• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2007

Chinese herb medicines have traditionally been used to treat or alleviate the symptom of various diseases. The rationale for use of certain herbs to certain disorder is now getting unveiled by modern technology. In the present study, we investigated whether herb mix extract(HMX), which is alleged to be useful for gastric ulcer, protects stomach from oxidative stress. Rats were allowed to normal diet with and without HMX (1, 5, 10 mg/kg) for 30 days. To induce gastric ulcer, ethanol (75%, 1.5 ml) or acidified aspirin (100 mg/kg in 0.2 N HCl) was administered by oral route in 24 h-fasted rats and examined the gastric ulceration(bleeding) by measuring the size 1 h after the treatment. Results indicated the area of gastric bleeding was significantly less in HMX fed rats than in normal diet fed ones, and it was dependent on the duration and amount of HMX. To investigate the underlying mechanism by which HMX protects stomach from oxidative stress, expression of enzymes like heme oxygenase (HO), cyclooxygenase (COX), and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) were investigated in MKN-74 cells, where aspirin or H. pylori was introduced. The results were compared with RAW 264.7 cells to check if there's cell specificities exist. The expression of HO-1 but not COX-2, iNOS was significantly increased by HMX. Furthermore, HO-1 inhibitor, SnPP IX reduced the HO-1 activity and reversed the survival rate in HMX-treated MKN-74 cells. There's no difference between RAW 264.7 cells and MKN-74 cells. We, thus, concluded that HMX is beneficial for protection from oxidative injury, and induction of HO-1 by HMX in gastric cells is, at least, responsible for protection from oxidative stress such as ethanol, aspirin and possibly H. pylori infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2012

Cherry silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora) contains bioactive phenolics. This study was conducted to determine whether feeding cherry silverberry wine (CSW) to rats would alleviate the progress of alcoholic fatty liver. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided by weight into the following three groups. Two groups of rats were fed 6.7% ethanol or the caloric equivalent Lieber-DeCarli diet containing maltose-dextrin, and the other group an isocaloric Lieber-DeCarli diet containing CSW at the same ethanol level for 6 weeks. CSW's flavonoids, its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, serum transaminases, serum and hepatic lipids, and liver histology were examined. Our results showed that CSW exerted significant antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. The serum activities of alanine and aspartate transminases were markedly decreased by CSW at 6 weeks. Also, CSW feeding resulted in significant reductions in blood cholesterol and triglyceride. The development of alcoholic fatty liver was significantly delayed by lowering fat accumulation. Taken together, these results indicate that CSW may help protect the liver against alcoholic fatty liver by improving serum and hepatic lipid status. This may be associated with the protective effect of CSW on alcoholic fatty liver via bioactive phenolic compounds.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2003

The current study investigated the effect of Korean safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seed powder and its water and ethanol extracts on bone metabolism during recovery from rib-fracture induced by surgical operation in rats. 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 320 g were divided into 9 groups after arrival: 10d control (AIN 76 semi-purified diet), 10d safflower seed powder (10d SS-powder), 10d safflower seed ethanol extract (10d SS-EtOH), 10d safflower seed water extract (10d SS-$H_2O$), 20d control (AIN-76 semi-purified diet), 20d safflower heed powder (20d SS-powder), 20d safflower seed ethanol extract (20d SS-EtOH), 20d safflower seed water extract (20d SS-$H_2O$), and 20d sham-operation (20d sham), The dietary level for all the supplements was 5% based on the raw material weight. The rats were fed the experimental diets for 10 days before the rib fracture operation and for a further 10 or 20 days after the operation. A number 9 rib was fractured surgically and a sham-operation also performed. The rats were then sacrificed on the l0th or 20th day after the operation. The body weight initially decreased after the operation in all the rib-fractured groups, then gradually recovered. The concentrations of plasma osteocalcin were higher in the control group than in all the safflower-supplemented groups 10 and 20 days after the rib-fracture (p < 0.05). The bone-specific ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity was significantly higher in the SS-EtOH group than in the other groups 20 days after the rib-fracture (p < 0.05). The level of urinary DPD (deoxypridinoline) was significantly higher in the SS-EtOH and SS-$H_2O$ groups than in the other groups 10 days after the rib-fracture. When comparing the PTH (parathyroid hormone) and calcitonin levels, the SS-$H_2O$ group exhibited the highest PTH level among the groups 10 and 20 days after the rib-fracture. Thus, it was concluded that the bone turnover during the fracture-healing period was more rapid in the rats supplemented with safflower seed powder or its fractions than in the control rats. Furthermore, the SS-$H_2O$ fraction was identified as the most effective in stimulating bone remodeling, as bone resorption and bone formation were both significantly increased during fracture healing when compared to the control group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.493-501
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to investigate the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidmic effects of sea oak(Eisenia bicyclis, EB) in the diabetic state and to examine the appropriateness of formulated EB pill for the effects. The various test materials obtained from EB were included in the experimental diets with 15% fat/0.5% cholesterol and fed to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice weighing $35.0{\pm}0.7$ g for three weeks but not in the control diet having the same composition. The test materials were EB dry powder, water and ethanol extracts, viscozyme-treated EB water extract(EB enzyme-TR) and formulated pill containing dry powders of the EB, two kinds of seaweed, black soybean, sesame, onion and garlic. BG was measured during feeding period and serum insulin, lipids and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) and intestinal disaccharidase activities were measured at the end of the three weeks of the feeding. BG increase was lower in the EB enzyme-TR group after 10 days of the experimental diet but lower in EB pill group after 15 days compared with the control group. Serum insulin levels were higher in the EB enzyme-TR and EB pill groups. Intestinal maltase but not sucrase activity was higher in EB enzyme-TR fed group than the control group. Serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were reduced by the EB enzyme-TR and EB pill compared with the control diet. HDL-/total cholesterol was increased by all EB test materials. Serum TBARS levels were lower in the EB ethanol extract and EB pill groups than in the control group and tended to be lower in the other EB groups. It is concluded that the EB enzyme-TR is the best among the EB preparations to be utilized as a functional component for improving blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic subjects in the future. However, the pill containing low level of the EB powder is also regarded as effective and readily usable when formulated with the several other ingredients of the proper composition.(Supported by the RIC Program of MOCIE, Korea).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2016

The study was carried out to examine the anti-obesity effects of 40% ethanol extract from green tea seed (GS) and quantitative determination of caffeine as its major compound. The specificity was satisfied with retention time and UV spectrum by analysis of caffeine using HPLC and comparison with standard compound. It showed a high linearity in the calibration curve with a coefficient of correlation (R²) of 0.9974. The amount of caffeine in GS was about 4.649 mg/g (0.465%) in the three times analysis, and relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 0.452% by the validated method. The anti-obesity effects of GS were evaluated by using Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and body weight, visceral fat and lipid profiles in high fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6 obese mice. Our results indicated that treatment with GS dose-dependently decreased lipid accumulation contents (p<0.001). Moreover, after oral administration for 30 days feeding with HFD-induced obses mice, GS (100 and 300 mg/kg/day) produced a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and visceral fat. Thus, the result of this study indicate that the GS may be a useful resource for the management of obesity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.420-428
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• 2016

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effects of Cirsium setidens ethanolic extract (CS) on the development of alcoholic fatty liver and associated injury. Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed either Lieber-DeCarli control (C) or ethanol (35.5% of total calories) liquid diet with 0 (E), 100 mg/kgBW CS (E+LCS), or 500 mg/kgBW CS (E+HCS) for 8 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as well as TG and cholesterol concentrations in the serum and liver tissues were measured by colorimetric assays. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the fixed liver tissues. Protein levels of phosphorylated-AMP activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylated-acetyl CoA carboxylase (p-ACC), phosphorylated-nuclear factor kappa B (p-$NF{\kappa}B$), and $TNF{\alpha}$ were measured by Western blot analyses. Results: Both doses of CS markedly suppressed alcohol-induced lipid droplets accumulation in the liver tissues and significantly inhibited alcohol-induced increases in activities of serum ALT and serum AST. Similarly, CS significantly reduced hepatic and serum TG concentrations. Compared to groups fed alcohol only, CS supplementation strongly increased hepatic levels of p-AMPK and p-ACC. Further, CS significantly inhibited alcohol-induced phosphorylation of $NF{\kappa}B$, which was associated with reduced hepatic protein levels of $TNF{\alpha}$. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that CS has a protective effect against alcoholic liver injury, which was associated with activation of AMPK and inhibition of $NF{\kappa}B$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.260-265
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary effects of persimmon peel (PP) and PP ethanol extract (PPE) on egg production, egg quality, and liver lipids in the late stage of egg production in laying hens. One hundred and twenty 50-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 120) were fed different diets. Four replicate groups of 6 hens each were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments. The 5 dietary treatments were as follows: i) CON, basal diet; ii) PP 0.15, CON+0.15% PP (0.035% tannin); iii) PP 0.5, CON +0.5% PP (0.117% tannin); iv) PPE 0.075, CON+0.075% PPE (0.03% tannin); and v) PPE 0.25, CON+0.25% PPE (0.11% tannin). The total tannin concentration of PPE was higher (p<0.05) than that of PP. Egg production in the PP 0.5 group was higher than in the other groups. Egg production and mass of hens in the PPE 0.25 group showed a greater decrease than that in the other groups (p<0.05). Eggshell color in the PP 0.15, PP 0.5, and PPE 0.075 groups was lighter than that of the control group (p<0.05). The Haugh unit for the groups that were fed PP and PPE were significantly higher than that in the other groups after 7 d of storage (p<0.05). Therefore, PP seems an effective feed additive for improving the production performance and egg quality in late stage laying hens.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.294-300
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• 2011

Takju is a Korean alcoholic beverage made from rice, and is brewed with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exercise training and moderate Takju consumption on learning ability in 6-week old Sprague-Dawley male rats. The rats were treated with exercise and alcohol for 4 weeks in six separate groups as follows: non-exercised control (CC), exercised control (EC), non-exercised consuming ethanol (CA), exercised consuming ethanol (EA), non-exercised consuming Takju (CT), and exercised consuming Takju (ET). An AIN-93M diet was provided ad libitum. Exercise training was performed at a speed of 10 m/min for 15 minutes per day. Ethanol and Takju were administered daily for 6-7 hours to achieve an intake of about 10 ml after 12 hours of deprivation, and, thereafter, the animals were allowed free access to deionized water. A Y-shaped water maze was used from the third week to understand the effects of exercise and alcohol consumption on learning and memory. After sacrifice, brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was analyzed. Total caloric intake and body weight changes during the experiment were not significantly different among the groups. AChE activity was not significantly different among the groups. The number of errors for position reversal training in the maze was significantly smaller in the EA group than that in the CA and ET groups, and latency times were shorter in the EA group than those in the CC, EC, CT, and ET groups. The latency difference from the first to the fifth day was shortest in the ET group. The exercised groups showed more errors and latency than those of the non-exercised groups on the first day, but the data became equivalent from the second day. The results indicate that moderate exercise can increase memory and learning and that the combination of exercise and Takju ingestion may enhance learning ability.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.478-488
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• 2018

Mushrooms have been widely cultivated and consumed as foods and herbal medicines owing to their various biological properties. However, few studies have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of mushrooms. Here, we investigated the effects of mushroom extracts (MEs) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). First, we extracted MEs with either water or ethanol. Using LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, we measured cell proliferation and NO production. Gene expression of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-6 (IL-6), and $IL-1{\beta}$ was assessed by RT-PCR, and protein abundance of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and phosphorylation of p65 were determined by immunoblotting. MEs prepared using both water and ethanol inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) levels induced by LPS were reduced by treatment with MEs. Isaria japonica Yasuda water extracts and Umbilicaria esculenta (Miyoshi) Minks ethanol extracts significantly decreased the mRNA expression of inflammation-related cytokine genes including $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$. Similarly, the protein abundance of iNOS and COX-2 was also decreased. The phosphorylation of p65, a subunit of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ was at least partly suppressed by MEs. This study suggests that mushrooms could be included in the diet to prevent and treat macrophage-related chronic immune diseases.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of an ethanol extract of Cassia abbreviata (ECA) bark and the possible mechanisms of its action in diabetic albino rats. Methods: ECA was prepared by soaking the powdered plant material in 70% ethanol. It was filtered and made solvent-free by evaporation on a rotary evaporator. Type 2 diabetes was induced in albino rats by injecting 35 mg/kg body weight (bw) of streptozotocin after having fed the rats a high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Diabetic rats were divided into ECA-150, ECA-300 and Metformin (MET)-180 groups, where the numbers are the doses in mg.kg.bw administered to the groups. Normal (NC) and diabetic (DC) controls were given distilled water. The animals had their fasting blood glucose levels and body weights determined every 7 days for 21 days. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were carried out in all animals at the beginning and the end of the experiment. Liver and kidney samples were harvested for glucose 6 phosphatase (G6Pase) and hexokinase activity analyses. Small intestines and diaphragms from normal rats were used for ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ and glucose uptake studies against the extract. Results: Two doses, 150 and 300 mg/kg bw, significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic rats and helped them maintain normal body weights. The glucose level in DC rats significantly increased while their body weights decreased. The 150 mg/kg bw dose significantly increased hexokinase and decreased G6Pase activities in the liver and the kidneys. ECA inhibited ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activity and promoted glucose uptake in the rats' hemi-diaphragms. Conclusion: This study revealed that ECA normalized blood glucose levels and body weights in type 2 diabetic rats. The normalization of the glucose levels may possibly be due to inhibition of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, decreased G6Pase activity, increased hexokinase activity and improved glucose uptake by muscle tissues.