• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 1991

In an attempt to explore the mechanistic aspects of chilling injury in plants and their defensive measures against the low temperature stress, the time sequential measurements of pyruvate, superoxide radicals$(O_{\overline{2}})$ and antioxygenic enzymes during whole period of injury-inducing treatment were performed using mostly rice seedlings. Pyruvate was substantialy accumulated in leaf tissues during the exposure period to $5^{\circ}C$ of the seedlings ; the relative extent of the accumulation was increased with increasing time of the cold treatment. When the cold-treated plants were translocated to ambient temperature$({\sim}25^{\circ}C)$, the accumulation started to dissipate, concomitantly accompaning a remarkable increase in the $O_{\overline{2}}$ level of tissues. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase were also activated during post-chilling period, although they showed a considerable lag time for activation. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase, another antioxygenic enzyme in cells, was not activated at all by preceding cold treatment of plants. The uptake of exogenous $O_{\overline{2}}$ by the roots of rice seedlings resulted in increase in the activities of SOD and catalase in root tissues. The supply of $H_2O_2$ to plan st brought about the activation of catalase in situ, while failing to exert any effect on the activation state of glutathione peroxidase. The results obtained in this work suggest that pyruvate accumulation in cells is the direct cause of the overproduction of $O_{\overline{2}}$ and thereby other toxic activated oxygen species, and that SOD and catalase may play a crucial role in the protection of plant cells against active oxygen-mediated chilling injury.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 1993

The purpose of this study is to determine the evolution of carbon and nitrogen concentrations in relation to dry matter and crude protein accumulation in the leaves of forage rape(Brassica napus Subsp. oleifera, CV. Swiss) during the growth period. Field-grown plants were sampled at intervals throughout fall, winter, early and late spring. During over-wintering period(from Nov. 7 1991 to Feb. 4 1992), the carbon concentration in the leaves increased from 382 mg to 435 mg g DM$^{-1}$ , while the concentrations of nitrogen and crude protein significantly decreased. There was little accumulation of fresh and dry matter in the leaves. On early spring growth from 4 Feb. to 30 Mar. marked carbon loss 37 mg. day$^{-1}$ and slight nitrogen accumulation occurred with the increase of fresh weight in the leaves. From spring growth to bolting stage(from 31 Mar. to 16 Apr.) the greatest accumulation of fresh and dry matter was observed and carbon and crude protein concentrations increased with a linear manner. After bolting stage the concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and crude protein in the leaves significantly decreased until late blooming stage, and the decreasing rate was prominent in nitrogen (45.7%) and crude protein(46%). From the results above it is recommended that fertilizer will be applied before early spring growth, and that optimal utilization period is a bolting stage. For the serious modification of the internal C/N balance during the overwintering period.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.688-696
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of red ginseng-derived saponin fraction (SF) on lipid accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) signaling during adipocyte differentiation. SF effectively inhibited lipid accumulation, with the downregulation of adipogenic factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$). A high dose of SF decreased the protein levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ by over 90% compared to the control. SF-mediated downregulation of adipogenic factors was due to the regulation of early adipogenic factors including $C/EBP{\beta}$ and $Kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like Factor 2 (KLF2). In addition, SF ($200{\mu}g/mg$) decreased intracellular ROS generation by 40% during adipocyte differentiation. However, the SF significantly upregulated Nrf2 and its target proteins, hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADPH dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1). Furthermore, SF ($200{\mu}g/mg$) promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. The SF-mediated reduction of lipid accumulation was associated with the regulation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.246-256
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• 2022

The present study focused on the potential mechanism of betulin (BT), a pentacyclic triterpenoid isolated from the bark of white birch (Betula pubescens), against chronic alcohol-induced lipid accumulation and metaflammation. AML-12 and RAW 264.7 cells were administered ethanol (EtOH), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or BT. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets containing 5% EtOH for 4 weeks, followed by single EtOH gavage on the last day and simultaneous treatment with BT (20 or 50 mg/kg) by oral gavage once per day. In vitro, MTT showed that 0-25 mM EtOH and 0-25 µM BT had no toxic effect on AML-12 cells. BT could regulate sterolregulatory-element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), lipin1/2, P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) expressions again EtOH-stimulation. Oil Red O staining also indicated that BT significantly reduced lipid accumulation in EtOH-stimulated AML-12 cells. Lipin1/2 deficiency indicated that BT might mediate lipin1/2 to regulate SREBP1 and P2X7r expression and further alleviate lipid accumulation and inflammation. In vivo, BT significantly alleviated histopathological changes, reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglyceride (TG) levels, and regulated lipin1/2, SREBP1, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) and PGC-1α expression compared with the EtOH group. BT reduced the secretion of inflammatory factors and blocked the P2X7r-NLRP3 signaling pathway. Collectively, BT attenuated lipid accumulation and metaflammation by regulating the lipin1/2-mediated P2X7r signaling pathway.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Objectives: Ephedrae herba (EH) and Coicis semen (CS) has been frequently prescribed for the treatment of obesity. However, effects of combinational extracts of these two herbs on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of EH and CS on lipid accumulation and glucose absorption in free fatty acids (FFAs) or palmitic acid (PA)-treated HepG2 cells. Methods: Five samples of EH and CS were extracted by combination ratios (S1=0:100, S2=25:75, S3=50:50, S4=75:25, S5=100:0). Oil Red O staining was used to measure lipid accumulation in FFAs-induced steatosis cells. Intracellular triglycerides and total cholesterol levels were measured in FFAs-induced steatotic HepG2 cells. In PA-treated cells, intracellular 2-NBDG was detected using a fluorescence microplate reader and flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of key metabolism-related factors of AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, expression of key lipid synthesis-related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 alpha (CPT1α), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) were confirmed by western blot. Results: Treatment of EH-CS combination in the FFAs-induced steatotic HepG2 cells significantly reduced lipid accumulation. As the relative ratio of Ephedrae herba increased, the lipid-lowering effects of the combination were increased. However, S1 and S5 of Ephedrae herba and Coicis semen did not significantly reduce triglycerides and total cholesterol induced by FFAs. However, the combination of Ephedrae herba and Coicis semen restored glucose absorption in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Major makers of SREBP1, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and CPT1α expression tended to decrease with EH ratio. Conclusions: The EH-CS combination has advantages over sole EH and CS extracts in improving lipid and glucose metabolism in liver steatosis models.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.613-617
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adipogenesis is part of the cell differentiation process in which undifferentiated fibroblasts (pre-adipocytes) become mature adipocytes with the accumulation of lipid droplets and subsequent cell morphological changes. Several transcription factors and food components have been suggested to be involved in adipogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether mulberry leaf ethanol extract (MLEE) affects adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: The 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with different doses of MLEE for 8 days starting 2 days post-confluence. Cell viability, fat accumulation, and adipogenesis-related factors including CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), $PPAR{\gamma}$ coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and adiponectin were analyzed. RESULTS: Results showed that MLEE treatments at 10, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$ had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evident toxicity, all MLEE treated cells had lower fat accumulation compared with control as shown by lower absorbances of Oil Red O stain. MLEE at 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ significantly reduced protein levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$, PGC-$1{\alpha}$, FAS, and adiponectin in differentiated adipocytes. Furthermore, protein level of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ was significantly decreased by the treatment of $100{\mu}g/ml$ MLEE. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that MLEE treatment has an anti-adipogenic effect in differentiated adipocytes without toxicity, suggesting its potential as an anti-obesity therapeutic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.899-907
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• 1994

Accumulation of peroxidized lipid, fed or injected in the body of rats was investigated and the effect of peroxidized lipid on the antioxidative system was studied also. Three groups each having six of Sprague-dawley rats were raised for 8 weeks. the peroxide value(POV) of diet fed to the control and the peroxidized group was 5.47 and 22.14meq/kg , respectively. Injected group was given the control diet and peroxidized linoleic acid(POV 31.81meq/kg) was injected into the peritoneal area three times a week. The POV, MDA, and protein carbonyl values of the peroxidized and the injected group (experimental groups) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the control group. Cu, Zn-SOD and M-SOD activity of the experimentla groups increased 1.6 times that of control group at 4 th week. and decreased by 60% of their activityafter 8 weeks of feeding (p<0.05) . Catalase activity, glutathione and Vt, E contents of the experimental groups were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of the control group during 8 weeks. The accumulation of peroxidcized lipid in liver were ovserved both in the fed or the injected group. The increased of enzyme activity of the experimental group during 4 weeks suggests ianadaptation of antioxidative system to get rid of the peroxidized lipid. Decrease of enzyme activity and glutathione observed as the peroxidized lipid lipid accumulation proceeded further, however, seems to indicate the oxdiative damage of enzyme and protein . Determination of the protein carbonyl content may be used as a method for measuring the oxidative damaging effect of peroxidized lipid.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2011

The dietary intake of whole grains is known to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. To investigate whether there are anti-adipogenic activities in various Korean cereals, we assessed water extracts of nine cereals. The results showed that treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, Setaria italica Beauvois, or Panicum miliaceum L. extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation, as determined by measuring oil red-O staining, triglyceride accumulation, and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Among the nine cereals, P. miliaceum L. showed the highest anti-adipogenic activity. The effects of P. miliaceum L. on mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ were evaluated revealing that the extract significantly decreased the expression of these genes in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, P. miliaceum L. extract changed the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids in adipocytes, which is related to biological activity and cell characteristics. These results suggest that some cereals efficiently suppress adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In particular, the effect of P. miliaceum L. on adipocyte differentiation is associated with the downregulation of adipogenic genes and fatty acid accumulation in adipocytes.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.1 s.56
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• pp.19-26
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• 2007

Accumulation of tributyltin (TBT) in serum, liver and muscle of olive flounder (Paralichtys olivaceus) was investigated in a 60-d static renewal exposure at $0.1{\mu}g$ TBT/L. Tributyltin accumulated rapidly from 83 ng Sn/g to 2,227 ng Sn/g on a wet weight basis in the serum of the olive flounder and to a greater extent than in the other tissues. The accumulated TBT concentrations in tissues were in the order of serum>liver>muscle on wet or dry-weight basis. High concentrations of dibutyltin (DBT: 990 ng Sn/g dry wt) and monobutyltin (MBT: 141 ng Sn/g dry wt), degradation products of TBT were found in liver of olive flounder at the end of exposure. On the other hand, DBT and MBT was below the detection limits in muscle during the exposure, and only low concentration of DBT (56 ng Sn/g) were detectefd in serum. Butyltin compounds were also quantitatively determined in feral fine-spotted flounder (Pleuronichthys cornutus) collected from Gwangyang Bay as one of polluted area and Sori Island as a reference site. All three butyltin compounds were detected from the fine-spotted flounder from Gwangyang Bay up to 3,107 ng Sn/g of total butyltins in liver, while 120 ng Sn/g of total butyltin concentration was found in the liver of fish from Sori Island.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2016

Cheonsu Bay, one of the most important in Korea as a coastal fishery is a semi-enclosed bay that is surrounded by large farmlands and industrial areas. This coastal environment has been affected by anthropogenic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution of PCBs and OCPs in sediment, Manila clams, and mussels from Cheonsu Bay; the accumulation pattern of these chemicals in these bivalves in relation to seasonal changes; and the ecological risk from sediments and the risk to the Korean population from the consumption of these bivalves. The levels of ${\Sigma}PCBs$, ${\Sigma}DDT$, and ${\Sigma}HCHs$ were 69.3-109, 40.3-49.3 and 6.25-17.8 ng/g lipid in Manila clams, and 70.6-159, 38.6-102 and 9.00-13.5 ng/g lipid in Mussels. Significant seasonal variations in PCBs and OCPs concentrations were observed in the two bivalves, suggesting that the accumulation of PCBs and OCPs in these species is related to their spawning times. The dietary intake of these two bivalves and the resulting lifetime cancer risk (LCR) and non-cancer risk were calculated for the human population. The consumption of these bivalves seemed to be safe in relation to human health with negligible LCR and non-cancer risk.