• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.519-523
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• 2004

This study sought to investigate the ameliorating effects of a Korean medicinal herb (KMH) complex on the impacts of alcohol consumption in rat hepatocytes and in reducing the total cholesterol levels and the total lipid levels in the serum. We compared the body weight gain and ratio of the liver, the kidney to body weight, and also the serum biochemistry of the rats administered with both the alcohol and the KMH complex to the control rats treated with alcohol alone. The clinically important enzyme markers (Aspartate Aminotransferase, AST, and Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT) of rats, administered with both the alcohol and the KMH complex treatments, were compared with those in the control group. The treatment regimen (KMH complex) significantly reduced the serum AST and ALT levels, indicating the hepato-protective effects of the KMH complex. Furthermore, total cholesterol and total lipid levels were significantly reduced. These results indicate that the KMH complex may positively mediate the effects of alcohol on hepatocytes and the general liver functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.782-789
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• 2012

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-metabolic syndrome effects of capsule-filled cheonggukjang (CGJ) added with arrowroot (Pueraria thunbergiana) extracts on body weight, adiposity and lipid metabolism in ob/ob mice. Experimental groups were normal control group (NC: basal diet), positive control group (PC: 2% CGJ), CGJ added with arrowroot extracts group (AR: 2% arrowroot in CGJ), and capsule-filled CGJ added with arrowroot extracts group (ARC: 2% arrowroot CGJ capsule). Each group was fed experimental diet for 10 weeks. Final body weight gain and atherogenic index were significantly lower in the ARC than NC group. Serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, blood glucose and atherogenic index were significantly lower in the ARC than NC group. Furthermore, fatty liver and regional lipid accumultion in ob/ob mice were inhibited in the ARC group. The hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly higher in the ARC than NC group. Therefore, the anti-matabolic syndrome effects of the ARC group were higher than the AR group. In conclusion, these results indicated that CGJ added with arrowroot mediates its anti-obesity effects in ob/ob mice by improving lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the effects of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) leaf powder on improvements in lipid metabolism in serum, liver and adipose tissue, and the anti-obesity effect in rats fed a high fat/high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks to induce a hyperlipidemic and obese model rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 210 g were divided into four groups; a normal diet group (N), a high fat/high cholesterol diet group (HFC), a high fat/high cholesterol diet with 5% ramie leaf powder group (HFC-RL), and a high fat/high cholesterol diet with 10% ramie leaf powder group (HFC-RH). The body weight gain increased with a high fat/high cholesterol diet, but gradually decreased in the ramie leaf powder fed groups compared with the HFC group. The liver index in the HFC group was highest among the four groups, although the difference was not significant compared with the ramie leaf powder fed groups. The adipose tissues weight in the HFC group was heavier than that of the N group, whereas those of groups fed ramie leaf powder decreased gradually. Alkaline phosphatase activity was not different between the HFC groups, but serum alkaline aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities decreased significantly after ramie leaf powder feeding. Levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index and cardiac risk factors tended to decrease in the ramie leaf powder fed groups compared with the HFC group, whereas serum HDL-cholesterol level decreased in the HFC group and markedly increased in the ramie leaf powder fed groups. Levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in the liver were significantly lower in the ramie leaf powder fed groups than in the HFC group. Levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in adipose tissues were also lower in the ramie leaves powder fed groups than in the HFC group. The activities of heparinreleasable lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and total-extractable LPL in adipose tissues increased in the HFC group compared to that of the N group, but those of the ramie leaf powder fed groups decreased significantly. These results suggest that ramie leaf powder may improve lipid metabolism in serum, liver and adipose tissue and potentially reduce lipid storage.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.526-536
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus After inducing obesity by feeding hight fat diet (diet induced obesity model: DIO) for four weeks, each 8 rats were assigned to normal (Nor), high fat diet (HF), high fat diet containing orlistat (PC), high fat diet containing different concentration of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus (UPDM_L, UPDM_H) and Discorea Japonica Thunb. (UPD) extract. Although the UPD, UPDM_L (ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 400 mg/kg) and UPDM_H (DIO oral administration ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 800 mg/kg) showed weight gain inhibition effects, the results of poor obesity inhibition rather than PC were confirmed. However, it showed a more effective weight loss effect in UPDM_H than UPD, and significantly reduced the weight of epididymal fat and subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, the possibility of anti-obesity effects of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be confirmed by observing the effects of reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL concentrations, reducing ALT and AST levels, and inhibiting fat build-up in liver tissue. It is believed that Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be expected to utilize as a functional material that is important to improve anti-obesity and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1011-1021
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• 2021

The root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Japanese elm) is used in Korea and other East Asian countries as a traditional herbal remedy to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases and ailments such as edema, gastric cancer and mastitis. For this study, we investigated the lipid metabolism and anti-obesity efficacy of ethyl alcohol extract of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica root bark (UDE). First, HPLC was performed to quantify the level of (+)-catechin, the active ingredient of UDE. In the following experiments, cultured 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed murine model were studied for anti-obesity efficacy by testing the lipid metabolism effects of UDE and (+)-catechin. In the test using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, treatment with UDE inhibited adipocyte differentiation and significantly reduced the production of adipogenic genes and transcription factors PPARγ, C/EBPα and SREBP-1c. HFD-fed, obese mice were administered with UDE (200 mg/kg per day) and (+)-catechin (30 mg/kg per day) by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Weight gain, epididymal and abdominal adipose tissue mass were significantly reduced, and a change in adipocyte size was observed in the UDE and (+)-catechin treatment groups compared to the untreated control group (^***p < 0.001). Significantly lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were detected in UDE-treated HFD mice compared to the control, revealing the efficacy of UDE. In addition, it was found that lipid accumulation in hepatocytes was also significantly reduced after administration of UDE. These results suggest that UDE has significant anti-obesity and lipid metabolism effects through inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.81-81
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• 2018

The present study was investigated on in vitro anti-obesity effect of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol from Cudrania tricuspidata. We isolated various compounds from Cudrania tricuspidata. Among these compounds, anti-obesity effects of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was examined by lipase activity assay, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE4) activity assay, and citrate synthase activity assay. 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata extracts inhibited the enzymatic activities of lipase, PDE4, and citrate synthase. Lipase is known to mediate the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in adipose tissue and cholesterol esters in other tissue or cells. Also, PDE4 hydrolyses cAMP, a crucial secondary messenger for in metabolic pathways including glucose and lipid metabolism, lipolysis, and thermogenic function. 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata extracts induced the inhibitory effect against each enzymatic activity on several specific substrates as observed by detection at 405 or 412 nm. These findings might be attributable to the inhibition of adipogenesis, and partial prevention of obesity. In conclusion, these results show that 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and Cudrania tricuspidata may be a critical candidate as a natural anti-obesity source.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.516-523
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• 2008

The effects of pan-fired (PM) and fermented (FM) Cudrania tricupidata tea leaves on $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, oral glucose tolerance, blood glucose levels and serum lipids profiles in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic rats were investigated. The $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of FM ethanol extracts (20 mg/mL) was higher (92.5%) than that of raw dried leaves (RM) (69.1%) and PM (54.6%). In addition, the results of a glucose tolerance test revealed that the glucose levels of hyperglycemic rats that were fed PM and FM ethanol extracts and then orally administered glucose began to decrease after 60 minutes, but recovered after 120 minutes. However, the blood glucose levels in the hyperglycemic control group did not begin to decrease for 360 minutes. Additionally, the results of animal experiments that were conducted over five weeks to compare the dietary effects of PM and FM following hyperglycemic induction to the effects on the hyperglycemic control group (DM) were as follows: The body weight gain and FER of the treated rats were $12.9{\sim}16.9%$ higher than those of the DM group, whereas the amounts of feed and water intake by the treated rats were $6.8{\sim}10.1%$ lower. Additionally, the levels of blood glucose and serum fructosamine decreased by $27.3{\sim}39.8%$ and $6.7{\sim}20.0%$, respectively, in the treated rats. Moreover, the serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the treated rats were $24.9{\sim}27.1%$, $15.9{\sim}17.4%$ and $33.8{\sim}38.4%$ lower, respectively. Finally, the HDL-cholesterol contents were $20.5{\sim}24.8%$ higher in the treated rats than in the control group. The above results suggest that PM and FM exerts an anti-hyperglycemic effect that occurs due to the inhibition of $\alpha$-glucosidase activity as well as via prevention and/or inhibition of changes in the serum lipid profile. In addition, the results of this study revealed that the synthetic anti-hyperglycemic effect of FM was greater than that of PM. However, further detailed studies are needed to confirm these results.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2017

To investigate the efficacy of extract of Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum Gaertn.) in high fat diet (HFD) in mice, the F. tataricum Gaertn. extract (FTE) was orally administered to mice with a HFD at 300 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Our results show that FTE significantly inhibited fat accumulation. Moreover, FTE markedly reduced the final body weight with a decrease in epididymal adipose tissue mass and adipocyte size compared with the untreated HFD-induced group. Additionally, FTE ameliorated serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The results show that Tartary buckwheat possesses hypocholesterolemic effect through downregulating lipid metabolism. Further studies are required in this area to strengthen the anti-obesity effects of FTE with active component, and it can be used a pro-drug instead of whole extract.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 1994

This exoeriments were conducted to study anti-stress effects Samulanshintang on the weight change, ${\beta}-lipoprotein$, total cholesterol and triglyceride consentration of rats stressed by immobilization. The following results have been obtained : 1. Samulanshintang reduced significantly the body weight loss of rats stressed by immobilization. 2. Samulanshintang decreased significantly the serum cortisol level of rats stressed by immobilization. 3. Samulanshintang decreased significantly the serum ${\beta}-lipoprotein$ level of rats stressed by immobilization. 4. Samulanshintang decreased significantly the serum total cholesterol level of rats stressed by immobilization. 5. Samulanshintang decreased significantly the serum triglyceride level of rats stressed by immobilization. According to the above results, it is concluded that Samulanshintang has significant effect in reducing stress.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1771-1779
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• 2018

Chrysanthemum zawadskii (CZ) is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. CZ is used medicinally to treat inflammatory and uterine diseases in Asia. CZ was extracted with 50% ethanol and CZ extract (CZE; at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally every day for 5 or 6 weeks to investigate the anti-diabetic effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats and STZ + high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. CZE significantly decreased fasting blood glucose levels in STZ- and STZ + HFD-induced diabetic models. In addition, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were improved in the STZ + HFD + CZE group by increasing insulin levels and decreasing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in serum. Furthermore, CZE supplements decreased components of the serum lipid profile such as triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These results suggest that CZE may be a potential candidate for controlling hyperglycemia.