• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.289-298
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• 2009

Effects of Nattokinase fibrinol (NKF), defined as a fibrinolytic product, on fibrinolytic and atherogenetic markers were studied for healthy adults (20-31 years old), who is smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Subjects were divided into 29 for NKF group and 10 for placebo group in a short term study. They were given 2 tablets of NKF (4,000 unit) or placebo tablet and thereafter blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 hr prerid. For a 4-week long term study, 15 subjects for NFK group and 10 subjects for placebo group were supplemented one tablet of each NKF (2,000 unit) and placebo per day, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4 weeks later. The short-term experimental trial showed that NKF remarkably increased fibrinolytic activity at 2hr after consumption, which was maintained up to 4 hr, relative to that of placebo, while NKF reduced the euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) and retarded the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), as compared to placebo group. NKF supplementation for 4 weeks elevated fibrinolytic activity, shortened ECLT and retarded aPTT. Furthermore, NKF supplementation increased anti-atherogenic index by decreasing triglyceride (TG) and elevating high-density lipiprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. These results indicate that NKF supplementation for short term or long term might have beneficial effects on preventing and treating cardiovascular disease by increasing fibrinolytic activity and improving atherogenic markers such as hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.1 s.8
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• pp.61-79
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• 2002

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate acute and subacute toxicity and sarcoma-180 anti-cancer effects of Herbal acupuncture with Anneniacae amarum semen (Haeng-in) in mice and rats. Method: Balble mice were injected intraperitoneany with Haeng-In extract for $LD_{50}$ and acute toxicity test. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with Haeng-In extract for subacute toxicity test. TheAnneniacae amarum semen Herbal-Acupuncture was injected on Chung-wan (CV12) of mice with Sarcoma-180 cancer cell line. Results: 1. $LD_{50}$ was uncountable as none of the subjects expired from the treatment groups during the test. 2. The clinical signs and the body weight of mice treated with 0.1cc and 0.2cc Haeng-In extract were not affected during the acute toxicity test. 3. In acute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of mice, total protein and albumin were decreased in treatment group Ⅰ. Glucose was increased, and total cholesterol was decreased in treatment groups. GPT was increased in treatment group Ⅰ. 4. In subacute toxicity test, toxic symptoms were not detected in the treatment groups. 5. In subacute toxicity test, the body weight was increased in treatment groups on 14th and 21st day. 6. In subacute toxicity test. liver weight was increased in treatment group Ⅱ, and spleen weight was increased in treatment group Ⅱ. Lung weight was increased in an the treatment groups.(p<0.05) 7. In subacute toxicity test, severe tissue injury was found in lung and liver, especially treatment group Ⅰshowed more significant lung damage compared to treatment group l. 8. In subacute toxicity test, WBC. MCH and MCHC were increased in an the treatment groups, RBC, HGB and HCT were decreased in treatment group H(p<0.05). 9. In subacute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of rats, triglyceride was decreased in all the treatment groups. ALP was decreased in treatment group Ⅰ. and creatinine was decreased in treatment group Ⅱ. BUN/CR was increased in treatment group Ⅱ(p<0.05). 10. Median survival time of Sarcoma-180 cancer cell treated with Haeng-In was increased in all the treatment groups by twenty percent, compared to the control group(p<0.05). 11. Natural killer cell activity about the Sarcoma-180 cell was decreased at the ratio of 100:1 but was increased at the ratio of 10:1. In treatment group Ⅱ, increase was found at the ratio of 100:1 and 50:1 (p<0.05). 12. Interleukin-2 productivity of the Sarcoma-180 cell was decreased in treatment group I, but was increased in treatment group Ⅱ(p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, we can conclude Herbal-acupuncture with Anneniacae amarum semen caused toxicity, and had effects in Sarcoma-180 cancer cell.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.193-207
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate anti-obesity effects of DF in a ob/ob mouse model. Methods : Fifteen-week-old ob/ob mice were divided into four groups: a normal lean group given a standard diet, an ob/ob control group given a standard diet, and DF(1) and DF(2) groups given a standard diet with DF(1) (300 mg/kg), and DF(2) (600 mg/kg), respectively. After 10 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, blood lipid markers, fat weight and histology were examined. Results : Body weight gain and fat mass were significantly decreased in DF(1) and DF(2) groups compared with control. The extent of decreases was eminent in DF(2) group. Feeding efficiency ratio were significantly decreased in DF(2) group compared with control. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain and fat mass, circulating concentrations of LDL, total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and insulin were decreased in DF(2) group compared with control. The size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by DF(2) compared with control. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, hepatic lipid accumulation and liver weights were reduced in DF compared with control. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that DF not only decrease feeding efficiency ratio, and blood anti-obesity biomarkers, but also reduce fat mass, contributing to the improvement of obesity. DF also inhibits hepatic lipid accumulation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.619-627
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colitis is a serious health problem, and chronic obesity is associated with the progression of colitis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of natural raw meal (NRM) on high-fat diet (HFD, 45%) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 2% w/v)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Body weight, colon length, and colon weight-to-length ratio, were measured directly. Serum levels of obesity-related biomarkers, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were determined using commercial kits. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 were detected using a commercial ELISA kit. Histological study was performed using a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining assay. Colonic mRNA expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: Body weight and obesity-related biomarkers (TG, TC, LDL, HDL, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin) were regulated and obesity was prevented in NRM treated mice. NRM significantly suppressed colon shortening and reduced colon weight-to-length ratio in HFD+DSS induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice (P < 0.05). Histological observations suggested that NRM reduced edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by HFD and DSS. In addition, NRM decreased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 and inhibited the mRNA expressions of these cytokines, and iNOS and COX-2 in colon mucosa (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that NRM has an anti-inflammatory effect against HFD and DSS-induced colitis in mice, and that these effects are due to the amelioration of HFD and/or DSS-induced inflammatory reactions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 50% ethanol extracts of ripe black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis, RBR) on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The final systolic blood pressure of the group treated with RBR for 12 weeks was significantly lower than that of the SHR group. The mRNA expression level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was significantly decreased in SHR. However, treatment with RBR and captopril increased the level of eNOS mRNA in SHR. Moreover, plasma levels of homocysteine and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were significantly reduced by RBR. Plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower in SHR than Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). However, there was no significant difference in plasma triglyceride level between WKY and SHR. The number of eosinophilic cardiac muscle cells was reduced in heart muscles after treatment with captopril and RBR. Therefore, this study suggests that RBR extracts may be useful for improvement of hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2011

Fatty liver disease refers to a range of disorders associated with fatty liver, which occur in excessive eating, evident infection or significant consumption of alcohol. This study was to investigate the effects of water and ethanol extracts of Triticum aestivum young leaf on lipid metabolism and accumulation in liver of mice fed with high-fat diet. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into normal diet group, high fat diet (HFD) group, high fat diet group administrated with 200 mg/kg/day of T. aestivum water extract (HFD-TAWE) and high-fat group administrated with 200 mg/kg/day of T. aestivum ethanol extract (HFD-TAEE). TAWE and TAEE were administrated orally for 5 weeks once at the same time point. Both TAWE and TAEE significantly reduced body weight, food intake and liver tissue weight, which were augmented in high fat-fed mice. The serum levels of triglyceride, total and LDL-cholesterol also were significantly attenuated in both HFD-TAWE and HFD-TAEE groups compared to the HFD group. Moreover, administration of HFD-TAWE or HFD-TAEE reduced the lipid accumulation in liver tissue of mice fed with high fat diet. Levels of total lipids and triglyceride in liver tissues also was significantly reduced in HFDTAWE and HFD-TAEE groups compared to HFD group. The activities of serum ALT and AST revealed in HFD group were remarkedly decreased in HFD-TAEE groups. These results indicate that both water and ethanol extract of T. aestivum may improve the lipid accumulation in liver as well as lipid metabolism in serum, and that in particular, the ethanol extract of T. aestivum may has the potent anti-hyperlipidemic effect, suggesting that it may be a useful candidate for the therapy preventing fatty liver diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 1988

A single i.v. dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) given to rats has produced a marked hyper-glycemia (>500 mg serum glucose/dl). Since the Atractylodis Rhizoma is known to have hypo-glycemic action, the water extracts of Atractylodis Rhizoma (ARWE) was given to the streptozotocin-induced (SZ) hyperglycemic rats. To determine whether ARWE has the anti-hyperglycemic effects, two different daily doses of ARWE (i.e.0.2 g/kg and 2.0 g/kg) were given orally to the SZ rats for up to 8 days. Thereupon, serum levels of glucose, insulin, amylase and cholesterol were determined on days 1, 3 and 8, following the initial and repeated daily administrations of ARWE. On day 8, glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in the liver were assayed. Results showed that ARWE decreased the serum glucose levels, which had been markedly elevated by the SZ pre-treatment. In support of this, the serum insulin level, which had been quickly lowered by the SZ pre-treatment $(20{\mu}U/ml)$, was quickly elevated in the ARWE dose dependent manner that, at 2.0 g/kg ARWE, the serum insulin level was increased $(20{\mu}U/ml)$ above the normal level $(42{\mu}U/ml)$. Also, the serum amylase level, which was steadily decreasing after the SZ pre-treatment, was restored to the normal level folowing 8 day of ARWE (2.0 g/kg) treatment. Hepatic glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity, which decreased and increased, respectively in the 52 treatment group, were restored toward the normal level in SZ plus ARWE group.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.249-262
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• 2005

Backgrounds : As obesity prevails as an epidemic. diet programs including low-calorie diets are developed continuously. It is generally believed that a low-calorie diet is commonly followed by resting metabolic rate decrease and ultimate weight regain. Ephedra and Evodia are known to have sympathomimetic and anti-obesity effect. Objectives : This study was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized md placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of Ephedra sinica and Evodia rutaecarpa on resting metabolic rate (RMR), weight, body composition, and short-term safety in obese women on low-calorie diet. Methods : 125 otherwise healthy obese women (body mass Index ${\geq}\;25kg/m^2$) were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: Ephedra group (n=41), Evodia group (n =45), and placebo group (n=39). Subjects were administered Ephedra extract in capsules (pseudo-ephedrine 31.52mg) or Evodia extract in capsules (evodiamine 6.75mg, rutaecarpine 0.66mg) or placebo capsules as well as participating in a low-calorie diet for 8 weeks, Resting metabolic rate and body composition were measured at baseline,4 and 8 weeks. Basic serum exams were performed to evaluate the short-term safety of the herbs and changes of lipid variables. Results : All three groups showed significant BMI decreases probably due to low-calorie diet. Among them, the Ephedra group manifested most prominent BMI-reducing effect and towered total cholesterol and triglycerides significantly. The RMR was not changed during the 8-week diet in all groups. No significant difference among the groups was found in RMR, either. Stbject with higher RMR than the mean at the baseline showed a tendency to keep their RMR more stable during the diet program. Conclusions : Ephedra with a low-calorie diet was effective in reducing BMI. RMR change was not compensated by herbal medicines. RMR change seemed to be affected rather by constitution and body composition than medicine. Ephedra and Evodia were proven to be safe for sort-term use in herbal form. Especially, Ephedra was effective in lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides during the 8 weeks.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.85-97
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• 2010

1. Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of oral administration of distilled Suhwagije-tang in aging rats. 2. Methods The SD rats used in this experiment were 6, 48 and 68 weeks old. These groups were treated with distilled water(DW), 1% Vitamin C(Vit. C) and 50% Suhwagije-tang(SGT) distillate respectively, once a day for 4 weeks. Blood samples were taken from heart and the levels of various parameters in serum were analysed. 3. Results and Conclusions (1) At all concentration of SGT, survival rates of liver cells were higher than the control group. (2) The rate of which the 10W-SGT group gained weight was significantly higher than that of the control groups. (3) The levels of albumin in serum of 10W-SGT group were significantly increased in comparison to those of the DW group. The levels of ALP, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in serum of 52W-SGT group were significantly decreased in comparison to those of the DW group. (4) The levels of testosterone in serum of SGT groups showed no significantly changes in comparison to those of the control groups. Testosterone levels were naturally decreased with advancing years, so 72W-DW group's testosterone level was significantly decreased in comparison to those of 10W-DW group's. In contrast, 72W-SGT group's level was the highest in comparison to those of the control groups and those of deviation from 10W, 52W and 72W in SGT groups was also smaller than control groups'. (5) The levels of glucose, total-bilirubin, ALT, AST, BUN, CRP, hs-CRP, homocystein, Na, K, Na/K ratio, Cl and Ca in serum of SGT groups showed no significantly changes in comparison to those of the control groups. These results suggest that oral administration of Suhwagije-tang distillate should be effective in promoting growth and preventing rapid decline of testosterone in aging rats does not cause any imbalance in liver, kidney and electrolyte.