• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 2008

Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death among Koreans. Control of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia is strongly correlated with decrease in risks for cardiovascular diseases, the most common and fatal diabetic complication. The effects of chronic feeding of a mixture of Chinese herbs on blood lipid profile were measured in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, db/db mice (C57BL/Ks). The Chinese herb mixture was composed of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer,Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lycium chinense, Morus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Schizandra chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Dioscorea batatas, Polygonatum doratumvar. pluriflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, and Rehmannia glutinosa in a ratio of 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.4 : 0.7 : 1.1 : 0.9 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.7 : 0.9 : 0.9. Methanol extract of the Chinese herb mixture was tested for the inhibitory activity against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in vitro. The Chinese herb mixture extract inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase by 25.2% at the concentration of 0.5mg/mL. Four weekold male db/db mice (n = 14) were fed AIN-93G semipurified diet or diet containing 10% powder of the Chinese herb mixture for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation period. Body weight (39.5 ${\pm}$ 1.6 g) and food intake (4.3 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (40.4 ${\pm}$ 2.6 g and 4.5 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day). Consumption of Chinese herb mixture significantly decreased plasma glucose level (442.5 ${\pm}$ 36.0mg/dL) compared with the control group (489.8 ${\pm}$ 34.6 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Plasma cholesterol level (159.2 ${\pm}$ 18.4 mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group was significantly lower than that of the control group (185.4 ${\pm}$ 13.7 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Blood glycated hemoglobin (6.3 ${\pm}$ 0.8%) and plasma triglyceride levels (99.4 ${\pm}$ 15.0mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (6.7 ${\pm}$ 0.7% and 108.8 ${\pm}$ 11.0mg/dL). Thus, the Chinese herb mixture could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.399-409
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to experiment the antitumor activity of Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour (APL) in human stomach cancer (AGS) cell lines (in vitro) and male C57BL/6J mouse (in vivo). Methods : The effects of the ethanol extract from the plant on several transplantable rodent tumors were investigated in vitro by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxy phenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay. DNA content analysis and Western blot analysis. Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour (APL) was given to rats with Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells. The experimental rats were divided into 3 groups in vivo. Saline was injected into the abdominal cavity in the first group, 50 mg/kg APL was injected into the abdominal cavity in the second group and 100 mg/kg was injected into the abdominal cavity in the third group. After that, we checked their tumor volume periodically. Results : At first, human gastric cancer (AGS) cell lines (in vitro) showed decreased cell viability, and increased $sub-G_1$ contents. When we experimented rat intestinal epithelial (RIE)l as same condition, this result didn't show. With this, compared to normal cells, Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour (APL) led selectively to the extinction of cells only in human gastric cancer. Moreover, we showed that the traditional herbal medicine APL induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in AGS cells. Next, APL inhibited the growth of LLC-bearing mouse tumor. However, we could not verify APL induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in LLC-bearing mouse tumor. Conclusions : The roots of Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour (APL) contain some antitumor constituents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.351-359
• /
• 2009

Etiological studies of diabetes and its complications showed that oxidative stress might play a major role, Therefore, many efforts have been tried to regulate free oxygen radicals for treating diabetes and its complications. Mori Fructus extract has been known to be effective for the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antiobesitic prescription, and composed of four crude herbs, The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Mori Fructus extract in male ob/ob mouse with severe obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia. Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the lean (C57BL/6J black mice) and diabetic (ob/ob mice) control groups received standard chow. The experimental groups were fed with a diet of chow supplemented with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg Mori Fructus extract per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. The effects of Mori Fructus extract on the ob/ob mice were observed by measuring the serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipid components, and the kidney levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), MDA+HAE, GSH and also the enzyme activities involved in polyol pathway. Western blotting was performed using anti-AGE, anti-RAGE respectively. Mori Fructus extract lowered the levels of serum glucose and insulin in a dose dependent manner. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were decreased, while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased, in Mori Fructus extract treated groups. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were inhibited in the Mori Fructus extract-administered groups. Mori Fructus extract inhibited the generation of ROS in the kidney. MDA+HAE level was increased and the GSH level was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were improved in the Mori Fructus extract-administered groups. Mori Fructus extract inhibited the expression of AGE, RAGE in the ob/ob mice. The results suggested that Mori Fructus exerted the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, scavenging the ROS, decreasing the MDA+HAE level, increasing the GSH level and inhibiting the expression of AGE, RAGE in the ob/ob mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.51-63
• /
• 2009

Objectives: Peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$), superoxide anion radical (${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and nitric oxide (NO) are cytotoxic because they can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. They have been implicated in the aging processes, and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the $ONOO^-$, NO, ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ scavenging and NF-${\kappa}B$ related anti-inflammatory activities of Sotosaja-hwan in ob/ob mice. Methods: Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the normal lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and control obese (ob/ob mice) groups have received standard chow. The experimental groups were fed with a diet of chow supplemented with 30 and 90 mg Sotosaja-hwan per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. For this study, the fluorescent probes, namely 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used. Western blotting was performed using anti-phospho-$I{\kappa}B$-${\alpha}$, anti-IKK-${\alpha}$, anti-NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), anti-COX-2, anti-iNOS, anti-YCAM-1 and anti-MMP-9 antibodies, respectively. Results: Sotosaja-hwan inhibited the generation of $ONOO^-$, NO and ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mouse kidney postmitochondrial fraction in vitro. The generation of $ONOO^-$, NO, ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and PGE2 were inhibited in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered ob/ob mice groups. The GSH/GSSG ratio was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas the ratio was improved in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered groups. Sotosaja-hwan inhibited the protein expression levels of phospho-$I{\kappa}B$-${\alpha}$, IKK-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), COX-2, iNOS, YCAM-1 and MMP-9 genes. Conclusions: These results suggest that Sotosaja-hwan is an effective $ONOO^-$, ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and NO scavenger and has NF-kB related anti-inflammatory activity in ob/ob mice. Therefore, Sotosaja-hwan might be a potential therapeutic drug against the inflammation process and inflammation-related diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 1996

This work has been carried out to examine the number of Total, ICM and TE cells of F1 mouse blastcysts at day 4 after IVF by differential labelling of the nuclei with polynucleotide-specific fluorochromes and to obtain a fundamental information of preimplantation mouse embryo development. Blastocysts produced by superovulated B6CBA F1(C57BL/${\times}$CBA) eggs were inseminated with $1{\times}10^6$spermatozoa/ml and cultured in M16 medium at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 95hrs. Blastocysts were classified as early, middle, expanded and hatching stage according to the developmental morphology; blastocoel expansion and zona thickness. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows; 1) The development rate of blastocysts at 95hrs after IVF was 86.7% and classified blastocysts to early, middle, expanded and hatching were 16.3%, 18.9%, 10.5% and 40.9%, respectively. 2) The numbers of total blastomere using bisbenzimide in the classified blastocysts to early, middle, expanded and hatching were 35.6${\pm}$1O.4, 49.4${\pm}$8.6, 60.8${\pm}$1O.7 and 62.7${\pm}$13.9, respectively. 3) In ICM and TE cell number by using differential labelling with polynucleotide-specific fluorochrome in the classified blastocysts to early, middle, expanded and hatching; ICM numbers were 9.6${\pm}$3.0, 13.6${\pm}$3.9, 16.0${\pm}$3.3 and 19.5${\pm}$4.6, respectively and TE cell numbers were 30.6${\pm}$5.1, 39.9${\pm}$5.8, 42.2${\pm}$8.1 and 43.7${\pm}$11.1, respectively. These results showed the same increase pattern according to development advance level. Also, when compared with the results of total count were obtained between bisbenzimide only and differential labelling, both of them showed the same increase pattern according to development level and at the same time their cell numbers were almost the same. So, rapid and simple cell count method using differential labelling can be used for the examination of later preimplantation development or as an indicator of embryo quality according to the variables of culture conditions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2011

Lactobacillus salivarius JWS 58 (JWS 58) and Lactobacillus plantarum JWS 1354 (JWS 1354) are isolated from duck intestine and have ability to produce bacteriocin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of JWS 58 and JWS 1354. The nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$) were measured in C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal macrophages to determine immune enhancing effects of JWS 58 and JWS 1354. A Listeria (L.) monocytogenes challenge mice model was used to evaluate immune enhancement ability of JWS 58 and JWS 1354 in vivo. The results showed that JWS 58 and JWS 1354 increased the production of NO or cytokines by peritoneal macrophages and that oral administration of viable probiotic strains in mice elicited the immuno-modulatory effect upon L. monocytogenes challenge. JWS 1354 showed stronger immune enhancing effects than JWS 58. Collectively, this study demonstrated that Lactobacillus strain JWS 58 and JWS 1354 possess immune enhancing effect. Furthermore, two stains are expected to use feed supplement to prevent diseases by pathogenic bacteria through releasing bacteriocin and enhancing host immune responses in animal.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.236-243
• /
• 1993

Immunologic potential of DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, was investigated using guinea pigs and mice. In antigenicity experiments, guinea pigs were sensitized subcutaneously with DA-125 or DA-125 incorporated in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) once a week for three weeks. No systemic anaphylaxis was induced by intravenous injection of DA-125 or DA-125 incubated with guinea pig serum after 3 weeks from the last sensitization. None of sera of these animals showed any passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction (PCA) when DA-125 or DA-125 incubated with guinea pig serum was used as a challenging antigen in homologous PCA experiment. On the other hand the treatment of guinea pigs with ovalbumin Incorporated in CFA induced systemic anaphylactic reaction when challenged by intravenous injection of 5 mg/body of ovalbumin. Immunodiffusion test revealed no precipitating antibodies as detected in guinea pigs sensitized with DA-125. In 24-hour heterologous PCA reaction with sera of C57BL/6 mice immunized with DA-125 or DA-125 mixed with aluminum hydroxide gel (Alum), None of sera showed positive reaction when DA-125 or DA-125 incubated with rat serum was used as a challenging antigen. Sera of animals immunized with a mixture of ovalbumin and alum showed positive PCA reaction when 5 mg/body of ovalbumin was injected as a challenging antigen. In lymphocyte proliferation tests, spleen lymphocyte proliferation to PHA and LPS was similarly impaired by 12 mg/kg of DXR or 36 mg/kg of DA-125, and the immunodepressive activity of DA-125 showed a dose-dependent manner. From these results, it could be concluded that immunosupression of DA-125 would be comparable to that of DXR and that DA-125 would not induce systemic allergic reaction in its clinical use.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.336-342
• /
• 2010

Obesity-induced disorders contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, fatty liver diseases, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of aloe formula in high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6N mice. Male mice fed HFD for 28 weeks received a supplement of aloe formula, PAG, ALS, Aloe QDM, and an Aloe QDM complex for a further 8 weeks and were then compared with regular diet fed mice. After the experimental period, the blood glucose levels of the Aloe QDM complex-and PGZ-supplemented mice were significantly lower than those of the HFD-fed mice. Aloe formula, especially the Aloe QDM complex, and the PGZ treatment group profoundly affected the IPGTT and HOMA-IR. Immunochemistry was done for the morphological observation and the resulting sizes of adipocytes around the epididymis were significantly decreased when comparing the aloe formula-treated and HFD-fed groups. Further, aloe formula decreased mRNA expression of fatty acid synthesis enzymes and led to reduced hepatic steatosis in both liver and WAT. These results suggest that supplementation of Aloe QDM complex in the HFD-fed mice improved insulin resistance by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing adipocytes. Our data suggest that dietary aloe formula reduces obesity-induced glucose tolerance by suppressing fatty acid synthesis in the WAT and liver, both of which are important peripheral tissues affecting insulin resistance. The Aloe QDM complex could be used as a nutritional intervention against T2D.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.154-160
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: We examined the hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of yeast hydrolysate (YH) enriched with Cyclo-His-Pro (CHP) in the C57BL/6J ob/ob mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mice were separated into 4 groups (8 mice/group) on the basis of blood glucose and body weight: WT control, lean mice given vehicle; ob/ob control, ob/ob mice given vehicle; YH-1, ob/ob mice given 0.5 g/kg of YH; YH-2, ob/ob mice given 1 g/kg of YH. YH in saline or vehicle was administered orally in the same volume every day for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Mice treated with YH (0.5 and 1 g/kg) for 3 weeks displayed a significant reduction in overall body weight gain and perirenal and epididymal adipose tissue weight compared to the ob/ob control group. Additionally, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, glucose, and atherogenic indexes were significantly decreased in the blood of YH-1 and YH-2 groups compared to the ob/ob control. In ob/ob mice, YH administration significantly improved glucose tolerance and blood insulin levels. These data indicate that YH treatment produces potent hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects by controlling body weight, fat mass, blood lipid, insulin levels, and glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION: YH could potentially be used as a treatment option for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The CHP-enriched YH may be a promising strategy in the development of hypoglycemic peptide nutraceuticals.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.106-116
• /
• 2008

Objectives : Peroxynitrite $(ONOO^-)$, superoxide anion radical $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ and nitric oxide (NO) are cytotoxic because they can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. They have been implicated in the aging processes, and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the $ONOO^-$, NO, and $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities of Mori Fructus in ob/ob mice. Methods : Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the normal lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and control obese (ob/ob mice) groups received the standard chow. The experimental groups were fed a diet of chow supplemented with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg Mori Fructus per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. For this study, the fluorescent probes, namely 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used. Western blotting was performed using anti-phospho $I{\kappa}B-\alpha$, anti-IKK-$\alpha$, anti-NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), anti-COX-2 and anti-iNOS respectively. Results : Mori Fructus inhibited the generation of $ONOO^-$, NO and $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mouse kidney postmitochondria in vitro. The generation of $ONOO^-$, NO and $({\cdot}O2^-)$ were inhibited in the Mori Fructus-administered ob/ob mice groups. The GSH/GSSG ratio decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas they improved in the Mori Fructus-administered groups. Mori Fructus inhibited the expression of phospho $I{\kappa}B-\alpha$, IKK-$\alpha$, COX-2, iNOS genes, and thereby the activation of NF-$I{\kappa}B$. Conclusions : These results suggest that Mori Fructus is an effective $ONOO^-$, $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ and NO scavenger, and therefore it might be a potential therapeutic drug against the inflammation process and inflammation-related diseases.