• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.500-505
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• 2022

Uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2) was first introduced as a member of Uncoupling protein family and a regulator of ROS formation; however, its role in adipose tissue is not fully understood. In the present study, we have investigated the role of Ucp2 against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). Diet-induced obesity is closely related to macrophage infiltration and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Macrophages surround adipocytes and form a crown-like-structure (CLS). Some reports have suggested that CLS formation requires adipocyte apoptosis. After 12 weeks of HFD challenge, Ucp2 knockout (KO) mice maintained relatively lean phenotypes compared to wild-type (WT) mice. In eWAT, macrophage infiltration, CLS formation, and inflammatory cytokines were reduced in HFD KO mice compared to HFD WT mice. Surprisingly, we found that apoptotic signals were also reduced in the Ucp2 KO mice. Our study suggests that Ucp2 deficiency may prevent diet-induced obesity by regulating adipocyte apoptosis. However, Ucp2 deficiency did not affect the browning capacity of iWAT.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2018

Black vinegar has been traditionally used for supplemental flavoring on food, and commercialized beverages. Here, to investigate the effects on in vivo anti-obesity complications of black vinegar produced with herbal extracts, we evaluated on the biochemical effects of high-fat diet (HFD) induced mice compared to control fed ones. After a 84-day experiment HFD mice had higher (P < 0.05) weight gains, relative abdominal-fat pads, blood glucose level, serum/liver lipids, and serum nephron indices. Continuous oral treatment of three different concentration of herbal black vinegar (HBV; stock, 2-fold, and 4-fold diluted solution) to HFD mice showed that HBV reduced marked obesity (fat depositions, adipocyte hypertrophy), hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia (serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol levels), enhanced liver function (AST/ALT), and kidney function (BUN, creatine levels), respectively. Thus, HBV is expected to serve as an efficient and functional supplemental ingredients or food for the alleviation of obesity syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2020

Obesity is a critical health issue in Korea, where half of all adults are overweight and a third obese. Aronia melanocarpa -rich in flavonoids and phenolics- with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, could have anti-obesity activity and reduce body fat mass by upregulating lipolysis and β-oxidation in obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice (n=12) were assigned into four groups: normal chow (18% kcal from fat); high-fat diet control (HFD, 45% kcal from fat); HFD+A. melanocarpa (200 mg/kg diet); HFD+Xenical (500 mg/kg diet, positive control). Antioxidant capacity of A. melanocarpa was established in vitro and in vivo. Weight loss was induced as decreased adiposity and lowered respiratory quotient at rest suggested oxidation of stored fat. Adiposity reduction, accompanied with elevated fat utilization, was owing to enhanced activity of hormone-sensitive lipase. Thus, A. melanocarpa lowered adiposity by enhancing lipolysis and utilization of fatty acids in visceral fat.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.387-398
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• 2024

Euphorbia humifusa Willd (Euphorbiaceae) is a functional raw material with various pharmacological activities. This study aimed to validate the inhibitory effect of Euphorbia humifusa extract (EHE) on adipocyte differentiation in vitro and in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse model to evaluate the E.a humifusa as a novel anti-obesity and lipid metabolism enhancer agent. EHE effects on obesity and lipid metabolism were assessed in HFD-induced obese mice after 4-week treatments. Results were compared among four treatment groups (n = 7/group): low fat diet (LFD), high fat diet (HFD), and HFD-induced obese mice treated with either 100 or 200 mg/kg/day EHE (EHE100 and EHE200, respectively). EHE (50 to 200 ㎍/ml) and quercetin (50 ㎍/ml) significantly reduced 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation (p < 0.001), in a concentration-dependent manner. EHE affected lipid metabolism, as evidenced by changes in serum lipid components. The HFD-EHE100 and HFD-EHE200 groups exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) reduced triglycerides (TG, 97.50 ± 6.56 and 82.50 ± 13.20 mg/dL, respectively) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c: 40.25 ± 4.99 and 41.25 ± 6.36 mg/dL, respectively) compared to the HFD group (TG: 129.25 ± 19.81 mg/dL; LDL-c: 51.75 ± 11.59 mg/dL). Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Oil red O staining showed that EHE markedly reduced lipid accumulation and inhibited lipogenesis in the liver. Interestingly, EHE significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the expression of adipogenic transcription factors in liver tissue. Our results indicated that EHE has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for addressing obesity and lipid metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the effects of cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum on the lipid accumulation and body weight reduction in C57BL/6J mice. Six-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups and assigned to one of these groups; normal chew diet(Nor) group, high-fat diet(HFD) group, HFD plus spores of Ganoderma lucidum 800 mg/kg/day (HFD + GS/B) group, HFD plus cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum 400 mg/kg/day (HFD + BGS/A) group and finally HFD plus cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum 800mg/kg/day (HFD + BGS/B). The experimental groups which were treated oral co-administration with cell-wall broken(or original) spores of Ganoderma lucidum and HFD significantly attenuated accumulative body weight gain, compared with HFD group. Administration of these experimental materials also resulted in significant reduction not only the serum levels of total cholesterol, homocysteine but also the lipid accumulation in liver tissue. But in the almost of results the cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum were evaluated superior than the original one. These results indicate that cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum may inhibit the lipid accumulation in blood as well as liver tissue. Therefore it may be a valuable candidate for the therapy preventing obese induced hyperlipidemic symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1522-1527
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• 2009

We investigated the effects of feeding diet containing medicinal plant water extracts (MPWEs) on body weight, epididymal adipose tissue weight, adipocyte size of epididymal adipose tissue and plasma lipid levels in high fat (HF) diet-induced obese mice. To test antiobese effects of diet containing the MPWEs, C57BL/6J mice were fed with HF diet for 11 weeks. In the last 6 weeks, the HF diet was supplemented with 0 (HFD) or MPWEs (5 g/kg, HFD＋MPWEs) or orlistat [0.5 g/kg, HFD＋orlistat (antiobesity drug)]. The HF-free diet group was fed normal chow for 11 weeks. Eleven-weeks feeding with HFD resulted in significant increase in lipid levels, body weight, liver and epididymal adipose tissue weights, compared with the HF-free group. Diet containing MPWEs significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose concentrations as well as body weight, liver weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight. Plasma triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the HFD＋Forlistat group after 6 weeks and a similar effect was found with HFD＋MPWEs group. The adipocyte size of epididymal adipose tissue in HFD group was significantly larger than those of HF-free group. MPWEs and orlistat (positive control) significantly decreased the size of epididymal adipocytes but orlistat was slightly more effective than MPWEs. These results suggest that oral feeding of the MPWEs may have antiobesity effects by suppressing body weight gain, adipose tissue formation and adipocyte size increase.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 2012

Aged garlic extract (AGE) is known to have a protective effect against immune system, endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammation. We examined the effects of exercise with and without aged garlic extract administration on body weight, lipid profiles, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress marker in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a HFD (HFD, n = 40) or a normal diet (ND, n = 5) for 6 weeks and thereafter randomized into ND (n = 5), HFD (n = 10), HFD with AGE (n = 10), HFD with Exercise (n = 10), or HFD with Exercise+AGE (n = 10) for 4 weeks. AGE groups were administered at a dose of 2.86 g/kg body weight, orally. Exercise consisted of running 15-60 min 5 days/week with gradually increasing intensity. AGE (P<0.01), Exercise, and Exercise+AGE (P<0.001) attenuated body weight gain and food efficiency ratio compared to HFD. Visceral fat and liver weight gain were attenuated (P<0.05) with all three interventions with a greater effect on visceral fat in the Exercise+AGE than AGE (P<0.001). In reducing visceral fat (P<0.001), epididymal fat (P<0.01) and liver weight (P<0.001), Exercise+AGE was effective, but exercise showed a stronger suppressive effect than AGE. Exercise+AGE showed further additive effects on reducing visceral fat and liver weight (P<0.001). AGE significantly attenuated the increase in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with HFD (P<0.05). Exercise+AGE attenuated the increase in triglycerides compared with HFD (P<0.05). Exercise group significantly decrease in C-reactive protein (P<0.001). These results suggest that AGE supplementation and exercise alone have anti-obesity, cholesterol lowering, and anti-inflammatory effects, but the combined intervention is more effective in reducing weight gain and triglycerides levels than either intervention alone.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study is to develop a new animal model with Kidney-hypofunction for Sasang Constitutional Medicine, especially for partial Soyangin(one of four constitution which has good digestive function and poor renal function) by Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction, and to estimate the factor related to obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Methods: The C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3 groups : normal group, high fat diet(HFD) control group, and HFD group with Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction(UUO). Then, the HFD control group and the experimental group were fed with high fat diet for 6 weeks. Food intake and body weight were measured at regular time by week. After the final experiment, blood was gathered for bloodchemical examination and organs(liver, fatty tissue) were remoed, weighted, and mRNA was analyzed with real-time PCR. Results: The weight growth rate with High fat diet went down by 8.35% in experimental group and had similar FER with the normal group, while HFD control group had higher weight growth rate and FER than any other groups. Also The experimental group had lower triglyceride and LDL cholesterol rate and higher glucose rate in serum. and in mRNA expression, GLUT-9, the protein related to excretion of uric acid and metabolic syndrome, expressed lower rate than that of HFD control group. and IL-6, a kind of cytokine related to obesity and metabolic syndrome, expressed more than HFD control group. Conclusions: It was found that Kidney-hypofunction animal-experimental model is susceptible to metabolic syndrome.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2018

In this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of L. plantarum Q180 on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 and reduction of adipocyte size in mice fed high-fat diet. L. plantarum Q180 inhibited the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells ($18.47{\pm}0.32%$) at a concentration of $400{\mu}g/mL$ ($10^8CFU/g$). As a result of western blot analysis, the expression of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ in 3T3-L1 adipocyte treated with $400{\mu}g/mL$ of L. plantarum Q180 decreased 35.16% and 40.07%, respectively, compared with the control. To examine the effects, mice were fed three different diets as follows: ND (n=6) was fed ND and orally administered saline solution; HFD (n=6), HFD and orally administered saline solution; and HFD+Q180 (n=6), HFD and orally administered L. plantarum Q180. After six weeks, the rate of increase of body weight was 13.7% lower in the HFD+Q180 group compared to the HFD group. In addition, the epididymal fat weights of the HFD+Q180 group were lower than that of the HFD group. The change of adipocyte size was measured in diet-induced obese mice. Consequently, the number of large-size adipose tissue was less distributed in the ND and HFD+Q180 groups than in the HFD group. L. plantarum Q180 has an effect on the inhibition of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, fat absorption and reduction of adipocyte size. L. plantarum Q180 could be applied to functional food products that help improve obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.187-192
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• 2016

Objectives: In this study, we investigated whether a high-fat diet (HFD) affected the bone implant connection (BIC) in peri-implant bone. Materials and Methods: Four male rabbits were used in this study. Dental implant surgery was introduced into each tibia, and four implants were integrated into each animal. In both the normal diet (ND) group (n=2) and HFD group (n=2), 8 implants were integrated, for a total of 16 integrated implants. The animals continued with their respective diets for 12 weeks post-surgery. Afterward, the rabbits were sacrificed, and the BIC was assessed histomorphometrically. Results: Histologic and histomorphometric analyses demonstrated that BIC was not impaired in the HFD group compared to the ND group. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, we found that HFD did not decrease the BIC in rabbit tibias.