Calyptella capula is reported for the first time in Korea. It was found in spring in Chungcheongbuk-do, central Korea, growing in a dead stalk of Sesamum indicum. A description and molecular phylogenetic analyses are reported.
Korea ; Sesamum

Leaf spot disease was observed in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) during 2009 and 2010 in Korea. The pathogen was identified as Alternaria simsimi based on morphological and cultural characteristics. The morphological identification was well supported by phylogenetic analysis of the ribosomal DNA-internal transcribed spacer region. A. simsimi isolates caused spot symptoms on leaves and stems of sesame plants 2 wk after artificial inoculation, which were similar to those observed in the field. This is the first record of leaf spot disease in Korea caused by A. simsimi.
Alternaria* ; Cultural Characteristics ; Korea ; Sesamum* ; Virulence

The purpose of this study was to determine basic information on the microbiological quality of environmentally friendly vegetables used in school foodservices. Comparisons were made on the microbiological quality of eight different kinds of vegetables grown by environmentally friendly agricultural methods and ordinary agricultural methods to determine if there were significant differences. In the raw materials, aerobic plate counts were as follows: lettuce 4.58~7.43 log CFU/g, winter plowing chinese cabbage 5.61~7.36 log CFU/g, Korean leek 5.81 log CFU/g to TNTC (too numerous to Count), cabbage 5.93~6.43 log CFU/g, sesame leaves 3.15~5.23 log CFU/g, cucumber 5.00~5.79 log CFU/g, cherry tomato 2.96~5.40 log CFU/g, paprika 1.30~3.52 log CFU/g. In the comparison of the microbiological quality between environmentally friendly and ordinary agricultural vegetables, their acceptable ratio was the same (81.3%) and the mean aerobic plate counts was not significantly different. In the comparison of the microbiological quality between the leafy vegetables and the fruity vegetables, the fruity vegetables had a 100% acceptable ratio regardless of the agricultural method used to grow them, while the leafy vegetables had an acceptable ratio of 70%. In terms of the aerobic plate counts, the leafy vegetables had significantly higher counts; the leafy vegetables 5.87+/-1.18 log CFU/g, the fruity vegetables 4.12+/-1.54 log CFU/g.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brassica ; Capsicum ; Humans ; Lettuce ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Prunus ; Sesamum ; Vegetables

Although propofol is thought to be a relatively safe intravenous anesthetic with regard to histamine release reactions, anaphylactoid reactions to propofol may sometimes occur, especially in patients with a history of allergy, atopy, or asthma. Here we report a patient with allergies to sesame leaves and cold medications who experienced an anaphylactic reaction with severe oropharyngeal edema a few minutes after receiving propofol (Anepol(R)). This finding suggests that propofol should be used with caution in patients with a history of allergy. Because profound airway edema can occur, the airway should be evaluated before extubation of the trachea.
Anaphylaxis ; Angioedema* ; Asthma ; Edema ; Histamine Release ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Propofol* ; Sesamum ; Trachea

PURPOSE:There has been a significant increase in the number on reports of hypersensitivity to sesame, probably because of its use in international fast-food and bakery products. Thus, we have investigated whether various cooking methods affect the allergenicity of sesame. METHODS:Sesame seeds were roasted, boiled or fried with vegetable oil, and then their proteins were each extracted. The proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) E specific to sesame seed proteins was performed with Western blotting using 6 sera. RESULTS:SDS-PAGE of raw sesame proteins showed various-sized bands including 7, 9, 12, 15 and 17 kD known as major allergens. While only few protein bands remained in roasted or fried sesame seeds, some protein bands sized under 15 kD were observed in the boiled sesame seeds and their soup. The pooled sera yielded IgE-specific reaction with 7 kD in raw and boiled, and 37 kD in fried and boiled sesame proteins. CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that the cooking methods may change the allergenicity of sesame seed proteins.
Allergens ; Blotting, Western ; Cooking ; Electrophoresis ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Proteins ; Seeds ; Sesamum ; Sodium ; Vegetables

To investigate the enzyme properties of the black sesame polyphenol oxidase (BsPPO), a synthesized Bsppo gene was cloned into the vector pMAL-c5x and expressed in E. coli. Subsequently, the MBP fusion label in the recombinant protein was removed by protease digestion after affinity purification. The synthesized Bsppo gene contained 1 752 bp which encodes 585 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 65.3 kDa. Transformation of the recombinant vector into E. coli BL21(DE3) resulted in soluble expression of the fusion protein MBP-BsPPO. The enzymatic properties of the recombinant BsPPO was investigated after MBP fusion tag excision followed by affinity purification. The results demonstrated that the optimal temperature and pH for BsPPO was 25°C and 4.0, respectively. BsPPO exhibited a good stability under low temperature and acidic environment. Low-intensity short-term light exposure increased the activity of BsPPO. Cu²⁺ could improve the activity of BsPPO while Zn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ showed the opposite effect. BsPPO could catalyze the oxidation of monophenols, diphenols, and triphenols, and exhibited good catalytic activity on l-tyrosine and vanillic acid. Moreover, BsPPO exhibited high catalytic activity on black sesame metabolites, including 2-methoxy cinnamic acid, indole-3-carboxylic acid and phloretin. These results may serve as a basis for further characterization of BsPPO.
Catechol Oxidase/genetics* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics* ; Sesamum/genetics*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sesame oil on the reproductive parameters of diabetic male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The adult male rats in a split plot design were divided into normal (n=10), normal 5% (n=5; 5% sesame oil enriched diet), diabetic (Streptozocin induced diabetes; n=9), diabetic 5% (n=9; 5% sesame oil enriched diet), and diabetic 10% (n=9; 10% sesame oil enriched diet) groups. Diet supplementation continued for 56 days. RESULTS: Sesame oil supplementation did not reduce the plasma glucose concentration of rats in the diabetic groups (p>0.05). The total spermatogonia, spermatocytes, Leydig cells/tubule, and the germ cell to Sertoli cell ratio were lower in the diabetic rats than the normal ones (p<0.05), and with the exception of spermatogonia counts, these values improved by the addition of sesame oil to the diet (p<0.05). The sperm progressive motility and viability were lower in the diabetic rats (p<0.05) and sesame oil supplementation did not improve them. Incorporation of sesame oil into the diet improved the plasma testosterone concentration of the diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, sesame oil supplementation improved the reproductive parameters of diabetic rats at the levels of the testicular microstructure and function, but was not effective in protecting the epididymal sperm.
Adult ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Germ Cells ; Male ; Rats ; Sesame Oil ; Sesamum ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogonia ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from flowers of Sesamum indicum.

METHODColumn chromatography with silica gel, C18 and Sephadex LH -20 as packing materials was used to separate the chemical constituents, and the structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

RESULTSix flavones were isolated and elucidated as apigenin (1), ladanetin (2), ladanetin-6-O-beta-D-glucoside (3), apigenin-7-O-glucuronic acid (4), pedalitin (5), and pedalitin-6-O-glucoside (6).

CONCLUSIONAll of the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesamum ; chemistry

There is little information on dietary vitamin K intake and nutritional status of daily requirements of vitamin K in Korea. The objective of this study was to investigate the vitamin K intake and major food sources of Vitamin K in Koreans. The survey data from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 7,792 subjects (aged 19-64 years) were examined. Total vitamin K intake was calculated from 24-hour dietary recall using a vitamin K food database, Computer Aided Nutritional analysis Program and the United States Department of Agriculture database. The geometric mean of vitamin K was estimated as 322.40 +/- 6.33 ug/day for men and 271.20 +/- 4.92 ug/day for women. Daily vitamin K intake increased significantly with age (p for trend < 0.001). The main food source of vitamin K was vegetables (72.84%), including cabbage kimchi (19.26%), spinach (17.38%), sesame leaves (7.11%), radish leaves (6.65%), spring onions (6.28%), and laver (4.82%), followed by seaweed, seasonings, and fat and oils. We observed that the vitamin K intake of Koreans was relatively higher than that reported by other studies in Western countries and differed depending on age.
Brassica ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Nutritional Status ; Oils ; Onions ; Raphanus ; Seasons ; Seaweed ; Sesamum ; Spinacia oleracea ; United States Department of Agriculture ; Vegetables ; Vitamin K 1 ; Vitamin K* ; Vitamins*

To investigate the perception and consumption of imported and organic produce, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire in Seoul, Taejon and Cheongju from February to March in 1995. The responses of 350 housewives were analyzed. Most of the subjects (96.8%) know an increase of imported produce, and 86.3% thought that imported produce was not safe. Ninety-two percent of the subjects preferred domestic produce to imported produce. The reasons were for the support of domestic farming (36.7%), hazardous chemicals in imported produce (25.0%), good taste (24.1%) and high quality of domestic produce (13.1%). Seventy-eight percent of the subjects had purchased imported produce. The reasons for purchase were cheap price (67.7%), high quality (16.2%), and good taste (5.4%). Imported produce were purchased in the following order ; fruits such as banana, kiwi, orange and grapefruit, seasonings such as garlic and sesame, vegetables such as onion, braken and green onion, and beans and grains such as soybean, red bean, and barley. Most of the subjects (94.3%) had been informed on organic produce. Among these, 45.2% obtained the information by TV or radio. However, son for purchase was low residual chemicals (64.6%). The reasons against purchase were inconvenience of purchase (42.3%), high price (25.4%), and disbelief of low residual chemicals (19.7%). Therefore, domestic produce should be good in quality and taste, and be safe without residual chemicals in order to compete with imported produce with cheap price. Informations on organic and imported produce should be provided to consumers, and the distribution system of organic produce should be improved for consumers convenience.
Edible Grain ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Citrus paradisi ; Citrus sinensis ; Daejeon ; Fabaceae ; Food, Organic* ; Fruit ; Garlic ; Hazardous Substances ; Hordeum ; Musa ; Onions ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Sesamum ; Soybeans ; Vegetables ; Surveys and Questionnaires