Scientifi cally known as Allium Cepa L., onion is a plant which contains various benefi ts and has been used as food and medicine over the years by many nations and races. This research is conducted to identify the benefi ts of onion for human body from the perspectives of Islamic medical scholars and scientifi c research. The literature data for this study has been collected from four Islamic medical books and 14 articles of a variety of related journals. The cumulative data has been analysed by using Nvivo10.0 to identify emerging suitable categories and subsequently generate the fi ndings. The fi ndings of this study discovered that there are at least 17 benefi ts of onion. This includes six which are based on the perspectives of Islamic scholars which are to treat epiphora, to treat ear problems, to medicate infections from dog bites, to neutralize poisons, to stimulate sexual desire and to treat water-borne diseases. Another 11 benefi ts identifi ed in the scientifi c researches include its potential as an antiplatelet agent, anti-fat formation agent, antioxidant agent, antithrombotic agent, anticarcinogen agent, antidepressant agent, antiinfl ammatory agent, antiasthmatic agent, and antibiotic agent, as well as it helps decrease hyperglicemia levels and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Thus, this study suggest that onion should be highlighted as one of organic treatment/remedy as well as an alternative to conventional treatment.
Onions

This study was designed to investigate the role of onion as a natural antioxidant. Onion was distinguished as yellow onion peel and onion flesh. Onion samples were extracted with 5 different kinds of solvents such as water, 70% ethanol, 99.9%ethanol, 99.9% methanol, and 96% butanol in order to select optimal extraction solvents, In this part of study linoleic acid was used s an model system for the purpose of determining the antioxidant activities. The optimal extraction rate of various solvents containing onion samples was determined by measuring extraction yield, electron donating ability(EDA), thiobarbituric acid(TBA), and thiocyanate, which are common methods for measuring activity. As a result 70% ethanol was shown as the most effective solvent.
Antioxidants* ; Ethanol ; Linoleic Acid ; Methanol ; Onions* ; Solvents ; Water

White rot, which is caused by Sclerotium cepivorum, is a lethal disease affecting green onions. Three different types of nano-silver liquid (WA-CV-WA13B, WA-AT-WB13R, and WA-PR-WB13R) were tested in several different concentrations on three types of media to assess their antifungal activities. Results from in vitro experiments showed that all three of the nano-silver liquids had more than 90% inhibition rates at a concentration of 7 ppm. Greenhouse experiments revealed that all of the nano-silver liquids increased biomass and dry weights, and there were minimal changes in the population of various bacteria and fungi from the soil of greenhouse-cultivated green onions. In addition, a soil chemical analysis showed that there were minimal changes in soil composition.
Bacteria ; Biomass ; Fungi ; Humans ; Onions ; Soil ; Weights and Measures

Anthracnose occurred frequently on leaf sheaths of Welsh onions grown in Gangwha island, Korea in November, 2007. The disease incidence was as high as 30% in five fields investigated. A total of 20 single spore isolates of Colletotrichum species were obtained from the affected plants, and all the isolates were identified as Colletotrichum circinans based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. Three isolates of the fungus caused anthracnose symptoms on the leaf sheaths of Welsh onions by artificial inoculation, which were similar to those observed during the field survey. In this study, the mycological and pathological characteristics of C. circinans identified as causing anthracnose of Welsh onions are clarified.
Colletotrichum ; Cultural Characteristics ; Fungi ; Incidence ; Korea ; Onions ; Spores

The methylglyoxal (MGO) trapping constituents from onion (Allium cepa L.) peels were investigated using pre-column incubation of MGO and crude extract followed by HPLC analysis. The peak areas of MGO trapping compounds decreased, and their chemical structures were identified by HPLC-ESI/MS. Among major constituents in outer scale of onion, 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranone (2) was more effective MGO scavenger than quercetin (6) and its 4′-glucoside, spiraeoside (3). After 1 h incubation, compound 2 trapped over 90% MGO at a concentration of 0.5 mM under physiological conditions, but compounds 3 and 6 scavenged 45%, 16% MGO, respectively. HPLC-ESI/MS showed that compound 2 trapped two molecules of MGO to form a di-MGO adduct and compounds 3 and 6 captured one molecule of MGO to form mono-MGO adducts, and the positions 6 and 8 of the A ring of flavonoids were major active sites for trapping MGO.
Catalytic Domain ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; Methods* ; Onions* ; Pyruvaldehyde* ; Quercetin

OBJECTIVE: Onion and garlic are a commonly consumed food in the Korean population. But these food materials have rarely been studied for their allergenic potentials. We analyzed the sensitization rate of garlic and onion using multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)-immunoblot assay. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2013, we analyzed the results of the MAST immunoblot assay performed in 2,691 allergy patients at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 2,691 patients, 1,063 were under 18 years old, and 1,628 were over 18 years old. In the all age groups, 29 patients (1.08%) were positive to garlic, 54 patients (2.01%) were positive to onion and one patient was positive to garlic and onion and others. A total of 84 patients (3.12%) were positive to garlic or onions. In infants under the age of 2 years, garlic was the seventh and onion was the nineteenth common food allergen, and onion was more common than rice. While getting older, the sensitization rate of garlic decreased (P<0.001), but onion increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Using one of the semi-quantitative methods, MAST immunoblot assay, we realized that the sensitization rate of garlic was higher than rice or wheat in infants. We presume further studies on the role of garlic and onion in food allergy are needed.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoassay ; Infant ; Onions* ; Retrospective Studies ; Triticum

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the sodium contents of representative Korean foods high in sodium and develop them as a fundamental resource for setting the standard amount of sodium in foods. METHODS: A total of 480 representative Korean foods high in sodium were collected from households, foodservice establishments, and restaurants in four regions (Capital region, Chungcheong & Gangwon Province, Gyeongsang province, and Jeolla province) and analyzed their sodium content. RESULTS: The sodium content (per 100 g) of food categorized by food group was highest in kimchi and braised food (p < 0.001), and the sodium content of each food was highest in stir-fried anchovies (1,896.6 mg) followed by braised burdock and lotus roots (820.6 mg) and picked onions (809.3 mg) (p < 0.001). However, the sodium content per portion of food was highest in steamed short ribs (1,429.6 mg) from home meals (p < 0.001), Bibimbap, (1,074.1 mg) and steamed short ribs (838.8 mg) from foodservice (p < 0.001), spicy beef soup (3,273.2 mg), and pollack stew (2,930.2 mg) from restaurants (p < 0.001). The sodium content per 100 g and portion of soups and stews from restaurants was significantly higher than that of home meals and foodservice meals (p < 0.001), and the sodium content per portion of steam dishes and stir-fried dishes from home meals was significantly higher than that of foodservice meals (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that developing and using low-sodium soybean sauces & soybean paste and kimchi is needed in an effort to reduce sodium intake. In addition, determination of the sodium contents of representative Korean foods known to be high in sodium is expected to be useful in establishing guidelines for reduction of sodium content.
Arctium ; Family Characteristics ; Gangwon-do ; Lotus ; Meals* ; Onions ; Red Meat ; Restaurants* ; Ribs ; Sodium* ; Soybeans ; Steam

BACKGROUND: Quercetin, found abundantly in onion peel, has been known to have anticholesterol, antithrombotic and insulin-sensitizing properties. Here, we investigated the effect of quercetin-rich onion peel extract (OPE) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidative defense in obese woman. METHODS: This study was randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Thirty-seven healthy obese participants were randomly assigned that eighteen subjects received red soft capsuled OPE (100 mg/d, 50 mg bis in die), while the other nineteen subjects received same capsuled placebo for 12 weeks. ROS production and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in plasma were determined by using ROS and SOD assay kits, respectively. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of anthropometric indicators and blood metabolic profiles were not significantly different between the two groups. Compared with baseline values, OPE consumption significantly reduced waist and hip circumference. Plasma ROS level and SOD activity were decreased in both placebo and OPE groups compared with baseline values. However, plasma ROS level in OPE group was significantly lower than in placebo group while plasma SOD activity in OPE group was significantly higher than in placebo group after 12 weeks of consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that OPE consumption may exert antioxidative effect by preventing the decrease of SOD activity as well as the production of ROS in obese women.
Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Metabolome ; Onions* ; Plasma ; Quercetin ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intake, preference, and utilization of kimchi in female high school students. A questionnaire was used as the instrument of investigation. The subjects were 371 female high school students in Chonbuk province. More than 80% of the subjects had eaten 8 kinds of kimchies Korean cabbage kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, radish leaves kimchi, green onion kimchi, salted cucumber, watery radish kimchi, radish root & leaves kimchi, and Korean wild radish kimchi. The subjects living in urban areas ate more stalk of sweet potato kimchi and leaf mustard kimchi, however the subjects living in rural areas ate more sedum kimchi. The subjects in large families ate more leaf mustard kimchi and sedum kimchi. The preferred kinds of kimchi were radish kimchi, Korean cabbage kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, and cucumber radish kimchi. Seventy-four point four percent of the subjects liked kimchi, whereas 1.6% of them disliked it. The reason eating kimchi was 'custom'(59.0%), 'taste'(30.7%), 'nutrition'(4.3%), 'traditional flod'(2.7%), and 'parents advice'(2.7%). 38.4% of the subjects in urban area ate kimchi for taste whereas 25.0% of them in rural area did. They prefefrred 'well fermented', 'hot', and 'very pungent' kimchi. The preferred dishes made with kimchi were stir-fried rice with kimchi, kimchi stew, pan-fried kimchi, and rice with bean sprouts & kimchi.
Brassica ; Eating ; Female* ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Jeollabuk-do ; Mustard Plant ; Onions ; Raphanus ; Sedum ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Congchi Decoction in Zhouhou Beiji Fang is a prescription commonly used in treating light exterior wind-cold syndrome.Fistular Onion Stalk in the prescription has the effects in inducing sweat and dispelling exogenous evils and accelerating Yang Qi,and has been recorded in many medical books. In addition to be used to treat light exterior wind-cold syndrome,Fistular Onion Stalk is also used extensively and uniquely to treat restlessness after cholera,febrile disease,thoracic obstruction,Yin-Yang toxin syndrome,consumptive disease,bellyache due to spleen Qi deficiency according to Zhouhou Beiji Fang. However,there is still lack of the research on whether Fistular Onion Stalk is derived from shallot or scallion. The authors analyzed the sources of Fistular Onion Stalk in the prescription of Congchi Decoction by consulting ancient books,and studying the plant morphology of shallot,the characteristic and effect of Fistular Onion Stalk and the historical physicians' clinical application of Fistular Onion Stalk,the completion and popularity of Zhouhou Beiji Fang,the ratio of water to medicine of Congchi Decoction and the chemical ingredients of Fistular Onion Stalk. Finally,the authors concluded that Fistular Onion Stalk in the Congchi Decoction refers to Scallion bulbs.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Onions ; chemistry ; Yin-Yang