depending on the extraction solvent, the extraction yields were the highest to 60% ethanol, at 9.15% (p<0.05); further, antioxidant capacities were that TAC was highest to 90% EtOH with 12.18 μM GAE, whereas DPPH was not significantly different (p<0.05). Depending on the extraction time, extraction yields were highest (4.43%) for extraction in 3 h, and. TAC and DPPH were not significantly different (p<0.05). Therefore, the antioxidant capacity of CFP was excellent with 45-60 mesh (CFP-2), an extraction solvent of 90% EtOH, and extraction time of 3 h. The findings establish the proper extraction conditions of Corni Fructus for its use as a functional material.