• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.446-451
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wax gourd on weight, triglyceride, leptin and fat cell size in rats fed a high-fat diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed an experimental diet containing total dietary fat at 40% of calories with wax gourd 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% (w/w) for 4 weeks. Weight gain and triglyceride level fell significantly in the 15% wax gourd group compared to the control group. Epididymal fat pad, abdominal fat and perirenal fat tended to decrease in the 15% wax gourd group. Leptin and free fatty acid level were not significantly different among the groups. Fat cell size significantly decreased in the 10% and 15% wax gourd groups compared to the control group. Weight gain correlated positively with visceral fat masses and the levels of leptin and triglyceride. Fat cell size significantly correlated with visceral fat and leptin level. Therefore, the 15% wax gourd diet substantially reduced weight, triglyceride and fat cell size. (Korean J Nutrition 36(5): 446∼451, 2003)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) has been reported to have many biological functions including anti-obesity. Leptin, peptide hormone produced by adipocytes and its concentration is increased in proportion to the amount of the adipocytes. In the present study, we examined the effects of Korean turmeric on the regulation of adiposity and leptin levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Leptin secretion, free fatty acid and glycerol contents in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were measured after incubation of cells with turmeric for 24 hours. Rats were divided into four experimental groups: a normal diet group (N), a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group (HF), a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group supplemented with 2.5% turmeric extracts (TPA group) and a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group supplemented with 5% turmeric extracts (TPB group). Serum samples were used for the measurement of leptin concentration. RESULTS: Contents of free fatty acid and glycerol showed concentration dependent increase in response to turmeric extracts. Effects of turmeric extracts on reduction of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells were examined by Oil Red O staining. Treatment with turmeric extracts resulted in increased expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase mRNA. The concentration of leptin from 3T3-L1 adipocytes was significantly decreased by turmeric. Proportional abdominal and epididymal fats weights of the turmeric 5% supplemented group, TPB has significantly decreased compared to the HF group. The serum levels of leptin in the TPA and TPB groups were significantly lower than those of the HF group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we suggested that Korean turmeric may contribute to the decreasing of body fat and regulating leptin secretion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 2001

The goal of this study was to find out the effective diet prescription for the exercises. To accomplish this purpose, we investigated the effect of free-fatty acid diet (FFAD) on two groups of the K technical high school soccer players; one group with 7 members for normal diet (NORD) and another group with 7 members for high-fat diet (HFD). HFD group was fed far three days before the game. Results were as follows: i) Blood glucose level was increased with statistical significance in HFD group (P<.01) compared to the NORD group. After plying game, the glucose level was increased in the both groups ii) The contents of free-fatty acid (FFA) was significantly increased in HFD group (P<.0001) compared to the NORD group. After playing game, the FFA level was also increased in both groups iii) The levels of T-C, HDL-C and LDL-C were slightly increased in both NORD and HFD groups after playing game, while the TG level was slightly decreased. However, the differences were not significant. These results imply that HFD may not affect the level of seam lipids. Overall, the level of glucose and FFA were increased, but other types of lpids were not changed. From these studies, we observed the increase in the level of glucose and FFA but not other sew lipid. These results indicate that HFD may induce the body energy-utilizing system during long-lasting exercise such as playing soccer game.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wax gourd on body weight, body fat, triglyceride, leptin and fat cell size in rats fed medium fat Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with experimental diet containing total dietary fat at 20% of calorie with wax gourd (WG) for 4 weeks. Forty rats were divided into 4 groups including control, 5, 10, and 15% (w/w) WG supplement The results showed that weight gain was significantly higher in 5% WG than that in control (p<0.05), but was not different among the WG supplement groups. Total fat weight was significantly decreased in both 10 and 15% WG supplement groups than that of control. The levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids in the plasma were significantly decreased, particularly in 15% WG supplement group (p<0.05). The levels of leptin was not significantly different among the experimental groups. Fat cell size was significantly decreased in WG supplement groups compared to that of control group (p<0.05). Correlation among the parameters demonstrated that weight gain correlated positively with total fat weight, the levels of leptin and triglycerides. Taken these results together, 15% WG supplement diet substantially reduces total fat weight, triglycerides and free fatty acids levels and fat cell size in the rat fed midium fat.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2012

We investigated to verify whether the $PPAR{\alpha}$ agonist fenofibrate regulates adipose tissue metabolism and to determine the molecular mechanism involved in this regulation. After male mice (C57BL/6J) received a high fat diet with or without fenofibrate for 6 weeks, the effects of fenofibrate on not only adipose tissue weight, visceral adipocyte size, serum lipid and glucose levels, but also the expression of uncoupling proteins (UCPs). Mice given a fenofibrate-supplemented high fat diet showed reduced both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weights versus high fat diet-fed animals. The size of visceral adipocytes was significantly decreased by fenofibrate treatment. The administration of fenofibrate resulted in decreased serum levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, and glucose. Moreover, fenofibrate up-regulated mRNA levels of visceral adipose tissue UCP2 and skeletal muscle UCP3. Therefore, our results suggest that the increases in the expression of UCPs by fenofibrate seem to suppress diet-induced visceral adiposity as well as severe hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia in male mice.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.85-100
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• 2001

In Oriental medicine, there has been a theory that the deficiency of the Qi(氣) and the Phlegm(濕)-Damp(痰) bring Obesity. And so a clinically representative herb-medicine of the obesity treatments is Chegameyiin-tang . We observed the effects of Chegameyiin-tang on the fat tissues and what the function of Chegameyiin-tang is. These experimental studies were designed to investigate the effects of Chegameyiin-tang on the weight and lipid metabolism of obesity rats induced by high fat diet. And what is changed in the blood and how the leptin and uncoupled protein is affected. The measurement has been performed on (1) the weight of obese rats fed high fat diet, (2) the average size and number of epididymal fat cells, (3) the total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose. and free fatty acids in the blood. and (4) the leptin and uncoupled protein in the blood are observed. The results are as follows; 1. In the sample group, the weight decrease occured significantly throughout the whole research period than that of control group. 2. In the sample group, epididymal fat weight showed significantly decrease in the 8th and 14th weeks than that of control group.3. In the sample group, epididymal fat cell size was decreased significantly in the 8th and 14th weeks than that of control group. 4. In the sample group, total cholesterol. triglyceride and glucose increased rather than control group in 8 weeks, those decreased significantly in 14 weeks. 5. In the sample group, free fatty acids and insulin increased rather than control group in 8 weeks. those showed some decrease in 14 weeks . 6. In the sample group, leptin decreased significantly than control group in 8, 14 weeks. Uncoupled protein showed some decrease in 8 weeks. that decreased significantly in 14 weeks.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.485-495
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• 1991

Using isolated perfused livers obtained from rats that have been fed saturated and unsatu-rated fatty acid diets the rates of hepatic microsomal oxidation of 7-ethoxycoumarin(EC) to 7-hydroxycoumarin(HC) and the rates of subsequent conjugation of the produced HC to its glucuronide and sulfate esters have been determined. Prior to preparing the isolated perfused livers. rats were fed either fat free diet 10% beef tallow diet or 10% corn oil diet for 3 weeks. The rates of oxidation from EC to HC and also of the subsequent glucuronidation of HC were higher in the corn oil diet group than those found for the fat free and beef tallow diet groups. When the concentrations of infusing EC were increased stepwise there was a dose-dependnet increase for the release of the glucuronide form of HC metabolites at the expense of the sulfate ester form. This dose dependant shift observed for the corn oil group was more significnat than those found for other groups. These results indicate that corn oil feeding has produced enhancement in the rates of hepatic microsomal drug oxidation and glucuronide conjugation the reactions catalyzed by enzymes embedded in the hepatic microsomal membranes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.796-804
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• 2004

We found previously that dietary high fat caused obesity, and levan supplementation to the regular diet reduced adiposity and serum lipids. In the present study, we examined the effects of levan [high-molecular-mass $\beta$-(2,6)-linked fructose polymer] supplement on the development of obesity and lipid metabolism in rats fed with high-fat diet. Thus, to determine whether the dietary levan may have the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects, 4-wk-old Sprague Dawley male rats were fed with high-fat diet for 6 wk to induce obesity, and subsequently fed with 0, 1, 5, or 10% levan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 4 wk. For the comparison, a normal control group was fed with AIN-76A diet. Supplementation with levan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced body weight gain, white fat (i.e., epididymal, visceral, and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and the development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia in a dose-dependent manner. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced by levan supplementation. Serum total cholesterol level was reduced, whereas the HDL cholesterol level was increased by dietary levan. The expression of uncoupling protein (UCP) was increased by dietary high fat, and was further induced by levan supplementation. The mRNA level of UCP1, 2, and 3 in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and UCP3 in skeletal muscle was upregulated in rats fed with dietary levan. In conclusion, upregulated UCP mRNA expression may contribute to suppression of development of obesity through increased energy expenditure. The present results suggest that levan supplementation to the diet is beneficial in suppressing diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.823-830
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan fiber on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in rats. In order to induce obesity, Sprague-Dawley weanling male rats were allowed free access to AIN-76A diet until 4 weeks of age, and fed high-fat diet (beef tallow, $40\%$ of calories as fat) for 6 weeks until 10 weeks of age. Rats were then fed with $0\%$ thigh- fat control group), $1\%$, or $5\%$ bacterial ~-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 6 weeks. For comparison, normal control group was fed with AIN-76 diet $11.7\%$ fat). Supplementation with bacterial $\beta$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced white fat (i.e., visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced, but, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by bacterial $\beta$-glucan supplementation. Serum leptin level was lower in the $\beta$-glucan groups than in the high-fat group. The expression of UCPs (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were significantly increased by $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan-containing diet. This study suggests that the anti-obesity effect of $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan is attributed to upregulation of UCPs and inefficient energy utilization.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2002

This present study was carried out to investigate the body weight-regulatory effects of Glechoma longituba in high fat diet-induced obese rats. Control group rats were fed with high fat diet and administered normal saline for 8weeks. Experimental groups rats were fed with high fat diet and administered extract of Glechoma longituba for 8 weeks. And observed that, body weight of rats and total cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, phospholipid in serum of rats. The results were as follows: 1. There were decrease of body weight of rats in GL group, but these results showed no significant efficacy. 2. There were significant decrease of serum total cholesterol level in GL group. 3. There were decrease of serum triglyceride level in GL group, but these results showed no significant efficacy. 4. There were decrease of serum free fatty acid level in GL group. but these results showed no significant efficacy. 5. There were significant decrease of serum phospholipid level in GL group. According to above mentioned results, Glechoma longituba is expected to be applied to the prevention or treatment of obesity and its complications.