• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2024

Objectives : Ulcerative colitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. However, there are some drawbacks to long-term drug therapy such as the risk of opportunistic infections. Recently, there was an increasing interest on the use of khorasan Kamut wheat because of their higher value of selenium and fiber than modern wheat. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of Kamut brand wheat enzyme (Kamut WE) diet on colon health in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Methods : Female C57BL/6J mice were divided into 6 groups. (1) normal (Water and AIN-93G diet), (2) control (1.25% DSS and AIN-93G diet), (3) Kamut WE (1.25% DSS and Kamut WE diet), (4) normal (Water and AIN-93G diet), (5) control (2.50% DSS and AIN-93G diet), (6) Kamut WE (2.50% DSS and Kamut WE diet). Dietary intake, body weight change, disease activity index (DAI), colon length and spleen weight were monitored. Results : Kamut WE group alleviated colitis symptom, including dietary intake loss, DAI (weight loss, loose stools, bleeding), colon length shortening and spleen swelling. Further, Kamut WE diets showed a significant effect against pathological damage by the increased colon length, decreased DAI and spleen weight in DSS 1.25% as well as DSS 2.50%. Conclusions : Our study provides evidence that Kamut WE diet increased colon length, decreased DAI and spleen weight in intestinal inflammation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.371-375
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• 2007

To control blood glucose level as close to normal is a major goal of treatment of diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are the major risk factors for cardiovascular complications, the major cause of immature death among the patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study is to determine the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Salicornia herbacea in animal model of type 2 diabetes and to investigate the possible mechanisms for the beneficial effects of S. herbacea. S. herbacea was extracted with 70% ethanol and desalted with 100% ethanol. Three week-old db/db mice (C57BL/KsJ, n=16) were fed AIN-93G semipurified diet or diet containing 1% desalted ethanol extract of S. herbacea for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol were measured by enzymatic methods and blood glycated hemoglobin ($HbA_{1C}$) by the chromatographic method. Body weight and food intake of S. herbacea group were not significantly different from those of the control group. Fasting plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin levels tended to be lowered by S. herbacea treatment. Consumption of S. herbacea extract significantly decreased plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels (p<0.05). The inhibition of S. herbacea extract against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was 31.9% of that of acarbose at the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL in vitro. The inhibitory activity of ethanol extract of S. herbacea against porcine pancreatic lipase was 59.0% of that of orlistat at the concentration of 0.25 mg/mL in vitro. Thus, these results suggest that S. herbacea could be effective in controlling hyperlipidemia by inhibition of pancreatic lipase in animal model of type 2 diabetes.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.108-123
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• 2016

Objectives : This comparative study was to investigate on anti-obesity effects of Ephedrae Herba and Cyperi rhizoma in high fat diet(HFD) fed mice. Methods : Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet(normal group, N), high fat 45 cal% diet[HFD, control group, C), HFD with Ephedrae Herba(EH group) and Cyperi rhizoma(CR group) extracts fed for 5 weeks. We were observed as follows : changes of body weight, amount of diet intake, weight of total visceral fats, levels of obesity-related hormones and blood lipids. Results : The change of body weight after EH and CR oral administration significantly more decreased in EH group than that of control group. The FFR(Food Efficiency Ratio) was decreased in EH group, but more increased in CR group than that of control group. The weight of periepididymal and perirenal fats were significantly decreased in EH and CR groups compared to the control group. The levels of serum leptin and insulin were significantly decreased in EH group, and the level of serum adiponectin was increased in EH group compared to control group. The levels of serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly decreased in EH and CR groups, and HDL-cholesterol levels was significantly increased in EH group compared to control group. Conversely in CR group, its values showed the opposite effect. The staining density of lipid droplets within the hepatocytes was widely distributed in CR and control groups, but in EH group, its density was weakly stained. Conclusions : These experimental results suggest that Ephedrae Herba shows conspicuous anti-obesity effect, and Cyperi rhizoma shows weak anti-obesity effect.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.519-529
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• 2017

Sodium butyrate (SB) has various metabolic actions. However, its effect on dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) needs to be studied further. We aimed to evaluate the metabolic actions of SB, considering its physiologically relevant concentration. We evaluated the effect of SB on regulation of DPP-4 and its other metabolic actions, both in vitro (HepG2 cells and mouse mesangial cells) and in vivo (high fat diet [HFD]-induced obese mice). Ten-week HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice were subjected to SB treatment by adding SB to HFD which was maintained for an additional 16 weeks. In HepG2 cells, SB suppressed DPP-4 activity and expression at sub-molar concentrations, whereas it increased DPP-4 activity at a concentration of $1,000{\mu}M$. In HFD-induced obese mice, SB decreased blood glucose, serum levels of insulin and $IL-1{\beta}$, and DPP-4 activity, and suppressed the increase in body weight. On the contrary, various tissues including liver, kidney, and peripheral blood cells showed variable responses of DPP-4 to SB. Especially in the kidney, although DPP-4 activity was decreased by SB in HFD-induced obese mice, it caused an increase in mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$. The pro-inflammatory actions of SB in the kidney of HFD-induced obese mice were recapitulated by cultured mesangial cell experiments, in which SB stimulated the secretion of several cytokines from cells. Our results showed that SB has differential actions according to its treatment dose and the type of cells and tissues. Thus, further studies are required to evaluate its therapeutic relevance in metabolic diseases including diabetes and obesity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.64-74
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• 2010

Background: The present study was undertaken to examine the immunological effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ether (penta-BDE) and decabrominated diphenyl ether (deca-BDE) on the immune system of the dams and the developmental immune system of the offsprings. Methods: In this study, mated female C57BL/6J mice were orally administered penta-BDE, deca-BDE or corn oil for 5 weeks, from gestational day 6 to lactational day 21. Results: The body weight of PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was significantly decreased relative to control mice, but that of post-natal day 63 (PND63) were recovered. Orally dosed dams with penta-BDE had significantly smaller absolute and relative spleen masses than control mice. Absolute and relative spleen and thymus masses of PND21 exposed to penta-BDE were significantly decreased over control. The exposure of dams and PND21 with penta-BDE reduced the number of splenocytes and thymocytes. As results of hematologic analysis, percentage WBC and percentage neutrophils increased in dams with deca-BDE. Splenic T cell proliferation in dams and PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was increased, and there were no significant difference in splenic B cell proliferation in all treatment groups. As results of flow cytometric analysis of splenocyte, percentage total T cell, Th cell and Tc cell in PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was slightly increased, and percentage macrophage in dams and PND21 exposed to deca-BDE was decreased. The ELISA results of antibody production show no significant difference in all treatment groups relative to controls. Conclusion: These results imply that PBDEs given to the dam were transferred to the offspring during gestation and lactation, and PBDEs transferred from the dam affect immune system of offspring.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.129-144
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• 2002

We investigated anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects of Panax ginseng berry extract and its major constituent, ginsenoside Re, in obese diabetic C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and their lean littermates. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Panax ginseng berry extract for 12 days. On Day 5, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to vehicle-treated mice $(156{\pm}9.0\;mg/dl\;vs.\;243{\pm}15.8mg/dl,$ P<0.01). On Day 12, the extract-treated ob/ob mice became normoglycemic $(137{\pm}6.7\;mg/dl)$ and had significantly improved glucose tolerance. The overall glucose excursion during the two-hour intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), calculated as area under the curve (AUC), decreased by $46\%$ (P<0.01) compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice. Glucose levels of lean mice were not significantly affected by the extract. The improvement in blood glucose levels in 150 mg/kg extracttreated ob/ob mice was associated with significant reduction in serum insulin levels of fed and fasting mice. Consistent with an improvement in insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study revealed a more than 2-fold increase in the rate of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in treated ob/ob mice $(112{\pm}19.1\;vs.\;52{\pm}11.8{\mu}mol/kg/min$ for the vehicle group, P<0.01). In addition, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice, but not the lean mice, lost significant weight (from $51.7{\pm}1.9g\;on\;Day\;0\;to\;45.7{\pm}1.2$ on Day 12, P<0.01 compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice), associated with a significant reduction in food intake (P<0.05) and a very significant increase in energy expenditure (P<0.01) and body temperature (P<0.01). A 12-day treatment with 150 mg/kg Panax ginseng berry extract also significantly reduced plasma cholesterol levels in ob/ob mice. Additional studies demonstrated that ginsenoside Re, a major constituent of the ginseng berry, but not from the root, plays a significant role in anti-hyperglycemic action. This anti-diabetic effect of ginsenoside Re was not associated with body weight changes, suggesting that other constituents in the extract have distinct pharmacological mechanisms on energy metabolism. The identification of a significant anti-hyperglycemic activity in ginsenoside Re may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.405-418
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• 2022

Simotang oral liquid (SMT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) consisting of four natural plants and is used to alleviate gastrointestinal side effects after chemotherapy and functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the mechanism by which SMT helps cure these gastrointestinal diseases is still unknown. Here, we discovered that SMT could alleviate gastrointestinal side effects after chemotherapy by altering gut microbiota. C57BL/6J mice were treated with cisplatin (DDP) and SMT, and biological samples were collected. Pathological changes in the small intestine were observed, and the intestinal injury score was assessed. The expression levels of the inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6 and the adhesive factors Occludin and ZO-1 in mouse blood or small intestine tissue were also detected. Moreover, the gut microbiota was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. SMT was found to effectively reduce gastrointestinal mucositis after DDP injection, which lowered inflammation and tightened the intestinal epithelial cells. Gut microbiota analysis showed that the abundance of the anti-inflammatory microbiota was downregulated and that the inflammatory microbiota was upregulated in DDP-treated mice. SMT upregulated anti-inflammatory and anticancer microbiota abundance, while the inflammatory microbiota was downregulated. An antibiotic cocktail (ABX) was also used to delete mice gut microbiota to test the importance of gut microbiota, and we found that SMT could not alleviate gastrointestinal mucositis after DDP injection, showing that gut microbiota might be an important mediator of SMT treatment. Our study provides evidence that SMT might moderate gastrointestinal mucositis after chemotherapy by altering gut microbiota.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.399-409
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• 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
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1163-1169
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• 2007

Effects of Sotosaja hwan on Blood Glucose, Hyperlipidemia, Polyol Pathway and Antioxidative Mechanism in ob/ob Mouse Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. 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. Sotosaja-hwan has been known to be effective for the antiaging and composed of four crude herbs. In male ob/ob mouse in severe obesity, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia, which are features of NIDDM, the hyperglycemic activites and mechanisms of Sotosaja-hwan were examined. Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and diabetic (ob/ob mice) control groups 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. The effects of Sotosaja-hwan extract on the ob/ob mice were observed by measuring the serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipid components, and the kidney levels of superoxide anion radical $({\cdot}O_2)$, MDA+HAE, GSH/GSSG ratio, and also the enzyme activities involved in polyol pathway. Sotosaja-hwan 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 Sotosaja-hwan treated groups. Renal aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were inhibited in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered groups. Sotosaja-hwan inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}O_2$ in the kidney. Finally, MDA+HAE levels was increased and GSH/GSSG ratio was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas those were improved in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered groups. Sotosaja-hwan showed the antidiabetic and anti hyperlipidemic activities by regulating the activities of polyol pathway enzymes, scavenging reactive oxygen species and reducing the MDA+HAE levels in the ob/ob mice.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.123-139
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Cheongshimyeonja-tang water extracts(CSYJ) on high fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6J mice. Methods : The experimental animals were divided into four groups; normal diet-fed control(ND), high fat diet-fed control(HFD), HFD+CSYJ 150 mg/kg(CSYJ 150), and HFD+CSYJ 300 mg/kg(CSYJ 300). Obesity with hyperlipidemia was induced by feeding high fat diet(40%), and CSYJ was administrated orally into mice every day for 5 weeks. The effect of CSYJ on the serological parameters for Obesity with hyperlipidemia was evaluated. Results : CSYJ-treated groups revealed significantly reduced body weight and feed intake, as well as feed efficiency ratio, compared to HFD-fed group in dose-dependent manner. CSYJ reduced significantly the serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol elevated by intake of high fat diet feed, while the increased serum levels of HDL-cholesterol attenuated levels of atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. It also reduced the blood levels of insulin and leptin in HFD group, and inhibited lipid accumulation in organs such as liver and abdomal adipose tissue. Moreover oral administration of CSYJ decreased significantly the blood level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), and lipid peroxide(LPO), compared to HFD-fed group in dose-dependent manner. Conclusions : These results indicate that CSYJ could reduce high fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia, suggesting its clinical usefulness for declining body fat and hyperlipidemia.