• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.303-306
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• 2009

The defatted methanol extract of Raphanus sativus Linn. (Cruciferae) seed (MERS) was evaluated for its antisteroidogenic potential in mature female Swiss albino mice. The methanol extract at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly elevated the levels of cholesterol and ascorbic acid contents which serve as a precursor for the synthesis of steroid hormones in ovaries. The extract also significantly inhibited glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and ${\Delta}^5-3{\beta}$-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, the two key enzymes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis. Hence the extract (MERS) exhibited significant antisteroidogenic activity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.161-172
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• 1982

In order to compare the metabolic activities of methanol utilizing bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. grown in different carbon sources, changes in respiratory activities, prinicipal enzyme activities for the energy metabolism, and the macromolecular compositions of the cells grown on methanol or glucose were measured. 1. The respiratory activity of cells grown on methanol was higher than that of cells grown on glucose, while glucose exhibited the highest $O_2-consumption$ rate among the different respiratory substrates. 2. TRhe activity of hydroxy pyruvate reductase which participates in serine pathway was high in the cells grown on methanol. However, activities of NAD-linked alcohol dehydrogenase, formaldehyde dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase were slightly lower in the cells grown on glucose thant on methanol. 4. For succinic dehydrogenase and malic dehydrogenase which take part in TCA cycle, the specific activities were higher in the cells grown on methanol than in those grown on glucose. No activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which participates in pentose monophosphate shunt, was detectable in the cells grown on either carbon sources. 5. Protein contents of the cells grown on methanol increased relatively compared with those of the cells grown on glucose. However, there are no changes in the contents of carbohydrate and nucleic acid.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering effect of S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) derived from aged garlic. Rat hepotocytes and HepG2 cells were used to determine the short-term effects of SAMC on [$^{14}C$] acetate incorporation into cholesterol, and several enzymatic steps. The cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with 20, 40, 60 and 80 ${\mu}g/ml$ of SAMC. At concentration of 20~40 ${\mu}g/ml$, no significant cells viability effect was noted during those incubation periods. However, at a concentration 60 ${\mu}g/ml$, cell viability decreased approximately 50% compared with the control. The treatment of cells with 5, 10, 15, and 20 ${\mu}g/ml$ of SAMC resulted in a marked of [$^{14}C$]-acetate incorporation into cholesterol. At concentration of 15 ${\mu}g/ml$, the cholesterol synthesis was inhibited 79% in cells. The activities of lipogenic enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) were measured in culture hepatocytes treated with the inhibitors. The activity of FAS in cells treated with 0.95 nmol SAMC was 19% lower than that of nontreated cells, and no affected G6PDH activity, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Co A activity was decreased at concentration dependant manner. The present study demonstrates that SAMC is effective in inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

The antifertility activity of methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. stem (MECR) and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed (MECO) were studied on male Swiss albino mice. The extracts were found to decrease sperm count, percentage of motile sperm and testosterone level in treated mice when compared with vehicle control after 17 days of treatment. The weight of gonads, epididymis were decreased whereas no significant changes of the body weight of mice were observed after methanol extract treatments. The fertility test showed 100% negative result in MECR and MECO treated mice at medium and high dose level of treatment. MECR and MECO in low (25 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, respectively), medium (50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively) and high (75 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively) dose level caused a simultaneous fall in testicular ${\Delta}5$-$3{\beta}$-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities which are involved in testicular steroidogenesis. Total cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in testis were increased significantly in gonads. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and ascorbic acid oxidase were reduced whereas that of carbonic anhydrase was increased significantly in the testis of MECR and MECO treated mice. All these observations indicate that the methanol extract of C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed produced antifertility activity in sexually matured male mice, which may be due to inhibition of gonadal steroidogenesis. This activity may be attributed due to the presence of flavonoids and steroids, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.766-775
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• 2011

We investigated the effect of high molecular weight polygamma- glutamic acid (hm ${\gamma}$-PGA) on adiposity and lipid metabolism of rats in the presence of an obesity-inducing diet. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a normal-fat (11.4% kcal fat, NFC) or high-fat (51% kcal fat, HFC) diet. After 5 weeks, half of each diet-fed group was treated with hm ${\gamma}$-PGA (NFP or HFP) for 4 weeks. The HFC group had significantly higher body weight, visceral fat mass, fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and leptin, and lower serum HDL cholesterol level compared with those of the NFC group (p < 0.05). Treatment with hm ${\gamma}$-PGA decreased body weight gain and perirenal fat mass (p<0.05), fasting serum total cholesterol, and mRNA expression of glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), regardless of dietary fat contents (p < 0.01). However, hm ${\gamma}$-PGA increased serum HDL cholesterol in the HFC group (p < 0.05). In vitro, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMGCoA) reductase activity was suppressed by the addition of hm ${\gamma}$-PGA. In agreement with observations in animal study, the supplementation of hm ${\gamma}$-PGA (150 mg/day) to 20 female subjects in an 8-week double-blind, placebocontrolled study resulted in a tendency to decrease total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations. We thus conclude that dietary supplementation of hm ${\gamma}$-PGA may act as a hypocholestrolemic agent, secondary to its inhibitor effect on HMG-CoA reductase, and decrease abdominal adiposity by decreasing hepatic lipogenesis. The present study is an important first step in establishing the effect of hm ${\gamma}$-PGA on cholesterol levels in rats and humans.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.188-192
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• 1999

To study effects of methanol extract of prosomillet on lopid metabolism , five groups of male Sprang-Dawley rats weighing 116$\pm$9 g were fed test diets for four weeks. The five diets consisted of one low fat(5% w/w) diet containing starch as carbohydrate source(normal) and four high fat diets(15% w/w) containing 40.5%(w/w)sucrose(control) and additional 80% nethanol extractof prosomillet at the levels of 0.3% and 1%(w/w) or prosomillet powder at the level of 20%(w/w). Serum level of total cholesterol was a little higher but that of triglyceride was 41% lower in 20% (w/w) prosomillet powder group than in the control group. The cholesterol levels of two Liver cholesterol levels were lower and phospolipid levels higher in all three prosomillet powder group . Fecal excretionof bile acid was most increased in the prosomillet powder group among all five test groups. Acitivity of liver microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase was significantly lower in 0.3% methanol extract fed group than the control and also appeared to be reduced in 1% extract fed one, wherease those of 20 cholesterol 7$\alpha$-hydroxylase were not different among the five groups. Activities of liver cytosilic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH) and malic enzyme were decreased in 0.3% prosomillet methanol extract and 20% powder groups. The results indicate that in addition to fiber, certain active components in prosomillet have potential to exert hypolipidemic effects via regulating hepatic cholesterogenesis and lipogenesis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2013

This study determined the effects of fucoxanthin on gene expressions related to lipid metabolism in rats with a high-fat diet. Rats were fed with normal fat diet (NF, 7% fat) group, high fat diet group (HF, 20% fat), and high fat with 0.2% fucoxanthin diet group (HF+Fxn) for 4 weeks. Body weight changes and lipid profiles in plasma, liver, and feces were determined. The mRNA expressions of transcriptional factors such as sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c, Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1), Cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase1 (CYP7A1) as well as mRNA expression of several lipogenic enzymes were determined. Fucoxanthin supplements significantly increased plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration (P < 0.05). The hepatic total lipids, total cholesterols, and triglycerides were significantly decreased while the fecal excretions of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly increased in HF+Fxn group (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of hepatic Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), Fatty acid synthase (FAS), and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) as well as SREBP-1C were significantly lower in HF+Fxn group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). The hepatic mRNA expression of Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) and Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) were significantly low while lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was significantly high in the HF+Fxn group (P < 0.05). There was significant increase in mRNA expression of CPT1 and CYP7A1 in the HF+Fxn group, compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, consumption of fucoxanthin is thought to be effective in improving lipid and cholesterol metabolism in rats with a high fat diet.