• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 2005

The aerial parts of Gomphocarpus sinaicus Boiss. yielded four flavonoids that were identified as isorhamnetin 3-O-rhamnoglucoside (1), luteolin-7-O-glucoside-3-O-rhamnoside (2), rutin (3) and rutin-7-O-rhamnoside (4). All of the isolated flavonoids were identified by spectroscopic methods (UV, FAB-MS, $^1H-NMR\;&\;^{13}C-NMR$) and in comparison with the literature data. The isolated flavonoids 1, 2 and 4 are reported here for the first time from Gomphocarpus sinaicus Boiss. Three sets of experiments were carried out using the defatted alcoholic extract of Gomphocarpus sinaicus Boiss: the $1^{st}$ experiment indicated that the $LD_{50}$ was 49.82 mg/100 g b.wt. of intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected mice. The toxic signs were recorded within the first 24 hr post-injection. The $2^{nd}$ experiment revealed that the extract of the plant exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects in normal rats. The $3^{rd}$ experiment was found that the tested doses of the extract in diabetic rats induced a significant decrease in serum glucose, AST, ALT, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL, while HDL caused a significant increase.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.257-279
• /
• 2009

Plants of genus Dioscorea have long been served as important carbohydrate-stuffed foods in the tropical and subtropical regions, and utilized as traditional herb medicines to enhance digestive function, improve anorexia, and treat diarrhea in oriental countries. It is known that around 600 species of Dioscorea are distributed in the world including 107 species in Asia, but actually utilized Dioscorea species are restricted to small numbers. Phytochemical investigations for Dioscorea species have revealed a number of chemical components such as sapogenins, saponins, phenanthrenes, stilbenes, diterpenes and purine derivatives. According to recent pharmacological studies, Dioscorea species possess significant antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities as well as anticancer, antidiabetic, cholesterol-lowering and hypolipidemic effects. Here, seven Dioscorea species (D. batatas, D. japonica, D. bulbifera, D. opposita, D. tokoro, D. nipponica and D. alata), mainly distributed and used in Korea, China, and Japan, are reviewed to provide their botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological properties were described.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.78-82
• /
• 2011

In this study, we investigated the effects of silybin on body weight and glucose tolerance in mice fed high fat diet mice. We found that body weight, plasma TG contents, fat size, glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate and total cholesterol were significantly decreased in silybin (500 mg/kg) supplemented groups compared to high fat diet group. Whereas, total food intake was not changed between high fat diet group and high fat diet plus silybin group. Futhermore, supplement of high fat elevated the glucose intolerance and was improved in silybin supplement group. Finally, we examined the effect of silybin on circulating adipocytokine level to explore the possible mechanism by which silybin improves high fat diet-induced obesity and diabetes. The silybin supplement significantly reduced the level of adipocytokine, such as leptin, resistin, IL-6, and MCP-1 induced by high fat diet. These results suggest that silybin can be used to improve obesity and diabetes.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2014

Mushrooms are considered not only as food but also for source of physiologically beneficial medicines. The culinary-medicinal mushrooms may important role in the prevention of age-associated neurological dysfunctions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus), is edible mushrooms, is a parasitic fungus that grows hanging off of logs and trees and well established candidate for brain and nerve health. H. erinaceus contains high amounts of antioxidants, beta-glucan, polysaccharides and a potent catalyst for brain tissue regeneration and helps to improve memory and cognitive functions. Its fruiting bodies and the fungal mycelia exhibit various pharmacological activities, including the enhancement of the immune system, antitumor, hypoglycemic and anti-aging properties. H. erinaceus stimulates the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) which is the primary protein nutrient responsible for enhancing and repairing neurological disorders. Especially hericenones and erinacines isolated from its fruitin body stimulate NGF, synthesis. This fungus is also utilized to regulate blood levels of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. H. erinaceus can be considered as useful therapeutic agents in the management and/or treatment of neurodegeneration diseases. However, this review focuses on in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials for neurodegerative disease.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.83-98
• /
• 2001

Inositol, is a water-soluble crystalline compound. It helps with people’s metabolism and decreases cholesterol levels. It is also known to have anti-cancer results. In order to find out the affects of Inositol on the skin, Inositol skin lotion was produced with each amount of Inisitol: 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 wt% and tested on the faces and the arm areas of women in all ages for 7 weeks. The moisture, sebum, change in elasticity, and improvement of wrinkles were measured. Corneometer, Sebumeter, Cutometer, and an image analyzer were used as measuring equipments. There are subtle differences in the subjects when 1-2% of Inositol is used the moisture of the skin improved 19%, elasticity by 17%, and the amount of sebum for dry and oily skin types adjusted to the amount of sebum of the neutral skin types. This influenced the length, width, the number of peak, and the height of the wrinkles to improve 12.4%. It is thought that Inositol would be an effective new raw material in cosmetics.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.707-716
• /
• 2005

본 연구에서는 다양한 동물 모델을 사용하여 Dioscorea daemona Roxb. 줄기 메탄을 추출물(DD)의 항염증 활성을 측정하였으며 DD가 생체내에서 항산화 체계의 변화를 유도할 수 있는지도 살펴보았다. DD를 200mg/kg용량으로 3주간 경구투여하였을 때 동물실험모델에서 항염증 및 type IV 알레르기 억제 효과를 나타내었으며 혈청의 Catalase 활성, 지질 과산화, TG 및 HDL cholesterol 수치가 영향을 받았다. DD와 이를 클로로포름과 부탄올로 순차적으로 분획하여 얻은 fraction이 lipopolysaccharide(LPS)로 유도한 RAW264.7 대식세포주의 nitric oxide(NO), prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, tumor necrosis $factor-\alpha(TNF-\alpha)$, interleukin 6(IL6)의 생성을 억제하는지도 연구하였다. DD와 그 분획물들은 $4\~100{\mu}g/mL$ 농도에서 세포 독성을 나타내지 않고 LPS가 유도한 RAW264.7 세포주의 NO, $TNF-\alpha$, IL-6 생성을 억제하였다. LPS가 유도한 $PGE_2$ 생성은 DD의 클로로포름 분획에서 유의적으로 감소하였다(p<0.05). 따라서 Dioscorea daemona 추출물은 대식세포의 염증성 매개물의 억제를 통하여 항염증 활성을 나타내는 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.48 no.12
• /
• pp.1097-1119
• /
• 2018

Although elevated serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is without any doubts accepted as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the role of elevated triglycerides (TGs)-rich lipoproteins as an independent risk factor has until recently been quite controversial. Recent data strongly suggest that elevated TG-rich lipoproteins are an independent risk factor for CVD and that therapeutic targeting of them could possibly provide further benefit in reducing CVD morbidity, events and mortality, apart from LDL-C lowering. Today elevated TGs are treated with lifestyle interventions, and with fibrates which could be combined with omega-3 fatty acids. There are also some new drugs. Volanesorsen, is an antisense oligonucleotid that inhibits the production of the Apo C-III which is crucial in regulating TGs metabolism because it inhibits lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase activity but also hepatic uptake of TGs-rich particles. Evinacumab is a monoclonal antibody against angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) and it seems that it can substantially lower elevated TGs levels because ANGPTL3 also regulates TGs metabolism. Pemafibrate is a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator which also decreases TGs, and improves other lipid parameters. It seems that it also has some other possible antiatherogenic effects. Alipogene tiparvovec is a nonreplicating adeno-associated viral vector that delivers copies of the LPL gene to muscle tissue which accelerates the clearance of TG-rich lipoproteins thus decreasing extremely high TGs levels. Pradigastat is a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 inhibitor which substantially reduces extremely high TGs levels and appears to be promising in treatment of the rare familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.373-383
• /
• 2021

Atherosclerosis is the deposition of plaque in the main arteries. It is an inflammatory condition involving the accumulation of macrophages and various lipids (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, ceramide, S1P). Moreover, endothelial cells, macrophages, leukocytes, and smooth muscle cells are the major players in the atherogenic process. Sphingolipids are now emerging as important regulators in various pathophysiological processes, including the atherogenic process. Various sphingolipids exist, such as the ceramides, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), sphingomyelin, and hundreds of glycosphingolipids. Among these, ceramides, glycosphingolipids, and S1P play important roles in the atherogenic processes. The atherosclerotic plaque consists of higher amounts of ceramide, glycosphingolipids, and sphingomyelin. The inhibition of the de novo ceramide biosynthesis reduces the development of atherosclerosis. S1P regulates atherogenesis via binding to the S1P receptor (S1PR). Among the five S1PRs (S1PR1-5), S1PR1 and S1PR3 mainly exert anti-atherosclerotic properties. This review mainly focuses on the effects of ceramide and S1P via the S1PR in the development of atherosclerosis. Moreover, it discusses the recent findings and potential therapeutic implications in atherosclerosis.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.161-167
• /
• 2022

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaf (NL) extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obese db/db mice. NL extract among various parts (leaf, seed, and root) of N. nucifera most effectively reduced adipogenesis via inhibiting CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The addition of NL extract enhanced the protein expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) as compared to untreated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The oral administration of NL extract (100 mg/kg BW) significantly reduced food efficacy ratio, body weight, and face or total cholesterol level in obese db /db mice. Also, administration of NL extract significantly decreased adipocyte size and C/EBPα or PPARγ expression in the adipose tissues as compared with control (obese db/db mice). Therefore, our results suggest that NL extract among various parts of N. nucifera could be used as a functional food ingredient for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes.

• Journal of Web Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.2164-2174
• /
• 2022

Obesity treatment efficiency can be increased by targeting both central and peripheral pathways. In a previous study, we identified two natural compounds (hispidulin and p-synephrine) that affect adipocyte differentiation. We tested whether obesity treatment efficiency may be improved by adding an appetite-controlling agent to the treatment in the present study. Alkaloids, such as p-octopamine, are adrenergic agonists and are thus used as dietary supplements to achieve weight loss. Here, we assessed anti-obesity effects of a mixture of p-synephrine, p-octopamine HCl, and hispidulin (SOH) on murine preadipocyte cells and on mice receiving a high-fat diet (HFD). SOH showed stronger inhibition of the formation of red-stained lipid droplets than co-treatment with hispidulin and p-synephrine. Moreover, SOH reduced the expression of adipogenic marker proteins, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. In the HFD-induced obesity model, body weight and dietary intake were lower in mice treated with SOH than in the controls. Additionally, liver weight and the levels of alanine aminotransferase and total cholesterol were lower in SOH-treated mice than in the controls. In conclusion, our results suggest that consumption of SOH may be a potential alternative strategy to counteract obesity.