• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.9-9
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• 2018

Arctii Fructus (AF), which contains arctigenin (ARC) as a major constituent, is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory medicine to treat inflammatory sore throat. Although several studies have proven its anti-inflammatory effects, there have been no reports on its use in inflammation related disorders such as obesity, cancer metastasis, and allergic responses. This study investigated the anti-obesity effect and anti-metastasis effect of AF and ARC. AF and ARC inhibited weight gain by reducing the mass of white adipose tissue in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Serum cholesterol levels were also improved by AF and ARC. In in vitro experiments, AF and ARC decreased differentiation of white adipocytes. Furthermore, AF induced differentiation of brown adipocytes, which are able to consume surplus energy through non-shivering thermogenesis. Also, AF and ARC inhibited colon cancer and lung metastasis of colon cancer. They suppressed not only colorectal cancer cell progression by inhibiting cell growth, but also prohibited lung metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and the invasion. These effects were confirmed in an experimental metastasis mouse model. In addition, AF and ARC inhibited mast cell mediated allergic responses. Collectively, our study suggests that AF and ARC might show inhibitory effects on inflammation related diseases, including obesity, cancer, cancer metastasis, and allergic responses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1707-1711
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of ethanol extract from Lycii folium (L. folium) leaves on obesity index, serum lipids, homocysteine, leptin, ghrelin, and glucose in obese rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were administrated high-fat diets to induce obesity. Then, obese rats were divided into three diet groups: a basal-diet obese group (BO group), high-fat diet obese group (FO group), and high-fat diet plus L. folium extract obese group (FLEO group). Three groups were each fed experimental diet for 8 weeks. There were no significant differences in body weight and FER among the groups. However, obesity index such as Ro？hrer index, Lee index, and T.M. index of FLEO group was significantly decreased as compared to FO group. While serum triglyceride of BO group was significantly decreased as compared to FO group, there were no significant differences in serum lipids, homocysteine, leptin, ghrelin and glucose between FLEO group and FO group. In conclusion, these results indicated that ethanol extract from L. folium leaves might be beneficial with anti-obese effect by reduction of obesity indices in obese rats.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.716-728
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• 2023

The anti-adipogenic activity of Glycyrrhiza uralensis was investigated by examining the effects of its ethanol extract (GUE) on a mouse model with a high-fat diet (HFD) and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes during adipocyte differentiation. GUE administration for eight weeks significantly reduced weight gain in mice fed an HFD. GUE effectively inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and lipid droplet accumulation. This inhibitory effect is associated with the downregulation of key adipogenic regulators, including PPARγ and C/EBPα, and the modulation of adipose metabolism regulators, such as Fasn and Fabp4. LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis identified twelve phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including liquiritigenin and licorice saponin, in the GUE. These findings demonstrate that the anti-obesity effect of the GUE is attributed to the biological activity of its phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Therefore, the GUE has potential anti-obesity activity. Moreover, further studies on the isolation of bioactive components from the GUE and the investigation of the underlying molecular mechanisms of the GUE are required to establish its efficacy in metabolic disorders, including obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.288-294
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• 2019

Gardenia jasminoides is an herbal medicine that treats obesity and dampness-phlegm. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides on insulin resistance induced by Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 8-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were divided into three groups: control group (Ctrl), high-fat diet group (HFF), and high fat diet with Gardenia jasminoides extract administration group (GJT). Each 10 mice was allocated to each group (a total of 30 mice). All mice were allowed to eat fat-rich diet freely throughout the experiment. To examine the effect of Gardenia jasminoides, we observed weight changes, lipid blot distributions, PPAR-${\gamma}$, p-IkB, p-JNK in liver tissue, total cholesterol, and glucose levels in serum. Comparing of body weight measurements between 3 groups, in the GJT group, weight gain was significantly suppressed compared to the HFF group. The distribution of lipid blots and positive reaction of PPAR-${\gamma}$ were significantly lower in GJT group. The expression levels of p-$I{\kappa}B$ and p-JNK that plays critical roles in the development of insulin resistance were significantly decreased by GJ treatment. Total cholesterol and glucose levels in serum were also significantly lower in GJT group. Gardenia jasminoides has the effect of improving non - alcoholic fatty liver induced insulin resistance through the regulation of lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Valerianae Radix et Rhizoma Methanol Extract (VRME) on serum lipid levels in a high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Methods: Each 8 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to normal diet group, high-fat diet control group, high-fat diet plus 100 mg/kg/day of VRME group. In order to induce hyperlipidemia, high-fat diets were supplied to control group and VRME group for four weeks. Normal diet group were supplied with general feed for four weeks. After that control group supplied only high-fat diets as feed, VRME group received oral administration of VRME with high-fat diets for three weeks. and normal diet group were supplied with general feed for three weeks. After seven weeks, the changes in the body weight, the plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood glucose in serum were measured. Results: In our results, VRME did not affects weight gain, serum AST and ALT in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Oral administration of VRME lowered levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride, which were elevated by induction of hyperlipidemia. and oral administration of VRME lowered blood glucose significantly. Conclusions: These results suggest that VRME could act as a potent antihyperlipidemic in therapeutics for hyperlipidemia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.419-424
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• 2012

High-fat diets (HFD) and high-carbohydrate diets (HCD)-induced obesity through different pathways, but the metabolic differences between these diets are not fully understood. Therefore, we applied proton nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$ NMR)-based metabolomics to compare the metabolic patterns between C57BL/6 mice fed HCD and those fed HFD. Principal component analysis derived from $^1H$ NMR spectra of urine showed a clear separation between the HCD and HFD groups. Based on the changes in urinary metabolites, the slow rate of weight gain in mice fed the HCD related to activation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (resulting in increased levels of citrate and succinate in HCD mice), while the HFD affected nicotinamide metabolism (increased levels of 1-methylnicotineamide, nicotinamide-N-oxide in HFD mice), which leads to systemic oxidative stress. In addition, perturbation of gut microflora metabolism was also related to different metabolic patterns of those two diets. These findings demonstrate that $^1H$ NMR-based metabolomics can identify diet-dependent perturbations in biological pathways.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

Overconsumption of fructose results in dyslipidemia, hypertension, which have documented as a risk of cardiovascular diseases. This experimental study was designed to investigate the beneficial effects of Rubus coreanus Miq.(RCM) in high-fructose diet-induced metabolic syndrome. Animals were divided into three groups; Control group fed regular diet and tap water, fructose groups were fed the 65% high-fructose (HF) diet with/without RCM 100 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks, respectively. Chronic treatment with RCM significantly decreased body weight, fat weight and adipocyte size. Moreover, RCM significantly prevented the development of the metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension. RCM also led to increase in high density lipoprotein level in the HF group. In addition, RCM suppressed vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and significantly recovered the levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in aorta. These results demonstrates that RCM may be a beneficial therapeutic for metabolic syndrome through the improvement of hyperlipidemia, obesity, and hypertension.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.619-627
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colitis is a serious health problem, and chronic obesity is associated with the progression of colitis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of natural raw meal (NRM) on high-fat diet (HFD, 45%) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 2% w/v)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Body weight, colon length, and colon weight-to-length ratio, were measured directly. Serum levels of obesity-related biomarkers, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were determined using commercial kits. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 were detected using a commercial ELISA kit. Histological study was performed using a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining assay. Colonic mRNA expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: Body weight and obesity-related biomarkers (TG, TC, LDL, HDL, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin) were regulated and obesity was prevented in NRM treated mice. NRM significantly suppressed colon shortening and reduced colon weight-to-length ratio in HFD+DSS induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice (P < 0.05). Histological observations suggested that NRM reduced edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by HFD and DSS. In addition, NRM decreased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 and inhibited the mRNA expressions of these cytokines, and iNOS and COX-2 in colon mucosa (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that NRM has an anti-inflammatory effect against HFD and DSS-induced colitis in mice, and that these effects are due to the amelioration of HFD and/or DSS-induced inflammatory reactions.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.244-257
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• 2023

This study investigated the effects of exercise on genistein-induced adipose tissue reduction and anti-inflammation of adipose tissue in ovariectomized mice fed a high-fat diet. Compared to mice fed a high-fat diet (C), both genistein (G) or exercise only (Ex) not only decreased adipose tissue weight and adipocyte size, but also glucose and free fatty acid levels in serum, which were more effectively reduced when genistein and exercise were treated simultaneously (G/Ex). The expression of lipogenesis and inflammatory cytokine genes of both G and Ex in adipose tissue was decreased compared to C. In particular, the decrease of these genes expression in G/Ex was more effective than each treatment alone. Thus, this study revealed that simultaneous treatment of genistein and exercise resulted in more effective improvement of obesity and adipose tissue inflammation than genistein single treatment in ovariectomized mice fed a high-fat diet, and it is a result of positive regulation of lipogenesis genes. This study suggests that the exercise has a beneficial effect on anti-obesity and adipose tissue anti-inflammation of genistein.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.33-46
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• 2023

Objectives We investigated anti-obesity effects of Menthae Herba hydrosol in obese mice. Methods Animals were divided into four groups, and treatments were performed for 7 weeks. After the treatment, serum lipid profiles, weight and pathological morphology in liver, kidney, adipose tissue were measured. Also, hepatic protein and gene expression levels of lipid metabolism-related factors were analyzed. Results Body weight was decreased in P3% group. In P1% (group fed high-fat diet and 1% Menthae Herba hydrosol) and P3% (group fed high-fat diet and 3% Menthae Herba hydrosol) group, weight of white adipose tissue, serum levels of triglyceride and blood urea nitrogen were decreased, and weight of muscle was increased. Also, liver, kidney and epididymal adipocyte size were reduced in P1% and P3% group. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase was increased and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) was decreased in P3% group. mPeroxisome proliferator-activator receptor-γ, mMonocyte chemotactic protein-1 were decreased in P1% and P3% group. In P3% group, mSREBP-1c was decreased and mCarnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 was increased. And mUncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue was increased. Conclusions These results suggest that Menthae Herba hydrosol has a worthy effect on anti-obesity.