• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.967-977
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• 2023

Rubus crataegifolius (RC) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits of RC are known to prevent adult diseases through antioxidants. In this study, the effects of RC extract (RCex) on obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in animal models. Twenty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become obese for 8 weeks and then the extract was orally administered for 8 weeks. RCex reduced body weight, adipose tissue, liver weight. RCex improved biochemical biomarkers including lipid metabolism (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reduced the expression of adipogenesis genes (liver × receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and the effect of enhancing carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity by RCex was verified. RCex also influence on plasma production of hormones (adiponectin & leptin) related on energy expenditure and metabolism. In addition, we confirmed that RCex improved glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese rats. RCex was first demonstrated to have anti-obesity as well as anti-NAFLD effects by regulating fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of AMPK. This suggests that RCex could be a good supplement for the prevention of obesity and related NAFLD.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.27-42
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined whether regular moderate-intensity treadmill exercise (Ex) and Syzygium aromaticum L. (SA) administration can influence lipid and muscle metabolism in obese rats induced by a 60% high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Rats, except those in the Normal group, were exposed to a 60% HFD for 4 weeks to induce obesity. The obese rats were assigned randomly to three groups: HFD control group, HFD+Ex group, and HFD+Ex+SA group. Treadmill exercise was conducted five times a week for 4 weeks, with a 5° incline and a speed of 18 m/min (Week 1: 20 minutes; Weeks 2: 25 minutes; Weeks 3-4: 30 minutes). Serum analysis was performed. Western blot analysis was conducted on the liver and soleus muscle, and histopathological analysis was carried out on the liver and adipose tissues. Results: The body weight change in the Ex groups was significantly lower than in the HFD control group, while the soleus muscle weight in the HFD+Ex group increased significantly. The histopathological examination in the Ex groups revealed a marked reduction in liver lipid accumulation and a decrease in adipocyte size in adipose tissue. Obesity induction increased leptin levels substantially, but Ex notably reversed these changes. Ex resulted in significant inhibition of ROS and ONOO^-, whereas the serum inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and total cholesterol were reduced only by SA administration. Furthermore, the inflammatory proteins in the liver were inhibited more effectively when Ex was supplemented with SA. The expression of the muscle synthesis-related proteins and degradation proteins were modulated by Ex and Ex+SA. Conclusion: Ex significantly affected lipid and muscle metabolism, and adding SA alleviated the inflammation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2018

Recently, cancer incidence in modern society is increasing sharply. DNA damage is caused by intrinsic or extrinsic factors in the human body, cells protect themselves by defense mechanism against DNA damage. Also, Aberrant DNA and deficient DNA repair are closely associated with various diseases, including aging and cancer. Researchers are interested in search for proper materials to inhibition for DNA damage. As knew the side effects of synthetic antioxidant, some researches have been conducted about cancer prevention materials derived from nature. Root of Smilax china, in Liliaceae, is used detoxification and tumor treatments traditionally. However, studies on the inhibitory effect of DNA damage haven't progressed. In this study, antioxidant activity and protective effects on oxidative DNA damage of S. china root were confirmed, relationship between those activities and contents of phenolic compounds in plants were established. S. china root effectively removed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radicals and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radicals. The quantification and identification of phenolic compounds were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography analysis, its antioxidant activity was associated with some phenolic compounds. In addition, protective effects against hydroxyl radicals and ferrous ion-induced oxidative DNA damage were confirmed in plasmid DNA. In the cellular levels, S. china root suppressed the expression of ${\gamma}$-H2AX and p53 protein in NIH 3T3. Besides, S. china root suppressed H2AX and p53 mRNA levels. In conclusion, S. china root had the effect on DNA protection and antioxidant.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2012

Some high frequency sounds alter physiological processes of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. This study investigated the effect of ultrasound (${\geq}$ 20 kHz) on larval feeding, pupal development, and adult mating behavior of S. exigua. Ultrasound suppressed feeding behavior of fifth instar larvae, and 30 or 45 kHz treatment inhibited more than 50% of feeding activity. Larvae treated with ultrasound exhibited alterations in major nutrient compositions in the hemolymph plasma. Plasma protein levels decreased with an increase in ultrasound frequency. In contrast, sugar levels increased with an increase in ultrasound frequency. Lipid levels increased with an increase in ultrasound frequency up to 30 kHz and then decreased at treatments > 30 kHz. Hemocytes, the fat body, and epidermis expressed three heat shock proteins and apolipophorin III. Ultrasound treatment markedly inhibited expression of some stress-related genes. Ultrasound treatment also inhibited S. exigua pupal development by extending the pupal developmental period and preventing adult emergence. Last, ultrasound treatment significantly inhibited adult mating behavior, which resulted in a significant decrease in female fecundity. These results show that ultrasound is a physiological stress to S. exigua.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.291-299
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• 2004

Characterization of quantitative trait loci (QTL) was investigated in the experimental cross population between Berkshire and Yorkshire breed. A total of 512 F$_2$ offspring from 65 matting of F$_1$ parents were phenotyped the carcass traits included average daily gain (ADG), average backfat thickness (ABF), tenth rip backfat thickness (TRF), loin eye area (LEA), and last rip backfat thickness (LRF). All animals were genotyped for 125 markers across the genome. Marker linkage maps were derived and used in QTL analysis based on line cross least squares regression interval mapping. A decision tree to identify QTL with imprinting effects was developed based on tests against the Mendelian mode of QTL expression. To set the evidence of QTL presence, empirical significance thresholds were derived at chromosome-wise and genome-wise levels using specialized permutation strategies. Significance thresholds derived by the permutation test were validated in the data set based on simulation of a pedigree and data structure similar to the Berkshire-Yorkshire population. Genome scan revealed significant evidences for 13 imprinted QTLs affecting growth and body compositions of which nine were identified to be QTL with paternally expressed inheritance mode. Four of QTLs in the loin eye area (LEA), and tenth rip backfat thickness (TRF), a maternally expressed QTL were found on chromosome 10 and 12. These results support the useful statistical models to analyse the imprinting far the QTLs related carcass trait.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2019

Purpose: Ulcerative colitis is a common inflammatory bowel disease. Prolonged colitis can be a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Mulberry twig (MT, Sangzhi), a dry branch of Morus alba L., which is widely distributed throughout East Asia, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in the cells. However, the effects of MT extracts on colitis in in vivo are limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of MT extracts in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model. Methods: Six week-old, male ICR mice were divided into 3 groups: Control (n = 5), DSS (n = 7), and DSS+MT (n = 7) groups. Mice in the DSS and DSS+MT groups were administrated 3% DSS in drinking water for 5 days to induce colitis. At the same time, water extracts of MT (5 g/kg body weight/day) were orally administered to mice in the DSS+MT groups for 5 days. Results: The MT extracts significantly reduced the clinical and pathological characteristics of colitis. Disease activity index, mucosal thickness, and colonocyte proliferation were significantly reduced in the DSS+MT group compared with the DSS group. Furthermore, MT administration reduced the levels of plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and the colonic myeloperoxidase activity as well as mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, Cox-2, and iNOS. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that MT water extracts have potent anti-colitis activities in the mouse colitis model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2013

Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schltr. has been reported to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Boesenbergia pandurata extract (BPE) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice model. C57BL/6J mice were fed with either the high-fat diet or a 0.5% BPE-supplemented HFD for 8 weeks. The BPE-containing HFD significantly reduced body weight gain and the accumulation of visceral fat mass in mice model without altering the amount of food intake. Moreover, mice fed with BPE-containing HFD had lower concentrations of lipids in their blood, lower hepatic lipid accumulation, and lower serum leptin levels compared with the HFD-fed mice. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ${\gamma}2$ ($PPAR{\gamma}2$) and CCAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) genes in the epididymal fat tissue of mice fed the BPE-containing HFD increased 1.16- and 1.30-fold, respectively, compared to mice fed HFD only. In conclusion, BPE attenuated visceral fat accumulation and improved dyslipidemia in a mice model with HFD-induced obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.685-692
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• 2017

Mitochondrial biogenesis-a process that leads to an increment in the number and density of mitochondria, improves physical performance and body health by enhancing exercise capacity. In the present study, we investigated the stimulatory effect of Ashitaba and red ginseng complex (ARC) on exercise capacity in L6 skeletal muscle cells and mice. In L6 skeletal muscle cells, ARC increased the mitochondrial contents and ATP production by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) and up-regulating the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). In the animal experiments, mice treated with ARC showed an increment in exercise capacity as compared with mice treated with Ashitaba extract or red ginseng extract alone. These studies indicate that ARC might serve as a potential natural candidate for enhancing exercise capacity by stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1001-1005
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• 2014

Ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the active ingredients extracted from red ginseng, and it is an effective chemical component of the human body and well known in herbal medicine as a restorative agent. Several studies have shown that Rg3 has a potent anti-tumor effect on various cancer cell lines. However, Rg3-induced apoptosis in B16F10 melanoma cancer cells is not well understood. In the present study, we tested whether ginsenoside Rg3 could induce apoptosis in B16F10 melanoma cells. We found that Rg3 could inhibit B16F10 melanoma cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, but not normal cells, such as EA.hy.926 and NIH3T3 cells. We also found that Rg3 could induce apoptosis in B16F10 melanoma cells using tunnel-staining assay in a dose-dependent manner. Rg3 treatment induces the phosphorylation of p38 and the expression of Bax, but it inhibits the expressions of the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase Bcl2 and pro-caspase3. Taken together, our data suggest that Rg3 could be useful as an anti-cancer agent in B16F10 melanoma cells.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 1997

Adult male rats were exposed to a whole body with a single dose of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 Gy. The animals were sacrificed 48, 72, 96 and 216 hours following exposure. A competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) with antigen immobilized on the solid phase has been developed to measure ceruloplasmin in rat serum and complete dose response curves. Ceruloplasmin was purified from the plasma of turpentine treated male rats. Coating of ceruloplasmin had more effectiveness in 10 mM Tris-HCI, 150 mM sodium chloride, pH 7.4 than in 50 mM carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.6. The coating range for ceruloplasmin was $70{\sim}140ng$/well. Levels of ceruloplasmin increased to maximum on the $72{\sim}96$ hours after irradiation. Slope of between response and dose was greatest value 96 hours following irradiation. Normal ceruloplasmin levels were not recorded 216 hours following exposure. In 0.1 Gy irradiated group, levels of ceruloplasmin also increased to maximum on the $72{\sim}96$ hours following irradiation. The concentration of this protein remained significantly different from control value, 196 hours after exposure. Ceruloplasmin was identified as one of the major acute phase protein following irradiation and further studies about gene expression and regulation would be necessary for radiation protection.