• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.89-97
• /
• 2016

Obesity is caused by excess accumulation of body fat and contributes to various pathological disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of a 30% ethanol extract of Fructus Rosae laevigata (RLE) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, measured by triglyceride accumulation and expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors during differentiation of pre-adipocytes into adipocytes. RLE decreased the intracellular triglyceride contents (assessed by Oil Red-O staining) in a dose-dependent manner. It also downregulated the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and inhibited cell proliferation during the mitotic clonal expansion phase of adipocyte differentiation by inducing G1 phase arrest. We investigated the alterations in the levels of G1 phase arrest-related proteins. The expression of p21 protein significantly increased, while the levels of Cyclin E, Cdk2, and phospho-Rb decreased in a dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells treated with RLE. These results suggest that RLE inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by suppressing the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and inducing G1 phase arrest in the early stages of adipocyte differentiation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.502-507
• /
• 2022

In the present study, plant regeneration through adventitious shoot formation from hypocotyl segments of in vitro seedlings of groundcherry (Physalis angulata L.) was investigated to determine the optimum culture conditions for highly efficient regeneration of the species. Adventitious shoots in hypocotyl segments were efficiently induced on MS media with low concentrations of BAP, specifically, with 0.5-1.0 mg/L BAP singly or in combination with 0.1-0.5 mg/L NAA. The 1.0 mg/L BAP single treatment was most effective for forming multiple adventitious shoots. When the induced shoots were transferred to the root induction media, low concentrations of NAA, IBA, and IAA enhanced the development of adventitious roots from adventitious shoots, suggesting that low concentrations of auxins were optimal for producing regenerated plantlets. The number of roots per shoot was large (> 2.0), and the root length exceeded 8.0 cm. In particular, the development and the overall shape of the roots were ideal. Furthermore, the number and length of shoots exceeded 2 and 6.0 cm, respectively. When the regenerated plantlets were transferred to compost soil, the root and shoot systems had developed well to the point that all of the regenerated plantlets acclimated successfully, resulting in normal morphology and growth characteristics, similar to those of the mother plant. Therefore, plant regeneration via adventitious shoot formation is expected to be one of the main methods for producing groundcherry on a large scale for a stable supply of the raw materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.814-821
• /
• 2014

As a natural plant ingredients, glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) contains various physiological activities, mainly anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic activities. However, only a few studies have been carried out on its anti-adipogenic effect. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of Salicornia herbacea L. on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. As adipogenesis of preadipocytes to adipocytes involves proliferation and differentiation of cells, we treated three concentrations (125, 250, and $500{\mu}g/mL$) of Salicornia herbacea L. water extracts (SLW) in both pre-processing and post-processing stages. When 3T3-L1 adipocytes were differentiated and dyed with Oil Red O, adipocytes size and the value of relative Oil Red O staining were reduced by all concentrations of SLW in post-processing stage. Following adipogenic differentiation, the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) in the cell supernatant significantly increased upon treatment with $125{\mu}g/mL$ of SLW and further rose at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ during post-processing stage. There was no significant difference in glycerol production upon SLW treatment. Leptin production significantly decreased at all SLW concentrations during post-processing stage, whereas peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) and adiponectin secretions were significantly enhanced. Overall results showed that SLW might have an anti-adipogenic effect via enhancement of TNF-${\alpha}$ production, which causes dedifferentiation and inhibits lipid accumulations in adipocyte. Furthermore, SLW might prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as it reduces leptin secretion and enhances production of both PPAR-${\gamma}$ and adiponectin. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanism and bioactive compounds of glasswort.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2015

In the present study, the phenolic compound level, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of lipid accumulation in Aspergillus oryzae-fermented water extracts of the Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) root and the Curcuma longa (CL) root were determined. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were decreased after fermentation. However, the flavonoid content of the fermented PG (FPG) was increased by 2.9-fold that of the PG before fermentation. In addition, the antioxidant activities were significantly decreased following fermentation. The potential anti-obesity activity was assessed by determining lipid accumulation and mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) in 3T3-L1 cells. Aspergillus-fermented extracts of PG and CL roots decreased lipid accumulation, and mRNA expression of SREBP-1c and $PPAR{\gamma}$ in 3T3-L1 cells. These results indicate that Aspergillus fermentation augments the anti-obesity activity of PG and CL by regulating the expression of the genes involved in lipid accumulation and cell differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.11
• /
• pp.1681-1687
• /
• 2014

In the present study, we investigated the effect of ethyl acetate fraction from 50% ethanol extract of fermented Curcuma longa L. (FCEE) on lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells. The safety range of FCEE was up to $300{\mu}g/mL$. Effects of FCEE on lipid accumulation and intracellular triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were examined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay. Compared to adipocytes, lipid accumulation and intracellular TG content were significantly reduced by 10.2% and 13.7%, respectively, upon FCEE treatment at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. Glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 cells was significantly reduced by 36.6% compared to adipocytes at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. On day 8, free glycerol release into the culture medium was significantly reduced compared to adipocytes at concentrations of 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ of FCEE. FCEE significantly stimulated RNA expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and suppressed mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that FCEE inhibits adipogenesis through activation of AMPK mRNA expressions and inhibition of SREBP-1c, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and $PPAR{\gamma}$ mRNA expressions.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.378-383
• /
• 2016

The glasswort is an edible halophyte demonstrating various physiological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, the effects of glasswort extracts on inflammatory events and interactions of THP-1 monocytes with intestinal epithelial cells were investigated. Five solvent fractions, including the ethylether fraction (Fr.E), were prepared from a 70% methanol extract of glasswort. THP-1 monocytes underwent differentiation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment and were then activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. None of the glasswort fractions tested alone induced COX-2 in differentiated THP-1 cells. Fr.E, however, enhanced LPS-induced COX-2 expression in differentiated THP-1 cells. Culture media of THP-1 cells treated with each fraction stimulated the growth of normal intestinal INT-407 cells more prominently than that of HT-29 colon cancer cells. COX-2 expression in HT-29 cells was inhibited when the cells were exposed to the THP-1 culture medium treated with Fr.E. Thus, glasswort could modulate the interaction between immune cells and intestinal cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.249-257
• /
• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of Amomum cardamomum L. methanol extract (ACME) were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay, and the cell culture model system. ACME exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activities dose-dependently, with $IC_{50}$ of DPPH radical scavenging activities of ACME being $25.15{\mu}g/ml$. Furthermore, ACME effectively suppressed pancreatic lipase enzyme activity dose-dependently. ACME also significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, triglyceride (TG) contents, and triggered lipolysis activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. Their anti-obesity effect was modulated by the cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$ and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expressions. Taken together, these results provide an important new insight that A. cardamomum L. possesses anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities such as pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic, and lipolysis effects. There is therefore potential for its use as a promising component in the field of nutraceuticals and the identification of the active compounds that confer the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of ACME might be an appropriate next step.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2018

The epidermis which is stratified by epithelial tissue renewal based on keratinocyte differentiation protects the organism from various environmental insults by forming a physical barrier. Autophagy is a mechanism which mediates lysosomal delivery and degradation of protein aggregates, damaged organelles and intracellular microorganisms. Recent reports have shown that autophagy has critical roles for proper terminal differentiation to stratum corneum via removing metabolic organelles and nuclei. However, whether increasing autophagy can activate epidermal differentiation is unknown. Here, we screened a library of natural single compounds and discovered that betaine specifically increased the LC3 positive cytosolic punctate vesicles and LC3-I to LC3-II conversion in HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line, indicating increased autophagy flux. mTOR pathway, which negatively regulates autophagy, was not affected by betaine treatment, suggesting betaine-induced autophagy through an mTOR-independent pathway. Betaine-induced autophagy was also observed in primary human keratinocyte and skin equivalent. Furthermore, epidermal thickness was increased in skin equivalent under betaine treatment. Overall, our finding suggests that betaine as a novel regulator of autophagy may induce epidermal turnover and improve the skin barrier abnormality of the aged epidermis.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.48-63
• /
• 2024

This study investigated the 𝛽-glucosidase activity of lactic acid bacteria and specifically eleutheroside E and B from Acanthopanax senticosus after bioconverting them into syringaresinol (SYR). Out of 125 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from kimchi and other sources, 46 exhibiting both extracellular and internal 𝛽-glucosidase activity were identified. Notably, strains LFFR 20-011 (Lactobacillus curvatus) and LFFR 20-043/LFR20-050 (Levilactobacillus brevis) enhanced SYR production by more than two-fold during Acanthopanax senticosus fermentation. Further investigation revealed that SYR significantly promoted osteoblast differentiation, as evidenced by the increased mRNA expression levels of early and mature osteoblast markers, including Runx2, type I collagen, and osteocalcin. These findings suggested that the enhanced presence of SYR through bioconversion by Acanthopanax senticosus may improve bone health. These results provide foundational data supporting the development of lactic-acid-bacteria-fermented Acanthopanax senticosus as a functional food aimed at promoting skeletal health in older adults.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.115-121
• /
• 2009

We prepared five different kinds of herb mixtures prescribed for hypoglycemic effect. And the physicochemical properties of their water extracts were assessed to identify functional materials. Yields were in the range $19.52{\sim}29.79%$. Total phenolics and flavonoid contents were $349.24{\sim}1,752.21\;mg%$ and $163.06{\sim}1,118.47\;mg%$, respectively, and herb mixtures No. 2, 3 and 5 showed particularly high levels greater than 1,000 mg%. Electron-donating ability was best in herb mixtures showing high levels of total phenolics and flavonoids. Nitrite-scavenging abilities were more than 70% in herb mixtures No. 2 and 5, and decreased as pH increased. Herb mixture extracts strongly inhibited differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, with potencies ranked in the herb mixture order 5, 1, 4, 3, and 2. The five different kinds of herb mixtures prescribed for their hypoglycemic effects may be useful as functional food materials.