Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the mediation of self-esteem between body image and depression among female university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey design. We collected 193 female university students. They was completed a self reported questionnaire including demographic characteristics, body image, self-esteem and depression. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed with the SPSS 20.0 Program. Results: The mean age was 21.3 years old. Over 58% of subjects hoped for plastic surgery, and 78.8% had experienced weight loss control. There were a positive correlation between body image and self-esteem (r=.60, p<.001), and negative correlations between body image and depression (r=-.47, p<.001), self-esteem and depression (r=-.50, p<.001). Self-esteem had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between body image and depression of female university students. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, depression management program focusing on body image management and self-esteem improvement are recommended to control depression in female university students.

This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activities and the quality characteristics of 70% ethanol extracts from onion peels with different extraction methods (autoclave extraction, AE; low temperature high pressure extraction, LTPE; reflux extraction, RE; and stirrer extraction, SE). The yields of AE, LTPE, RE and SE were 9.00%, 5.39%, 13.21% and 12.41%, respectively. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the AE were significantly higher than in the other extracts. The DPPH radical scavenging abilities with a concentration of 100 mg% (w/v) were : AE, 28.9%; RE, 26.07%; LTPE, 24.35%; and SE, 19.53%. The ABTS radical scavenging ability and the nitrite scavenging activity showed the same tendency as that of the DPPH radical scavenging ability. The angiotensin –converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of the LTPE and AE were higher than those of the RE and SE. The α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of the RE was higher than that of the extracts with other extraction methods. The nitrite scavenging activities with a concentration of 10 mg/mL were: AE. 33.97%; RE, 35.47%; LTPE, 21.86%; and SE, 21.71%. The ferrous ion chelating activity of the LTPE (54.73%) was significantly higher than that of the other extracts. These results suggest that AE is the superior method for the enhancement of anti-oxidant activity, and onion peel can be used as a natural antioxidant material for health foods and can be a good ingredient of functional foods.

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The physiological activities of 70% ethanol extracts of grape seed (GS) prepared by freeze-drying (GSFD), infrared drying (GSIR), hot-air drying (GSHD), or sun-drying (GSSD) were investigated. The moisture contents of GSFD, GSIR, GSHD and GSSD powders were 4.53, 6.71, 6.91 and 5.55% respectively. Hunter’s color value analysis revealed that the L* value of GSIR was lower, and the a* and b* values of GSIR were higher, than those of GSFD, GSHD, and GSSD. The total polyphenol and proanthocyanidin contents of GSFD were significantly higher than those of the other extracts. The flavonoid related substance contents were in the order of GSFD (7.68 g/100g) = GSSD (7.59 g/100g) = GSHD (7.33 g/100g) > GSIR (6.45 g/100g). The electron donating abilities of 500 μg/mL solutions of GSFD, GSIR, GSHD and GSSD were 88.71, 52.62, 65.20, and 65.22%, respectively, while their reducing powers (OD700) were 1.633, 1.097, 1.217 and 1.054 absorbance units, respectively. Additionally, the same trend was observed for the ABTS radical-scavenging abilities of the extracts as that observed for their electron-donating abilities and reducing powers. These results suggest that GSFD is the best method for preparing GS extracts with enhanced antioxidant activities, and that GS extracts may be used as a natural antioxidant material for use in health foods.

This study carried out to determine the physicochemical components of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix (CWR) fermented with Rhizopus delemar. The physicochemical components such as changes on moisture content, pH, total acidity, reducing sugars, and the contents of free sugars, free amino acid, cynandione A were investigated. The moisture content of fermented CWR was increased after 4 days of fermentation. The pH value of fermented CWR was decreased after 4 days of fermentation. The reducing sugars contents were in the range of 1.42-1.69%. The major free sugars were identified as rhamnose, glucose, fructose and sucrose. The content of free sugars was decreased during fermentation process of CWR while the glucose contents in 80% ethanol and water extracts were increased. In addition, the free amino acid increased significantly during fermentation. Finally, The content of cynandion A of the fermented CWR was highest at the level of 14.09 mg/g on the 8 th day. These results are indicated that fermentation with Rhizopus strains could be used to increase the bioactivity of CWR and the fermented CWR can be used as a functional material and edible resource in the food industry.