• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.501-506
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• 2016

BACKGROUNG/OBJECTIVES: Corn silk (CS) extract contains large amounts of maysin, which is a major flavonoid in CS. However, studies regarding the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets. MATERIALS/METHODS: Normal-fat group fed 7% fat diet, high-fat (HF) group fed 25% fat diet, and high-fat with corn silk (HFCS) group were orally administered CS extract (100 mg/kg body weight) daily. Serum and hepatic levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol as well as serum free fatty acid, glucose, and insulin levels were determined. The mRNA expression levels of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hyroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), adiponectin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ were determined. RESULTS: Oral administration of CS extract with HF improved serum glucose and insulin levels as well as attenuated HF-induced fatty liver. CS extracts significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of adipocytokines and reduced mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and LCAT between the HF group and HFCS group were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CS extract supplementation with a high-fat diet improves levels of adipocytokine secretion and glucose homeostasis. CS extract is also effective in decreasing the regulatory pool of hepatic cholesterol, in line with decreased blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol though modulation of mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2018

A great progress in genetic selection, nutrition and management practices has contributed to the improved growth rate of broilers and egg production in laying hens. For the increased productivity of modern poultry, a healthy chicken liver needs to cope with the increased metabolic demands. The liver is the major site of de novo fatty acid synthesis; therefore, hepatic lipogenesis is crucial for producing better quality meat and eggs. When de novo lipogenesis exceeds the capacity of lipid metabolism and secretion, large amounts of lipids accumulate in the liver of broilers, leading to a fatty liver. Upon onset of egg-laying in hens, lipids including free fatty acids, triglycerides, and phospholipids are dramatically increased in blood plasma for the synthesis of yolk precursors in oocytes. Productive hens with fatty liver often have hemorrhagic syndrome and sudden death due to the heavy demands of yolk synthesis, which burdens the liver. Understanding the lipid metabolism and hepatic lipid disorders is a key point in the improvement of the growth and production of chickens. This review focuses on the recent studies on lipid metabolism, the hepatic lipid disorders, and the prevention or reduction of fatty liver in poultry.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2006

This study was aimed at investigating hepatic toxicity and immunomodulating effects of defatted methanol extracts of two kinds of medicinal plants, Rubus coreanus Miq. and Atractylodes japonica Koidz. in mice. Defatted methanol extracts of fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. and rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. were added at the level of 0.5% or 5%(w/w) to cholesterol-supplemented AIN-76 diet. Each diet was fed to 8 ICR male mice for 30 days. Weight gain and food efficiency ratio of the mice fed 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. were significantly lower than those of the mice fed 0.5% extract Relative liver weight and activity of plasma alanine aminotransfernse were significantly increased only in the mice fed 5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with the others. Splenocyte proliferation was not significantly different between the groups fed 0.5% or 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. However, splenocyte proliferation was significantly decreased in the mice fed 5.0% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with that in the mice fed 0.5% Production of interleukin-2 by splenocytes from the mice fed 0.5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Miq. was significantly higher than the control value and it became lower with 5.0% dietary level. Secretion of $interferon-\gamma$ was not significantly different among groups. In conclusion, the defatted methanol extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. was likely to exert immunomodulating effect at the level of 0.5% but it may exert adverse effects on immune and liver functions at the level of 5.0%.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2022

We utilized Fas21, a resveratrol analog, to modulate the function of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) during the angiogenic phase of murine liver metastasis by B16 melanoma and 51b colorectal carcinoma. Preangiogenic micrometastases were treated with Fas21 (1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle during the development of intra-angiogenic tracts. Mice treated with Fas21 showed reduced liver tumor foci in both liver metastasis models. Micrometastases were classified immunohistochemically, as well as according to their position coordinates and connection to local microvasculature. The volume of liver occupied by sinusoidal-type foci, containing infiltrating angiogenic capillaries, decreased by ~50% in Fas21-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated ones in both tumor metastasis models. The volume of portal foci, containing peripheral neoangiogenesis within a discontinuous layer of myofibroblasts, was similar in all experimental groups in both tumor metastasis models, but displayed enhanced necrotic central areas devoid of angiogenesis following Fas21 treatment. As a result, sinusoidal tumors from mice treated with Fas21 showed a 50% reduction in desmin(+)/asma(+) HSCs and CD31(+) vessel density, and a 45% reduction in intrametastatic VEGF mRNA compared with sinusoidal tumors from vehicle-treated mice. Necrotic portal metastases increased 2-4-fold in treated mice. In vitro, Fas21 reduced VEGF secretion by HSCs and 51b cells dose-dependently. Additionally, HSCs migration in response to tumor soluble factors was dose-dependently diminished by Fas21, as was LSEC migration in response to HSCs and tumor soluble factors. Resveratrol analog Fas21 inhibits the proangiogenic response of HSCs and LSECs during the development of murine liver metastasis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.650-666
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• 2010

Objectives : In this study, the author tried to investigate whether wood vinegar produced from Morus alba (MA) significantly affects the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells of rats, and in vitro airway mucin secretion and PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production / gene expression from human airway epithelial cells. Materials and Methods : For the in vivo experiment, the author induced hypersecretion of airway mucus and goblet cell hyperplasia by exposure of rats to SO2 over 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered MA over 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats and hyperplasia of goblet cells were assessed using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with alcian blue. For the in vitro experiment, confluent RTSE cells were chased for 30 min in the presence of MA to assess the effect of MA on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, effects of MA on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of MA and treated with PMA (10 ng/ml), EGF (25 ng/ml) or TNF-alpha (0.2 nm) for 24 hrs, to assess both effects of MA on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Possible cytotoxicities of MA in vitro were assessed by examining LDH release from RTSE cells and the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. In vivo liver and kidney toxicities of MA were evaluated by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN/creatinine concentrations of rats after administering MA orally. Results : 1. MA decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of rats exposed to sulfur dioxide inhalationally. 2. MA decreased in vitro mucin secretion from cultured RTSE cells. 3. MA significantly inhibited PMA-, EGF-, and TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin productions and the expression levels of MUC5AC mRNA from NCI-H292 cells. 4. MA did not show either in vitro or in vivo hepatic or renal toxicities. Conclusion : The results from this study suggests that MA can regulate the secretion, production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in diverse respiratory diseases accompanied by mucus hypersecretion and does not show in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration. Effects of MA should be further studied using animal experimental models that simulate the diverse pathophysiology of respiratory diseases via future research.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2007

Compound K (CK) is a final metabolite of panaxadiol ginsenosides. Although panax ginseng is known to have anti-diabetic activity, the active ingredient is not yet fully identified. Therefore, it would be interesting to know whether and how CK has an anti-diabetic activity. First, insulin secretion-stimulating activity of CK was examined using RIN-m5F cell line and primary cultured islets. CK enhanced the insulin secretion in a concentration dependent manner. This effect, however, was almost completely abolished in the presence of diazoxide, $K^+$ channel opener, indicating that the insulin secretion-stimulating activity of CK is presumably due to blockade of ATP sensitive $K^+$ channel. In addition, effects of CK on gene expressions of hepatic enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase[PEPCK], glucose-6-phos-phatase[G6Pase]) and on adipocyte differentiation in H4IIE and 3T3-Ll cells, respectively, were examined. CK suppressed the induction of PEPCK and G6Pase mRNA expressions under the dexamethasone/cAMP stimulation condition. CK also reduced the $PPAR-{\gamma}$ mRNA expression and triglyceride accumulation in a dose dependent manner as compared to the control. The present study suggests that CK deserves to examine whether it shows an anti-diabetic activity in animal and human studies.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.270-277
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• 1988

Gamiinjinoryung-San is composed of eight crude drugs including Artemisiae capillaris Herba which is widely used for the treatment of acute jaundice, acute and chronic hepatitis at the Oriental hospital of Kyung-Hee Medical Center. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of water extract of Gamiinjinoryung-San on the liver function. The results obtained were as follows; the extract markedly reduced LDH and ALP activities, but slightly decreased GOT and GPT activities elevated with D-galactosamine in rat serum. The liver protective activities were shown in $CCl_4-intoxicated\;rats$. The extract prevented the prolongation of sleeping time in $CCl_4-intoxicated\;rats$. The bile flow and the biliary bile acid secretion were significantly increased in normal rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 1969

Alloxan is a diabetogenic agent which destroys the beta-cell of the Langerhan's islet of pancreas and it disturbs the secretion of insulin. It is known that alloxan interfers with the hepatic enzyme activity and some aspect of the other metabolism. The author attempted to investigate the influence of reserpine upon the serum transaminase activity, blood sugar and serum total cholesterol contents of rabbit treated alloxan. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The serum GOT and GPT activity of alloxanized rabbit pretreated with reserpine showed marked decrease compared with alloxan control group. 2. The blood sugar level of alloxanized rabbit pretreated with reserpine showed lower than the alloxan control group. 3. The total cholesterol level of alloxanized rabbit pretreated with reserpine was lower than that of alloxan control group.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.195-208
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• 2005

Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and associated with a high risk of atherosclerosis, and liver, kidney, nerve and tissue damage. Defective insulin secretion in pancreas and/or insulin resistance in peripheral tissues is a central component of diabetes. It is well established that, regardless of the degree of muscle insulin resistance, glucose levels in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals are determined by the rate of hepatic glucose production. Moreover recently studies using liver-specific insulin receptor knockout mice show the paramount role of the liver in insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin exerts a multifaceted and highly integrated series of actions via its intracellular signaling systems. The first major section of this review defines the major insulin-mediated signaling pathways including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen activated protein kinases. The second major section of the review presents a summary and evaluation of methods for determination of the role and function of signaling pathways, including methods for determination of kinase phosphorylation, the use of pharmacological inhibitors of kinase and dominant-negative kinase constructs, and the application of new RNA interference methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1576-1584
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• 2013

This study is carried out to assess the relative effects of different doses of dietary glucose or fructose on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic metaflammation in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes. KK/HlJ male mice were fed experimental diets as follows: 1) control (CON), 2) moderate glucose (MG, 30% of total calories as glucose), 3) high glucose (HG, 60% of total calories as glucose), 4) moderate fructose (MF, 30% of total calories as fructose), and 5) high fructose (HF, 60% of total calories as fructose) for three weeks. Food intake was not affected by treatments. Compared with HF, HG not only increased serum fasting glucose and area under the curve during oral glucose tolerance test, but also decreased the levels of serum insulin and adiponectin. It indicated that glucose control was complicated via high glucose intake. High fructose treatment led to increased triglyceride in the serum and liver. In comparison to HG, high fructose diet activated NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome consisting of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), NLRP3 and caspase 1, which increases interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ maturation and secretion. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was accompanied by increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and IL-6. However, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and pro-inflammatory cytokines did not differ between CON and HG. These data suggested that dietary fructose triggers hepatic metaflammation accompanied by NLRP3 inflammasome activation and has deleterious effects on NAFLD.