• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts on immunomodulators and prevention in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes rat model. A total of 28 male rats were divided into four dietary groups and fed a commercial diet (A), commercial diet plus induced diabetes by a streptozotocin (STZ) injection (B), induced diabetes by STZ plus medicinal crop extracts(I&$H^{(R)}$) diet (C), and medicinal crop extracts (I&$H^{(R)}$) diet (D). Immunoblotting analyses revealed cytokine expression, and ELISA analyses revealed immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production. As a results, the tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as a inflammatory cytokine were decreased. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) cytokine related in diabetes expression through JAK/STAT3 pathway were also decreased. Furthermore, immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production were decreased in the serum and lens, respectively. These results suggest that Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts provide positive effects on immunomodulators and prevention in diabetes and eye disease complications.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2005

The present study was aimed to investigate whether ethanol-extract of Nelumbo nucifera has an ameliorative effect on the renal function in high fructose-diet induced hypertensive rats. The urine osmolality (Uosmel) was decreased in rats with high fructose-diet ($60\%$) during the whole experiment period without change of the urine volume (UV). The urinary excretion of sodium and chloride were decrease significantly in rats with fructose induced hypertensive rats, wheras urinary excretion of potassium was increased. The creatinine clearance (CCr) and solute-free water reabsorption were also decreased by treatment of fructose rich diet. Among these renal functional parameters, CCr was partially restored by the administration of ethanol-extract of Nelumbo nucifera. The Uosmol was also partially restored by the administration ethanol-extract of Nelumbo nucifera at the end of the experimental period. Taken together, ethanol-extract of Nelumbo nucifera has the ameliorative effect on glomerular filtration rate in rats with high fructose-diet induced hypertension.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.663-669
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin E on the histochemical change of kidney tissue in diabetic rats. Sprague Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10g were randomly assigned to one normal and three STZ induced diabetic groups, which were subdivided into vitamin E free diet(DM 0E group), 40mg vitamin E per kg diet(DM 40E group) and 400mg vitamin E per kg diet(DM 400E group). Vitamin E level of normal group was 40mg per kg diet. Diabetes was exper imentally induced by intravenous injection of 55mg/kg of body weight of streptozotocin(STZ) in citrate buffer(pH 4.3) after 4 weeks feeding of experimental diets. Animals were sacrificed at the 6th day of diabetic states. The contents of thiobarbituric acid(TBARS) in kidney were increased 119%, 84% and 33% in DM 0E, DM 40E and DM 400E groups, respectively, compared to normal group. That of DM 400E group was decreased 39% compared to DM 0E group. Content of 2 microglobulin in urine in DM 0E, DM 40E, and DM 400E groups were increased by 248%, 181%, and 164%, respectively, compared to normal group. The diabetic groups showed the regressive lesion such as renal tubule, intumescence of epithelial cell, vacuolization. The results of the observation through electronic microscope showed the mitochondria shape of proximal tubule epithelial cell, irregular array, increase of ribosome, and irregular arrangement of small villosity, etc. These types of changes appeared severer in DM 0E group than in DM 400E group. These results indicate that the TBARS productions on kdney in STZ induced diabetic rats were increased, consequently those leaded to damage of renal tubule and minuteness structure. But a large quantity vitimin E supplementation was suppressed in TBARS production and improved in peroxidative damage of renal tissue so that relieved degenerative changes of renal tubule epithelial cell.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2015

Objectives : Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Jeokhasuo in Korean) is a Oriental traditional herbs widely used in East Asian countries. Overconsumption of fructose results in hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and impaired glucose tolerance which have documented as a risk of cardiovascular diseases. This experimental study was designed to investigate the beneficial effects of an ethanol extract from Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) in high-fructose (HF) diet-induced metabolic syndrome rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups; Control group, receiving regular diet and tap water, HF group, and HF + PMR group both receiving supplemented with 65% fructose (n=10), respectively. The HF + PMR group initially received HF diet with PMR (100 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Results : PMR significantly prevented the metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. Chronic treatment with PMR significantly decreased body weight, fat weight and adipocyte size, suggesting a role of anti-obesity effect. PMR led to improve the hyperlipidemia through the increase in HDL cholesterol level as well as the decrease in triglyceride and LDL cholesterol level. In addition, PMR suppressed adhesion molecules and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression in aorta resulting in the decrease of hypertension. In muscle tissue, PMR significantly recovered the HF-induced insulin resistance through increase of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), p-$AMPK{\alpha}1/2$, and p-Akt expression. PMR improved HF-induced metabolic disorders and its action was caused by energy metabolism-mediated insulin signaling activation. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that PMR may be a beneficial therapeutic for metabolic syndrome through the improvement of hyperlipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.387-398
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• 2024

Euphorbia humifusa Willd (Euphorbiaceae) is a functional raw material with various pharmacological activities. This study aimed to validate the inhibitory effect of Euphorbia humifusa extract (EHE) on adipocyte differentiation in vitro and in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse model to evaluate the E.a humifusa as a novel anti-obesity and lipid metabolism enhancer agent. EHE effects on obesity and lipid metabolism were assessed in HFD-induced obese mice after 4-week treatments. Results were compared among four treatment groups (n = 7/group): low fat diet (LFD), high fat diet (HFD), and HFD-induced obese mice treated with either 100 or 200 mg/kg/day EHE (EHE100 and EHE200, respectively). EHE (50 to 200 ㎍/ml) and quercetin (50 ㎍/ml) significantly reduced 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation (p < 0.001), in a concentration-dependent manner. EHE affected lipid metabolism, as evidenced by changes in serum lipid components. The HFD-EHE100 and HFD-EHE200 groups exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) reduced triglycerides (TG, 97.50 ± 6.56 and 82.50 ± 13.20 mg/dL, respectively) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c: 40.25 ± 4.99 and 41.25 ± 6.36 mg/dL, respectively) compared to the HFD group (TG: 129.25 ± 19.81 mg/dL; LDL-c: 51.75 ± 11.59 mg/dL). Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Oil red O staining showed that EHE markedly reduced lipid accumulation and inhibited lipogenesis in the liver. Interestingly, EHE significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the expression of adipogenic transcription factors in liver tissue. Our results indicated that EHE has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for addressing obesity and lipid metabolism.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.179-189
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• 2006

Objective: We investigated the efficacy of a 12-week supplementation of soy isoflavone with L-carnitine on the development of obesity in high fat-induced obese C57BL/6J mice, which are known as a good model of diet-induced obesity. Methods: We measured body weights, adipose tissue mass, serum/liver lipid profiles and fat cell size/number in C57BL/6J mice fed diets containing either low fat (4%) or high fat (35%), or high fat supplemented with soy isoflavone powder containing 10% isoflavone and L-camitine for 12 weeks. Results: Body weight gain, abdominal adipose tissue and liver weight were lower by 31% 78% and 31.4% respectively, in mice on high fat diet containing soy isoflavone+L-carnitine (SC mixture) compared with high fat diet group. Also, SC mixture improved serum lipid profiles such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and liver lipid profiles such as total lipids and TG. As subsequent results, this SC mixture prevented high-fat diet from accumulating TG in the liver. The size of fat cell was also significantly decreased in SC mixture fed mice. At the end point of this experiment, our results showed that feeding with soy isoflavone for 12 weeks finally increased camitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT 1) activity through elevating the level of CPT1 expression. Conclusions: This study suggests that long-tenn supplementation with dietary soy isoflavone and L-carnitine is more synergistically beneficial for the suppression of high-fat diet induced obesity by inhibiting liver TG accumulation and the gain in abdominal adipose tissue weight than that with soy isoflavone. The antiobesity effects of SC mixture might be attributed, at least in part, to the induction of fatty acid catabolism by soy isoflavone, genistein.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum FH185 on the reduction of adipocyte size and gut microbial changes in mice with diet-induced obesity. The strain was found to have a lipase inhibitory activity of 70.09±2.04% and inhibited adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells (18.63±0.98%) at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. To examine the effect of the strain supplementation on gut microbial changes in mice with diet-induced obesity, male C57BL/6J mice were fed on four different diets (i.e., A, normal diet (ND); B, high-fat diet (HFD); C, HFD with ABT-3 (10⁹ CFU/day); and D, HFD with L. plantarum FH185 (10⁹ CFU/day)) for 6 wk. According to the results of fecal pyrosequencing, the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in groups C and D was lower than in the control groups at the phylum level. At the family level, Lactobacillaceae in groups C and D was observed to dominate, while Lachnospiraceae in groups A and B was observed to dominate. At the genus level, Lactobacillus in groups C and D was comparatively higher than in groups A and B. To examine the effects of strain supplementation on the reduction of adipocyte size, the left and right epididymal fat pads were quickly isolated after the animals were sacrificed, and the adipocyte sizes were measured. In groups A, C and D, the percentage of 2,000 m² of adipocyte was higher than in the other size of adipocyte, while the percentage of over 5,000 m² of adipocyte was highest in group B. The mean adipocyte size of group D was significantly larger than that of group A, but smaller than that of group B.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.637-643
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• 2013

Daesiho-tang (DST), Yijin-tang (YJT), Gyeoneumjisil-hwan (GJH), Ukdam-hwan (UDH), and Sojojung-tang (SJT) have been used to treat hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate whether five formulas were effective for improving obesity in high fat diet (HFD) induced obese mice. The mice were divided into seven groups: (1) a normal diet (ND), (2) a high fat diet (HFD) (3) a HFD plus DST (HFD + DST), (4) a HFD plus YJT (HFD + YJT), (5) a HFD plus GJH (HFD + GJH), (6) a HFD plus UDH (HFD + UDH), or (7) HFD plus SJT (HFD + SJT) at 150 mg/kg/day for 7 weeks. All five formulas treatments significantly lowered blood pressure, final liver weights, and serum total triglyceride levels. The four formulas (HFD+DST, HFD+YJT, HFD+UDH, and HFD+SJT) decreased body weights. Also, HFD+DST, HFD+YJT, and HFD+UDH groups reduced abdominal and epididymal fat weights. The serum LDL-cholesterol levels were decreased in HFD+YJT, HFD+UDH, and HFD+SJT groups compared to the HFD group. These results demonstrate that five formulas ameliorated obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.646-652
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• 2010

Gambejaeseup-tang (GBJST) have recently been used as an anti-obesity herbal medicine but their effect and mechanism of action have not been studied. We modified ingredients of GBJST based on the previous experiments about exploring herbs to suppress triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We investigated the effects of modified GBJST on energy, glucose and lipid homeostasis using female rats with diet-induced obesity and their action mechanism was also determined. Rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) were divided into 3 groups: rats in each group received 0.2 or 2 g water extracts of modified GBJST (L-GBJST or H-GBJST) or 2 g cellulose per kg body weight (a negative control) on a daily basis. A further group was fed a low-fat diet (LFD) as a positive control. We found that modified GBJST dose-dependently decreased body weight and mesenteric and retroperitoneal fat more than the control. This decrease was due to the reduction in energy intake and the increase of energy expenditure. HFD increased fat oxidation more than LFD and modified GBJST further increased fat oxidation as a major energy source more than the control in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, H-GBJST improved glucose tolerance without changing serum insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test. H-GBJST also suppressed the increase of serum total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels by HFD. In conclusion, modified GBJST have a good anti-obesity effect by decreasing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure mainly as fat in female rats with diet-induced obesity. It also improves glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2002

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to find the protective effects of garlic on the halogenated hydrocarbon induced hepatotoxicities, and the possible protection mechanisms involved. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats received garlic (0.5%) or regular diet, for 4 weeks. This was followed by a single dose of corn oil (the controls), carbon tetrachloride (400mg/kg body weight) and trichloroethylene (2,000mg/kg body weight) being administered to each diet group. Blood samples were collected 24 hours fellowing the administration, and the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALD activities measured. The liver samples were studied for their cytochrome P450 and CYP2E1 contents, lipid peroxidation and histopathology. Results : rho results for the group receiving the 9.5% garlic diet showed a slight decrease of CYP2E1 expression compared with the regular diet group. Carbon tetrachloride was significantly decreased the CYP2E1 contents in both the regular and garlic diet groups, but the trichloroethylene remained unchanged. Garlic did not decrease the lipid peroxidation of the liver in the control group, but attenuated the increase of lipid peroxidation caused by carbon tetrachloride. Garlic attenuated the increase of both the serum AST and ALT activities caused by carbon tetrachloride. The histopathelogical observations also showed that garlic attenuated centrilobular necrosis and vacuolar degenerative changes significantly in the carbon tetrachloride treated group. Conclusions : The results indicate that garlic attenuates the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, through the prevention of the metabolic activation and lipid peroxidation.