Korean Red Pepper Research Articles

Fermented red pepper paste (kochujang) modulates glucose metabolism and gut microbiota in parasympathetic suppression: Network pharmacology and In vivo study

We aimed to explore the relationship between Korean fermented red pepper paste, kochujang compounds, and the genes associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) dysfunction by network pharmacology. The study aimed to validate the kochujang efficacy on glucose metabolism in PNS-suppressed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with scopolamine at 2 mg/kg body weight daily for 8 weeks. They were divided into four groups according to kochujang types: 1% traditionally-made kochujang (TMK) in 43% fat diets based on the capsaicin content and factory-made kochujang (FMK). The control and normal-C groups received a 43% fat diet. In the network pharmacology analysis, kochujang contained 26 chemical compounds: carotenoids, isoflavonoids, capsaicin-related compounds, and phytosterols. It highlighted critical genes, including AKT1, B-cell lymphoma-2(BLC2), catenin beta-1(CTNNB1), and caspase-3(CASP3) as the primary targets for treating T2DM and PNS suppression. Functional enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of kochujang compounds in endopeptidase activity and G-protein-coupled receptor activity relevant to diabetes and neuropathy. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed associations with cancer, infection and inflammation, lipid metabolism, and diabetic complication-related pathways. FMK and TMK consumption improved glucose homeostasis and lipid profiles by modulating serum insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 concentration and insulin resistance in scopolamine-induced rats. Oral glucose tolerance tests showed reduced glucose intolerance in kochujang-treated groups, especially high capsaicin-containing TMK. Kochujang mitigated liver damage and inflammation and modulated the gut microbiota composition to prevent the inhibition of insulin and neurotransmitter secretion through potentiating cAMP and calcium signaling pathways. In conclusion, high capsaicin-containing kochujang exhibited promising therapeutic effects against T2DM induced by PNS suppression through gut microbiota modulation.

Discrimination of geographical origin of Korean and Chinese red pepper paste via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry

BackgroundRed pepper paste is a common ingredient used in food in Korea. The discrimination of the geographical origin of agricultural products is important to protect the agricultural industry and customers from the misinformation regarding the product origin. Several studies have attempted to identify the geographical origin of red pepper based on its characteristic features using diverse methods, such as inorganic elemental analysis. However, similar studies on red pepper pastes have not been conducted thus far.ResultsIn, this study, we established methods based on inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determining inorganic elements in red pepper pastes. The limit of detection (LOD) of ICP-AES was in the range of 0.006–0.531 mg∙kg−1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.017–1.593 mg∙kg−1. In addition, LOD and LOQ ranges for ICP-MS were 0.001–1.553, and 0.002–5.176 μg∙kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, As, Sr, Zr, Mo, Pd, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ce, Pt, Pb, and U were high in the Korean red pepper paste. All the employed discrimination models could clearly distinguish between Korean and Chinese red pepper pastes. In particular, among the four different models, CDA showed the most accurate ability to discriminate the geological origin of Korean and Chinese red pepper paste compared to that achieved using the other models with 100% accuracy.ConclusionsBased on, the findings of this study, the use of ICP-AES and ICP-MS analyses for discriminating the inorganic elements in food products in combination with the aforementioned statistical analysis models could help the mitigation of issues associated with the misinformation of the geographical origin of agricultural products, aiding customer protection.Graphical

Distinguishing Korean and Chinese red pepper powder using inductively coupled plasma and X-ray fluorescence-based analysis.

This study aimed to distinguish between Korean and Chinese red pepper powder (RPP) using inorganic elemental analysis data combined with orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Elemental concentrations were obtained for 31 Korean and 31 Chinese RPP samples that were collected in Korea. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy detected 11 elements in these samples. Rb and Cl concentrations were selected as the variables which best allowed distinguishing between Korean and Chinese RPP using an S-plot from OPLS-DA. Rb and Cl concentrations in the Korean RPP samples were ≤ 1.6mg/100g (measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy) and ≤ 215mg/100g, respectively. A blind trial demonstrated that Korean RPP containing ≥ 50g/100g of Chinese RPP could be identified by applying predetermined ranges of Rb and Cl concentrations, suggesting that analysis of these two elements is a possible approach to distinguish between Korean and Chinese RPP.

Identification of the Geographical Origin of Asian Red Pepper (Capsicum annuumL.) Powders Using1H NMR Spectroscopy

Red pepper (Capsicum annuumL.) is a highly popular vegetable in Asia used for food seasoning in powder form. In this study,1H NMR spectroscopy combined with canonical discriminant analysis was applied to differentiate the geographical origin of Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese red pepper powders distributed in Korea. Through the quantitative analysis of metabolite peaks in the1H NMR spectra of 62 red pepper powder extracts, seven discriminant variables with significant differences between origins were identified. The canonical discriminant functions derived from the discriminant variables could correctly classify the geographical origins of all the Asian red pepper powder samples. The capability of the discriminant functions was further examined by discrimination of the origins of 16 additional blind red pepper powder samples. This study shows that1H NMR spectroscopy is a useful method to discriminate red pepper powder origin with the appropriate canonical discriminant analysis of signals associated with metabolites.

Kimchi extracts as inhibitors of colour deterioration and lipid oxidation in raw groundpork meat during refrigerated storage.

Kimchi is a Korean, traditional fermented food made from Korean cabbage, radish, fermented jeotgal, ginger, garlic, and red pepper powder. It is a good source of natural antioxidants such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamins, and carotenoids. In this study, the antioxidant effects of various kimchi extracts on raw ground pork during refrigerated storage were investigated. Raw ground pork samples were treated with ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyl toluene, baechu kimchi extract (BKE), gat kimchi extract (GKE), puchu kimchi extract (PKE), and white kimchi extract (WKE) and compared with raw ground pork without antioxidant treatment (NC). Increased metmyoglobin (MetMb), thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS), and total bacterial counts (TBC) were observed in all meat samples after storage, whereas pH, lightness, and redness values tended to decrease with increased storage time. All treated samples had lower TBARS and MetMb values and TBC compared to the control samples. Various kimchi ethanol extracts protected raw ground pork from lipid oxidation. The most potent antioxidant was GKE, whereas WKE was the weakest. This study suggests that the tested extracts, especially kimchi, have potential as natural preservatives to reduce colour degradation, lipid oxidation, and bacterial count in raw ground pork meat. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Breeding of Korean Red Pepper Variety 'Jeockyoung' with High Carotenoid Content

Breeding of Korean Red Pepper Variety 'Jeockyoung' with High Carotenoid Content

Evaluation of capsaicinoid profile and antioxidant properties in dried Korean red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) as affected by variable dose rates of electron beam and gamma ray irradiation.

The application of food irradiation is based on the parameters including energy (MeV), dose rate (kGy/s or kGy/h), and absorbed dose (kGy). Red pepper powders were treated with different dose rates of 1, and 5kGy/s electron beam (EB) as well as 1.8 and 9kGy/h gamma ray (GR) in separate experiments. Constant absorbed dose (3kGy) was maintained to observe whether different dose rates affect the product quality. Total and individual capsaicinoids increased at low EB and GR dose rates. Vitamin C content decreased at all dose rates, except at low GR dose rate, where no significant difference was observed. Low EB dose rate led to a marked increase (21%) in the total phenolics than high dose rate (13%). In contrast, high GR dose rate increased the total phenolics than low dose rate. Maximum antioxidants (1.36mg TE/mL) were observed at high EB dose rate, although low dose rate also increased the antioxidant activity. Results indicated that different dose rates delivering the same absorbed dose had significant impact on the product quality and that the efficacy of absorbed dose is dependent on applied dose rates. In other words, a constant absorbed dose applied to the product is influenced by dose rate of the irradiation treatment.

PPARγ2 C1431T Polymorphism Interacts with the Antiobesogenic Effects of Kochujang, a Korean Fermented, Soybean-Based Red Pepper Paste, in Overweight/Obese Subjects: A 12-Week, Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Kochujang, a Korean fermented soybean-based red pepper paste, has been reported to have beneficial health effects. The aim of this study was to examine the antiobesity effects of Kochujang as a supplement in overweight/obese subjects according polymorphisms in the obesity-linked gene, peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ (PPARγ2). Sixty overweight/obese subjects, who had body mass indexes (BMI, kg/m2) ≥23 or waist/hip ratios (WHR) ≥0.90 for males or ≥0.85 for females, were randomly assigned to either taking 32 g/day of placebo or Kochujang for 12 weeks. Before and after the intervention, anthropometric and metabolic parameters and body fat distribution (by computed tomography) were measured. After PPARγ2 C1431T polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, the differences among the four groups (wild and mutant alleles in Kochujang and placebo groups) were determined. Between the Kochujang (n = 26) and placebo (n = 27) groups, there were no differences in body composition, insulin resistance, or antioxidant biomarkers before and after intervention. Compared to placebo, Kochujang significantly decreased plasma triglyceride (TG), TG/high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and dietary intakes of protein, sodium, and potassium after age, sex, and BMI were adjusted. The beneficial effects of Kochujang on lowering of TG and TG/HDL were weakened in subjects with the PPARγ2 mutant T allele with increasing subcutaneous fat area. However, the interaction between Kochujang and the PPARγ2 T allele improved insulin sensitivity. The obesogenic variables affected by the T mutant allele of PPARγ2 C1431T SNP were different in overweight/obese subjects in response to Kochujang.

Highly sensitive electrochemical capsaicin sensor based on graphene-titania-Nafion composite film

A highly sensitive electrochemical capsaicin sensor utilizing graphene-doped sol-gel titania-Nafion composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is presented. The composite modified GCE is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and its electrochemical properties by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The composite modified GCE facilitates the direct adsorption of capsaicin on the electrode surface via π-π interaction between capsaicin and graphene. Furthermore, the present composite modified electrode not only significantly enhances the oxidation peak current, but also decreases its oxidation peak potential, indicating that the graphene in the titania-Nafion composite clearly exhibits good electocatalytic ability to oxidize capsaicin. Under the optimized conditions, the present electrochemical sensor shows a linear response to capsaicin from 0.03 to 10.0μM with a remarkably low detection limit of 8.6nM (S/N=3), which is much lower compared to those obtained with previously reported electrochemical sensors. The recovery tests performed for spiked capsaicin in real samples such as Korean hot pepper and red pepper flakes are satisfactory. Thus, the present capsaicin electrochemical sensor could be implemented as a replacement for the human-subjective Scoville organoleptic test, and can also be further developed as a sensitive portable electrochemical sensor for the determination of capsaicin in food and pharmaceuticals.

Design and Fabrication of a Real-Time Measurement System for the Capsaicinoid Content of Korean Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Powder by Visible and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

This research aims to design and fabricate a system to measure the capsaicinoid content of red pepper powder in a non-destructive and rapid method using visible and near infrared spectroscopy (VNIR). The developed system scans a well-leveled powder surface continuously to minimize the influence of the placenta distribution, thus acquiring stable and representative reflectance spectra. The system incorporates flat belts driven by a sample input hopper and stepping motor, a powder surface leveler, charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor-embedded VNIR spectrometer, fiber optic probe, and tungsten halogen lamp, and an automated reference measuring unit with a reference panel to measure the standard spectrum. The operation program includes device interface, standard reflectivity measurement, and a graphical user interface to measure the capsaicinoid content. A partial least square regression (PLSR) model was developed to predict the capsaicinoid content; 44 red pepper powder samples whose measured capsaicinoid content ranged 13.45–159.48 mg/100 g by per high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and 1242 VNIR absorbance spectra acquired by the pungency measurement system were used. The determination coefficient of validation (RV2) and standard error of prediction (SEP) for the model with the first-order derivative pretreatment method for Korean red pepper powder were 0.8484 and ±13.6388 mg/100 g, respectively.

Competitive activity as a constitutive promoter in the 5′-proximal regulatory region of the Capsicum capsanthin–capsorubin synthase gene

Depending on the nature of the Capsicum capsanthin–capsorubin synthase gene (CaCcs) showing a chromoplast specificity, the 5′-upstream region of CaCcs from −2279 to +30 was isolated from the Korean red pepper genomic library for promoter analysis. The full-length 2.3-kb promoter and its deletion mutants similarly drove GUS expression in chromoplastic tissues such as anthers and styles in transgenic Arabidopsis flowers. However, the shortest 397-bp promoter (CaCcs-P1) containing the −367 to +30 region displayed histochemically high GUS expression in non-chromoplastic tissues such as sepals and leaves, as well as in chromoplastic tissues. The efficient constitutive expression of CaCcs-P1 was higher than that of the dual 35S promoter (d35S-P) with respect to mRNA expression (at least threefold) and enzyme activity (fourfold) and was maintained in the whole body of plants during all developmental stages. Ubiquitous GUS expression by CaCcs-P1 was elicited at the highest level in stems, followed by leaves, flowers, roots, young siliques, and mature seeds, with respect to both transcript levels and enzyme activity. More effective activity of CaCcs-P1 compared to d35S-P (1.4-fold higher) was also confirmed in transgenic tobacco plants. Together with the prediction of cis-acting motifs that allow diverse spatial specificity, we report a promoter displaying efficient constitutive characteristics with the advantages of a plant origin and size competitiveness compared with the 35S promoter.

Development of Macaronè with Korean Red Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) and GABA rice and Evaluation of Physiological Characteristics

The aims of this study were to develop with Korean red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and GABA (-aminobutyric acid) rice powder and analyze their physico-chemical and physiological characteristics. Korean red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was added to at a weight percentage of 0, 2.5 and 4.5%. Color values (L-value, redness, and yellowness), total sugar content, total phenolics, total carotenoids, ABTS radical scavenging activity, textures, and sensory characteristics with varying various Korean red pepper were measured. As the ratio of the powders in the increased, total phenolic content, total carotenoid content, and radical scavenging activity increased. There were significant differences in total phenolic and total carotenoid content of (p, showed higher overall acceptability, as compared to other .

Effects of ripening duration and rosemary powder addition on salchichon modified sausage quality.

The ripening durations and ingredients for the Salchichon sausages were modified to increase pork rear leg consumption by Korean consumers. The salchichon, a ripened pork sausage, was produced to evaluate the efficacy of two different ripening durations with and without rosemary powder on salchichon sausage quality, and the treatments were: i) 45 days of ripening without rosemary, ii) 60 days of ripening without rosemary, iii) 45 days of ripening with 0.05% rosemary, and iv) 60 days of ripening with 0.05% rosemary. Significant differences were observed in both moisture and fat content for ripening durations, with the highest moisture and least fat content observed in salchichon modified sausage (SMS) ripened for 45 days. Ripening duration and rosemary addition appeared to influence water activity (aw) of salchichon sausages. The aw of SMS ripened for 45 days was 0.80, whereas the other had aw values <0.80. Lactic acid bacteria were predominant, as Korean traditional fermented red pepper paste was added to sausages; however, the Bacillus cereus population was significantly affected by rosemary powder addition. Chewiness and gumminess decreased significantly due to the addition of rosemary powder compared to SMS without rosemary powder, and both 45 days of ripening and rosemary powder addition influenced the hardness of SMS. In conclusion, ripening duration of SMS for 45 days in the presence of rosemary powder provided superior SMS quality with an economical ripening duration compared to that of ripening with rosemary powder or ripening for 60 days.

Analysis of Managerial Efficiency Composition of Red Pepper Farm by Inter- and Intra-Region

The purpose of this paper is to analyze managerial efficiency of korean red pepper farm by region contributing to strengthening korean red pepper industry’s competitiveness. Average technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, scale efficiency of Korean red pepper farm were all analyzed as inefficient. Regionally Jeju, Jeonnam, Kangwon, Kyungbuk were in order relatively high in technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency while Kangwon, Jeonnam, Kyungbuk, Chungnam were in order relatively high in scale efficiency.

Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste): A Korean ethnic sauce, its role and history

Gochujang (Korean fermented red pepper sauce, also written in Kochujang), along with kimchi, is an age-old ethnic food made with Korea's representative ingredient, red pepper. A typical Korean meal (Bapsang) is composed of rice (Bap), from which calories are derived, soup (Kuk), which helps in the chewing and digesting of the rice, and side dishes (Banchan), which provide additional nutrition and flavor. To add even more variety to the taste, seasoning (Jang, Yangnyum) is added. Gochujang has become the most fundamental of these kinds of food in Korea over thousands of years, functioning to make add flavor to rice taste better while aiding the digestive system. Gochujang also serves as a simple seasoning when making dishes such as braised spicy chicken, and provide additional nutrients. According to age-old documents, the development process used to manufacture Gochujang requires the basic ingredients of Meju (block made with cooked soy bean) powder, rice or glutinous rice flour, and red pepper powder. Sunchang Gochujang is one variety known for its great taste that was often consumed by kings during the Chosun dynasty. The basic method for making Gochujang in the present is almost the same as it was in the past. Gochujangis not just used to season food; it is also known for its nutritional value For example, it is widely accepted among Koreans that when a person has a weak stomach (due to the poor functionality of the stomach and spleen), and cannot digest food well., Gochujang can be eaten alleviates the symptoms. Recently many studies have been done to prove the medical functions of Gochujang scientifically. Due improvements in science and technology in the area of biology, it has also been discovered that Gochujang has the ability to prevent obesity and diabetes.

History of Korean gochu, gochujang, and kimchi

The gochu (Korean red pepper) that goes into Korean traditional fermented foods such as kimchi (fermented cabbage) and gochujang (spicy red pepper paste) should have a mild spiciness and its Scoville heat unit (the unit that measures spiciness) is <1,000. The kimchi and gochujang that are fermented only with Korean gochu can be eaten. Kimchi and gochujang cannot be prepared even with cheongyangkochu (Scoville heat unit is approximately 3,000), which is a hybrid of Korean gochu and Thai gochu. When these foods are prepared with other spicier gochu, such as Thai pepper, Southern Asian red pepper, Central American red pepper, or Mexico's aji (which is 500 times spicier than Korean gochu), they will be too spicy to consume. Biologically, Korean gochu is different from the red peppers of Central American countries (such as Mexico and Colombia), Indonesia, India, and Thailand. Therefore, the statement that the Central American red pepper came to Korea during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 is not true. We can refer to a research paper in the magazine “Nature” that Korea's gochu arrived at the Korean peninsula millions of years ago, having been spread by birds. It states that gochu has evolved for millions of years, therefore, we can infer that Korean gochu existed as a completely different variety. In addition, gochujang and kimchi can be made using gochu only, which proves that people in Korea cultivated gochu thousands of years ago and have been eating it since then. Furthermore, many old Korean documents support the fact that Koreans have been planting and harvesting gochu for the last 1,500 years.

신품종 고추 24종의 phytochemicals 분석 및 생리활성 비교

본 연구에서는 한국산 고추를 교배하여 육성된 신품종 고추 24종류를 이용해 색도, ASTA 색상값을 측정하여 고추의 외적인 붉은색 품질을 분석하고, carotenoid의 함량을 측정하여 고추의 색상 특성을 연구하고자 하였습니다. 또한 phytochemicals 성분인 ascorbic acid, polyphenol, flavonoid 함량, capsaicinoids의 함량을 측정하였으며, 항산화 활성을 연구함으로써 신품종 고추의 특성을 분석하고, 신품종 고추 품질의 우수성을 탐색하고자 하였다. 색도를 측정한 결과는 품종 간 차이가 크지는 않았으며 기존의 국산 고추 품종과 비슷한 값을 나타내었다. ASTA 색상값은 116.69-249.83의 범위, 평균 173.64으로 나타나 선행연구에 비해 높게 측정되었다. 또한 carotenoid 함량이 3.19-6.11 mg/g dried weight의 분포를 보였으며, 평균값이 4.52 mg/g dried weight로 측정되어, Kim(11) 선행연구에서 발표한 함량에 비해 높았다. 고추의 유리당 함량은 품종 간에 차이가 크게 나타났으며, '품종 1'이 195.54 mg/g dried weight로 가장 높게 측정되었다. 고추의 ascorbic acid 함량은 8.08-11.53 mg/g dried weight로, 품종별로 다양한 수치를 나타내었다. 고추는 높은 polyphenol 함량과 flavonoid 함량을 가지고 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 이로 인한 다양한 생리활성 효과를 가질 것으로 기대되었다. 또한 Capsaicin과 dihydrocapsaicin의 함량을 측정한 결과, 상당히 넓은 분포 범위를 보였으며, 한국산업규격을 기준으로 '품종 5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 24'은 순한 맛, '품종 3, 6, 13'은 덜 매운 맛, '품종 1, 7, 12, 19'은 보통 매운 맛, '품종 23'은 매운 맛, 나머지 '품종 2, 4, 8, 9, 17, 20, 21, 22'은 매우 매운 맛으로 분류되었다. DPPH와 ABTS 자유기 소거활성은 모두 농도 증가함에 따라 항산화 활성이 증가하는 것으로 나타났으며, '품종 2, 4, 8, 9'는 다른 품종에 비해 항산화 활성이 높았다. 이번 연구를 통해 신품종 고추 간의 색상, 생리활성 성분 함량 및 항산화능의 차이를 확인하였으며, 선행연구와의 비교를 통해 기존 품종에 비해 대체적으로 품질이 향상된 품종임을 검증하였다. 본 연구는 새로 육종한 신품종 고추의 품질 차이를 분석하고 생리활성성분의 우수성을 확인하는 기초 연구로써, 기능성 식품소재로써의 고추의 이용 가능성을 증진시킬 수 있는 기초 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 기대한다. This study aimed to investigate the activities of phytochemical and bioactive components from 24 new varieties of red pepper obtained by crossbreeding different Korean red pepper lines. The ASTA (American Spice Trade Association) color values ranged from 116.69 to 249.83 and the total carotenoid content ranged from 3.19 to 6.11 mg/g dried red pepper. The free sugar content ranged from 43.41 to 199.54 mg/g, and the fructose content was found to be higher than the glucose content. The ascorbic acid, total polyphenol, and flavonoid contents were found to be 8.08-11.53 mg/g, 7.93-14.26 mg gallic acid/g, and 4.24-10.07 mg quercetin/g dried pepper, respectively. Overall, the total polyphenol contents of the new varieties were found to be higher than the average content of Korean red peppers. The total capsaicinoid content in the new varieties varied widely from 0.42 to 237.87 mg/100 g dried pepper. The pepper-methanol extract antioxidant activities of 'variety 2, 4, 8, 9' were higher than others. A high correlation was observed between the antioxidant activities and the polyphenol contents (r=0.804, r=0.701).

기능성 고추 초콜릿 개발 및 생리활성 특성 분석

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Korean red pepper extracts on physiological and sensory characteristics. The Korean red pepper extracts were added to chocolate at weight percentages of 0, 2, 4, and 6%. The sensory characteristics made with various Korean red pepper concentrations of the additives were measured as follows: color values (L-value, redness, and yellowness), total phenol, total capsaicinoid, total carotenoid, and ABTS radical scavenging activity. In sensory evaluation, significant differences (p<0.05 and p<0.01) were shown in taste, spiciness, and overall acceptability depending on the addition of pepper extracts. However, there were no significant differences in the properties of aroma and bitterness for chocolate.

Comparison of physicochemical and microorganism characteristics between the air-dried and sun-dried red pepper in south Korea

The aim of this study was to provide useful information for making guide of quality index of Korean red pepper. The results of physicochemical characteristics analysis showed the moisture content of air-dried and sun-dried red pepper were 10.38~15.60% and 9.46~17.22%, which show that 50% of the 40 samples exceeded the 13% KS moisture standards of red pepper powder. The capsaicinoids content of the air-dried and sun-dried samples were 10.85~126.39 mg% (1,627~18,958 Scoville heat unit) and 0.43~164.09 mg% (64.5~24,613.5 Scoville heat unit). A wide distribution of ASTA values was observed: 49.12~154.69 and 70.08~182.13 for air-dried and sun-dried red pepper, respectively, with 9.29 ~ 23.10% free sugar, and 0~1,050 mg% of ascorbic acid. The total viable cells of the air-dried red peppers were 2.01~6.67 log CFU/g and of sun-dried red peppers, 1.74~5.77 log CFU/g. The contamination level of yeast in the samples were 1.03~4.12 log CFU/g of the air-dried samples and 1.05~6.10 log CFU/g of the sun-dried samples. Among the foodborne pathogens, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus were detected in many red pepper samples regardless drying method. In the principal component analysis, the first (PC1) and second principal components (PC2) accounted for 56.78 % of the total variances (38.47% and 18.31%, respectively). Ascorbic acid, ASTA, color value (L, a, b) were strongly correlated with the PC1, and quality characteristics such as moisture, microorganism, sample (drying method) showed a negative correlation with the PC1.

Antioxidant capacities and cytostatic effect of Korean red pepper (Capsicum annuum L): a screening and in vitro study

Methanol extracts from 100 Korean varieties of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L) were obtained. Chromatic parameters (L*, a*, and b*) and total phenolic content were analyzed. By evaluation of total phenolic content and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging based-antioxidant associated with surface color measurement, red pepper varieties were classified into four groups by hierarchical cluster analysis. Cultivars of ‘PR-Sangsaeng’, ‘PR-Jijon’, ‘PREowoolrim’, ‘PR-Chambut’, ‘PAK37’, and ‘Hojanggoonbigalim” had high quantity of pigments and high phenolic content. These six cultivars also with higher levels of antioxidant might give an advantage to local growers in Korea. For further cytostatic activity evaluation, extracts from various parts including pericarp, seed, and stalk of cultivar ‘PAK37’ and ‘Hojanggoonbigalim’ were prepared. Four human cancer cells (HepG2, AGS, MCF-7, and HT-29) were used. The tumor cell growth inhibitory effect was evaluated by in vitro MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. High capsaicin content and antioxidant activity-containing red pepper stalk extract showed the strongest cytostatic activity. Tumor cell growth inhibitory activity was positively correlated with the capsaicin content. The anticancer potentials of various red pepper parts were in the following order: stalk > seed > pericarp. The data suggest that red pepper parts might have a promising health benefit against liver cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer more than breast cancer.