• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2017

Hyperlipidemia, which is closely associated with a fatty diet and aging, is commonly observed in the western and aged society. Therefore, a novel therapeutic approach for this disease is critical, and an immunological view has been suggested as a novel strategy, because hyperlipidemia is closely associated with inflammation and immune dysfunction. In this study, the effects of an aqueous extract of Rubus occidentalis (RO) in obese mice were investigated using immunological indexes. The mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce hyperlipidemia, which was confirmed by biochemical analysis and examination of the mouse physiology. Two different doses of RO and rosuvastatin, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor used as a control, were orally administered. Disturbances in immune cellularity as well as lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were significantly normalized by oral administration of RO, which also decreased the elevated serum tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ level and total cholesterol. The specific immune-related actions of RO comprised considerable improvement in cytotoxic T cell killing functions and regulation of antibody production to within the normal range. The immunological evidence confirms the significant cholesterol-lowering effect of RO, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia and associated immune decline.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2016

In the screening of marine mangrove derived fungi for lovastatin productivity, endophytic Aspergillus luchuensis MERV10 exhibited the highest lovastatin productivity (9.5 mg/gds) in solid state fermentation (SSF) using rice bran. Aspergillus luchuensis MERV10 was used as the parental strain in which to induce genetic variabilities after application of different mixtures as well as doses of mutagens followed by three successive rounds of genome shuffling. Four potent mutants, UN6, UN28, NE11, and NE23, with lovastatin productivity equal to 2.0-, 2.11-, 1.95-, and 2.11-fold higher than the parental strain, respectively, were applied for three rounds of genome shuffling as the initial mutants. Four hereditarily stable recombinants (F3/3, F3/7, F3/9, and F3/13) were obtained with lovastatin productivity equal to 50.8, 57.0, 49.7, and 51.0 mg/gds, respectively. Recombinant strain F3/7 yielded 57.0 mg/gds of lovastatin, which is 6-fold and 2.85-fold higher, respectively, than the initial parental strain and the highest mutants UN28 and NE23. It was therefore selected for the optimization of lovastatin production through improvement of SSF parameters. Lovastatin productivity was increased 32-fold through strain improvement methods, including mutations and three successive rounds of genome shuffling followed by optimizing SSF factors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.959-965
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• 2013

Monascus species have been used to produce fermented rice called Monascus-fermented rice (MFR). To improve a Monascus strain via activation of secondary metabolite (SM) gene clusters for use in the production of MFR, we overexpressed an ortholog of the laeA gene, which encodes a global positive regulator of secondary metabolism under the control of the strong heterologous Aspergillus nidulans alcA promoter in Monascus pilosus. The OE::laeA transformant produced more SMs, including those not detected under uninduced conditions. MFR produced using the M. pilosus OE::laeA strain contained 4 times more monacolin K, a cholesterol-lowering agent, than MFR produced using the wild-type strain. In addition, pigment production was remarkably increased, and the antioxidant activity was increased as well. The results from this study suggest that Monascus species, which are important industrial fermentative fungi in Asia, can be improved for the production of functional foods by overexpressing the laeA gene.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated whether the combined administration of berberine (BBR) and silibinin (SBN) was effective in improving hyperlipidemia and anti-obesity efficacy using a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mouse model. HFD-induced obese mice were supplemented with the BBR and SBN combination (BBR-SBN) along with the HFD administration for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight, food intake, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were analyzed. Consumption of HFD in the mice caused rapid increases in body weight and the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides compared to the normal control (NC) group. However, supplementation of BBR-SBN in these obese mice significantly reduced body weight gain and suppressed the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride with the increment of HDL cholesterol level. In the HFD-fed group, abdominal fat weight was significantly increased and the adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue were found to have expanded sizes compared to the NC group. However, in the BBR-SBN group, the sizes of the adipocytes were comparable to those of the NC group and abdominal fat weight was significantly reduced. Moreover, the deposition of giant vesicular fat cells in liver tissues seen in the HFD-fed group was considerably reduced in the BBR-SBN group. These results suggest that the BBR-SBN combination tends to have synergic potential as an anti-obesity agent by significantly reducing body weight gain as well as lowering serum lipid levels and thus improving anti-obesity efficacy in HFD-induced obese mice.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.284-290
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• 2017

We investigated the anti-obesity effects of the water extract from Orostachys japonicus in high-fat-fed mice. For the analysis, 24 mice were divided into four groups: normal (N) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, high-fat diet supplemented with 2.5% O. japonicus (HFD-OJL) group, and high-fat diet supplemented with 5% O. japonicus (HFD-OJH) group. The body weight gain and food efficiency ratio increased with a high-fat diet, but significantly decreased in the HFD-OJ groups compared with those in the HFD group. Levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower, but the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly higher in the HFD-OJH group. The adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue were found to have expanded in the HFD group. However, the adipocytes in the HFD-OJ groups were comparable to those of the N group. These results suggest that O. japonicus has potential as an anti-obesity agent by decreasing body weight and lowering the serum lipid levels in obese mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2013

We investigated the anti-obesity effects of Ishige okamurae extract (IOE) on body weight, epididymal adipose tissue weight, plasma lipid levels, and leptin levels in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. After inducing obesity by feeding 45% HFD for 4 weeks, C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to HFD or HFD containing 5% IOE, and then fed for 6 weeks. The body weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight were increased by HFD, but they were significantly less in animals fed HFD containing 5% IOE than in those fed HFD. Levels of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower, but the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly higher in animals fed HFD containing 5% IOE compared with the HFD group. The plasma leptin level was significantly lower in animals fed HFD containing 5% IOE. The diet containing 5% IOE did not show any adverse effects on liver and kidney functions. These results suggest that IOE has a potential as anti-obesity agent by reducing body weight and lowering the levels of obesity-related factors in plasma.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.147-156
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with the improvement of metabolic syndrome, and provide basic data for the health management of clients. The subjects were 280 adults who were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in 2013, and who were examined from January 2013 to December 2014. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, and logistic regression analysis with SPSS WIN 18. The change rate from 3 to 2 risk factors was 60.6% among those clients whose metabolic syndrome improved. The improvement group showed a decrease in their waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides and increase in their HDL cholesterol in 2014 compared to 2013, as well as decreased drinking, increased exercise, proper calorie, protein and carbohydrate uptake, and increased consumption of a lipid lowering agent. Exercise, calorie uptake and maintenance of an oral hypoglycemic drug influenced the improvement of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, it is necessary to have an intervention program including exercise enhancement and diet modification and to reinforce the health education for continuing health management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.469-473
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• 2003

This study was conducted to determine the effect of a mixture of two water-soluble dietary fibers, psyllium husk and glucomannan, on serum lipids, fecal fat excretion and body fat. Twenty one female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups (control, pair-fed control and test group) and fed a high saturated fat (20% lard) diet (control diet) or a test diet (psyllium husk and glucomannan added to the control diet at the level of 0.9% and 0.68%, respectively) for 8 weeks. Pair-fed control rats were allowed to eat the amount of diet consumed by test group the preceding day. The body weight gain and food efficiency ratio of test group were significantly lower compared with these of control group. The mean values of body weight gain and food efficiency ratio were lower in test group than in pair-fed control group, but the difference was not significant. There were no differences in food intake. The dry weight and water content of feces and fecal fat excretion were markedly greater in test group than in control groups. Serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were significantly lower in test group than in two control groups.1'he rats of two control groups had higher body fat contents than that of test group. These results indicate that the combination of the two water-soluble dietary fibers, psyllium husk and glucomannan, can be used as a potent lipid-lowering agent in individuals consuming high saturated fat diet.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 1998

Lovastatin is a lipid lowering agent for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and belongs to a new class of pharmacologic compounds called the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors. By competitively inhibiting HMG CoA reductase, lovastatin disrupts the biosynthesis of cholesterol in hepatic and peripheral cells and increases the synthesis of high-density-lipoprotein HDL) receptors. Following oral administration, the lactone ring of lovastatin is hydrolysed to the active inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase, lovastatin acid. Lovastatin is known to have poor oral absorption and wide individual variation. In this study, bioequivalence test of two lovastatin formulations, the test drug ($Lovaload^{TM}$, Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Co.) and the reference drug ($Mevacor^{TM}$, Chung Wae Pharmaceutical Co.) were conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). A total of 18 healthy male volunteers, $31.90\pm3.60$ years old and $72.17\;7.88$ kg of body weight in average, were evaluated in a randomized crossover manner with a 2-week washout period. Concentrations of lovastatin acid in plasma were measured upto 12 hours following a single oral administration of eight tablets (20 mg of lovastatin per tablet) by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection at 238 nm. The area under the concentration-vs-time curve from 0 to 12 hours $(AUC_{0-12h})$ was calculated by the trapezoidal summation method. The statistical analysis showed that there are no significant differences in $AUC_{0-12h),\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between the two formulations ($6.72\%,\;1.52\%,\;and\;0.88\$, respectively). The least significant differences between the formulations at $\alpha$=0.05 were less than $20\%\;(11.65\%,\;19.73\%,\;and\;14.81\%\;for\;AUC_{0-12h},\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). The $90\%$ confidence intervals for these parameters were also within $\pm20\%\;(-1.50{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}15.00$, $-12.50{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}15.50,\;and\;-9.64{\leq}{\delta]{\leq}11.40{\leq}\;for\;\;AUC_{0-12h}$ ,$C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). In conclusion, the new generic product $Lovaload^{TM}$ was proven to be bioequivalent with the reference drug.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1537-1543
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• 2007

This study was investigate the effect of grape seed water extract (GSW) on lipid profiles, lipid metabolism and erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Three groups of male C57BL/6 mice were fed different diets for 6 weeks: normal diet (Normal), high-fat diet (HF control; 37% calorie from fat) and high-fat diet supplemented with GSW (HF-GSW; 1% wt/wt). Supplementation of GSW did not affect the body weight, food intake, daily energy intake, white adipose tissue weights and plasma leptin level in high-fat fed mice. Plasma and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents were significantly higher in the HF control group than in the Normal group; however, GSW supplement significantly lowered plasma triglyceride and hepatic cholesterol concentrations compared to the HF control group. GSW supplement significantly increased fecal excretion of triglyceride in high-fat fed mice. Hepatic carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity was significantly higher in the HF-GSW group than in the HF control group, while fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation tended to be lowered by GSW supplement. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity was also significantly higher in the HF-GSW group than in the HF control group and glutathione peroxidase activity tended to be lowered in HF-GSW group. The GSW supplement significantly lowered erythrocyte lipid peroxidation level compared to the HF control group. Accordingly, these results suggest that GSW can be considered as a lipid-lowering agent and as being effective for enhancing erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.