A scientific basis for the evaluation of the risk to public health arising from excessive dietary intake of nitrate in Korea is provided. The nitrate () and nitrite () contents of various vegetables (Chinese cabbage, radish, lettuce, spinach, soybean sprouts, onion, pumpkin, green onion, cucumber, potato, carrot, garlic, green pepper, cabbage and Allium tuberosum Roth known as Crown daisy) are reported. Six hundred samples of 15 vegetables cultivated during different seasons were analysed for nitrate and nitrite by ion chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, respectively. No significant variance in nitrate levels was found for most vegetables cultivated during the summer and winter harvests. The mean nitrates level was higher in A. tuberosum Roth (5150 mg kg(-1)) and spinach (4259 mg kg(-1)), intermediate in radish (1878 mg kg(-1)) and Chinese cabbage (1740 mg kg(-1)), and lower in onion (23 mg kg(-1)), soybean sprouts (56 mg kg(-1)) and green pepper (76 mg kg(-1)) compared with those in other vegetables. The average nitrite contents in various vegetables were about 0.6 mg kg(-1), and the values were not significantly different among most vegetables. It was observed that nitrate contents in vegetables varied depending on the type of vegetables and were similar to those in vegetables grown in other countries. From the results of our studies and other information from foreign sources, it can be concluded that it is not necessary to establish limits of nitrates contents of vegetables cultivated in Korea due to the co-presence of beneficial elements such as ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol which are known to inhibit the formation of nitrosamine.

The objective of this study was to determine the physico-chemical properties in the high-amylose rice varieties. The rice flours were analyzed by RVA, DSC, HPAEC, resistant starch kit, SEM, spectrophotometer, etc. According to the RVA measurement of rice flours, the pasting temperature of Dodamssal was higher than those of the others. The proportion of amylopectin short chains (DP 6-12) of the Dodamssal was significantly lower than that of the others. The contents of amylose and resistant starch in the high-amylose rice flours ranged from 19.03% to 38.71% and from 0.6% to 12.39%, respectively. In SEM images, starch granules within Ilmibyeo, Mimyeon, Saegoami rice flours displayed polyhedrons different from those (relatively spherical morphology) of Dodamssal rice flour. According to the DSC results of rice flours, there were significant differences in the onset, peak temperatures of the endothermic peak. Gelatinization enthalpy was 4.52-6.3 J/g, with the lowest change in Dodamssal rice flour.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the total polyphenol and antioxidant activities of radish buds (Raphanus sativus L.) based on sprouting periods and extraction solvents in order to present basic data that are needed for using the radish buds as functional food material. The antioxidant activities were assessed by using various antioxidant models (DPPH, TBARS, Rancimat method, POV). The total polyphenol contents according to the extraction solvents were 84.11 and 296.51 mg/g, and the ethanol extract on day 4 of showed the highest value as 296.51 mg/g. As for DPPH radical-scavenging activity, on the day 4 of sprouting, water extracts indicated the highest scavenging activity by 86.67%, and the acetone extracts indicated a rather low scavenging activity as 77.23%. As for TBARS measurement of the radish bud extracts on day 4 of sprouting the extract of 70% ethanol was highest (71.48%). On day 8 of sprouting the TBARS value was increased and the methanol extract was highest (78.99%). As for the oxidative induction period on day 4 of sprouting in Rancimat measurement, the methanol extract was highest (6.07 hours) on day 4 and the antioxidant index was 1.16. On day 12 of sprouting, the general oxidative induction period tended to be reduced to 5.25 to 5.91 hours. In the peroxide value measurement on day 4 of sprouting and beginning of the storage, the extracts showed no difference between 3.02 meq/kg oil and 4.12 meq/kg oil, and on the day 60 of storage, the water extract (43.83 meq/kg oil) and the methanol extract (45.42 meq/kg oil) were lowest with higher antioxidant effect. In conclusion, the radish bud extract with higher total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities may serve as functional material for food additives, such as natural antioxidants and food preserving agents.

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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of egg shell calcium treatments on short-term storage of cut Kimchi cabbage. Egg shell ash powder (ESP-2) had the greatest calcium contents. Calcium solubility was greater in citric acid than acetic acid and ascorbic acid. Cut Kimchi cabbages (3×3 cm) were treated with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% egg shell powder (ESP-1), and egg shell ash powder (ESP-2), and 0.5% citric acid, put inside polyethylene (PE) bags, and stored at 5°C for 6 weeks. Weight loss was about 99.85-99.90%, and the ratio was the lowest upon 0.5% ESP-2 treatment (p<0.05). The reduction ratios of soluble solids were 21.3-43.4%, and decreased in the order of 1.0% ESP-2 treatment and 0.5% ESP-1. The L* values decreased, whereas a* and b* values of Hunter colorimetry increased in all treatments. ΔE values were lowest upon 0.5% ESP-2 treatment. 0.5% ESP-2 treatment showed better quality characteristics than other treatments. Thus, egg shell calcium treatments could effectively enhance the shelf-life of cut Kimchi cabbage.