• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.117-121
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• 2010

Objective：The Herbal Remedy for Diabetes Mellitus-01 (HRDM-01) is composed of 11 species of medicinal plants. HRDM-01 is used as anti-hyperglycaemic agent. Anti-hyperglycaemic agents in western medicine often have hepatotoxicities. Therefore, we investigated safety of HRDM-01, especially in liver functions. Methods：We investigated the effects of HRDM-01 on liver function measuring serum AST, ALT and LDH levels and histopathological changes of liver tissue using photomicroscope. In addition, we also investigated the effects on serum lipid levels such as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride. Results：In our experiment, single injection of streptozotocin elevated levels of AST and ALT in serum. But LDH level was not affected. In addition, our animal model showed elevated levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum. 30 days treatment with HRDM-01 lowered serum AST level. Serum levels of ALT and LDH did not affected. In addition, HRDM-01 lowered serum triglyceride level significantly. In histopathological observation, we did not find any abnormal changes in all experimental groups. Conclusions：Briefly, HRDM-01 did not elevate serum levels of ALT, LDH, total cholesterol and did not affect histopathological changes in liver tissues. Moreover, HRDM-01 lowered serum AST, triglyceride, which are elevated by induction of diabetes mellitus. These results suggest the safety of HRDM-01 in diabetic treatment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Obesity is a worldwide problem that contributes to serious diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Recently, much research has examined functional natural materials and their anti-obesity activity. This study investigated the effect of enzyme-treated Ecklonia cava extracts on mice fed a high fat diet. To test the anti-obesity effects of a diet containing the enzyme-treated E. cava extracts (EEc), C57BL/6NTacSam mice were divided into six groups : normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat with Garcinia extract diet (GHD), and three high-fat with EEc diet (EHD250, EHD500, and EHD1000) groups. After 9 weeks, body weight was increased significantly in the HFD group compared to all of the EHD groups, and the weights of the liver, perirenal fat and epididymal fat paralleled the increase in body weight. The serum GOT, GPT, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in the EHD1000 group than in the HFD group. The glucose and leptin concentrations were lowest in the EHD1000 group and C/EBP family expression was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that E. cava extracts not only have anti-oxidation functions but also anti-obesity effects.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2022

Purpose: Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid abundant in many fruits and vegetables. It has potential health-beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the lipid metabolism improvement effect of quercetin affected the regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and microRNA (miR)-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with normal diet, quercetin-free diet and diets containing 0.05% or 0.1% quercetin for six weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. Serum and liver triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were analyzed using a commercial enzymatic colorimetric kit. AMPK activity was quantified using an AMPK kinase assay kit. The levels of miR-21 and genes involved in lipid metabolism were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Supplementation of quercetin reduced serum and hepatic TG and TC levels without changing body weight and food intake. Dietary quercetin significantly inhibited the mRNA levels of hepatic sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and fatty acid synthesis, which are involved in hepatic lipogenesis. Dietary quercetin enhanced AMPK activity and suppressed miR-21 expression, promoting hepatic lipid accumulation. Conclusion: These results suggest that the lipid-lowering effect of quercetin on the serum and liver of mice may be partially mediated by the regulation of lipogenic gene expression, AMPK activity and miR-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food and Cookery Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2003

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the effects of Dioscorea daemona stem on the inflammatory reactions and antioxidant system in vivo. The methanolic extract of Dioscorea daemona stem, administered by gavage at the dose of 0.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, showed anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic (typeIV) effects in different test models. We also showed that plasma antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation and HDL cholesterol levels are affected by administration (0.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg body weight, for 3 weeks) of Dioscorea daemona stem extract in rats. (omitted)

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2016

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Scutellariae Radix extract (SRE) on lipids metabolism, oxidation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats fed highly oxidized fat. Methods: To induce obesity, male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed a highly oxidized fat diet for 10 weeks. SRE at 100 mg/kg were administered orally to obesity-induced rats for 6 weeks, and their lipid metabolism, oxidation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined. Results: The concentrations of free fatty acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol in plasma decreased in SRE-treated groups, although the difference was not significant between control and SRE-treated groups, while that of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly increased in SRE group. The concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver were tended to decrease in SRE-treated group. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid in plasma and liver were lower in SRE group than in control group. The levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in plasma were decreased in SRE group. Activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in liver were tended to increase in the SRE group. The plasma concentrations of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 were lower in SRE group than in control group, while that of IL-10 was higher. The liver concentrations of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6 were tended to decrease while that of IL-10 tended to increase in SRE group. Conclusions: Finally SRE could be used in the production of nutraceuticals for lowering lipids and exerting anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effects in obesity rats fed highly oxidized rat.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2005

Background and purpose: Arterial stiffness is an important, independent determinant of cardiovascular risk. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been used as a valuable index of arterial stiffness and as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis. The Framingham risk score was developed using categorized risk factors to predict the 10 year absolute risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). This algorithm is established using recommended guidelines for blood pressure, total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in addition to age, smoking history and history of diabetes. Tongxinluo(TXL) has been shown to have anti hyperlipidemic activity and anti atherogenic effects. To determine its efficacy and safety, we examined whether TXL improves PWV, ABI, Framingham score, blood pressure, and lipid profile in high risk group of cardiovascular diseases. Subjects and methods: 49 subjects with the high risk of cardiovascular diseases were recruited. Subjects were administered TXL with the dose of 1110mg three times a day for 8 weeks. baPWV, ABI, Framingham risk score, Blood pressure and serum lipid profile were assessed at baseline and after 4 and 8weeks. Results: Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipid and phospolipid significantly decreased after 4 weeks of medication. Total cholesterol, total lipid and phospolipid significantly decreased after 8 weeks of medication. There were no significant changes in Framingham risk scores, ABI, PWV and blood pressure. On safety assessment, there were no adverse effects, hepatic or renal toxicity. Conclusion: We suggest that TXL is a safe and useful herbal medicine for hyperlipidemia and as for anti-atherognic effects, further research would be necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2 s.30
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• pp.281-298
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• 1995

The following results were made by observation GOT, GPT, ALP, total cholesterol and higlyceride in serum to research the effects of medicines which are Injinsaryungsan(Sample- A) and another medicine(Sample-B) of which Injin(Artemisiae Capillaris Herba)was increased in quantity on liver damaged by $CCl_4$ and d-galactosamine in rats. 1. The high concentrated extracts of Sample A group and Sample- B group showed significant inhibltory effects on the increase of serum GPT, ALP, LDH, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels induced by $CCl_4$ and d-galactosamine. 2. The high concentrated extracts of sample A group and Sample B group showed more significant inhibitory effects(P〈0.001) than the low ones' effects(P〈0.01) on the increase of serum triglyceride level induced by $CCl_4$ 3. Sample-A group showed significant inhibitory effects on the increase of serum GOT, GPT. ALP, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but no significance on the increase of serum LDH level induced by d-galactosamine. 4. Sample-B group showed very significant inhibitory effects on the increase of serum GOP, GPT, ALP, LDH, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels induced by d-galactosamine. 5. As compared with Sample-A group, Sample-B group of which Injin was increased in quantity showed more significant inhibitory effects on all items of this experiment induced by $CCl_4$ and d-galactosamine. As mentioned above. it seemed that both Injinsaryungsan and another medicine of which Injin was increased in quantity had effects protecting liver and anti-fatty liver induced by $CCl_4$ and d-galactosamine in rats. Specially Sample-B group had very significant effects on liver damage as compared with Sample-B group. Therefore it seems that more researches on variation according to the increase of Injin dose must be continued for curing liver diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.250-255
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• 2003

The effects of dichlorornethane (CH$_2$C$_2$), ethylacetate (EtOAc) or water ($H_2O$) fraction of Korean cabbage kimchi on anti-oxidative enzyme activities of the heart, kidney and lung of rabbit fed 1% cholesterol diet for 16 weeks were studied. The amount of kimchi fraction added to the 100 g of diet was 8.3 mg of CH$_2$C1$_2$,5.6mg of EtOAc, and 221.9 mg of $H_2O$, which are equivalent to 5% of freeze-dried kimchi in the diet. Each group had 6 rabbits and rabbit was housed individually. Lipid peroxide values for the heart was the highest followed by lung and kidney. But the activities of catalase and GSH-px were the lowest in the heart and the highest in the kidney. Activities of anti -oxidative enzymes (catalase, GSH-px, Mn-SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD) of rabbits fed kimhi solvent fractions added diets were lower than those of the control which fed 1% cholesterol diet. Among kimchi groups, CH$_2$Cl$_2$ group showed the lowest (p<0.05) enzymes activities. Lipid accumulation in these organs fed diets with kimchi solvent fractions, especially with CH$_2$C1$_2$fraction, were lower than that of the control. Therefore, production of the lipid free radicals might be suppressed and the activities of anti -oxidative enzymes responsible for removing the free radicals seemed to be lowered in kimch frachoin-fed rabbits.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

We investigated the serum cholesterol and visceral fat lowering effects of Momordica charanatia (MC) and Withania somnifera (WS) extracts in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Combination of fermented MC and WS extracts (FMCWS) as well as that of non-fermented extracts (MCWS) were orally administered to HFD-induced obese mice along with the HFD supplementation for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight, food intake, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Body weight and the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased in the HFD-fed mice compared with the normal control (NC) group. However, supplementation of the extracts showed a tendency to reduce body weight gain and suppressed the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride with the increment of HDL-cholesterol levels. Abdominal fat weight was significantly increased in the HFD group, and the size of adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue was markedly expanded compared with the NC group. However, in the FMCWS and MCWS groups, the abdominal fat weight was significantly reduced and the sizes of the adipocytes were noticeably diminished compared with those of the HFD-fed mice. Moreover, the deposition of giant vesicular fat cells observed in the liver tissue of the HFD group was prominently reduced in these groups. These results indicate that the combination of extracts from MC and WS tends to have potent synergic effects in reducing body weight gain as well as significantly lowering the visceral fat and the serum lipid levels, and thus improving anti-obesity efficacy in HFD-induced obese mice.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.277-282
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of Ligularia fischeri leaf extract on adjuvant induced arthritis in experimental mice. The oral administration of the L. fischeri leaf extract (LF), at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight once a day for 3 weeks, significantly reduced hindpaw swelling and the production of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin(IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6). Treatment with LF (100 mg/kg) also decreased the serum levels of triglyceride and low density lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol, and increased high density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol contents compared with those of a control group. The induction of arthritis significantly increased oxidized proteins such as protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products, and advanced glycation end-products in the lung, heart, and brain. Treatment with LF for 3 weeks reduced the levels of oxidized proteins. These results suggest that L. fischeri extract might be beneficial in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders.