• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.433-440
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• 2002

The protective efficacy of Rheum palmatum water extract on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism was studied in C57BL/6 mice. In order to demonstrate neuroprotective effect of R. palmatum extract, animals were administered intraperitoneally with the water extract (100 or 200 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, and MPTP (10 mg/kg/day) was injected subcutaneously into the mice for the first 6 consecutive days from the beginning 1 hr before R. palmatum extract treatment. All animals were measured the several neurobiochemical markers such as dopamine level and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity in various regions of brain. The treatment of mice with R. palmatum extract was confirmed recovery effect on MAO-B activity in the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex. R. palmatum extract was attenuated the MPTP-induced depletion of substantia nigra dopamine. The contents of MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation, in brain tissues (cerebellum and cerebral cortex mitochondria) were decreased significantly by R. palmatum extract. These results suggest that R. palmatum water extract plays an effective role in attenuating MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. This protective effect of R. palmatum might be estimated the result from the inhibitory activity on monoamine oxidase B and the enhancement of antioxidant activity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Objective : In this study, the anti-obesity effect of Fragaria orientalis (FO) on high-fat diet-induced obese mice was investigated. Drug treatment methods are widely used as obesity treatment methods, but research using various natural products is being conducted due to safety concerns. This study aims to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of FO extract, a natural product derived from Mongolia. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were used and divided into three groups, normal diet group, high-fat diet group, and high-fat diet with FO oral treatment group at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Extract was orally provided everyday for 6 weeks. Body Weight and food intake were measured every 2 days and blood lipid profiles and liver function in the sacrificed mice were evaluated. In addition, protein expression in hepatic tissue and histomorphological changes in liver and adipose tissue were observed. Results : Body weight, adipose tissue weight and FER were significantly lower in a high-fat diet with FO treatment than fed only high-fat diet. There was a significant difference between the high-fat diet and the FO-treated high-fat diet mice. As a result of analyzing lipid metabolism-related genes in hepatic tissue, all of p-AMPK, p-ACC, PPAR-α, CPT-1, and UCP-1 showed significant increases, and PPAR-γ also decreased significantly compared to the high-fat diet group. Conclusion : Overall, these results indicate that FO is effectual in improving obesity, suggesting that it can be used as a possible material for anti-obesity agents or functional supplements for weight control.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1188-1194
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• 2017

Gochujang, a traditional Korean food, is fermented by mixing red pepper powder, various grain, meju and salt. Changes in the kind of ingredients and fermentation method could increase health functionalities. In this study, in vivo anti-colitis effects of gochujang prepared with mixed grains, bamboo salt baked 3 times and meju starters on DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice were studied. We prepared gochujang prepared with mixed grains (MG), bamboo salt, and Aspergillus oryzae (A) and Baccillus subtilis (B) mixed starters (MG-AB) and gochujang prepared with MG, bamboo salt and A, B and Lactobacillus plantarum (L) mixed starters (MG-ABL). MG-AB and MG-ABL significantly increased body weight and colon length compared to the control (p<0.05). MG-ABL showed significantly decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in serum compared to the control and MG-AB group (p<0.05). MG-ABL also regulated mRNA and protein levels of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the mice colon tissue (p<0.05). Therefore, MG-ABL exhibited the increased anticolitis effects by inhibiting damage of colon tissue, probably by regulating a pro-inflammatory cytokine of IL-6 and regulated apoptosis related genes. These results indicated that gochujang changed with good ingredients and starters had colitis preventive effects and might be due to active compounds in mixed grain and bamboo salt, and produced by L during the fermentation of gochujang.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.825-831
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of induced diabetes by streptozotocin (STZ) administration on gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue of C57/BL6 mice fed either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD). Four diabetic mice groups (16- or 26-week-old mice fed either ND or HFD) and four control groups of age and diet matched non-diabetic mice were used. By real-time PCR, gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were examined in adipose tissue. The results demonstrated that gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ was significantly or marginally increased in STZ induced diabetic mice groups compared with non-diabetic groups. On the other hand, MCP-1 gene expression tended to be decreased in diabetic mice compared with non-diabetic controls. Especially, MCP-1 expression level in 16w diabetic mice on HFD was about 26% of that in age and diet matched non-diabetic controls (p<0.001). In addition, MCP-1 gene expression in adipose tissue was correlated with plasma insulin levels (p=0.0002). These results suggest that gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue is differentially regulated in mouse models of diabetes. The basic data in this study will be useful for elucidating basic mechanisms of inflammatory state and increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue in obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

To examine the effect of the electrolyzed alkaline reduced water (ERW) on animal immunity, by employing Echinostoma hortense that is a parasite in the small intestine, the immune response of C57BL/6 was examined. To C57BL/6 mice, Echinostoma hortense metacercaria 15 per animal was in oculate dorsally, the worm was collected after 2 weeks, and the change of goblet cells and mast cells in the mucosa of small intestine was examined, and by using a protein chip, the change of cytokines in the serum was compared and observed. As a result, average 8.3 worms were collected from the C57BL/6 mice infected with E. hortense, and in the group fed with the ERW, average 10 worms were collected. In regard to the examination of the change of goblet cells, in the experimental group infected with E. hortense and fed with the ERW, average 4.3 worms per villus were detected, hence, it was found that the expression of goblet cells was low (p<0.001). Regarding the examination of the change of mast cells, similarly, in the group infected with E. hortense and fed with the ERW, average 11 worms per villus were detected, and it appears to be less than control group (p<0.001). Regarding the expression of cytokines in mouse serum, in comparison of the experiment group infected with E. hortense and control group, in the expression of the Th1 cytokines IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-2, and the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, a significant difference was not detected. In our study, it was found that in the infection of E. hortense, the ERW mediates its effect on the number of goblet cells and mast cells in the intestinal mucosa, and simultaneously, the worm expulsion was delayed, and thus the conclusion that the ERW mediated its effect on the intestinal immunity of mice was obtained.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1697-1703
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• 2012

Obesity is a risk factor for numerous metabolic diseases. Recently, naturally occurring compounds that may improve obesity have received increasing attention. Xanthigen is a mixture of fucoxanthin and punicic acid derived from brown seaweed and pomegranate seed, respectively, which have been traditionally used for lipid-lowering effects in humans. In this study, we investigated whether Xanthigen attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6N mice. The mice were fed on a normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD plus 1% Xanthigen or HFD plus 1% green tea extract (GTE) for 11 weeks. Food efficiency ratio (FER) and body weight were significantly reduced in mice fed HFD plus Xanthigen compared to HFD-fed mice. Consistent with the results in body weight change, Xanthigen also significantly decreased the weights of epididymal adipose tissue, retroperitoneal adipose tissue, and liver in HFD plus 1% Xanthigen-fed mice. The serum level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was significantly decreased in HFD plus Xanthigen-fed mice compared to HFD-fed mice. These results suggest that Xanthigen may be useful in the development of a functional health food for anti-obesity.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.232-238
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• 2018

Animal models have been used to elucidate the pathophysiology of varying diseases and to provide insight into potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Although alternatives to animal testing have been proposed to help overcome potential drawbacks related to animal experiments and avoid ethical issues, their use remains vital for the testing of new drug candidates and to identify the most effective strategies for therapeutic intervention. Particularly, the study of metabolic diseases requires the use of animal models to monitor whole-body physiology. In line with this, the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) in Korea has established their own animal strains to help evaluate both efficacy and safety during new drug development. The objective of this study was to characterize the response of C57BL/6NKorl mice from the NIFDS compared with that of other mice originating from the USA and Japan in a chemical-induced diabetic condition. Multiple low-dose treatments with streptozotocin were used to generate a type-1 diabetic animal model which is closely linked to the known clinical pathology of this disease. There were no significantly different responses observed between the varying streptozotocin-induced type-1 diabetic models tested in this study. When comparing control and diabetic mice, increases in liver weight and disturbances in serum amino acids levels of diabetic mice were most remarkable. Although the relationship between type-1 diabetes and BCAA has not been elucidated in this study, the results, which reveal a characteristic increase in diabetic mice of all origins are considered worthy of further study.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-153
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• 2003

To study the effects of anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and immune response improvement of herbal-acupuncture with Eclipta prostrata diffuse herba infusion solution(ELP-HAS), we injected ELP-HAS into Chok-samni(St36) of C57BL/6 mice implanted intravenously with B16-F10 melanoma. We have reached the following conclusion through the effect on the number of $CD25^+/CD4^+$, $CD8^+/CD3e^+$, $CD69^+/B220^+$, $NK1.1+/CD3e^+$ cells in mouse PBMCs, the effect on the pulmonary colony number, and the effect on MST(Median Survival Time) and ILS(Increase of Life Span) of C57BL/6 mice implanted intravenously with B16-F10 melanoma The results were obtained as follows: 1. In the experiment groups treated with ELP(Eclipta prostrata) Herbal-Acupuncture, the spleen cell proliferation in Balb/c mouse was significantly increased compared with control group. 2. In the experiment groups treated with ELP(Eclipta prostrata) Herbal-Acupuncture, the percentage of $CD25^+/CD4^+$, $CD8^+/CD3e^+$, $CD69^+/B220^+$, $NK1.1^+/CD3e^+$ cells in C57Bl/6 mouse PBMCs was increased compared with control group. 3. In the experiment groups treated with ELP(Eclipta prostrata) Herbal-Acupuncture, the pulmonary colony number of C57BL/6 mice implanted intravenously with B16-F10 melanoma was decreased significantly compared with control group. 4. In the experiment groups treated with ELP(Eclipta prostrata)Herbal-Acupuncture, MST(Median Survival Time) and ILS(Increase of Life Span) of C57BL/6 mice implanted intravenously with B16-F10 melanoma were increased significantly compared with control group.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.453-461
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• 2007

Drynariae Rhizoma has been used for promotes mending of the sinews and bone, tonifies the kidney for such symptoms as weak low back and knees, and stimulates the growth of hair as a tinctute for alopecia in oriental medicine. This experiment examined the effect of an acetone extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas(GSB-1), its EtoAc fraction(GB-2) and n-buOH fraction(GSB-3), on hair growth activity of the C57BL/6L mice after topical application to skin. First, We examined on hair growth activity of extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas compare to control and 1 % minoxidil groups. Second, We investigated on the number of hair follicle and mast cells after topical application of extracts of the Drynariae Rhizomas to skin for 16 day. Third, We investigated immunoreactive density of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), protein kinase C-${\alpha}$(PKC-${\alpha}$) and stem(mast) cell factor(SCF) in skin of C57BL/6N mice by immunohistochemical methods. The results were as follows : Hair growth effect of acetone extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas, its EtoAc fraction and n-BuOH fraction was observed in 98 %, 96 % and 60 % in hair removed skin area in 16 day respectively, Immunoreactive density of VEGF in skin of GSB-1 group was weakly stained compare to control group in 10 day, But GSB-2 and GSB-3 groups were mildy stained in bulge and root sheath of skin. Immunolocalization of SCF antigens was observed weakly stained density in epidermis, bulge, stem cells and dermal papilla of control gruop. but in experimental group, immunoreactivity of SCF antigens was observed mildly stained density in bulge, epidermis and root sheath of GSB-1 gruop, heavily stained density in epidermis, bulge and root sheath of GSB-2 and GSB-3 groups to the hair removal skin of C57BL/6N mice on day 10. These experiment suggest that acetone extracts of Drynariae Rhizomas and its EtoAc fraction may be used for topical treatment of alopecia areata.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2008

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of Korean red ginseng in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. The db/db mice were divided into three groups: diabetic control group (DC), Korean red ginseng group (KRG, 100 mg/kg) and metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in KRG-, 67.7% in MET-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose and insulin levels, the insulin resistance index of the KRG-treated group was reduced by 27.6% compared to the DC group. The HbA1c levels in KRG and MET-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0% and 18.9% compared to that of DC group, respectively. Plasma triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the KRG-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analyses of the liver and fat tissue of mice treated with KRG revealed significantly decreased number of lipid droplets and decreased size of adipocytes compared to the DC group. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin contents, but decreased glucagon production. To elucidate action mechanism of KRG, effects on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream target proteins responsible for fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis were explored in the liver. KRG activated AMPK and acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylations, resulting in stimulation of fatty acid oxidation. KRG also caused to down regulation of SREBP1a and its target gene expressions such as FAS, SCD1 and GPAT. In summary, our results suggest that KRG exerted the anti-diabetic effect through AMPK activation in the liver of db/db mice.