• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a well-known natural product with anticarcinogenic and antioxidant effects. We evaluated the antifatigue effect of KRG in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Eighty patients with NAFLD were prospectively randomized to receive 3 wk of KRG or placebo in addition to counseling on healthy eating and regular exercise. Liver function test, proinflammatory cytokines, adiponectin, antioxidant activity, and fatigue score were measured and compared according to the body mass index between the KRG and placebo groups. Results: The liver function tests were significantly improved after 3 wk of treatment in both groups. The mean levels (at baseline and after treatment) of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ were $108.0pg/mL{\pm}54.8pg/mL$ and $92.7pg/mL{\pm}39.0pg/mL$ (p = 0.018) in the KRG group and $123.1pg/mL{\pm}42.1pg/mL$ and $127.5pg/mL{\pm}62.2pg/mL$ (p = 0.694) in the placebo group, respectively. There was a significant difference in change of adiponectin levels between the KRG ($7,751.2pg/mL{\pm}3,108.1pg/mL$ and $8,197.3pg/mL{\pm}2,714.5pg/mL$) and placebo groups ($7,711.6pg/mL{\pm}3,041.3pg/mL$ and $7,286.1pg/mL{\pm}5,188.7pg/mL$, p = 0.027). In patients with overweight, the fatigue score was significantly decreased in the KRG group ($35.0{\pm}13.2$ and $24.5{\pm}8.9$, p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results show that KRG might be effective in reducing proinflammatory cytokine and fatigue in overweight patients with NAFLD, in addition to improvements in adiponectin levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.850-857
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• 2001

The study was designed to observe whether the conjugated linoleic acid supplemented to diet could reduce plasma levels of glucose and lipids which were increased in 27-weeks old Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty(OLETF) rats. Twenty male OLETF rats of 7 weeks old were fed an experimental diet containing 4.5%(w/w) total fat including 1% CLA and six of twenty rats were sacrified at 6 weeks feeding. The rest of OLETF rats was divided into 2 groups, one group was continuously fed for 14 weeks more the same experimental diet containing 1% CLA and the other group was fed control diet which eliminated CLA. CLA did not significantly reduce food intake and body weight gain in OLETF obese rats. Plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol level were significantly increased at older age of OLETF obese rats, but CLA could significantly reduce plasma cholesterol and triglyceride increased in obese rats. However, CLA was not strong enough to reduce the increased plasma glucose level and hepatic lipogenic enzyme acitivies. CLA was mostly deposited in epididymal fat pad and could be incorporated into hepatic microsomal membrane and did interfere the conversion of C18 : 0 into C18 : 1 in liver. In conclusion, CLA could have anti-atherogenic effect by reducing plasma cholesterol and triglyceride which was increased in genetically obese rats, but CLA(1%) was not good source of dietary fatty acid to reduce body fatness and plasma glucose which was increased by obese gene in older rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.789-796
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• 2016

The anti-lipogenic effect of cereal samples on high sucrose diet (HSD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice was studied. We divided C57BL/6 mice into various groups based on 8 weeks of treatment with three types of cereal samples (HSD+WR, HSD diet containing 40% white rice; HSD+MCG, HSD diet containing 40% mixed cereal grain; HSD+AO-MCG, HSD diet containing 40% mixed antiobesity-cereal grain). After the experimental period, body weight changes, liver weights, serum lipid profiles, and hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression levels were determined. We found that HSD+WR, HSD+MCG, and HSD+AO-MCG treatments reduced body weight and liver weight, especially HSD+MCG and HSD+AO-MCG effectively reduced levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased compared to the control group. Furthermore, expression of hepatic lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1, cluster of differentiation, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$) decreased, whereas expression of ${\beta}-oxidation$ genes such as $PPAR-{\alpha}$ and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 increased following HSD+MCG and HSD+AO-MCG treatment compared with levels in HSD+WR and control groups. These results suggest that the functional cereal samples, especially HSD+AO-MCG treatment, improved hepatic steatosis triggered by an HSD-induced imbalance in hepatic lipid metabolism.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (Samdasoo$^{TM}$), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.964-971
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• 2019

Hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance increases in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Piperine is a major compound found in black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (P. longum). Piperine has been used in fine chemical for its anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. However, the signaling-based mechanism of piperine and its role as an inhibitor of lipogenesis and insulin resistance in human hepatocyte cells remains ill-defined. In the present study, we explored the effects of piperine on lipid accumulation and insulin resistance, and explored the potential underlying molecular mechanisms in palmitate-treated HepG2 cells. Piperine treatment resulted in a significant reduction of triglyceride content. Furthermore, piperine treatment decreased palmitate-treated intracellular lipid deposition by inhibiting the lipogenic target genes, sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS); whereas the expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT-1) and phosphorylation of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) gene involved in fatty acid oxidation was increased. Moreover, piperine also inhibited the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 (Ser307). Piperine treatment modulated palmitate-treated lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in HepG2 cells with concomitant reduction of lipogenic target genes, such as SREBP-1 and FAS, and induction of CPT-1-ACC and phosphorylation of IRS-1 (Tyr632)-Akt pathways. Therefore, piperine represents a promising treatment for the prevention of lipid accumulation and insulin resistance.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.345-354
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• 2008

This study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of Korean red ginseng extract through transcriptomics in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. At the end of treatment, we measured blood glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). RGL-treated group lowered the blood glucose and HbA1c levels by 19.6% and 11.4% compared to those in diabetic control group. In addition, plasma adiponectin and leptin levels in RGL-treated groups were increased by 20% and 12%, respectively, compared to those in diabetic control. Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and epidydimal adipose tissue were done by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. RGL-treated group revealed higher insulin contents and lower glucagon contents compared to diabetic control. To elucidate an action mechanism of Korean red ginseng, DNA microarray analyses were performed in liver and fat tissues, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted in liver for validation. According to hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis of gene expression Korean red ginseng treated groups were close to metformin treated group. In summary, Korean red ginseng lowered the blood glucose level through protecting destruction of islet cells and shifting glucose metabolism from hepatic glucose production to glucose utilization and improving insulin sensitivity through enhancing plasma adiponectin and leptin levels.

• 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 Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-62
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to examine the effects of Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. on lowering lipid and anti-oxidation using hyperlipidemic rat. Methods : Male rats weighting $195.21{\pm}4.93g$ were divided into 4 groups and fed high fat diet for 8 weeks. Each of 7 rats was divided into a control and sample group. 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 Polygonatum odoratum(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 anti-oxidative activity and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$($TNF-{\alpha}$). Results : 1. Concentration of plasma free fatty acid, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol showed a significant decrement in the 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. Concentration of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride showed a significant decrement in all Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. However, concentration of plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was not significantly different in all the treatment groups. 2. Concentration of liver total cholesterol showed a significant decrement in the 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. Concentration of liver triglyceride(TG) showed a significant decrement in all Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. 3. Concentration of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance showed a significant decrement in the 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. 4. The values of glutathione peroxidase activity showed a significant increment in all Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. The values of superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity showed a significant increment in the 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. 5. The values of plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities were not significantly different in all treatment groups. 6. Concentration of liver $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed a significant decrement in the 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. Conclusions : Based on the results in this study, the Polygonatum odoratum EtOH ext. showed a positive effect in lowering lipid and anti-oxidation.