• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various levels of chitosan oligomer (CO) molecular weight on the disorders of lipid metabolism and immune-related factors induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), that is a endocrine disrupter, using adult male rats (SD) for 3 weeks. These 40 animals were divided into five groups. Three kinds of CO were used by molecular weight (MW) (less than 1000, 1000~3000, and 5000~10000) and added 4% to basal diets respectively. TCDD (40 ${\mu}g$/kg B.W) was intraperitoneally injected into rats at the beginning of the experiment. The relative weights of the livers were increased in all rats treated with TCDD, and the brain and testis weights were increased in all CO diet groups, compared to the control and TCDD groups. The levels of white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrits (HCT), and platelets were significantly lowered by treating TCDD. By the way, RBC and HCT tended to recover by CO diets. The elevation of serum total and HDL cholesterol levels induced by TCDD treatment was significantly reduced by CO (5000~10000 MW) diets. The apparent increasing of the total lipid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of rat livers induced by TCDD was tended to be suppressed in those fed CO diets. Especially, diets with less than 1000 MW significantly diminished liver triglycerides. The levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG1 and IgM were significantly high in rats fed CO (5000~10000 MW) diets. The decreasing levels of IgE by treatment with TCDD tended to recover all the CO diet groups to the level of control group. In histochemical observation, the fat droplets and apoptosis of liver due to TCDD treatment were markedly alleviated in all CO diet groups. These results indicated that CO, though not regular according to molecular weight, can exert improving effects on lipid accumulation, hepatocytic disorders, abnormal blood cells, and some immunoglobulins induced by TCDD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1795-1803
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• 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease accompanies the rise in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and the tendency toward high-fat dietary habits. Specifically, the higher prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in men and postmenopausal women seems to be caused by the protective effects of estrogen against liver fibrosis, or lack thereof. There are no effective preventive therapies for liver diseases because the mechanisms underlying the progression of fatty liver diseases to chronic liver diseases and the protective effects of estrogen against fibrogenesis remain unclear. Recently, it has been reported that the hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in the progression of chronic liver diseases. Hedgehog, a morphogen regulating embryonic liver development, is expressed in injured livers but not in adult healthy livers. The level of hedgehog expression parallels the stages of liver diseases. Hedgehog induces myofibroblast activation and hepatic progenitor cell proliferation and leads to excessive liver fibrosis, whereas estrogen inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells to myofibroblasts and prevents liver fibrosis. Although the mechanism underlying the opposing actions of hedgehog and estrogen on liver fibrosis remain unclear, the suppressive effects of estrogen on the expression of osteopontin, a profibrogenic extracellular matrix protein and cytokine, and the inductive effects of hedgehog on osteopontin transcription suggest that estrogen and hedgehog are associated with liver fibrosis regulation. Therefore, further research on the estrogen-mediated regulatory mechanisms underlying the hedgehog-signaling pathway can identify the mechanism underlying liver fibrogenesis and contribute to developing therapies for preventing the progression of fibrosis to chronic liver diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.673-680
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• 2009

This study was conducted to screen for plant food materials that improve human intestinal microflora, especially microorganisms associated with obesity. Among 30 tested plant food materials, the extract of Schizandra chinensis inactivated Eubacterium limosum, Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium spp. Additionally, S. chinensis extract was also found to have a growth-promoting effect on Bifidobacterium spp.. The antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity of the water extract did not decrease in respond to heating. Additionally, the water extract of S. chinensis did not show a toxic effect on the growth of Caco-2 cells. In vivo feeding tests were performed to investigate the influence of extract on the intestinal microflora in rats. Although the extract did not reduce obesity induced by a high fat diet, it led to significant increase in the population of Bifidobacterium spp. and a decrease in the population of Clostridium spp. in rats. Taken together, these results indicate that S. chinensis could be useful as a functional food component to control intestinal microbial flora.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.634-641
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• 2012

It was reported that the novel compounds (LP9M80-H) of $Liriope$ $platyphylla$ regulate glucose transporter (Glut) biosynthesis by activating the insulin-signaling pathway in the liver and brain of ICR mice. To investigate the therapeutic effects of LP9M80-H on the pathology of diabetes and obesity, alterations of key factors related to symptoms were analyzed in the Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats treated with LP9M80-H for 2 weeks. The abdominal fat masses in the LP9M80-H-treated group were lower than the vehicle-treated group, although there was no difference in body weight between the two groups. Additionally, when compared to the vehicle-treated group, LP9M80-H treatment induced a significant decrease in glucose levels and an increase in the insulin concentration in the blood of OLETF rats. A high level of insulin protein was also detected in pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells of LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats. A significant reduction in the concentration of lipids and adiponectin was detected only in LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats. Furthermore, the expression of insulin receptor ${\beta}$ and the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) was dramatically decreased in LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats compared to the vehicle-treated group. Of the glucose transporters located downstream of the insulin-signaling pathway, glucose transporters (Glut) -2 and -3 were significantly decreased in LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats, while the level of Glut-4 was maintained under all conditions. Therefore, these results suggest that LP9M80-H may contribute to relieving symptoms of diabetes and obesity through glucose homeostasis and regulation of lipid concentration.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.962-970
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• 2022

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that highly increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and there are few therapeutic options available in the clinic. Poricoic acid (PoA), a component of Poria cocos Wolf, has a wide range of pharmacological activities; however, little is known about its effects on NASH. The preventive effects of PoA on NASH were examined in vivo and in vitro by analyzing triglyceride synthesis, inflammation and fibrosis. In the high fat and methionine-choline deficient diet (HFMCD)-induced NASH mice, PoA reduced the liver weight and the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase compared with non-treated HFMCD group. The staining with Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin revealed that PoA administration reduced red staining and the size of lipid droplet. qPCR analysis showed that PoA also reduced the expression of genes related to triglyceride synthesis. Further, immunostaining with CD68 and qPCR analysis revealed that PoA reduced the staining with CD68 and the expression of inflammatory genes induced by HFMCD. Moreover, PoA reduced the staining with sirius red and antibody of α-smooth muscle actin and also reduced the expression of genes related to fibrosis. The treatment of PoA to AML12 cells reduced the increase in triglyceride amount and expression of genes associated with triglyceride synthesis, inflammation and fibrosis. Taken together, our study indicate that PoA has therapeutic effect on NASH through preventing triglyceride synthesis, inflammation and fibrosis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of germination condition and drying temperature on growth and physicochemical properties of brown rice. Three brown rice seeds of Ilpumbyeo, Dasanbyeo and Heugjinjubyeo were stored at room temperature for six weeks to test the time-sequence germination viability. Relatively stable germination ratio was maintained until 2 weeks after storage. However, 3 weeks after storage, germination ratio of brown rice seeds started to decrease rapidly and their germination ratio was lower than 80%. For this reason, brown rice was recommended for seeding within 2 weeks after hulling. During the initial 5 days, germination ratio of 24 hours pre-soaking brown rice was higher about 2-3% than that of non-soaking brown rice. The $25^{\circ}C$ was considered as the most favorable temperature for brown rice germination, because of the high germination ratio and desirable coleoptile growth of the brown rice, and little seed rotting symptoms. The scanning electron micrographs showed the structural differences between hot-air dried and freeze dried germinated-brown rice kernel. In the freeze dried germinated-brown rice, seed coat (pericarp, tegmen and aleurone layer) was mechanically disrupted from the endosperm, and many cleavages were observed among starch storing cells and starch granules. The endosperm of freeze-dried brown rice kernels formed the sponge-like structures and showed the fragile traits. For this reason, hot-air drying is considered as more suitable method than freeze drying for germinated-brown rice. The crude protein and amylose contents were slightly changed, but there were no significant differences during the germination period. Crude fiber content was decreased, but crude Int and total amino acid contents were increased as seeding days increased. A rapid increase in $\alpha$-amylase activities of germinating brown rice was observed at S days after seeding, and $\alpha$-amylase activities were decreased from 8 days after seeding. Total free sugar contents were decreased during the germination period. There was continuous decline in the contents of sucrose and glucose until 8 days after seeding, but fructose and maltose content were gradually increased from the 5 days after seeding.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2007

This study examined the effects of green tea extract supplementation (500 or 1,000 mg/kg b.w. per day) in conjunction with an atherogenic diet (10% coconut oil (w/w), 0.1% cholesterol) on plasma lipid composition, regression of pre-existing foam cells, and on the mRNA levels of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor. Compared to groups fed only with the atherogenic diet, the addition of green tea extract to atherogenic diet-fed groups significantly down-regulated plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, dose-dependently. Supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg b.w. of green tea extract with the atherogenic diet induced significant up-regulation of both HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor messenger RNA levels in liver as compared to the group receiving green tea extract supplementation at 500 mg/kg b.w. The F1B hamsters fed the atherogenic diet had greater foam cell accumulation compared to those fed a normal diet, or the atherogenic diet supplemented with green tea extract. Regression of fatty streak lesions was achieved by atherosclerosis in fat- and cholesterol-fed hamsters and this effect was associated with down-regulation of plasma cholesterol and up-regulation of hepatic LDL receptor expression.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.864-871
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• 2008

The chemical components and physiological activities of Neungee mushroom (Sarcodon aspratus) were investigated to assess its nutritional and functional value. The moisture, total protein, crude fat and ash contents of Neungee mushroom were 85.73%, 1.78%, 1.87% and 1.27%, respectively. The alanine, linoleic acid, tartaric acid and glucose concentrations in Neungee mushrooms were 90.11, 39.09, 75.47 and 1,680 mg%, respectively. The radical and nitrate scavenging activities in Neungee mushroom extracts were 46.2% and 77.8% on $800{\mu}g/mL$ depending on the extract concentration. The lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect of Neungee mushroom extract ($1,500\;{\mu}g/mL$) was $2,347\;{\mu}mol$ MDA/g liver. We also observed that an extract concentration of $1,500\;{\mu}g/mL$ was more effective than the control at 7 d. The cytotoxicity of the Neungee mushroom extract ($100\;{\mu}g/mL$) for the A549 (lung carcinoma) cells was 96.0%.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.533-539
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• 2004

It has been reported that CLA decreases fat deposition in vivo and in vitro experiments. Among CLA isomers, c9t11 and t10c12 have been shown to exert active biological activities. For example, t10c12 reduces body weight and increases lean body mass, whereas, c9t11 has little effect on body fattness. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for the anti-obesity action of CLA isomers are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of t10c12 and c9t11 on lipid accumulation, cell proliferation, cell death and the expression levels of Ucp genes which are proposed as targets for anti-obesity in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Isomers of CLA at 50$\mu$M were added into preadipocyte differentiation medium for 3, 6 and 9days. Control cells received only the vehicle in the differentiation medium. Cytochemical analyses for lipid accumulation, cell proliferation and apotosis were carried out to compare lipidogenesis and cellular activity. RT-PCR analysis of GAPDH, Ucp 2,3 and 4 were also performed to find any modulatory effects of CLA isomers on the metabolic genes. Lipid accumulation indicated by Oil Red-O staining was inhibited in CLA isomers as compared to the control. T10c12 isomer showed less lipidogenesis than c9t11 did. A decrease occurred in CLA isomers as shown by BrdU incorporation. Apotosis has occured at higher level in t10c12 when compared to that of t9c11. Ucp 2, 3 and 4 genes were also upregulated in CLA isomers. T10c12 showed higher level of Ucp gene expressions than the c9t11 did. The biological activities of CLA isomers were also found to be different during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, suggesting that different isomers may be active in certain stage of lipidogenesis. The results indicate that both c9t11 and t10c12 CLA isomers decrease lipidogenesis, inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell death and upregulate in Ucp gene expressions during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. T10c12 isomer was more effective than c9t11 in overall anti-obesity activity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recently, anthocyanins have been reported to have various biological activities. Furthermore, anthocyanin-rich purple corn extract (PCE) ameliorated insulin resistance and reduced diabetes-associated mesanginal fibrosis and inflammation, suggesting that it may have benefits for the prevention of diabetes and diabetes complications. In this study, we determined the anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin component of PCE by HPLC-ESI-MS and investigated its anti-diabetic activity and mechanisms using C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: The db/db mice were divided into four groups: diabetic control group (DC), 10 or 50 mg/kg PCE (PCE 10 or PCE 50), or 10 mg/kg pinitol (pinitol 10) and treated with drugs once per day for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured every week. At the end of treatment, we measured several diabetic parameters. RESULTS: Compared to the DC group, Fasting blood glucose levels were 68% lower in PCE 50 group and 51% lower in the pinitol 10 group. Furthermore, the PCE 50 group showed 2-fold increased C-peptide and adiponectin levels and 20% decreased HbA1c levels, than in the DC group. In pancreatic islets morphology, the PCE- or pinitol-treated mice showed significant prevention of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell damage and higher insulin content. Microarray analyses results indicating that gene and protein expressions associated with glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism in liver and fat tissues. In addition, purple corn extract increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and decreased phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pase) genes in liver, and also increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expressions in skeletal muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that PCE exerted anti-diabetic effects through protection of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells, increase of insulin secretion and AMPK activation in the liver of C57BL/KsJ db/db mice.