• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2009

This study investigated the beneficial effects of crude saponins from soybean cake on body weight and glucose tolerance in high-fat (37% calories from fat) diet fed C57BL/6 mice. The mice were supplemented with three doses of saponins (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, wt/wt) and 1.0% Garcinia cambogia (wt/wt), positive control for 9 weeks. The body weight, visceral fat weight and epididymal adipocyte area were significantly reduced in the saponin supplemented groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Saponins did not significantly affect food intake; however, cambogia significantly lowered food intake compared to the high-fat fed control group. The crude saponins from soybean cake supplement significantly lowered plasma leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, whereas they significantly elevated the fecal excretion of triglyceide in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Cambogia did not affect the fecal excretion of lipid in the diet-induced obese mice. Supplementation of 1.5% saponin reduced the hepatic triglyceride content compared to the high-fat group. High-fat induced glucose intolerance with the elevation of blood glucose levels compared to the normal group; however, the saponins supplement significantly improved postprandial glucose levels. After 9 weeks of being fed a high-fat diet, the mice presented with significantly increased activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation; however, saponins and cambogia normalized these activities. These results indicate that saponins from soybean cake exhibit a potential anti-obesity effect and may prevent glucose intolerance by reducing body weight and plasma lipids, increasing fecal lipid excretion and regulating hepatic lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2009

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\alpha$ and estrogen are believed to be involved in metabolic changes leading to obesity. To test this relationship, we divided female wildtype and PPAR$\alpha$-deficient mice fed on a high fat diet into the following groups: mock-operated, ovariectomized (OVX), and $E_2$-treated. The visceral white adipose tissue and plasma cholesterol levels were increased significantly in wild type OVX and decreased in the $E_2$-treated group, but interestingly not in PPAR$\alpha$-deficient mice. The mRNA levels of lipoprotein lipase in adipose tissue were also increased in only wild type OVX and decreased significantly in $E_2$-treated mice. These novel results suggest the possibility of signaling crosstalk between PPAR$\alpha$ and $E_2$, causing obesity in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.397-401
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• 2013

The Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang, an officially standardized mixture of traditional herbal medicines used in Korea and China, consists of Pueraria lobata, Scullellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis and Glycyrrhiza uralensis at a ratio of 6:9:3:2.4. In this study, we evaluated the effect of lowering lipid accumulation in blood by treatment of Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang in Apo E(-/-) atherosclerotic animal model. ApoE/mice fed with 1.25% cholesterol, 7.5% cocoa butter and 0.5% sodium cholate diet were orally given vehicle or Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang(10, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks. Serum levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholestrerol(TC), low-density lipoprotein(LDL) and high-density lipoprotein(HDL) were analyzed, and PPAR-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ were examined by Western blotting analysis. Galkun-Whanglyeon- Whanggum-Tang decreased serum levels of TG, TC and LDL, but not HDL in ApoE/mice. In parallel, Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang treatment showed the increased activity of PPAR-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ in hepatocytes. In summary, Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang can reduce lipid accumulation in blood, and this effect might be accompanied by the upregulation of PPAR-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ in Apo E(-/-) atherosclerotic mouse model.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1084-1089
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• 2006

The fructus of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (GF) has been widely used as a natural colorant in Asian countries, and also as a Chinese traditional medicine for its homeostatic, antiphlogistic, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. In the present study, its main component, crocin, was fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their antihyperlipidemic activity was measured. The GF extract, fermented GF (F-GF), crocin, and fermented crocin (F-crocin) significantly inhibited the increase of serum triglyceride (TG) level in corn oil feeding-induced triglyceridemic mice, as well as that of serum TG and total and LDL cholesterol levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice. These agents also showed hypolipidemic activity in hyperlipidemic mice induced by high fat diet for 5 weeks. F-GF and F-crocin exhibited more potent hyperlipidemic effects than GF and crocin. The results suggest that the hypolipidemic effect of GF and crocin can be synergistically activated by LAB, and that F-GF and F-crocin may improve hyperlipidemia in clinic, compared with GF and crocin.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.380-384
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• 2013

Zinc may participate in blood pressure regulation and in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The study examined the relationship between zinc status and blood pressure in obese Korean women. Forty obese women (body mass index (BMI) ${\geq}25kg/m^2$) aged 19-28 years participated in this study. Zinc intake was estimated from one 24 hour recall and 2-day diet records. Serum and urinary zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorbance spectrophotometry. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured using an automatic sphygmometer. Metabolic variables, such as waist circumference, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin, were also measured. Dietary zinc intake of obese women was averagely 7.5 mg/day. Serum zinc and urinary zinc concentrations were $13.4{\mu}mol/L$ and $378.7{\mu}g/day$, respectively. Averages of SBP and DBP were 119 mmHg and 78 mmHg. Dietary zinc intake was negatively correlated with SBP after adjusting for energy intake (P < 0.05), but serum and urinary zinc concentrations were not found to be correlated with SBP or DBP. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that dietary zinc intake was inversely associated with SBP in obese women after adjusting for body weight, energy intake and sodium intake (P = 0.0145). The results show that dietary zinc intake may be an independent risk factor of elevated SBP in obese Korean women.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng water extract (KG-WE) has known beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system via inducting nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelium. Endothelial arginase inhibits the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by substrate depletion, thereby reducing NO bioavailability and contributing to vascular diseases including hypertension, aging, and atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrate that KG-WE inhibits arginase activity and negatively regulates NO production and reactive oxygen species generation in endothelium. This is associated with increased dimerization of eNOS without affecting the protein expression levels of either arginase or eNOS. In a vascular tension assay, when aortas isolated from wild type mice were incubated with KG-WE, NO-dependent enhanced vasorelaxation was observed. Furthermore, KG-WE administered via by drinking water to atherogenic model mice being fed high cholesterol diet improved impaired vascular function. Taken together, these results suggest that KG-WE may exert vasoprotective effects through augmentation of NO signaling by inhibiting arginase. Therefore, KG-WE may be useful in the treatment of vascular diseases derived from endothelial dysfunction, such as atherosclerosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.915-926
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• 2006

Objectives : Yanggyuksanhwa-tang is a prescription used for cerebral infarction clinically it is known that this formula reduces body fat, serum cholesterol and triglyceride in hyperglycemia and obesity patients. According to previous research data, controlling these types of lipid is considered to decrease the risk of cerebral infarction. Based on this fact, we investigated the relationship between hyperlipidemia and cerebral infarction, and the effect of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang on hyperlipidemic cerebral infarction. Methods : We induced cerebral infarction by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in high-fat diet rats, and the rats were administered Yanggyuksanhwa-tang. Results : Infarct area and serum lipid were measured, and the level of elements such as c-Fos, Bax and caspase-3 in penumbra of infarct were expressed by immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions : Yanggyuksanhwa-tang showed neuroprotective effect through preventing neuronal cell apoptosis as well as reducing serum lipid level in hyperlipidemic condition.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.84-88
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• 2009

Cathepsin S is a cysteine protease that affects extracellular matrix remodeling. Recently, several studies have reported that cathepsin S is involved in obesity. Both mouse and human adipose cells produce this enzyme in the early phase of adipocyte differentiation, where it degrades fibronectin. Cathepsin S gene expression is elevated in the adipose tissue of obese mice as compared to that of lean mice. Paecilomyces tenuipes water extracts (PTW) are shown to have an inhibitory effect on cathepsin S activity. In this study, Z-Val-Val-Arg-MCA was used as a cathepsin S-specific substrate in order to examine inhibitory effect of PTW. Supplementing 3T3-L1 cell media with PTW clearly reduced lipid droplet accumulation and cathepsin S-induced adipogenesis. Furthermore, PTW decreased weight gain, subcutaneous adipose tissue growth, the level of serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice fed a high-fat diet. These data suggest that PTW work against adipose cathepsin S and presumably contribute to anti-obese activities.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 1995

This study designed to compare the hypolipidemic e(feats of n6 linoleic acid (LA), n3 w-linolenic acid(LL) and n3 eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) In rats fed high fat (40% Cal) diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats fed experimental diets for 6 weeks, which were different only in fatty acid composition. The dietary fats were beef tallow (BT) as a source of saturated fatty acid (SFA), corn oil(CO) for n6 LA, perilla oil (PO) for n3 a-LL and fish oil (FO) for n3 EPA+DHA. Plasma total cholesterol (T-chol) level was increased by n6 LA but decreased by n3 LL and n3 EPA+DHA and most effectively reduced by n3 EPA+DHA. Plasma triglyceride(TG ) level was reduced by n6 LA, but lipogenesis in liver was not affected by n6 LA. However, plasma TG level was lowered by n3 LL and EPA+DHA. Both lipogenic enzyme activity and liver TG level were also decreased by n3 PUFA. PO and FO groups were significantly higher in the relative Proportions of C20:5 and C22:6 of plasma and liver and lower in those of C20:4/C20:5 ratio. Overall, the lipid-lowering effect was in the order of n3 EPA+DHA >n3 LL > n6 LA and fish oil and perilla oil rich in n3 PUFA may have important nutritional applications in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.9-9
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• 2018

Arctii Fructus (AF), which contains arctigenin (ARC) as a major constituent, is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory medicine to treat inflammatory sore throat. Although several studies have proven its anti-inflammatory effects, there have been no reports on its use in inflammation related disorders such as obesity, cancer metastasis, and allergic responses. This study investigated the anti-obesity effect and anti-metastasis effect of AF and ARC. AF and ARC inhibited weight gain by reducing the mass of white adipose tissue in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Serum cholesterol levels were also improved by AF and ARC. In in vitro experiments, AF and ARC decreased differentiation of white adipocytes. Furthermore, AF induced differentiation of brown adipocytes, which are able to consume surplus energy through non-shivering thermogenesis. Also, AF and ARC inhibited colon cancer and lung metastasis of colon cancer. They suppressed not only colorectal cancer cell progression by inhibiting cell growth, but also prohibited lung metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and the invasion. These effects were confirmed in an experimental metastasis mouse model. In addition, AF and ARC inhibited mast cell mediated allergic responses. Collectively, our study suggests that AF and ARC might show inhibitory effects on inflammation related diseases, including obesity, cancer, cancer metastasis, and allergic responses.