Comprehensive profiling of primary and secondary metabolites was performed to understand metabolic differences associated with color formation in pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.). Overall, 110 metabolites from non-pigmented, black, and red rice cultivars were identified. Black and red rice contained high levels of flavonoids associated with plant color. Black rice also contained high levels of terpenoids (carotenoids, tocopherols, phytosterols, and monoterpenes). The non-pigmented rice contained relatively low levels of secondary metabolites. Multivariate and pathway analyses were performed to data-mine the metabolite profiles. Hierarchical clustering analysis of correlation coefficients revealed metabolite clusters based on nitrogen and carbon sources. These clusters suggested a negative correlation between nitrogen and carbon. Pathway analysis revealed that black rice was rich in carbon-based secondary metabolites, with relatively low levels of primary metabolites compared with other rice cultivars. These data highlight the complex interactions between nitrogen and carbon metabolism of primary and secondary metabolites in rice. For the first time, the relationships and metabolic differences in terpenoid content (monoterpenes, triterpenes, and tetraterpenes) of non-pigmented and pigmented rice cultivars were analyzed. These findings should greatly contribute to the understanding of pigmented rice metabolome and inform breeding programs for new rice cultivars.

Perilla and sesame are traditional sources of edible oils in Asian and African countries. In addition, perilla and sesame seeds are rich sources of health-promoting compounds, such as fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols and policosanols. Thus, developing a method to determine the geographic origin of these seeds is important for ensuring authenticity, safety and traceability and to prevent cheating. We aimed to develop a discriminatory predictive model for determining the geographic origin of perilla and sesame seeds using comprehensive metabolite profiling coupled with chemometrics. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis models were well established with good validation values (Q² = 0.761 to 0.799). Perilla and sesame seed samples used in this study showed a clear separation between Korea and China as geographic origins in our predictive models. We found that glycolic acid could be a potential biomarker for perilla seeds and proline and glycine for sesame seeds. Our findings provide a comprehensive quality assessment of perilla and sesame seeds. We believe that our models can be used for regional authentication of perilla and sesame seeds cultivated in diverse geographic regions.

Genome editing (GE) is a promising agricultural technology; however, its effective adoption relies on safety assurance and public trust. To investigate Korean perceptions, a 2national survey (n = 1,055) was conducted in 2024 on awareness, attitudes, acceptance, and information behavior. Awareness was high for familiar terms such as "gene scissors," but low for scientific terms such as CRISPR. Willingness to purchase GE products was 70%, exceeding that for GMO reported previously, although respondents favored conditional adoption (research, imports) over domestic cultivation. Safety was the most decisive factor, not only in the form of scientific verification but also in transparency and institutional safeguards. Expert organizations were trusted, yet mass media remained the preferred information channels, revealing a credibility - accessibility gap. Respondents also emphasized expert and government leadership in policymaking. Overall, Korean perceptions align with global patterns but show stronger emphasis on policy trust and media reliance, underscoring the need for transparent safety verification, expert-led yet mass-mediated communication, and tailored strategies.

Black ginseng (BG) has better health benefits than white ginseng. The intake of BG changes the levels of metabolites, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and other metabolites. However, there is no research on the effect of BG extract intake on the metabolic profile of dog serum. In this study, serum metabolic profiling was conducted to investigate metabolic differences following the intake of BG extracts in beagle dogs. The beagle dogs were separated into three groups and fed either a regular diet (RD, control), RD with a medium concentration of BG extract (BG-M), or RD with a high concentration of BG extract (BG-H). Differences were observed among the three groups after the dogs ingested the experimental diet for eight weeks. The concentrations of alanine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine changed with the intake of BG extracts. Furthermore, levels of glycine and β-alanine increased in the BG-H group compared to the control and BG-M groups, indicating that BG extracts are associated with anti-inflammatory processes. Our study is the first to demonstrate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of BG extract in beagle dogs. Glycine and β-alanine are proposed as candidate serum biomarkers in dogs that can discriminate between the effects of ingesting BG-H.

This study explores how the type of information search and information channel can influence the objective knowledge of consumers on genetically modified organisms. We divided the types of information search on genetically modified organisms into active and passive seekers, and then examined how their knowledge differed depending on preferred the information channel (i.e., government, portals, non-government organization (NGO) sites). An online survey was conducted with Korean men and women aged 19 or older. The main and interaction effects of the type of information search, and government, portal, and NGO sites were statistically significant. The results showed that active information seekers who prefer government, portal, and NGO sites have lower scores of knowledge on genetically modified organisms than that of passive information seekers, given the confusion of competing and sometimes inaccurate information sources.