• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate feeding effects of the high pressure boiled extracts (HPBE) of the Ogol chicken with herbs on glucose, hormones and immunological response (cytokine, specific antibody) of serum in the rat which fed either with normal feed (T$_1$), normal feed + herb HPBE (T$_2$), normal feed + Ogol chicken HPBE (T$_3$), normal feed + mixture of cross-bred Ogol chicken HPBE (T$_4$) hydrolyzed with Flavourzyme 0.1% for 35 days. During experimental period, there was a weak trend to have a higher glucose content for the T$_4$ group with 102.27${\pm}$5.95 mg/dL, but it was not significantly higher than other treatments. For insulin level, T$_1$ group showed numerically a slightly higher level with 6.79${\pm}$4.64 ${\mu}$IU/mL, but the difference was not significant in statistic term due likely to a large variation in comparison with other treatments. The treatments did not significantly alter testosterone level in rat plasma with 1.09, 1.46, 0.98, 1.13 ng/mL in T$_1$, T$_2$, T$_3$ and T$_4$, respectively. T$_4$ treatment increased the aldosterone level to a significantly (p<0.05) higher level (273.33 ng/dL) than other treatments. The extract treated rat showed a tendency in the cortisol level of lower levels than the control group, particularly, it was significantly (p<0.05) lower in T$_3$ group than other groups. T$_3$ and T$_4$ groups showed higher levels for interlukin-4 (IL-4) and anti-BSA IgG in immune cells and plasma. T$_2$, T$_3$ and T$_4$ treatments showed a slightly higher levels in v-interferon (INF-r) than the control, with a greater effect for T4 treatments. These results suggested that HPBE of the cross-bred Ogol chicken hydrolyzed with Flavourzyme increased immunological activity and decreased the concentration of cortisol and aldosterone hormones.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.654-658
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• 2002

Purpose : Endocrine and immune systems are connected and interdependent. Adrenal glands play an important role in this network and control the balance between serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEAS) and cortisol. These steroids have an antagonistic effect on the T cell progression into Th1 and Th2 cells and on the induction of correlated interleukins. Therefore we evaluated the role of adrenal androgen and cortisol as immune modulators in Kawasaki disease( KD) with changes of T cell immunity. Methods : From April to August in 2001, we examined serum DHEAS and 24 hour urine free cortisol(F) before administration of immunoglobulin and steroids by radioimmunoassay in 14 KD patients. It's clinical severity was determined by Harada score and coronary lesion. Results : The age of the patient group ranged from 4 months to 4 years; its average age was 2.3 years. Three patients(21.4%) were below 1 year, 2(14.3%) between 1 and 2 years, 5(35.7%) between 2 and 3 years, 4(28.6%) between 3 and 4 years of age. Male to female ratio was 1:1.3. DHEAS was significantly decreased in patients($11.1{\pm}6.0{\mu}g/dL$) more than controls($81.6{\pm}13.3{\mu}g/dL$)(P<0.05). Twenty-four hour urine free cortisol was significantly increased in patients($36.9{\pm}21.9{\mu}g/dL$) more than controls($13.6{\pm}5.5{\mu}g/dL$)(P<0.05). Ratio of DHEAS/F was decreased remarkably in patients($0.33{\pm}0.20$) more than controls($6.65{\pm}2.56$)(P=0.016). There was no difference between ratio of DHEAS/F and Harada score, but its ratio was very low in patients with coronary aneurysm. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that there are changes of DHEAS and cortisol in acute stage of KD and the dis-equilibrium between two steroids may be relevant in the T cell immune response induction of Kawasaki disease. These changes support the use of DHEAS/F ratio as one of the predictive factors of coronary arteries complication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.306-314
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between vegetarian diet and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The subjects of the study were 127 Buddhist nuns (age: 23 ~79 yr) for vegetarians and 235 healthy female adults (age: 23 ~79 yr) for non-vegetarians. This study covers food consumption survey, anthropometric measurement, amount of energy expenditure, physical activity and clinical examination. Average body mass index (BMI) of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were 22.47 and 21.08, waist/hip ratio (WHR) was 0.85 and 0.84, percentage of body fat (%BF) was 28.79 and 26.55, respectively. Average duration of vegetarian diet of the vegetarians was 13.16 years. The triglyceride levee of the vegetarians was significantly lower for those who take nutrient tablet compared to those who either take vitamins or who do not take any nutrient supplement. Taking vitamins or nutrient tablet did not give any significant difference in total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol for vegetarians, while significantly high triglyceride was observed for the non-vegetarians taking nutrient tablet than the ether non-vegetarians. Taking vitamins or nutrient tablet did not affect the lever of HDL-cholesterol for either vegetarians or non-vegetarians. Athrogenic index (AI) was lower for the vegetarian group tailing nutrient tablet and for the non-vegetarian group not taking vitamins and nutrient tablet, than the other respective groups. Blood sugar of the vegetarians who take nutrient tablet was significantly lower than those tailing vitamins, while blood sugar of the non-vegetarians not taking any nutrient supplement was significantly lower than those taking nutrient tablet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1310-1317
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• 2003

Effects of dietary cholesterol and/or taurine supplementation on plasma and hepatic lipid peroxidation status and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated in rats fed one of the following semisynthetic diets for 5 weeks: control diet (CD, cholesterol-free and taurine-free diet); high cholesterol diet (HCD, CD+1.5% cholesterol): high taurine diet (HTD, CD+1.5% taurine): high cholesterol and high taurine diet (HCHTD, HCD + 1.5% taurine). Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level was not influenced by dietary cholesterol or taurine supplementation, while hepatic MDA level was 70% higher in rats fed HCD compared to the value for CD rats (p<0.05). Our observation that taurine supplementation significantly decreased the hepatic MDA level of rats fed HCD, but failed to decrease lipid peroxidation of rats fed CD indicates that the protective effect of taurine in the liver against lipid peroxidation is manifested only under the hypercholesterolemic environment. Plasma and hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were not affected by dietary supplementation of cholesterol or taurine. However, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly reduced by dietary taurine supplementation (p <0.05), and thus significantly lower in rats fed HTD compared to the value for CD (p<0.05). Plasma total cholesterol concentration was positively correlated with hepatic cholesterol concentration as expected (r=0.712, p<0.001). Plasma (r=0.399, p<0.05) and hepatic cholesterol levels (r=0.429, p<0.05) showed a significantly positive correlation with hepatic MDA concentration, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration was negatively correlated with hepatic SOD activity (r=-0.481, p<0.01), and tended to be negatively correlated with hepatic GSH-Px activity without showing statistical significance (r=-0.188, p<0.05). These results indicate an antioxidative effect of taurine in rats with elevated level of lipid Peroxidation due to high intake of dietary cholesterol. Future application of taurine as a safe candidate for a hypolipidemic agent without adversely affecting body's antioxidant defense system is speculated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1208-1214
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• 2011

Caffeine, a psychoactive stimulant, has been implicated in the modulation of learning and memory functions due to its action as a non-selective adenosine receptors antagonist. On the contrary, some side effects of caffeine have been reported, such as an increased energy loss and metabolic rate, decrease DNA synthesis in the spleen, and increased oxidative damage to exerted on LDL particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a safe stimulant from natural plants mixture (Aralia elata, Acori graminei Rhizoma, Chrysanthemum, Dandleion, Guarana, Shepherd's purse) that can be used as a substitute for caffeine. Thirty SD rats were divided into three groups; control group, caffeine group (15.0 mg/kg, i.p.), and natural plants mixture group (NP, 1 mL/kg, p.o.). The effect of NP extract on stimulant activity was evaluated with open-field test (OFT) and plus maze test for measurement of behavioral profiles. Plasma lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation in LDL (conjugated dienes), total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and DNA damage in white blood, liver, and brain cells were measured. In the OFT, immobility time was increased significantly by acute (once) and chronic (3 weeks) supplementation of NP and showed a similar effect to caffeine treatment. Three weeks of caffeine treatment caused plasma lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver cells, whereas there were no changes in the NP group. NP group showed a higher plasma HDL cholesterol concentration compared to the caffeine group. The results indicate that the natural plants mixture had a stimulant effect without inducing oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1235-1243
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative activity (scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and superoxide anion radical) and anti-obesity effects of black bean chungkugjang extract (BBCE). DPPH free radical-scavenging activity and superoxide anion radical-scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$ value) of BBCE were $162.7{\pm}2.8$ ppm, and $205.62{\pm}3.6$ ppm, respectively. The anti-obesity effects of BBCE were investigated by measuring Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. BBCE reduced the content of Oil Red O dye in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We also examined the effects of BBCE on adiposity, serum lipid, and leptin levels in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Mice were fed the BBCE experimental diets for 7 weeks, after which they were sacrificed. ICR male mice were randomly divided into three groups, one normal diet group (ND group) and two high fat diet groups with or without BBCE supplementation (HFD group and HFD-BBCE group). The results showed that weight gain and the food efficiency ratio significantly decreased upon addition of BBCE compared to those of the HFD group. Further, white adipose tissue weights of epididymal, mesenteric, and retroperitoneal areas in the HFD-BBCE group were reduced to 34.8%, 7.1%, and 40.6%, respectively, compared to that of the HFD group. The serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and leptin in the HFD-BBCE group were significantly lower than those of the HFD group. Based on these results, it can be concluded that BBCE may have beneficial effects on reducing fat mass and serum lipid content.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.305-310
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• 1998

The usage or agricultural chemicals is on the increasing tendency. Methyl bromide and organophosphate are the most widely used toxic agricultural chemicals in Korea. We try to set up the methods to detect the accumulation of these chemicals in Korean farmers. Blood samples were collected for 121 farmers of slack's season in February 1998. And survey about arable acreage and usage of the gloves and masks was also performed. Serum cholinesterase activities and bromide concentrations were measured with gold chloride method and colorimetric method. The reference ranges of serum cholinesterase activity and bromide concentration were 1.6~15.9 U/mL and below $72.9{\mu}g/mL$. Serum bromide concentrations of farmers and normal controls showed no differences. Serum cholinesterase activities of farmers were significantly higher than those of normal controls. According to the arable acreages and usage of the gloves and masks, serum bromide concentrations and cholinesterase activities showed no differences. In conclusion, serum cholinesterase activities and bromide concentrations showed no differences between farmers of slack's season and normal controls.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.474-479
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• 2010

The content levels of taurine, DHA, and EPA of dried cuttlefish powder were $11.67{\pm}6.62\;g/kg$, $3001.11{\pm}11.42\;mg/100\;g$ and $688.13{\pm}10.51\;mg/100\;g$, respectively, which were 10~20% higher than those of the salt processed cuttlefish. After feeding dried and salt processed cuttlefish for 4 weeks, total cholesterol concentrations in mice blood were 81.3 mg/dL and 88.1 mg/dL, respectively, which was higher than 78.9 mg/dL of the control. It was also found that dried cuttlefish increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations to 71.6 mg/dL, compared to 63.1 mg/dL of salt processed cuttlefish. The triglyceride contents of dried sample was higher than that of processed sample. Blood glucose concentrations in mice fed dried or salt processed cuttlefish were 77.7 mg/dL and 90.3 mg/dL, respectively. IgG levels increased to 48.1 ng/mL by feeding the processed cuttlefish, compared to 40.3 ng/mL of the dried cuttlefish. Therefore, by analysis of serum lipid, it can be suggested that processed cuttlefish can improve immune activities through adding taurine and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of nutrition education on blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients with low income. There were 50 (27 male and 23 female) study subjects with type 2 diabetes under national medical support, and the monthly income in most of them was less than 500,000 won. Anthropometric measurement, biochemical blood indices, food intake, dietary habits, and nutrition knowledge of the subjects were investigated before nutrition education. Nutrition education was conducted 6 times within 12 weeks. After nutrition education, the glycosylated hemoglobin was significantly decreased (male: $8.4{\pm}1.6%$ to $8.0{\pm}1.7%$, female: $8.3{\pm}1.6%$ to $8.0{\pm}1.3%$) and the total cholesterol was also significantly decreased in both groups. The group of female resulted in a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose ($169.7{\pm}28.2$ mg/dL to $152.8{\pm}22.0$ mg/dL) and triglyceride ($177.8{\pm}56.3$ mg/dL to $162.3{\pm}36.1$ mg/dL), but the group of male did not show a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose and triglyceride. Nutritional knowledge and dietary habit scores of the subjects were significantly improved after nutrition education. The results demonstrate that nutrition education for type 2 diabetic patients with low income are effective in improving their blood glucose.