• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2002

Objectives : In this study, water extracts from Coix lachryma-jobi Linne var. mayuen Stapf. were investigated for their effects on insulin-like action and glucose uptake in 3T3-Ll cells. Methods : We examined the effects of insulin-like action on the differentiation of 3T3-Ll fibroblasts. The Coicis Semen was treated with hot water and the extract was freeze-dried. The hot water extract was chromatographed on nonionic polymer resin (Amberlite XAD-4, Sigma) with distilled water (Fr. 1), 20% (Fr. 2), 40% (Fr. 3), 60% (Fr. 4), 80% (Fr. 5), and 100% EtOH (Fr. 6), successively. Results : Total extract of Coicis Semen was fractionated into 0 to 100% MeOH with Amberlite XDA-4 column. Treatment of cells with $10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of total extracts of Coicis Semen significantly increased the differentiation (p<0.05). At $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ level of insulin, the differentiation was accelerated (p<0.01). The effect of extracts plus insulin on the differentiation was greater than that of insulin alone. In 3T3-Ll adipocytes, glucose uptake was higher by 2.7 times with 5 uM of total extract in low dosage of insulin (3 ng/ml) than without total extract. 5 and 50 uM of water and 40% MeOH fractions increased glucose uptake by 3.5 times in 3T3-Ll adipocytes (p<0.00l). Conclusions : Coicis Semen contains compounds which playa role of insulin-like action and insulin sensitizer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.537-541
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• 2008

White adipose tissue is now recognized as an important endocrine organ which secretes various signal factors and proteins termed 'adipokine'. Haptoglobin (Hp), which has been known as an acute phase protein, belongs to the adipokine. However, the function of Hp in adipose tissue remains unclear. To verify the role of Hp in preadipocytes, in this study, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells were stably transfected with human Hp gene and Hp-overexpressing cells were made. The Hp had no effect on cell growth of preadipocytes. By RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, the Hp inhibited gene expression of IL-6 and COX-2 and enhanced HO-1 synthesis in preadipocytes. Moreover, invasion assay showed the Hp suppressed migration of monocytes to preadipocytes. These findings suggest that the Hp may inhibit an inflammatory reaction in adipose tissue by regulating the expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, and by repressing monocytes/macrophages infiltration.

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

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.313-320
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• 2014

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effects of jaceosidin on blood glucose regulation in type 1 diabetic mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups; normal control (Normal), diabetes control (D-Control), diabetes low-jaceosidin (D-0.005%), and diabetes high-jaceosidin (D-0.02%). Type 1 diabetes was induced by streptozotocin and mice were then fed a diet containing jaceosidin for eight weeks. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities were assessed. Results: Jaceosidin supplementation for eight weeks had no effect on body weight, organ weight, and blood lipid profiles. However, jaceosidin supplementation significantly lowered fasting blood glucose level and reduced insulin resistance. We also found that jaceosidin supplementation increased antioxidant capacity by enhancement of catalase and GSH-px activities. Conclusion: These results suggest that jaceosidin could be a therapeutic candidate to ameliorate hyperglycemia through increase of antioxidant enzyme activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.895-902
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• 2014

Adiponectin has been known to improve insulin sensitivity and elicit glucose uptake via increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation. In the current study, mRNA expression levels of adiponectin and GLUT4 were measured in subcutaneous adipose tissue from C57BL/6 mice fed normal (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) until 16, 26, 36, 47, or 77 weeks of age starting from 6 weeks of age. Expression levels were also measured in mice with calorie restriction (CR) and in thiazolidinedione (TZD) treated mice. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we demonstrated that GLUT4 expression in adipose tissue significantly decreased in HFD mice groups and increased in CR (p<0.05) and TZD (p=0.007) groups while there was no difference in adiponectin mRNA expression levels between experimental and control groups. General linear regression models were used to assess the association of gene expression levels between adiponectin and GLUT4 and to determine whether adiponectin affects GLUT4 transcription. mRNA expression levels of adiponectin and GLUT4 are significantly associated each other in mice fed a ND (p<0.0001) or HFD (p<0.0001), in groups separated into each age and diet, and CR group (p=0.002), but not in TZD group (p=0.73). These results demonstrated that gene expression of adiponectin and GLUT4 is strongly associated, suggesting that there is a common regulatory mechanism for adiponectin and GLUT4 gene expression and/or adiponectin has a direct role in GLUT4 gene expression in adipose tissue.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cord blood adiponectin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and their effect on fetal growth and insulin resistance in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Cord blood adiponectin and IGF-I were compared between mothers with GDM (GDM group, N=53) and controls (non-GDM group, N=101). Neonates were classified into three groups of small for gestational age (SGA, N=26), appropriate for gestational age (AGA, N=97), and large for gestational age (LGA, N=31) by birth weight. The association between cord adiponectin and IGF-I levels was evaluated in relation to maternal and neonatal clinical data. Results: Cord adiponectin was lower in the GDM group than in the non-GDM group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in cord adiponectin among the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups in the GDM group (P=0.228). The cord adiponectin of AGA in the GDM group was significantly lower than that in the non-GDM group (P<0.001). The most powerful predictor affecting cord adiponectin was the result of maternal 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The cord IGF-I values between the GDM group and the non-GDM group were not different (P=0.834). Neonates with the heavier birth weight had the higher cord IGF-I levels. The most powerful predictor affecting cord IGF-I was birth weight and the next was maternal parity. Conclusion: Both cord blood adiponectin and IGF-I were associated with fetal growth, but IGF-I was a more general and direct factor affecting fetal body size, and adiponectin seemed to have more association with insulin sensitivity than growth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypolgycemic activity of water extract of fermented yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) leaves tea (Yacon LWE) in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Male ICR mice were fed with a HFD (37% calories from fat) for 4 weeks prior to intraperitoneal injection with STZ (100 mg/kg body weight). Diabetic mice were supplemented with two doses of Yacon LWE (0.16% and 0.8%, wt/wt) for 6 weeks. The supplementation of high-dose Yacon LWE significantly lowered blood glucose levels and plasma ALT and AST activities compared with the control group. High-dose Yacon LWE also improved the insulin tolerance without any changes in plasma and pancreatic insulin concentrations in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic mice. Yacon LWE supplementation increased the insulin staining of pancreatic $\beta$-cells in a dose-dependent manner. Both 0.16% and 0.8% of Yacon LWE significantly elevated plasma leptin concentration, hepatic glucokinase activity and glucokinase/glucose-6-phosphatase ratio compared with the control group. However, glycosylated hemoglobin concentration was not different among the groups. These results suggest that high-dose Yacon LWE lowers the blood glucose level partly by enhancing insulin sensitivity and hepatic glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2007

The effects of amylopectin and hydrocolloid (locust bean gum and guar gum) content on wheat flour dough and noodle properties were investigated. As the amount of amylopectin increased, the water absorption rate (farinograph), the tension (tension test), the gel stability (freeze-thawing treatment), and the springiness and the cohesiveness (TPA) increased, but the pasting temperature (RVA), the lightness and yellowness (color measurement), and the hardness (TPA) tended to decrease. In sensory evaluations, the scores for cohesiveness, springiness, and acceptability of cooked noodle increased as the proportion of amylopectin increased. The proper combination of amylose/amylopectin ratio and hydrocolloids improved the freeze-thaw stability and the sensory acceptability of wheat flour dough and noodle.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.348-352
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• 2007

Inflammation is a complex process resulting from a variety of mechanisms. Combined inhibition of the activities of enzymes involved in the process may therefore be considered more important in anti-inflammatory property of plant extracts than any single contribution. In this study, the inhibitory effects of the ethanol extracts of thirty plant foods on the activities of secretory phospholipase $A_{2}$ ($sPLA_{2}$), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) were examined. Several legumes, mungbean sprout and some leaf vegetables inhibited the activity of $sPLA_2$, upstream enzyme of inflammation pathway. Only soybean sprout and mungbean sprout significantly inhibited 12-LOX activity. Although most of extracts inhibited the activities of both COX-1 and COX-2, water dropwort and amaranth showed selectivity for the inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1. Especially, mungbean showed anti-inflammatory property at both upstream and downstream of inflammation pathway with relatively low $IC_{50}$ values for $sPLA_{2}$ and COX-2 enzymes. Mungbean sprout exhibited inhibitory effects on all enzymes related to early and late inflammation and soybean sprout suppressed 12-LOX and COX-2 simultaneously, although the activities of these plants were showed at relatively high concentration. Therefore, mungbean, mungbean sprout, and soybean sprout appear to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by combined inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2017

Purpose: Obesogenic environments in children, in particular excessive intake of sodium, generate hypertension, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Methods: In all, 725 children, 379 boys and 373 girls, aged 8~9 years were recruited from seven elementary schools in Kuro-ku, Seoul. To evaluate whether or not obesity risk was modulated by salt-sensitive genes, Solute Carrier Familiy 12 member 3 (SLC12A3) was used as the target. After children were assigned into obese (BMI > 85 percentile) or non-obese groups, anthropometry, blood biochemistry, and dietary intakes were measured according to the genotypes GG (wild) or GA+AA (hetero+mutant). Results: Without gender differences, high TG and low HDLc were detected in the obese group compared to the non-obese group. Regardless of obesity, weight gain and blood pressure (BP) increased in the SLC12A3 GA+AA genotype rather than in the GG type. HDLc was associated with obesity risk without genotype difference. Odd ratios for risk of obesity were 15.57 (95% CI 2.192~110.654), 22.84 (95% CI 1.565~333.469), and 9.32 (95%CI 1.262~68.817) in boys and girls with GA+AA genotypes as sodium intake increased above 4,000 mg/day. Dietary calcium, sodium, folate, and vit C were associated with obesity risk according to gender or genotype differences. Since high folate intake reduced obesity risk in only boys with GG type. Risk for overweight and obesity increased in boys with GA+AA genotypes and dietary habits with high sodium and cholesterol and low folate. Conclusion: The A allele of SLC12A3 rs11643718 was sensitive to development of obesity in children as sodium intake increased.