In traditional Korean medicine, lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) roots have been used as an antidiabetic and an antiproliferative remedy. However, scientific publications on lotus properties are very limited. Therefore, it was decided to investigate the Korean white lotus cultivars in order to find out their bioactivity. It was found that all lotus cultivars (Inchisa, Muan, Garam, and Chungyang) possess high amounts of bioactive compounds: total phenols, between 7.95 +/- 0.8 and 4.21 +/- 0.3 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight (DW); ascorbic acid, between 15.8 +/- 1.1 and 22.3 +/- 1.7 mg of ascorbic acid/g DW; and amino acids, between 15.05 +/- 0.82% and 16.62 +/- 0.90% DW. The highest contents of polyphenols (7.95 +/- 0.8 mg of GAE/g DW) and the highest levels of antioxidant [by 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays, 54.27 +/- 6.1 and 21.98 +/- 2.5 microM Trolox equivalents/g DW, respectively] and antiproliferative activities on both human cancer cell lines (Calu-6 for human pulmonary carcinoma and SMU-601 for human gastric carcinoma, 59.75 +/- 3.99% and 71.21 +/- 2.79% cell viability, respectively) were found in the Chungyang cultivar. Fluorometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy can be applied as rapid methods for determination of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols. The correlation between the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity was high. In conclusion, all Korean white lotus cultivars are valuable medicinal foods, and in order to receive the best results a combination of lotus cultivars has to be consumed.

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Abstract:In order to evaluate the fruit maturity value of 'Hayward' kiwifruit (actinidia deliciosa) as material for wine production, ripened and over-ripened fruit samples were analyzed. In addition, the effect of pectinase enzyme treatment on physicochemical characteristics of the wine during the fermentation process was also examined. The results showed that wine production from ripening kiwifruit took almost twice as long as from over-ripened fruit. The yield of wine production was increased from 63.35% to 66.19% by using riper kiwifruits and adding pectinase before amelioration. The soluble solid content (13.5%) in the wine produced from over-ripened fruits increased in comparison with the wine produced from ripened samples (10.3%). In both groups there was a decrease to 5° Brix at the end of fermentation. Difference of fruit maturity did not have a significant effect on acidy, pH, nor color of wine. The highest scores of total acceptance estimated during fermentation were for wine made from over-ripened fruits. Total phenolics content and antioxidant activities were similar in both wine groups while the mineral content, especially potassium, in wine made from over-ripened kiwifruit was higher than wine produced from ripened fruits. In conclusion, the quality characteristics of kiwifruit wine made from over-ripened fruit treated with pectinase showed higher values of wine in many aspects such as sensory value, alcohol and total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, minerals and production yield.

The nutritional and bioactive values of Korean white lotus cultivars (Muan, Chungyang, and Garam) extracted with methanol, water, and acetone solvents were evaluated by the contents of their bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity determined by ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, DPPH, and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. HPLC, fluorometry, and FTIR spectroscopy were employed for evaluation of polyphenols and fatty acids. All lotus cultivar extracts possessed high amounts of total phenolics, ascorbic acid, proteins, and fatty acids and exhibited high levels of antioxidant activity, which were higher in water than in organic solvents. The significant highest content of the above-mentioned indices and biological activity were recorded in the Chungyang cultivar. Therefore, all studied Korean white lotus cultivars and in particular Chungyang could be recommended as effective nutritional and bioactive products, however, after investigation on humans.