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The enzymes activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and amino acids in honeys are relatively low. However, they play very significant role for honey quality. In this study, enzymes, amino acids and HMF contents of Ethiopian monofloral honeys were investigated. Diastase, invertase and HMF were analyzed based on the Harmonized International Honey Commission method and amino acids using amino acids analyzer (HPLC). Diastase activity ranged from 3.91 ± 0.730 () to 13.6 ± 2.30 [ (L: Lalibella)]; invertase 36.5 ± 1.93 () to 4.85 ± 2.36 (); and HMF 0 ± 0 ( and ) to 3.37 ± 1.73 (). Significant variations were observed among honeys in diastase content, despite being from the same botanical origin. Significant variations were also observed among honeys in invertase and diastase contents. Bees' geographical race and location affected enzymes activities. Lower level of enzymes could be an intrinsic characteristic of Ethiopian honey. Thus, enzymes activity alone cannot be a worthwhile indicator of quality for Ethiopian honey; besides diastase and invertase activity, the quality control of Ethiopian honeys should be supported by HMF parameters.

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BackgroundThe Panax ginseng plant is used as an herbal medicine. Phytosterols of P. ginseng have inhibitory effects on inflammation-related factors in HepG2 cells.MethodsPhytosterols (e.g., stigmasterol and β-sitosterol) in the roots of P. ginseng grown under various conditions were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The P. ginseng roots analyzed in this study were collected from three cultivation areas in Korea (i.e., Geumsan, Yeongju, and Jinan) and differed by cultivation year (i.e., 4 years, 5 years, and 6 years) and production process (i.e., straight ginseng, red ginseng, and white ginseng).ResultsThe concentrations of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in P. ginseng roots were 2.22–23.04 mg/g and 7.35–59.09 mg/g, respectively. The highest concentrations of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were in the roots of 6-year-old P. ginseng cultivated in Jinan (82.14 mg/g and 53.23 mg/g, respectively).ConclusionSix-year-old white ginseng and white ginseng cultivated in Jinan containing stigmasterol and β-sitosterol are potentially a new source of income in agriculture.

Helicobacter pylori infection causes gastrointestinal diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and may lead to gastric cancer. Several studies have reported that lactobacilli present on broccoli show inhibitory activity against H. pylori. Here, we evaluated aqueous broccoli, fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum MG208, for its fermentation characteristics and anti-H. pylori activities including antibacterial activity, growth inhibition, antiadhesion, and urease inhibition. The results indicated that the fermentation characteristics changed significantly depending on the amount of aqueous broccoli used for fermentation (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between the samples before fermentation (p >0.05). However, a significant concentrationdependent difference was noted in antibacterial activity and urease inhibition (p <0.05) following the addition of aqueous broccoli. Growth inhibition in the 10 mg/mL sample was significantly higher as compared to the negative control and similar to that with amoxicillin (positive control) (p <0.05). Anti-adhesion activity of aqueous broccoli was also significantly different (p <0.05) from the negative control. Therefore, aqueous broccoli fermented by L. plantarum MG208 could prove useful as a functional diet for protection of the gastric environment against H. pylori infection.