• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2024

Crocin is a major carotenoid of the Gardenia jasminoides fruit and Crocus sativus stigma (saffron), which are used in various cuisines as flavoring and coloring agents, as well as in phytomedicine for the treatment of several disorders, including headache, fever, edema, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, respiratory disease, menstruation disorders, insomnia, and hypertension. Crocin (C₄₄H₆₄O₂₄) is a chemical diester composed of the dicarboxylic acid crocetin and disaccharide gentiobiose. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted about the biological and pharmacological function and toxicity of crocin. Crocin has been revealed to have no genotoxicity and pathological manifestation. Crocin acts as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, memory enhancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, anti-atherosclerotic, cardioprotector, and hepatoprotector. Here, an inclusive review of crocin is introduced based on previously explored studies referred to in the literature. Different studies have confirmed the protective role of crocin in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. It is surmised that crocin suppresses inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic processes through multiple mechanisms. Crocin is considered a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with inflammatory conditions, although more research investigating its mechanisms and results acquired in clinical trials are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.59-78
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• 2009

Objective : This study was designed to examine the effects of stem bark extracts of Cornus walteri Wanger on the lipid lowering, anti-oxidative activity and concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in hyperlipidemic rat. Methods : Male rats weighing $195.21{\pm}5.85g$ fed high fat diet for 8 weeks and 40 rats(above 400 g) were divided into 4 groups. Each groups were divided into a control group and 3 experimental groups. We fed a control group of rats a basal diet and administered normal saline(100 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 4 weeks. And we fed each experimental group of rats Basal diet and administered an extract of Cornus walteri Wanger(100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 1 time/1 day) for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed to determine their chemical composition. We measured lipid of plasma and liver, concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, anti-oxidative activity and gene expression. Results : 1. Concentration of plasma free fatty acid, LDL-cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease in Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. Concentration of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol showed a significantly decrement in all Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group than that of control group. HDL-cholesterol showed a significantly increment in the 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group. 2. Concentration of liver total cholesterol showed a tendence to decrease in Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. Concentration of triglyceride liver showed a significantly decrement in all Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group than that of control group. 3. Concentration of plasma and liver TBARS showed a tendence to decrease in Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. The values of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT activity showed a significantly increment in the 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. group than that of control group. 4. The values of plasma AST and ALT activity showed no significantly different in all treatment groups. 5. Concentration of plasma $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed a tendency to decrease in the Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups. However the concentration of IL-10 in the 200 and 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups showed a significantly increment than that of control group. Concentration of liver $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-10 showed no significantly difference in all treatment groups. However concentration of IL-6 in the 200 and 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups showed a significantly decrement than that of control group. 6. In the analysis of RT-PCR, gene expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, Apo-B, Apo-E and leptin in the Cornus walteri Wanger ext. groups showed a lower expression than that of control group. 7. The ratio of $TNF-{\alpha}$, Apo-E and leptin expression per $\beta$-actin expression in the 200 and 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. showed a significantly decrement than that of control group. The ratio of Apo-B expression per $\beta$-actin expression in the 300 mg/kg Cornus walteri Wanger ext. showed a significantly decrement than that of control group. Conclusions : According to above results, in lowering lipid effect, antioxidative activity and antiinflammatory effect, the Cornus walteri Wanger ext. gives positive effect.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.654-666
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• 2018

This study was determined the effects of dietary omega-6 and 3 fatty acid ratios (n-6/n-3, 0, 4:1, 15:1, 30:1) on lipid metabolism in obese model animal rats. Blood triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, LDL-C, glucose, ALT, AST, insulin, and leptin concentrations in n-6/n-3 group were decreased by 22.21, 20.60, 52.96, 15.71, 11.97, 9.13, 37.57, 45.98%, respectively, while HDL-C and phospholipid concentrations were increased by 28.38, 80.39% respectively, compared with control group, as especially in 4:1 group showed the greatest effect. SREPB-$1{\alpha}$ and SREPB-2 mRNA in liver tissues were down-regulated in n-6/n-3 group, but LPL-mRNA of PPARs in adipose tissue was up-regulated compared with control group. The adipocyte size in liver tissues was decreased in the order of n-6/n-3 ratio of 30:1, control, 15:1 groups, and the adipocyte size in adipose tissues was decreased in the order of n-6/n-3 ratio of control, 30:1, 15:1, 4:1 groups.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.20-42
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate anti-obesity effects the improvement effects of Gyejibongnyeong-hwan and Gyejibongnyeong-hwan-Gangji-hwan (CIPPDF) in a ob/ob mouse model. Methods: Seven-week old mice (wild-type C57BL/6J and ob/ob) were used for all experiments. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were used as normal group and obese ob/ob mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. a normal group given a standard diet, an obese control group given a standard diet with CIPP (300 mg/kg), CIPPDF (1) (300+300 mg/kg), CIPPDF (2) (300+600 mg/kg) respectively. After 10 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, blood lipid markers, mRNA levels of genes involved in fatty acid ${\beta}-oxidation$ and lipogenesis in in-vivo, were examined. Results: 1. Body weight gain and Feeding efficiency ratio were significantly decreased in CIPPDF (1) compared with control. Fat mass was significantly decreased in CIPPDF (2) in EAT compared with control. 2. Consistent their effects on body weight gain and fat mass, circulating concentrations of LDL-cholesterol were decreased in CIPPDF (1), CIPPDF (2) groups compared with control. 3. MCAD mRNA levels of genes was increased in CIPPDF (1), CIPPDF (2) groups in the liver, epididymal adipose tissue compared with control. VLCAD mRNA levels of genes was increased in CIPPDF (1), CIPPDF (2) groups in the skeletal muscle compared with control. 4. $PPAR{\gamma}$ mRNA was decreased in CIPPDF (1) in the liver compared with control. SCD1 mRNA was decreased in CIPPDF (1), CIPPDF (2) groups in the epididymal adipose tissue compared with control. Conclusions: In conclusion, These results suggest that CIPPDF not only decrease feeding efficiency ratio, and LDL-cholesterol, but also reduce EAT fat mass contributing to the improvement of ovesity. CIPPDF also were increased in mRNA levels of genes involved in fatty acid ${\beta}-oxidation$ and decreased in mRNA levels of genes involved in lipogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.745-750
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• 2014

This study investigated the effects of squid Todarodes pacificus liver oil on the serum lipids and adipose tissue weight of rats. The rats in the soybean oil (SO) group received a basic diet prepared according to the recommendations of the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN-93G), with 7% SO as lipid source. The rats in the Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides muscle oil (PTFO) group received 5% PTFO and 2% SO as the lipid source, while the rats in the eco-friendly squid liver oil (EFSO) group received 5% EFSO and 2% SO. EFSO was prepared according to the method outlined in the author's patent. PTFO was extracted from muscle using a physical method in the author's laboratory. The prominent polyunsaturated fatty acids in the dietary oils were 18:2n-6 (54.3%) and 18:3n-3 (5.64%) in SO, DHA (6.77%) and EPA (3.61%) in PTFO, and DHA (26.2%) and EPA (9.94%) in EFSO. After feeding for 4 weeks, the serum lipid levels (e.g., triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) of the rats in the EFSO group were significantly reduced as compared with those in the SO group (P<0.05); those of the rats in the PTFO group were also reduced, albeit not significantly, compared with the SO group. On the other hand, the total white adipose tissue (visceral, epididymal, and perirenal) weight was significantly reduced in the EFSO and PTFO groups compared to the SO group. These results demonstrate that EFSO is an effective lipid modifying agent in rat blood, and that EFSO and PTFO have greater anti-obesity effects than SO.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2016

Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol which belongs to the stilbenes group and is naturally generated in several plants in response to damage or fungal invasion. It has been shown in published studies that resveratrol has an anti-adipogenic effect. A good consensus regarding the involvement of a down-regulation of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ in this effect has been reached. In addition, different metabolic pathways involved in triacylglycerol metabolism in white adipose tissue have been shown to be regulated by resveratrol. Concerning lipolysis, though this compound in itself seems to be unable to cause lipolysis, it increases lipid mobilization stimulated by ${\beta}-adrenergic$ agents. The increase in brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, and accordingly the associated energy dissipation, can attribute to accounting for the body-fat reducing effect of resveratrol. Besides its effects on adipose tissue, resveratrol can also acts on other organs and tissues. Therefore, it increases mitochondrial biogenesis and accordingly fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle and liver. This effect can also attribute to the body-fat reducing effect of this molecule. The present review purposes to collect the evidence concerning the potential mechanisms of action which underlie the anti-obesity effects of resveratrol, acquired either in cultured cells lines and animal models.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.223-251
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• 2017

Objectives : A lot of experiment results of Yugmijihwangtang(YM) are reported in various kinds of journals. Many of them report on the new effects that are not recorded in the traditional medical texts. So it is necessary to take it into consideration that newly reported effects could be of help to clinical practice, because this process of comparison of Donguibogam and scientific experiment results will have basis to lead into the evidence based medicine. Methods : We compared the effects of in Donguibogam and the experiment results of YM. Results : The effects of YM in Donguibogam are to replenish essence and marrow, and to treat red wen, fatigue, treat hypouresis, urinary sediment, urinary urgency, hematuria, hydrocephalus, speech and movement retardation, yin-deficiency, diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver, melanoma, disability to see near and far sight, tinnitus, hearing loss, alopecia, angiogenesis, cough, cough at night, trachyphonia, and, infantile convulsion. The experiment results of YM since 2000 in both Korea and China are to inhibit atopic dermatitis, renal interstitial fibrosis, anti-oxidant, emphysema, stress, glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, hemorrhage, plantar sweating, dermal aging, kidney aging, bone loss, breast cancer, pathological myocardial cell, primary liver cancer, thrombosis, osteoporosis, intrauterine growth retardation, chronic renal failure, IgA nepropathy, slow cerebral development, and hippocampal tissue lesions on the one hand, and to help bone formation, renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system, cerebral recovery, cognitive function and expression, osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, learning and memory, cold-tolerance and oxygen deficit-tolerance and anti-fatigue, endometrial formation, humoral and cell-mediated immunity, immune regulation effect, Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary Axis, and spermatogenesis, on the other hand. Conclusion : When we compared the effects of YM with the experiment results of YM, there existed a considerable gap between them. So, from now on, it is expected that a great effort and consideration are needed to solve these gaps from an academic and clinical point of view.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 1992

To study the effect of alginic acid on modulation of the aging process, Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats were fed the diets containing 0, 3, 6 and $9\%$ alginic acid isolated from brown algae(Undaria pinnatifida) for 16 weeks. The effects of alginic acid on body weight, malondialdehyde(MDA) content, peroxidizability index, cholesterol and phospholipid levels, cholesterol/phospholipid(Ch/Ph) molar ratio, and fatty acid compositions in liver membranes were investigated. Increasing alginic acid level in diets did not alter food intakes but effectively decreased body weights gain(p<0.01-0.005). Malondialdehyde(MDA) contents of diets containing 6 and $9\%$ alginic acid were effectively decreased in ranges of $54.1-43.0\%$ in mitochondria, and $65.5-87.7\%$ in microsome compared with $100\%$ of control group. Cholesterol levels of all diets containing alginic acid were significantly decreased in ranges of $87.0-72.3\%$ in mitochondria, and $87.4-68.1\%$ in microsome compared with $100\%$ of control group. Phopholipid levels in microsome were significantly decreased by diets containing 3 and $ 6\%$ alginic acid but Ch/Ph molar ratios in both membranes were decreased by diets containing 3 and $6\%$ alginic acid. Increasing alginic acid level in diets significantly decreased total fatty acid but effectively increased linoleic acid in microsome except for diet containing $9\%$ alginic acid. These data on liver membranes suggest that alginic acid added to diets can modulate the physiological changes if the aging process.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.1137-1142
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of apios (Apios americana Medikus) supplementation on visceral obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet (40% calories from fat) with or without apios powder (10%, w/w) for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, apios supplementation reduced visceral fat mass significantly by 14.3% compared to the control group. Apios decreased significantly the atherogenic index, serum leptin level, hepatic lipid (free fatty acid and triglyceride) content, and lipid droplets, whereas it increased the serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio. Hepatic lipogenic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, fatty acid synthase, and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 was down-regulated by apios supplementation. These results suggest that apios is a healthy food for preventing high-fat diet-induced visceral obesity and fatty liver.