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

Sperm function and male fertility are closely related to pH dependent K⁺ current (KSper) in human sperm, which is most likely composed of Slo3 and its auxiliary subunit leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 52 (LRRC52). Onion peel extract (OPE) and its major active ingredient quercetin are widely used as fertility enhancers; however, the effect of OPE and quercetin on Slo3 has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of quercetin on human Slo3 channels. Human Slo3 and LRRC52 were co-transfected into HEK293 cells and pharmacological properties were studied with the whole cell patch clamp technique. We successfully expressed and measured pH sensitive and calcium insensitive Slo3 currents in HEK293 cells. We found that OPE and its key ingredient quercetin inhibit Slo3 currents. Inhibition by quercetin is dose dependent and this degree of inhibition decreases with elevating internal alkalization and internal free calcium concentrations. Functional moieties in the quercetin polyphenolic ring govern the degree of inhibition of Slo3 by quercetin, and the composition of such functional moieties are sensitive to the pH of the medium. These results suggest that quercetin inhibits Slo3 in a pH and calcium dependent manner. Therefore, we surmise that quercetin induced depolarization in spermatozoa may enhance the voltage gated proton channel (Hv1), and activate non-selective cation channels of sperm (CatSper) dependent calcium influx to trigger sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.
Acrosome Reaction ; Calcium ; Fertility ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Onions ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Protons ; Quercetin ; Sperm Capacitation ; Spermatozoa

The objective of this study was to develop fermented vegetable juices that possess antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. Lactobacillus plantarum MKHA15 (MKHA15) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides MKSR (MKSR) were applied to ferment onion, cabbage, and tomato juices at 37℃ and 30℃ for 72 h, respectively, and their functionality was tested using the 12 h hour-fermented juice by MKHA15, and 48 h hour-fermented juice by MKSR. Inhibition of α-glucosidase activity was observed in all fermented juices. The onion juice fermented by MKHA15 showed significantly higher α-glucosidase inhibition activity compared to other juices. All juices showed more than 70% inhibition of α-amylase activity. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of onion juice fermented by MKSR showed significantly lower activity than cabbage and tomato juices; however, no difference was observed between the types of starter cultures. The SOD-like activity of cabbage juice fermented by MKSR was the highest among the fermented juices. The juices fermented by MKHA15 showed higher reducing power than those by MKSR. Therefore, we believe that cabbage, onion and tomato juice fermented by MKHA15 and MKSR would be useful in probiotic juices, as they possess antidiabetic and antioxidant activities.
Brassica ; Fruit and Vegetable Juices ; Lactobacillus plantarum ; Lactobacillus ; Leuconostoc ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Onions ; Probiotics ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to analyze the salinity of representative Korean foods high in sodium to generate data for use as a fundamental resource for setting salinity standards in foods. METHODS: A total of 480 foods from 16 representative Korean foods high in sodium were collected from 10 households, 10 industry foodservice establishments, and 10 Korean restaurants in four regions (Capital area, Chungcheong Province, Gyeongsang Province, and Jeolla Province) and analyzed for salinity. RESULTS: Among the foods, stir-fried anchovies (4.07~4.45%) showed the highest salinity, followed by pickled onion (1.86~2.62%), cabbage kimchi (1.83~2.2%), braised burdock and lotus root (1.79~2.17%), and sliced radish kimchi (1.78~1.89%) (p < 0.001). The salinity of kimchi from home meals (2.2%) was significantly higher than that of foodservice (1.83%) and restaurant (1.93%) kimchi (p < 0.05). Salinity in each group of food was highest in kimchi (1.83~2.04%), followed by braised dishes (1.54~1.78%), steamed dishes (1.0~1.22%), stir-fried dishes (1.02~1.18%), and soup or stew (0.74~1.02%) (p < 0.001). The salinity of soup and stew from restaurants (1.02%) was significantly higher than that of home meal (0.84%) and foodservice (0.74%) soup and stew. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the salinity of representative Korean foods known to be high in sodium by eating place is expected to be useful to establishing guidelines for reduction of salinity.
Arctium ; Brassica ; Eating ; Family Characteristics ; Lotus ; Meals ; Onions ; Raphanus ; Restaurants ; Salinity ; Sodium ; Steam

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to analyze the salinity of representative Korean foods high in sodium to generate data for use as a fundamental resource for setting salinity standards in foods. METHODS: A total of 480 foods from 16 representative Korean foods high in sodium were collected from 10 households, 10 industry foodservice establishments, and 10 Korean restaurants in four regions (Capital area, Chungcheong Province, Gyeongsang Province, and Jeolla Province) and analyzed for salinity. RESULTS: Among the foods, stir-fried anchovies (4.07~4.45%) showed the highest salinity, followed by pickled onion (1.86~2.62%), cabbage kimchi (1.83~2.2%), braised burdock and lotus root (1.79~2.17%), and sliced radish kimchi (1.78~1.89%) (p < 0.001). The salinity of kimchi from home meals (2.2%) was significantly higher than that of foodservice (1.83%) and restaurant (1.93%) kimchi (p < 0.05). Salinity in each group of food was highest in kimchi (1.83~2.04%), followed by braised dishes (1.54~1.78%), steamed dishes (1.0~1.22%), stir-fried dishes (1.02~1.18%), and soup or stew (0.74~1.02%) (p < 0.001). The salinity of soup and stew from restaurants (1.02%) was significantly higher than that of home meal (0.84%) and foodservice (0.74%) soup and stew. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the salinity of representative Korean foods known to be high in sodium by eating place is expected to be useful to establishing guidelines for reduction of salinity.
Arctium ; Brassica ; Eating ; Family Characteristics ; Lotus ; Meals ; Onions ; Raphanus ; Restaurants ; Salinity ; Sodium ; Steam

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the major vegetable crops in Korea that are damaged and lost by pathogenic fungal infection during storage due to a lack of proper storage conditions. The aim of this study was to determine an appropriate control measure using thymol to increase the shelf life of onions. To control fungal infections that occur during low-temperature storage, it is necessary to identify the predominant fungal pathogens that appear in low-temperature storage houses. Botrytis aclada was found to be the most predominant fungal pathogen during low-temperature storage. The antifungal activity of the plant essential oil thymol was tested and compared to that of the existing sulfur treatments. B. aclada growth was significantly inhibited up to 16 weeks with spray treatments using a thymol solution. To identify an appropriate method for treating onions in a low-temperature storage house, thymol was delivered by two fumigation treatment methods, either by heating it in the granule form or as a solution at low-temperature storage conditions (in vivo). We confirmed that the disease severity was reduced up to 96% by fumigating thymol solution compared to the untreated control. The efficacy of the fumigation of thymol solution was validated by testing onions in a low-temperature storage house in Muan, Jeollanam-do. Based on these results, the present study suggests that fumigation of the thymol solution as a natural preservative and fungicide can be used as an eco-friendly substitute for existing methods to control postharvest disease in long-term storage crops on a commercial scale.
Botrytis ; Fumigation* ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Methods ; Onions* ; Plants ; Sulfur ; Thymol* ; Vegetables

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

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of dietary factors in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to compare IgG4 levels to common food antigens between patients with IBS and healthy controls. METHODS: Thirty-two patients diagnosed as IBS according to the Rome III criteria (12 diarrhea subgroup; 20 non-diarrhea subgroup) and 32 sex and age-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Serum IgG4 titers to 90 common foods were measured in each subject. The number of subjects with positivity defined as the cut-off value ≥ 0.7 U/mL was compared. RESULTS: Patients with IBS had significantly higher IgG4 titers to wheat, leek and taro compared to those of controls. Serum IgG4 titers to ginger, cocoa, walnut, white radish, onion, and lettuce in IBS patients tended to be higher than controls. IgG4 titers to wheat, gluten and gliadin in the diarrhea subgroup, and lettuce, leek and taro in the non-diarrhea subgroup tended to be higher compared with controls. The number of subjects with positivity to apple, orange, lettuce, and leek was significantly higher in IBS patients than controls. The number of subjects with positivity to apple, orange, gluten, and gliadin in the diarrhea subgroup, and egg white, pineapple, soybean, lettuce, and leek in the non-diarrhea subgroup was significantly higher compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IgG4 antibody levels to some common foods are abnormally elevated in IBS patients. The type of foods with abnormally elevated serum IgG4 titers in the diarrhea subgroup may be different from that in the non-diarrhea subgroup.
Ananas ; Cacao ; Citrus sinensis ; Colocasia ; Diarrhea ; Egg White ; Ginger ; Gliadin ; Glutens ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Juglans ; Lettuce ; Onions ; Raphanus ; Soybeans ; 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

We investigated the effects on various crops of inoculation with species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils from different sources and selected AMF species suitable for domestic environment-friendly farming. Effects on plants varied with the AMF species used. In carrot, Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora longula, and Funneliformis mosseae had a positive effect on growth of the host, whereas AMF had only weak effects on the growth of red pepper and leek. AMF inoculation had positive effects on the growth of carrot and sorghum. The results of this study indicate the nature of the relationship between soil, plants, and AMF; this study therefore has important implications for the future use of AMF in environment-friendly agriculture.
Agriculture ; Capsicum ; Daucus carota ; Fungi* ; Onions ; Organic Agriculture ; Plants* ; Soil* ; Sorghum