• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.363-374
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect and safety of herbal extracts in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: We investigated 19 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were administered Banhasasim-tang (BST), Gumiganghwal-tang (GGT), or Pyeongwee-san (PWS) at Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Hospital for at least three days between January 2012 and December 2021. Their clinical characteristics and laboratory tests were reviewed retrospectively. The glucose-lowering effect of the herbal extracts was assessed by comparing blood glucose levels, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), two-hour postprandial glucose (PP2) levels, and glycated hemoglobin levels. To evaluate the safety of the herbal extract, liver function test and kidney function test results were compared, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr). Results: After taking herbal extracts, PP2 and HbA1c levels significantly decreased from 205.82 mg/dL to 171.41 mg/dL and 7.58% to 6.62%, respectively. The safety profile reported no significant difference after taking herbal extracts. Conclusions: BST, GGT, and PWS may have hypoglycemic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus taking hypoglycemic medication.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

This study analyzes the physiological healing effects on users according to forest types. Forest types are classified into Chamaecyparis obtusa, Quercus serrata and Pinus densiflora and the subjects of this study, 64 hypertensives, 59 diabetics and 59 ordinary people, were tested to observe their physiological effects. The index of physiological reaction comprises electroencephalogram(EEG), heart rate variability(HRV), blood pressure and cortisol level. An analysis of the stress-buffering effect from the physiological reactions of the overall subjects indicates that Quercus serrata forests have a higher stress-buffering effect than others in terms of central nervous, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Chamaecyparis obtusa forests are contributory to soothing stress in the central nervous and endocrine systems. Pinus densiflora forests contribute in some indexes of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. In contrast, Pinus densiflora forests are less influential on a stress-buffering effect than the other two. In the level of the effect for lowering blood pressure, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Quercus serrata forests are more effective than Pinus densiflora forests. Therefore, staying in the first two forests can heighten the healing effect of the lowering of blood pressure for hypertensive patients. Every forest is efficacious to lowering diabetic blood glucose levels. Spending time in Quercus serrata forests is more effective for hypoglycemic.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.201-219
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• 2007

Objectives : We studied Effects of Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.), Gamgook(chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Galgeun(pueraria Radix) aqua-acupuncture on the hyperlipidemic rat. methods : We investigated lowering lipid effect, oxidative capacity, concentration of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, Leptin and histological consideration in hyperlipidemic rat. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 5 groups of control, Ⅰ: Hagocho (prunella vulgaris L.)+Gamgook (chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Gokji aqua-acupuncture, Ⅱ: Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.)+Gamgook (chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Joksamri aqua-acupuncture, Ⅲ: Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.)+Galgeun(pueraria Radix)and Gokji aqua-acupuncture and Ⅳ: Hagocho (prunella vulgaris L.)+Galgeun(pueraria Radix) and Joksamri aqua-acupuncture. Results : Contents of plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, contents of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ and leptin, Plasma triglyceride and glucose, plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, liver total cholesterol, liver triglyceride, plasma and liver TBARS, free fatty acids showed a tendency to decrease in the aqua-acupuncture groups compared to those of control group. The activities of GOT and GPT showed no significantly different in all treatment groups. Values of super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity showed a tendency to increase in the aqua-acupuncture groups. Histological consideration of heart, kidney and liver in the aqua-acupuncture groups showed slight vasodilation and fat accumulation compared to those of normal rat. Conclusions : These results indicated that prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix aqua-acupuncture at gokji(LI11) and Joksamri(ST36) suppressed adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant system in hyperlipidemic rat.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.83-88
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• 1984

It is now well established that the rodenticide Vacor (N-3-pyridyl-mehtyl-N'-p-nitropheny-lurea) causes a hyperglycemia in human and rats. It is also reported that there are some components (DPG-3) in ginseng radix which cause hypoglycemic effect on alloxan diabetic mice. In the present study, attempts were made to demonstrate in Vacor-poisoned rats the hypo-glycemic activity of red ginseng component(RGC), which was extracted by Kimura's DPG-3 extraction procedure and found to be effective for lowering a hyperglycemia in alloxan-diabetic rats. Vacor in a dose of $LD_{50}$ (10mg/kg) produced a glucose intolerance with a paradoxical moderate increase in blood immunoreactive insulin and derangement in glucose metabolism of epididymal adipocytes in rats. Although RGC (20mg/kg, i.p.) did not exert any significant influence on a hyperglycemia induced by large lethal doses (25mg/kg) of Vacor ingestion, it improved the LDso Vacor-induced glucose intolerance and caused a further increase in blood insulin levels in Vacor-poisoned rats. The administration of RGC (20mg/kg, i.p.) normalized Vacor-induced depression of glucose metabolism and lipogenesis in the epididymal adipocytes with an improvement of reduced responses to insulin of adipocytes from Vacor-poisoned rats. These results suggest that some red ginsneng components contained in RGC fraction normalize the depressed peripheral glucose unitlization and insulin response and eventually lead to an improvement of abnormal glucose tolerance developed in rats poisoned with small doses of Vacor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.74-74
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• 1997

Chicory is used popularly. We use leaves of the plant as ordinary mea1, and roots as a substitute of tea materials. It also has been asserted that it has clinical effects on weakness, hepatic disease, diabetes, etc. However, experimental evidences are so insufficient that we started these studies. For antiinflammatory activity, MeOH Ex. was orally administered to rats, and decreased amounts of paw edema induced by carrageenan injection were measured. For bile secretion increament, rats were administered total MeOH, EtOAc fraction, and BuOH fraction Ex. respectively. One hour later, bile ducts were cannulated, and we collected bile every 20 minutes for 4 hours. For hepatoprotective activity, CCl$_4$-intoxicated mouse were treated with MeOH Ex., then s-GPT, S-GOT, and liver weight were measured. For antidiabetic activity, rats were induced diabetes by streptozocin 45mg/kg(i.v) injection. One week later, 1000mg/kg of total MeOH Ex. of chicory root was orally administered. We divided rats into three groups. Group 1 rats were administered only once, group 2 ones once a day for one week, and group 3 ones for three weeks. The concentrations of serum glucose were measured before and after administration. For antihypertensive activity, SHR were administrated total MeOH Ex. of chicory once a day for 8 days, and were measured blood pressure on 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th day. Total MeOH, EtOAc fraction, and BuOH fraction Ex. increased bile secretion in rats, and decreased liver toxicity induced by CCl$_4$ in mouse. Total MeOH, Ex. of chicory roots has antiinflammatory effect, and decreased blood glucose concentration in group 2 and 3 rats. It was revealed not lowering blood pressure significantly in SHR.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an important public health problem as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes have become epidemic. In this study we investigated the protective effect of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) against NAFLD in an obese mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Four-week-old male ob/ob mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 1% C. militaris water extract for 10 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Hepatic levels of lipids, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide were determined. RESULTS: Consumption of C. militaris significantly decreased serum glucose, as well as homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), in ob/ob mice. In addition to lowering serum FFA levels, C. militaris also significantly decreased hepatic total lipids and triglyceride contents. Serum ALT activities and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were reduced by C. militaris. Consumption of C. militaris increased hepatic GSH and reduced lipid peroxide levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that C. militaris can exert protective effects against development of NAFLD, partly by reducing inflammatory cytokines and improving hepatic antioxidant status in ob/ob mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.396-405
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This prospective study examined gender-specific associations between egg intake and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes using data from a large-scale cohort study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 7,002 Korean adults (40-69 years) without type 2 diabetes at baseline were analyzed. Dietary intake was evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline (2001-2002) and the second follow-up examination (2005-2006). Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed as a fasting glucose concentration ${\geq}126mg/dL$ or current use of glucose-lowering medications or insulin injection. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident type 2 diabetes according to egg consumption or cholesterol intake. RESULTS: During a 14-year follow up period, 857 subjects developed type 2 diabetes. In men, frequent egg intake (2- < 4 servings/week) was associated with a 40% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than infrequent egg intake (0- < 1 serving/week) (HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.97), whereas no association between egg intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes was observed in women (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.27-1.37). There was no association between cholesterol intake and risk of incident type 2 diabetes in either men or women. CONCLUSIONS: Egg consumption was inversely related to the risk of incident type 2 diabetes in men, but not in women, suggesting gender differences in the relationship between diet and disease risk.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.252-265
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigate effect of dietary fibers in rice and barley on glucose, lipid and cadmium (Cd) metabolism in the rat. Fifty-six male Spague-Dawley rats weighing 244.6$\pm$2.7g were blocked into eight groups according to body weight and raised for four weeks with diets containing 0 or 0.04%(w/w) CdCl2 and four different carbohydrate sources, starch, rice flour, barley flour and mixture of rice and barley flour(7 : 3, w/w). Total dietary fibers and $\beta$-glucan contents of barley were about three times higher than those of rice (10.75% vs. 3.94%, 3.11% vs. 1.06%, respectively). Food intake, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, liver and kidney weights were lower in Cd exposed groups, and barley group among Cd exposed animals showed highest weight gain, food efficiency ratio and organ weights. Fasting serum glucose levels were not significantly different among groups, Serum cholesterol level was lowest in Cd exposed barley group. Serum HDL-cholesterol level was higher in none-Cd exposed starch and barley groups, and HDL-cholesterol : total cholesterol ratios were higher in none-Cd rice and mixed flour groups than other groups. Liver total lipid and triglyceride levels were lowest in barley groups regardless of Cd administration. Fecal total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride excretions were high in barley and mixed flour groups. Liver Cd concentrations were low in Cd exposed barley and mixed flour groups. In Cd exposed barley group, fecal weight and Cd excretion were highest and Cd retention ratio was lowest among groups. Small intestine metallothionein(MT) concentration was highest in Cd exposed rice group, and kidney MT concentration was highest in Cd exposed barley group. In conclusion, cereals showed different effects on lipid and Cd metabolism that might be mediated by dietary fibers in cereals. Especially $\beta$-glucan-rich barley group showed greatest lipid and Cd lowering effects by increasing fecal lipids and Cd excretions.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.246-252
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• 2012

After a mixed carbohydrate diet, inhibition of ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase involved in the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates can significantly decrease the postprandial increase of blood glucose level. In the course of screening these useful enzyme inhibitors, we selected five kinds of bean, using an in-vitro enzyme inhibition assay method. To evaluate the effect of germination process on the functionality of the bean, we investigated the inhibitory activities of the water extracts of non-germinated bean and germinated bean against ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, relevant to postprandial hyperglycemia. We also investigated the oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC), total phenolics content, and postprandial blood glucose lowering effect in rats(Sprague-Dawley rat model). Most germinated beans showed significantly higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, compared with non-germinated beans. Among germinated beans, Glycine max had the highest ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity(53.3%). The water extract of germinated Phaseolus vulgaris L. had the highest ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity(95.1%), followed by Glycine max(58.7%), and Glycine max L. Merr(54.1%). Furthermore, the five germinated beans also showed high antioxidant activities in ORAC assay. Results suggested that the germination process may improve and enhance the anti-hyperglycemia potential and antioxidant activity of the bean.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.509-520
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether a mobile health (mHealth) application can instigate healthy behavioral changes and improvements in metabolic disorders in individuals with metabolic abnormalities. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Participants were divided into an mHealth intervention group (IG), which used a mobile app for 24 weeks, and a conventional IG. All mobile apps featured activity monitors, with blood pressure and glucose monitors, and body-composition measuring devices. The two groups were compared after 24 weeks in terms of health-behavior practice rate and changes in the proportion of people with health risks, and health behaviors performed by the IG that contributed to reductions in more than one health risk factor were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Preference for low-sodium diet, reading nutritional facts, having breakfast, and performing moderate physical activity significantly increased in the mHealth IG. Furthermore, the mHealth IG showed a significant increase of eight items in the mini-dietary assessment; particularly, the items "I eat at least two types of vegetables of various colors at every meal" and "I consume dairies, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, every day." The proportion of people with health risks, with the exception of fasting glucose, significantly decreased in the mHealth IG, while only the proportion of people with at-risk triglycerides and waist circumference of females significantly decreased in the control group. Finally, compared to those who did not show improvements of health risks, those who showed improvements of health risks in the mHealth IG had an odds ratio of 1.61 for moderate to vigorous physical activity, 1.65 for "I do not add more salt or soy sauce in my food," and 1.77 for "I remove fat in my meat before eating." CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the additional use of a community-based mHealth service through a mobile application is effective for improving health behaviors and lowering metabolic risks in Koreans.