• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.107-127
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• 2018

Objectives : The present study investigated the anti-obese and blood flow improvement activities of aqueous extracts of ginseng berry (GBe) on the mild diabetic obese mice as compared with metformin. Methods : After end of 56 days of continuous oral administrations of GBe 150, 100 and 50 mg/kg, or metformin 250 mg/kg, anti-obese and blood flow improvement effects - the changes of body weights, body and abdominal fat density by in live dual-energy x-ray absorptionmetry (DEXA), tail bleeding time, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, aorta and serum cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET)-1 levels, aorta phosphorylated PI3K (pPI3K), phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) and phosphorylated p38 MAPK (pp38 MAPK) levels were systemically analyzed. In addition, aorta vascular dilation and constriction related gene mRNA expressions - PI3K, Akt, eNOS, p38 MAPK and ET-1 were also analyzed by realtime RT-PCR. Results : The obesity and related blood flow impairment, induced by 84 days of continuous HFD supply, were significantly inhibited by 56 days of continuous oral treatment of GBe 150, 100 and 50mg/kg, dose-dependently, and they also dramatically normalized the changes of the aorta vascular dilation and constriction related gene mRNA expressions, also dose-dependently. Especially, GBe 150 mg/kg constantly showed favorable inhibitory activities against type II diabetes related obesity and vascular disorders through PI3K/Akt pathway and p38 MAPK mediated cGMP, NO and ET-1 expression modulatory activities, as comparable to those of metformin 250 mg/kg in HFD mice. Conclusion : By assessing the key parameters for anti-obese and blood flow improvement activities on the HFD-induced mild diabetic obese mice, the present work demonstrated that GBe 150, 100 and 50 mg/kg showed favorable anti-obese and blood flow improvement effects in HFD-induced type II diabetic mice, through PI3K/Akt pathway and p38 MAPK mediated cGMP, NO and ET-1 expression modulatory activities.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.472-479
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of Sargassum coreanum extract (SCE) on blood glucose concentration and insulin resistance in C57BL-KsJ-db/db mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: For 6 weeks, male C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were administrated SCE (0.5%, w/w), and rosiglitazone (0.005%, w/w). RESULTS: A supplement of the SCE for 6 weeks induced a significant reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations, and it improved hyperinsulinemia compared to the diabetic control db/db mice. The glucokinase activity in the hepatic glucose metabolism increased in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice, while phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice were significantly lower than those in the diabetic control db/db mice. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was lower in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice than in the diabetic control db/db mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a supplement of the SCE lowers the blood glucose concentration by altering the hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities and improves insulin resistance.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

Ginseng is a popular medicinal plant highly valued throughout the world. Asian ginseng is one of the most common species of ginseng. It has long occupied a significant position in oriental medicine and has been justified its name as the 'king herb'. As a nutritional supplement, ginseng is an extremely common and popular herbal medicine in the United States and Canada in recent decades. The multiple constituents of ginseng possess equally multifaceted pharmacological actions as demonstrated by numerous studies. Ginseng root and its constituents influenced the central nervous system, endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal system, sexual, renal organ and immune system, etc. One important action is its anti-hyperglycemic effect. Previous studies on ginseng demonstrate that only the root of ginseng has been used in the treatment of diabetes, while the other parts of ginseng plant were always neglected. Recently, we analyzed the constituents of ginseng berry, leaf and discovered that ginseng berry, leaf extracts and its total ginsenosides have the ability to reduce hyperglycemia and body weight and increase the peripheral glucose utilization in obese or diabetic ob/ob or db/db mice. Our data suggest that all parts of ginseng plant, including root, berry, leaf and stem exhibit potent anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects and may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.79-89
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• 2019

Objective : This study investigated the anti-diabetic effects of DM1, a herbal mixture with Atractylodis Rhizoma, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, and Cinnamomi Cortex in high fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice and the mechanism in C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells. Methods : The C57B/6 mice were fed high fat for 12 weeks, and then administrated DM1 extract (500 mg/kg, p.o.) for 4 weeks. The changes of body weight, calorie and water intakes, fasting blood glucose levels and the serum levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, AST and ALT were measured in mice. The histological changes of liver and pancreas tissues were also observed by H&E stain. C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes and then treated with DM1 extract (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/㎖) for 24 hr. The expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC), PGC1α, Sirt1 and NRF1, and the AMPK phosphorylation were determined in the myotubes by western blot, respectively. Results : The DM1 extract administration significantly decreased the calorie and water intakes, glucose, triglyceride, AST and ALT levels and increased insulin and HDL-cholesterol in HFD-induced diabetic mice. DM1 extract inhibited lipid accumulation in liver tissue and improved glucose tolerance. In C2C12 myotubes, DM1 treatment increased the expression of MHC, PGC1α, Sirt-1, NRF-1 and the AMPK phosphorylation. Conclusion : In our results indicate that DM1 can improve diabetic symptoms by decreasing the obesity, glucose tolerance and fatty liver in HFD-induced diabetic mice, and responsible mechanism is might be related with energy enhancement.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.795-801
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• 2001

Effects of Mucilage fraction from Yam (Dioscorea batatas DECENE), which has long been used as a wild vegetable and folk medicine, on blood glucose and lipid composition in alloxan-induced diabetic mice were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male ICR mice by the injection of alloxan into the tail vein at a dose of 75 mg/kgBW. Alloxan-induced diabetic mice were administered the yam mucilage fraction1 orally ; y500F1 group (500 mg/kgBW/day fraction1) and y750F1 group (750 mg/kgBW/day fraction1); and the normal and alloxan-control group were orally administered with saline for 10 days. The body weight gain and food intake were monitored every day. The concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol of serum and liver levels of glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol were determined. Also weight of liver, heart, spleen and kidney were measured. The fraction 1 of yam mucilage lowered body weight gain significantly (p<0.05) and decreased serum glucose levels in alloxan-induced diatetic mice compared to that of alloxan-control group. In alloxan induced diabetic mice serum triglyceride level was lowered and liver HDL-cholesterol level increased significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was assumed that yam mucilage fraction 1 has anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obesitic effects by reducing body weight gain and decreasing serum glucose and triglyceride level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.673-681
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• 2009

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease. Particularly, diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication for diabetic patients, yet the precise mechanisms that underline the initial stage of diabetic renal inflammation remain unknown. However, oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia in diabetes is implicated in diabetic renal disease. We hypothesized that dietary supplementation of antioxidants either VCE (0.5% VC + 0.5% VE) or Comb (0.5% VC + 0.5% VE + 2.5% N-acetylcysteine) improves acute diabetic renal inflammation through modulation of blood glucose levels and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. Experimental animals (5.5 weeks old female ICR) used were treated with alloxan (180 mg/kg) once. When fasting blood glucose levels were higher than 250 mg/dL, mice were divided into 3 groups fed different levels of antioxidant supplementation, DM (diabetic mice fed AIN 93G purified rodent diet); VCE (diabetic mice fed 0.5% vitamin C and 0.5% vitamin E supplemented diet); Comb (diabetic mice fed 0.5% vitamin C, 0.5% vitamin E and 2.5% N-acetylcysteine supplemented diet), for 10 days and then sacrificed. Body weights were measured once a week and blood glucose levels were monitored twice a week. Lipid peroxidation products, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances were measured in kidney. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was indirectly demonstrated by pI${\kappa}B$-${\alpna}$ and expressions of selective inflammatory and oxidative stress markers including antioxidant enzymes were also determined. Dietary antioxidant supplementation improved levels of blood glucose as well as kidney lipid peroxi-dation. Dietary antioxidant supplementation improved NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and protein expression of HO-1, but not mRNA expression levels in diabetic mice fed Comb diet. In contrast, the mRNA and protein expression of CuZnSOD was decreased in diabetic mice fed Comb diet. However, antioxidant supplementation did not improve mRNA and protein expressions of IL-$1{\beta}$ and MnSOD in diabetic mice. These findings demonstrate that acute diabetic renal inflammation was associated with altered inflammatory and antioxidant responses and suggest that antioxidant cocktail supplementation may have beneficial effects on early stage of diabetic nephropathy through modulation of blood glucose levels and antioxidant enzyme expressions.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2016

This study examined the anti-diabetic effects of young barley leaf powder in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the non-diabetic (N) and diabetic groups, and fed the following for four weeks. The diabetic groups were further subdivided into three experimental groups: a diabetic control group (STZ), a diabetic group fed 5% barley leaf powder (STZ-BL), and a diabetic group fed 10% barley leaf powder (STZ-BH). Food and water intakes were higher in the diabetic groups than in the N group. Body weight gain was higher in the STZ-BL and STZ-BH groups compared with the STZ group, but there were no significant changes in body weight gain between the diabetic groups. The serum glucose and fructosamine levels were lower in the STZ-BL and STZ-BH groups than in the STZ group. The levels of serum insulin were higher in the STZ-BL and STZ-BH groups than in the STZ group. Serum ALT, AST and ALP activities decreased in the STZ-BL and STZ-BH groups compared with the STZ group, but there was no difference. These results indicate that dietary supplementation of barley leaf powder can attenuate clinical symptoms of diabetes in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.241-245
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• 2013

Aging is the single most important risk factor that increases susceptibility to many forms of diseases. As such, much effort has been put forward to elucidate the mechanisms behind the processes of aging and to discover novel compounds that retain anti-aging activities. Korean red ginseng has been used for a variety of medical purposes in eastern countries for several thousands of years. It has been shown that Korean red ginseng affects a number of biological activities including, but not limited to, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic pathways. However, few studies have been performed to evaluate its anti-aging effects with an in vivo system. Here Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model organism demonstrates that Korean red ginseng tonic extends lifespan, increases resistance to starvation stress and prevents weight gain. This data suggest that Korean red ginseng may regulate organisms' metabolism in favor of extending lifespan.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of Spargaium stoloniferum Buchanan-Hamilton (Sparganii Rhizoma, SR) extract on diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced with Sprague-Dawley rats by high fat/high sucrose (HF/HS) diet for 4 weeks and injection of a single low dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 35 mg/kg). SR water extract at 500 mg/kg was orally administrated once a day for 4 weeks. Body weights, food and water intakes and urine volumes were measured. The levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were measured in the sera of rats. Histological changes were observed in pancreas, liver, and kidney tissues by H&E staining. Results: The administration of Sparganii Rhizoma extract at 500 mg/kg in diabetic rats did not shown a significant difference in body weight changes and GPT levels, but showed meaningful changes in an increase of urination volume, and decrease of serum glucose and insulin levels. Total cholesterol and GPT levels were also significantly decreased after SR extract administration in diabetic rats. Furthermore, the abnormal changes of pancreas, liver and kidney were also improved by Sparganii Rhizoma extract administration. Conclusions: These results indicate that SR extract can improve HF/HS-diet and STZ-induced diabetic damages in rats through inhibition of the blood glucose and insulin increase.