The functionality of soybeans is an important factor in the selection and utilization of excellent soybean cultivars, and isoflavones are representative functional substances in soybeans, which exhibit effects on antioxidants, estrogen activity, and cancer, and prevent cardiovascular diseases. This study analyzed ABTS, DPPH, estrogen, ER (ER) alpha, UCP-1, and NO inhibition activities in 48 types of soybean cultivars, as well as the relationship with 19 isolated types of individual isoflavone derivatives. Statistical analysis was conducted to find individual isoflavone derivatives affecting physiological activities, revealing the high correlation of three types of derivatives: genistein 7-O-(6″-O-acetyl)glucoside (6″-O-acetylgenistin), genistein 7-O-(2″-O-apiosyl)glucoside, and glycitein. Based on these results, 15 types of soybean cultivars were selected (one control type, seven yellow types, six black types, and one green type), which have both high physiological activities and a high content of individual isoflavone derivatives. In addition, these high correlations were further verified through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to determine the association between activities, substances, and genetic characteristics. This study comprehensively describes the relationship between the specific physiological activities of soybean resources, individual isoflavone derivative substances, and SNPs, which will be utilized for in-depth research, such as selection of excellent soybean resources with specific physiological activities.

The aim of this study was to analyze the physiological activity of 48 soybean resources harvested in 2020 to identify the soybean resources’ relationships with individual isoflavone compounds and their genetic properties. These data will subsequently be compared with the research results on soybeans harvested in 2019. Initially, with respect to the physiological activity (6 types) and substances (19 types), this study evaluated the differences between the cultivation year (two years), seed coat color (three colors), and the interaction of the year and seed coat color of soybeans through ANOVA. Among the physiological activities, there were differences in the estrogen, estrogen receptor alpha, and UCP-1 (uncoupling protein-1) activities depending on the cultivation year. Moreover, there were differences in NO (nitric oxide), revealing differences in the ABTS (2, 2′-azino-bis-3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities due to the seed coat color and the interaction of the year and seed coat color. Soybeans harvested in 2020 exhibited increased ABTS, DPPH, and NO inhibitory activities and reduced estrogen, estrogen receptor alpha, and UCP-1 activities compared to those harvested in 2019. According to the ANOVA results, eight of the nineteen individual derivatives illustrated yearly differences, while three derivatives displayed differences due to the seed coat color. Secondly, according to the relationship between the efficacy, derivative substances, and genetic properties, it was determined that genistein 7-O-(2″-O-apiosyl)glucoside (F5) is the individual isoflavone derivative that affected the six types of physiological activity, on which the genome-wide association study (GWAS) showed no significant differences for genetic properties. These results were inconsistent with the 2019 data, where three types of individual compounds, including F5, were proposed as substances that correlated with efficacy and there was a high correlation with genetic properties. Therefore, this study selected B17, B23, B15, B24, and Y7 as excellent varieties that are stable and highly functional in the cultivation environment, producing only small annual differences. The results of this study will be utilized as basic data for predicting soybean varieties and their cultivation, which have high environmental stability under climate variation and properly retain the functional substances and efficacy.

This study investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Aster glehni (AG) extract in RAW 264.7 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were higher in the ethanol extracts than in the hot water extracts. As a result of measuring the moisture contents (%) and extraction yields (%) of AG and drying A. glehni for processing (DAG), 70% ethanol, which has the highest percentage of extraction yield, was selected as the final solvent. DPPH radical scavenging activity showed higher antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of DAG than AG. The cytotoxicity assay of the AG or DAG ethanol extracts was treated at different concentrations (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL), and cell viability rates were higher than 80% at all concentrations. The LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 was significantly reduced at all concentrations of AG and DAG groups. As a result of measuring the gene expression of iNOS, which induces NO production, the AG or DAG group decreased by 33% and 32%, compared with the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group. Under inflammatory stress conditions, the survival rate of C. elegans treated with AG or DAG ethanol extract with LPS showed concentration-dependent improvement in survival rate compared with the PBS group. Considering these results, AG could potentially be developed as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functional food material.

Soybean leaves, by-products of soybeans, are functional food supplements for overall health, displaying nutritional superiority and various functionalities; they are widely used for both consumption and as functional materials. This study analyzed the physiological activity (efficacy) of 47 soybean leaves harvested in 2019 and 2020. Differences based on cultivation year (2 years), seed coat color (three varieties), and the interaction of soybean cultivation year × seed coat color were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). DPPH radical scavenging activity varied with seed coat color, while uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and nitric oxide (NO) exhibited significant differences by cultivation year. Items that displayed greater increases in 2020 than in 2019 among the six measures of physiological activity (efficacy) were estrogen receptor alpha, UCP-1, and NO production inhibitory activity, whereas ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities as well as estrogen activity declined. ANOVA confirmed significant differences in DPPH radical scavenging activity according to seed coat color as well as in UCP-1 and NO production inhibitory activity by cultivation year. Annual comparisons in the correlations of efficacy with ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities exhibited strong correlations at 2 years, despite climatic variation, thus potentially being classifiable as analysis items with high cultivation stability. However, other efficacies displayed vast differences in correlation between years. Climate change may affect the added value of agricultural products by reducing the production of by-product soybean leaves and changing their bioactive properties, so various countermeasures are needed. This annual variation may largely be attributed to climatic variations owing to open field cultivation. Geomjeong Kong-5 (black color), B16 Neoljeokseoritae (black color), Sorok Kong (yellow color), and Gangwonyanggu-1994-3709 (green–black color) were selected as superior soybean leaf sources with minimal annual variation and high stability against cultivation environments. Further research is needed to ensure that the leaves of the soybean can be used as a sustainable resource for the agricultural industry. The data from this study can be used as a basis for breeding and cultivating soybean leaves while maintaining high efficacy, regardless of the instability of the growing environment due to climatic variations.

This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of yuja pomace extract fermented with lactic acid bacteria in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity over a period of eight weeks. Epididymal fat cell size was significantly smaller, by about 33%, in the treatment groups given yuja pomace extract fermented with lactic acid bacteria compared to the CON group. Electron microscopic observation of hepatocyte microstructure showed that the number of lipid droplets was lower in hepatocytes, the number of mitochondria was higher, along with distinct cristae, and the rough endoplasmic reticula were well developed with stacks of cisternae and ribosomes. Thus, it is believed that yuja pomace extract fermented with lactic acid bacteria, by influencing body weight and lipid accumulation, is effective in the prevention and treatment of obesity.

This study evaluated the feasibility of a small-scale system for recovering moisture from indoor air and reusing the recovered water for indoor plant irrigation. A condensate production system comprising a thermoelectric module, cooling plate, and heat sink was developed and integrated into a plant pot. By lowering the cooling surface temperature to the dew point or below, the system condensed and collected moisture from the surrounding air. During the plant cultivation experiment, 66 paired observations of dew point temperature and condensate production were obtained, with a mean condensate production of 35.38 ± 18.44 mL day⁻¹. Physicochemical water-quality analysis was conducted to characterize the collected condensate. To assess its suitability for irrigation, a cultivation trial was conducted using Humata tyermannii, Hedera helix, and Hoya carnosa ‘Exotica Hort’. After Holm correction for multiple comparisons, most growth parameters did not differ significantly between the condensate and tap water treatments, whereas root fresh weight was significantly higher in the condensate treatment for H. tyermannii and H. helix. A supplemental energy test conducted in 2026 showed an overall specific energy consumption of 23.27 kWh L⁻¹ under the tested conditions, indicating that energy efficiency remains an important limitation of the current experimental system. These findings support the feasibility of condensate reuse for indoor plant irrigation under the tested conditions and provide baseline data for the development of a proof-of-concept model for circular water use in small indoor green spaces. However, improvements in energy efficiency and further long-term water-quality evaluation are required for practical application.