• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2017

It has been suggested that ginseng is beneficial for ameliorating the aging males' symptoms, such as weight gain, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and depression, in elderly men with testosterone deficiency. We thus investigated the effects of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer; Araliaceae) on obesity in a mouse model of testosterone deficiency (castrated C57BL/6J mice). The effects of ginseng extract (GE) and/or testosterone on obesity and adipogenesis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed castrated C57BL/6J mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes were examined using in vivo and in vitro approaches. After feeding mice a HFD for 8 weeks, we found that mice also receiving GE and/or testosterone showed decreased body weight, adipose tissue mass, adipocyte size, and hepatic lipid accumulation compared with untreated HFD-fed mice. Expression of adipogenic genes ($PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and aP2) was decreased by GE and/or testosterone in adipose tissues. Consistent with the in vivo data, lipid accumulation and the mRNA expression of adipogenesis genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were decreased by GE, ginsenosides, and testosterone. The inhibitory effects of GE (or ginsenosides) were comparable to those of testosterone, and the effects of co-treatment with GE (or ginsenosides) and testosterone were greater than those of testosterone alone in vivo and in vitro. Our results indicate that ginseng may be able to potentiate the inhibitory effects of testosterone on obesity and adipogenesis in HFD-fed castrated mice, providing possible therapeutic implications in men with testosterone deficiency.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.338-343
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• 2009

The Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling pathway alters adipocyte differentiation by inhibiting adipogenic gene expression. $\beta$-catenin plays a central role in the Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, we revealed that tumour necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), a potential negative regulator of adipocyte differentiation, inhibits porcine adipogenesis through activation of the Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling pathway. Under the optimal concentration of TNF-$\alpha$, the intracellular $\beta$-catenin protein was stabilized. Thus, the intracellular lipid accumulation of porcine preadipocyte was suppressed and the expression of important adipocyte marker genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-$\gamma$ (PPAR$\gamma$) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-$\alpha$ (C/EBP$\alpha$), were inhibited. However, a loss of $\beta$-catenin in porcine preadipocytes enhanced the adipogenic differentiation and attenuated TNF-$\alpha$ induced anti-adipogenesis. Taken together, this study indicated that TNF-$\alpha$ inhibits adipogenesis through stabilization of $\beta$-catenin protein in porcine preadipocytes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2008

Changes in stress-associated biomolecules can be used as an important criterion for assessing the levels of environmental pollution because living organisms demonstrate contamination-stimulated stress responses. This study was conducted to determine the environmental status of Masan-Jinhae Bay, Korea, and its effects on marine organisms by investigating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction in the organs of the flat fish, Limanda yokohamae. ER dysfunction was evaluated via Western blot analysis of the ER stress proteins, immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP) and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), and the ER stress-associated protein caspase-12. The results showed that the amount of BiP and CHOP immunoreactivity in the flat fish from the bay area was much greater than that from the Gangneung, as a reference site. Similar to the ER stress proteins, the immunoreactivity of caspase-12 was also found to be elevated in the bay area when compared with that of Gangneung. These data suggest that the environmental status of Masan-Jinhae Bay induces the ER stress response, which is able to lead to phenotypic changes in marine organisms including fish.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.455-461
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• 2012

Obesity is associated with numerous diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Inhibition of adipogenesis is a effectite strategy to anti-obesity. In this study, Galla Chinenisis extract (GCE) inhibited adipocyte differentiation in OP9 cells. There was no cytotoxicity when cells were treated with GCE in designated time intervals, unaffected by concentration. In this cell model, increases in fat storage were inhibited by 2 days treatment with various concentration of GCE, visualized by Oil red-O, BODIPY and DAPI staining. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level, the effects of GCE were examined on the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis by real-time PCR. In the progress of adipocyte differentiation with GCE-treated, the mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), computer-assisted axial tomography/enhancer binding protein-alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) were decreased. Also, GCE treatment inhibited increase of mRNA expression, which is adipogenic factor such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), hormone-sensitve lipase (HSL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte-specific lipid binding protein (aP2). Therefore, the result of this study suggest that Galla Chinenisis extract can prevent adipocyte differentiation and GCE may have a great potential as a novel anti-adipogenic agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.447-451
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• 2016

In this study, Albizziae Cortex extracts (ACE) have potent effects on adipogenesis and on lipolysis in OP9 cells. There was no cytotoxicity while cells were treated with ACE in designated time intervals, unaffected by various concentrations. In the cells with ACE-treated, increases in fat storage were inhibited, and also confirmed by Oil red O. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level, the effects of ACE were examined on the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis by using real-time PCR. In this cell model, the mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) were decreased by ACE treatment, comparing with those of control group. Collectively, our data suggest that ACE may have great potential as a novel anti-obesity agent.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 1996

For the screening and the development of the new bio-material, cultural conditions for the exo-biopolymer (EBP) production throught the submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium were investigated. Also, the fractionations and the purifications of the exo-biopolymer were carried out and the chemical compositions of the exo-biopolymer were examined. The optimal culture conditions for the exo-biopolymer production were pH 5.0, 30$^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm of agitation speed in the medium containing of 5% (w/v) glucose, 0.5%(w/v) yeast extract, 0.1% (w/v) ($(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, and 0.05% (w/v) $KH_2PO_4$. In the flask cultivation for 7 days under these conditions, the concentration of the maximum exo-biopolymer and the cell mass were 15.4g/l and 18.8g/l, respectively. The specific growth rate was 0.039 $hr^{-1}$. In addition, the substrate consumption rate, and the exo-biopolymer production rate were 0.043$gg^{-1}$$hr^{-1}$ and 0.025$gg^{-1}$$hr^{-1}$, respectively. The exo-biopolymer was fractionated into BWS (water soluble exo-biopolymer) and BWI (water insoluble exo-biopolymer) by the water extraction, and the sugar contents of two fractions were higher than 97% (based on dry basis). The components sugar of BWS and BWI fractions were glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, and fucose. Their molar ratios were 3.6:1.5:2.1:0.5: trace and 2.9:3.1:2.0:1.6:0.3, respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2014

Obesity occurs when a person's calorie intake exceeds the amount of energy burns, which may lead to pathologic growth of adipocytes and the accumulation of fat in the tissues. In this study, the effect and mechanism of pear pomace extracts on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and apoptosis of mature adipocytes were investigated. The effects of pear pomace extract on cell viability and the anti-adipogenic and proapoptotic effects were investigated via MTT assay, Oil red O staining, western blot analysis and apoptosis assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated with DMEM containing 10% FBS, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), $5{\mu}g/ml$ insulin and $1{\mu}M$ dexamethasone for differentiation to adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with PBS or water extract of pear pomace. Water extract of pear pomace effectively inhibited lipid accumulations and expressions of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ in 3T3-L1 cells. It also increased expression of p-AMPK and decreased the expression of SREBP-1c and FAS in 3T3-L1 cells. The induction of apoptosis was observed in 3T3-L1 cells treated with pear pomace. These results indicate that pear pomace water extract inhibits adipogenesis and induces apoptosis of adipocytes and thus can be used as a potential therapeutic substance as part of prevention or treatment strategy for obesity.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.381-386
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• 2012

Obesity increases the risk of many adult diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and breast cancer. Inhibition of adipogenesis is an effective way in the anti-obesity management. Because of main components of Saururus chinensis is flavonoid, it has been showed some improvement by its antioxidant effects on the atherosclerosis, heart disease and diabetic hyperlipidemia. But mechanism of anti-obesity effect of S. chinensis is not clear. We investigated the effects of ethanol extracts of S. chinensis on adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte. The 3T3-L1 cell line is commonly used to study adipogenesis in vitro. In this study, ethanol extracts of S. chinensis significantly decrease the lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells proved by measuring triglyceride contents and Oil red O staining. The proposed mechanism of inhibition of adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cells with ethanol extracts of S. chinensis is down-regulation of transcriptional factors and adipocyte-specific genes such CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) in concentration dependent pattern. These results suggest that ethanol extracts of S. chinensis inhibits adipognesis in the 3T3-L1 cells and can be used as a safe and efficient natural substance to manage anti-obesity.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-153
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• 2017

Objectives This experimental study was designed to investigate the effect of Phaseolus angularis shell on metabolic syndrome. Methods Each 5 C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to normal diet group, high-fat diet(HFD) control group, high-fat diet plus 15.6 mg/kg/day of Orlistat(HFD-Orlistat) group, high-fat diet plus 100mg/kg/day of Phaseolus angularis shell extract(HFD-PAS_E) group. Weight, the blood chemical and hematologic parameter was med. The mRNA expression was assayed through Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results In HFD-PAS_E group, the body weight gain, weight of liver, and the level of LDL-Cholesterol were significantly decreased and the level of HDL-Cholesterol were significantly increased. The size of adipocyte in HFD-PAS_E group was smaller than HFD group's. In HFD-PAS_E group, the expression of leptin, PPAR-${\gamma}$, AP2/FABP4 mRNA in liver adipocyte tissue was decreased, the expression of Adiponectin, UCP-2 mRNA in liver adipocyte tissue was increased and the expression of Leptin, C/EBP-a, AP2/FABP4 mRNA in epididymal adipocyte tissue was decreased. Conclusion These results suggest that Phaseolus angularis shell has inhibitory effects on metabolic syndrome by reducing the body weight and the levels of lipid contents in high-fat-diet induced obese mice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2015

Propyl gallate (PG) used as an additive in various foods has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Although the functional roles of PG in various cell types are well characterized, it is unknown whether PG has effect on stem cell differentiation. In this study, we demonstrated that PG could inhibit adipogenic differentiation in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) by decreasing the accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets. In addition, PG significantly reduced the expression of adipocyte-specific markers including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$), CCAAT enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ (C/EBP-${\alpha}$), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2). PG inhibited adipogenesis in hAMSCs through extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Decreased adipogenesis following PG treatment was recovered in response to ERK blocking. Taken together, these results suggest a novel effect of PG on adipocyte differentiation in hAMSCs, supporting a negative role of ERK1/2 pathway in adipogenic differentiation.