• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.438-447
• /
• 2012

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect and the underlying mechanism of ethanol extract of Benincasa seeds on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) established by treating HepG2 cells with palmitate. Methods : We evaluated ethanol extract of Benincasa seeds (EEBS) for its hepatic lipid-lowering potential in fatty acid overloaded HepG2 cells. After incubation in palmitate containing media with or without EEBS, intracellular neutral lipid accumulations were quantified by Nile red staining. We also investigated the effect of EEBS on lipogenesis and ${\beta}$-oxidation. $LXR{\alpha}$-dependent SREBP-1c activation, expression of lipogenic genes, and expression of ${\beta}$-oxidation related genes were determined with or without pretreatment of EEBS. Results : EEBS significantly attenuated palmitate-induced intracellular neutral lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. EEBS suppressed fatty acid synthesis by inhibiting $LXR{\alpha}$-dependent SREBP-1c activation. EEBS also repressed SREBP-1c mediated induction of lipogenic genes, including ACC, FAS, and SCD-1. However, EEBS had no effect on ${\beta}$-oxidation related CPT-1 and $PPAR{\alpha}$ gene expression. Conclusions : Our results suggest that EEBS has an efficacy to decrease hepatic lipid accumulation, and this effect was mediated by inhibiting the $LXR{\alpha}$-SREBP-1c pathway that leads to expression of lipogenic genes and hepatic steatosis. Therefore, the Benincasa seeds may have a potential clinical application for treatment of this chronic liver disease.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.14-23
• /
• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by fat accumulation and is associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract (PPE) against oxidative stress in the liver of rats with NAFLD. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD), 20% corn oil, or palm oil for 8 weeks in the presence or absence of PPE. The control group was fed a basal diet. The progression of NAFLD was evaluated histologically and by measuring liver enzymes (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase), serum lipids (triglycerides and total cholesterol), and oxidative stress markers. The HFD feeding increased the body weight and caused NAFLD, liver steatosis, hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and elevated liver enzymes. Administration of PPE ameliorated the hepatic morphology, reduced body weight, improved liver enzymes, and inhibited lipogenesis. Furthermore, PPE enhanced the cellular redox status in the liver tissue of rats with NAFLD. Our findings suggest that PPE could improve HFD-induced NAFLD via abolishment of hepatic oxidative damage and hyperlipidemia. PPE might be considered as a potential lead material in the treatment of NAFLD and obesity through the modulation of lipid metabolism.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.442-452
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the anti-lipogenic effect and the mechanism of Jungmanbunso-hwan extract (JMBSH) on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells.Methods: The JMBSH was prepared, andHepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of JMBSH in order to perform an MTT assay. The HepG2 cells were cultivated in palmitate-containing media with or without extract of JMBSH. The intracellular lipid content in the HepG2 cells was examined. The effects of JMBSH on sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in HepG2 cells were measured.Results: JMBSH did not reduce HepG2 cell viability under 1,000 μg/mL. JMBSH considerably decreased intracellular lipid accumulation caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells. JMBSH repressed expression of SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes (ACC, FAS, and SCD-1). JMBSH also activated AMPK, which plays animportant role in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.Conclusions: This study suggested that JMBSH relieves hepatic steatosis by repressing SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes. The anti-lipogenic effect of JMBSH may also be related to the activation of AMPK. Therefore, JMBSH could potentially be applied to NAFLD treatment after further clinical studies.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot water extract of peduncle obtained from Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HD) which is commercially developed for the protective effect on the alcoholic hepatotoxicity, on the endurance capacity for weight loaded forced swimming mice. The swimming times to exhaustion in mice fed 100 and 200 mg/kg HD for 2 weeks were prolonged 3.6 and 3.7 fold, and for 4 weeks 1.9 and 2.7 fold compared with each vehicle control ($42.8{\pm}20.5$ min and $67.7{\pm}47.8$ min, for 2 and 4 weeks), respectively. Blood biochemical parameters for ALT, AST, creatinine and BUN were not significantly different between from HD fed or control mice. Although HD fed mice swam over 2 fold longer time than vehicle control mice at 4 weeks, blood biomarkers of physical fatigue such as glucose, triglyceride and free fatty acid, lactate were not significant different and even tended to ameliorate. Hepatic lipid peroxidation and SOD activity did not significantly change in HD fed- and vehicle control exhausted swimming mice at 2 or 4 weeks. However, catalase activity in HD-fed mice was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with vehicle control mice. The present study indicates that HD improved physical fatigue and exercise performance in mice. Therefore, it has a potential for the pharmacological effect of anti-fatigue.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.302-306
• /
• 2014

Ehwa nuruk (EN), a traditional Korean alcoholic rice beverage, is manufactured from pulverized wet rice and the needles of pine trees. In this study, the ethanol extract of EN and its subsequent organic solvent fractions were prepared, and their in-vitro anti-thrombosis activity evaluated. In an anti-coagulation assay, only the ethylacetate (EA) fraction of the ethanol extract showed significant extensions of thrombin time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. In a platelet aggregation assay, the water residue of the ethanol extract exhibited aggregation inhibitory activity. Our results suggest that the EA fraction has potential as a new anticoagulation agent and EN could be used as a novel resource for anti-thrombosis agents. This report provides the first evidence of the anti-thrombosis activity of EN.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the preventive effect of Puerariae Flos ethanol extract (PE) on methionin and choline deficient (MCD)-diet-induced Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in C57BL/6J mice. Methods : In the in vivo experiments, C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups; Normal group, Control group, MCD+PE 100 group, and MCD+PE 300 group. After 4 weeks, body weight, liver weight, biochemical parameters for liver function test, histological changes, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot were assessed. Results : Mice lost body weight with the MCD-diet and the MCD+PE 100 group and MCD+PE 300 groups lost less than the control group, though showed no statistical significance. Liver weights were decreased by the MCD diet, but MCD+PE 300 groups were increased significantly. In the liver function test, all the values were decreased with the MCD-diet, MCD+PE 100 group and MCD+PE 300 groups were increased significance. In histological findings of the livers, MCD-diet induced severe fatty accumulation in the livers, but this fatty change was reduced in the MCD+PE 100 group and MCD+PE 300 groups was inhibited respectively. In lipid accumulation factors (such as SREBP-1c, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, PPAR-${\gamma}$), MCD+PE 100 group and MCD+PE 300 groups showed inhibitory effect on liver lipogenesis by reducing associated gene expressions caused by MCD diet. Conclusions : We were able to know that Puerariae Flos ethanol extract (PE) shown hepatoprotective effects via a decrease on the hepatic lipogenesis factors in the experimental NAFLD Models.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.429-439
• /
• 2023

Background: The incidence and clinical importance of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged. However, effective therapeutic strategies for NAFLD have yet to be found. Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) is a traditional herb in Eastern Asia with therapeutic effects in many chronic disorders. However, the precise effects of ginseng extract on NAFLD are currently unknown. In present study, the therapeutic effects of Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) on the progression of NAFLD were explored. Methods: Twelve-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were fed a chow or western diet supplemented with high sugar water solution with or without Rg3-RGE. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, serum biochemistry, western blot analysis, and quantitative RT-PCR were used for in vivo experiment. Conditionally immortalized human glomerular endothelial cell (CiGEnC) and primary liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) were used for in vitro experiments. Results: Eight weeks of Rg3-RGE treatment significantly attenuated the inflammatory lesions of NAFLD. Furthermore, Rg3-RGE inhibited the inflammatory infiltrate in liver parenchyma and the expression of adhesive molecules to LSECs. Moreover, the Rg3-RGE exhibited similar patterns on the in vitro assays. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that Rg3-RGE treatment ameliorates NAFLD progression by inhibiting chemotaxis activities in LSECs.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.599-607
• /
• 2015

Fermented-Rhus verniciflua (FRV) extract is increasingly used in fermented soy products, fermented vinegars, and certain alcoholic beverages. In this study, we investigated the effects of FRV extract on the physicochemical properties of doenjang (soybean paste). Addition of FRV extract to doenjang resulted in a 28.2-45.4% increase in the amino acid content and a 1.3- to 1.5-fold increase in the concentrations of glutamic acid, which imparts a savory flavor to doenjang. The concentration of biogenic amine (BA) of the sample containing the extract was 5.3-52.6% lower than that of the control. The major components of BA included tyramine (55.1-74.6%), followed by putrescine, spermidine, tryptamine, and cadaverine, in decreasing concentrations. The organic acid concentration of the sample containing the extract was 1.2-1.3-fold higher than that of the control. The total free sugar concentration was 163.4 mg/100 g in the control and 206.6-276.8 mg/100 g in the supplemented sample, showing a 1.3- to 1.9-fold increase as the addition of the extract.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.736-740
• /
• 2004

Preparation of ginseng concentrate with high content of acidic polysaccharide from white tail ginseng marc that was obtained after preparation of white tail ginseng extract. As a result of extraction of white tail ginseng under various concentrations of ethanol (0∼90%), both amount of acidic polysaccharide and extraction yield decreased by increasing the ethanol concentration. However, acidic polysaccharide extracted by water from white tail ginseng marc was increased in accordance with the increase of ethanol concentration. The optimal condition for the extraction of acidic polysaccharide from the marc was treatment of $\alpha$-amylase in 390∼650 unit/g residue/15 mL of distilled water for 5 min at 4$0^{\circ}C$. The amount of acidic polysaccharide in water extract of the marc was increased from 8.3% to 10.5% by the treatment of $\alpha$-amylase. A new ginseng extract mixture was manufactured by mixing 50% ethanol extract of white tail ginseng and water extract of alcoholic residue in the ratio of 8:2 (w/w). Crude saponin content and acidic polysaccharide content were 10.5% and 17%, respectively. The mixture had a same crude saponin content and twice acidic polysaccharide content comparing to 50% ethanol extract of white tail ginseng. It suggests that preparation of new ginseng concentrate with high content of acidic polysaccharide from white tail ginseng marc has high potencies in the utilization of waste material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.11
• /
• pp.1695-1700
• /
• 2014

Oriental herbal liquor (Yakju) is a type of Korean traditional alcoholic beverage that uses Nuruk and oriental herbs for fermentation. The purpose of this study was to develop cosmetic ingredients using Jubak, which is a by-product of alcoholic fermentation of oriental herbal liquor. To investigate antioxidant, whitening, and anti-aging effects of Jubak, we prepared extract of Jubak and its solvent fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction (KSD E4-3) showed the most prominent free radical [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)] scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$: 0.75 mg/mL). KSD E4-3 significantly inhibited in vitro mushroom tyrosinase activity ($IC_{50}$: 0.82 mg/mL) and reduced the melanin contents in mouse melanoma melanocyte, B16F10 cells. KSD E4-3 down-regulated protein expression of tyrosinase related proteins (TRP)-1, -2, which play key roles in melanogenesis. For anti-aging effects, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) expression was evaluated using human keratinocyte, HaCaT cells. Treatment of HaCaT cells with KSD E4-3 reduced expression of MMP-1, -2, -9 and inhibited proteolytic activities of MMP-2, -9. These results suggest that KSD E4-3 induces down-regulation of cellular melanogenesis and protects against photoaging induced by UVB-induced damage. Thus KSD E4-3 could potentially be a valuable cosmetic ingredient.