• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.457-463
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• 2008

The effects of dietary supplementation of the unrefined rice bran oil from 'Suwon 415' pigmented black rice (BRBO) on cholesterol metabolism and cellular antioxidant status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. The significant reduction of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations was observed in the plasma of rats fed BRBO. BRBO also decreased plasma and hepatic oxidative stress as a result of increased levels of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels associated with the elevations of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities together with increased plasma level of tocopherol. This study indicates that dietary BRBO supplement can leads to the improvement of overall cholesterol metabolism and antioxidant status even more effectively than 'Chuchung' white rice (WRBO). Consumption of BRBO may also protect the liver from oxidative damage caused by lipid peroxidation.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2011

The wild edible mushroom, Lentinus lepideus has recently been cultivated for commercial use in Korea. While the mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes, the possible anti-hyperlipidemic action is unclear. The effects of dietary L. lepideus on plasma and feces biochemical and on the liver histological status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Biochemical and histological examinations were performed. A diet containing 5% L. lepideus fruiting bodies reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total lipid, phospholipids, and the ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein. Body weight was reduced. The diet did not adversely affect plasma biochemical and enzyme profiles. L. lepideus reduced significantly plasma ${\beta}$- and pre-${\beta}$-lipoprotein, while ${\alpha}$-lipoprotein content was increased. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. The present study suggests that a diet supplemented with L. lepideus can provide health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.637-643
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• 1999

The effects of yam(Dioscorea) on lowering cholesterol level and its mechanism were investigated. The concentrations of plasma and liver lipids, and the excretions of fecal neutral sterol and bile acid were measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Five Groups of 8 rats were fed hypercholesterolemic diet(1% cholesterol, 10% lard ; control), hypercholesterolemic diet plus 15% or 30% dried yam powder prepared by either hot-air(15HY, 30HY) or freeze dry(15FY, 30FY) for 4wk. Plasma total lipid, total cholesterol and cholesterol level was also significantly lower(28%, p<0.05), buy HMG-CoA reductase activity was higher in 30FY(230%, p<0.05) than in control. Although no significant differences in fecal neutral sterols were observed among groups, the yam-fed rats apparently had less bacterial degradation of cholesterol as indicated by a significantly greater of fecal cholesterol to coprostanol than in controls. Total fecal bile acids were significantly greater in rats fed yam(15HY : 5 folds, 15FY ; 12,30HY ; 12, 20FY ; 22) than in controls. The ratio of secondary to primary bile acids was almost 8 times lower in 30FY than in control. These data indicate that yam lowers cholesterol both in plasma and in liver through increasing fecal bile acid excretion as well as HMG-CoA reductase activity. Freeze-dried yam, which possesses viscosity, was more effective in cholesterol-lowering action than hot-air dried one.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2008

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of onion or beet on plasma and liver lipids, erythrocyte Na efflux channels and platelet aggregation in simvastatin (SIM) treated hypercholesterolemic rats. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed 0.5% cholesterol based diets containing 2 mg/kg BW simvastatin or simvastatin with 5% onion or beet powder. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly increased in SIM group compared with the control (p<0.01), and the elevated plasma total cholesterol of SIM group was significantly decreased in SIM-onion and SIM-beet groups (p<0.05). HDL-cholesterol in SIM-beet group was significantly increased compared with other groups (p<0.05). Platelet aggregation in both the maximum and initial slope was significantly decreased in SIM group compared with SIM-onion group (p<0.05). Na-K ATPase was significantly decreased in SIM group compared with the control, SIM-onion and SIM-beet groups (p<0.05). Na passive leak was significantly increased in all groups treated with SIM compared with the control (p<0.05). The total Na efflux was decreased in SIM group and increased in SIM-onion group and the difference between these two groups was significant (p<0.05). There was no difference in intracellular Na among groups. In present study, simvastatin, a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor at dose of 2mg/kg BW/day rather increased plasma total cholesterol in rats, inferring that the action mechanism of simvastatin on cholesterol metabolism differ between rat and human. Onion and beet play favorable roles in cardiovascular system by restoring the reduced Na efflux through Na-K ATPase and Na-K cotransport in SIM treated rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.181-185
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• 2002

The thrombosis is the category of blood stasis. Blood stasis is a pathologicial state resulting from the reverse or impeded flow of blood in the body or the stagnation of blood flow in local parts as well as abnormal blood outside of the vessles which remains in the body and fails to disperse. Hwao-tang has been reported to have a hypolipidemic effect in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and in highcholesterol-induced experimental models. The present paper reports the effects of HOT on atherosclerosis using a spontaneous experimental model, Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits. We have also investigated the pharmacological effect of extracts obtained from HOT on collagen-and ADP-induced blood platelet aggregation, thrombin-induced conversion of fibrinogen and fibrinolysis in in vitro experiments. In conclusion, the protection of extracts of Korean herbs' HOT on the ischemic infarction induced artificially might be involved to their inhibition of thrombotic action.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.1 s.5
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• pp.27-31
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• 1968

The effect of Ginseng root on experimentally induced hypertension in rat was investigated. The results are concluded as follow; 1) We failed to produce hypercholesterolemic hypertension in rats of cholesterol (20 mg/kg) feeding for 60 days. 2) Ginseng supressed the increased blood pressure which induced by thyroxine treatment for 5 days of 1.0 mg/kg does during cholesterol feeding. 3) Ginseng per se revealed slightly increased blood pressure in normal and cholesterol fed rats. 4) No pathological changes were found macroscopically and microscopically in aorta of all experimental animal. 5) It is suggested that Ginseng has no direct action on peripheral vascular wall but plays a some role on centrally mediated mechanism. The confirmatory experiment should be performed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.380-388
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• 2002

The inhibitory effects of the traditional herbal medicine Hwao-tang on the progression of the atherosclerotic lesions were studied using the spontaneous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) model, Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits. Hwao-tang is activate blood circulation, vital energy and regulate menstruation, etc. Nowadays, Hwao-tang is mainly used for the treatment of inflammation, hyperlipemia and arteriosclerosis. However, pharmacological mechanisms of Hwao-tang on lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis formation are poorly understood. We have investigated the pharmacological effects of Hwao-tang on hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis using a spontaneous experimental model. In conclusion, the protection of extracts of HOT and its herbs on the ischemic infarction induced artificially might be related to their inhibitory effects on DIC, platelet coagulation and thrombic action. These suggest that Hwao-tang has inhibitory effects on the development of atheromatous plaque formation in spontaneous FH model rabbits. It is possible that the anti oxidative effects of Hwao-tang on LDL led to the beneficial effects observed in this study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.61-68
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• 2001

Soybean, rice and nuts are the staple foods in South East Asia. In order to clarify the function of these foods in relation to coronary heart diseases, we have done a series of experiments using animals and humans. Soybean protein preparations (SPI) in comparison with an animal protein, casein (CAS), resulted in reducing atherosclerotic lesion development in apolipoprotein (apo) E deficient mice that develop an advanced lesion similar to that in humans. This action was attributed to the protein, since the ethanol-extracted SPI (EE-SPI), from which isoflavones and saponins removed, lowered the lesion development in apo E-deficient mice. However, The EE-SPI, compared to the SPI, resulted in a decrease of mRNA for key proteins of cholesterol metabolism (low density lipoprotein receptor and cholesterol 7$\alpha$-hydroxylase) in hypercholesterolemic rats, followed by an elevation of the serum cholesterol level, indicating a contribution of isoflavones to the serum cholesterol level. Rice protein (RPI) was also effective to lower the lesion development in apo E deficient mice. Both the SPI and RPI led to an increased level of the serum NOiN03, metabolites of NO. This effect appeared to be attributed to their high content of arginine. Besides, C57BL/6J mice fed a diet containing whole grain rice had an elevation of the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, rice bran oil and the unsaponifiable fraction that is rich in plant sterols were effective to lower serum cholesterol levels in hypercholeserolemic rats. Finally, we tested if walnuts consumption would be hypocholesterolemic for Japanese. A diet containing walnuts effectively lowered the serum total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in Japanese men and women. These animal and human experiments would be relevant to advocate publics to keep consuming diets including soybean, rice and nuts for their healthful life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1648-1657
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• 2014

In this study, the hepatic lipid-lowering effects and related mechanism of action of sujeonggwa were examined in hypercholesterolemia-induced apoprotein E knockout (apo E ko) mice. Sujeonggwa drink was prepared with cinnamon, ginger, and sugar by modifying the traditional recipe of sujeonggwa. Sugar was partially substituted with either stevia or short chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) in order to reduce the calorie content of sujeonggwa, which was measured by descriptive analysis. Apo E ko mice (n=42) were induced to have hypercholesterolemia (plasma total cholesterol concentration >1,000 mg/dL) by administration of a high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks, followed by division into six groups. Experimental groups were orally administered water as a vehicle (normal group), sugar solution (control group), commercially available 'V' sujeonggwa drink (positive control group), or three different types of sujeonggwa drinks (S-sugar, S-stevia, and S-scFOS group) for 6 weeks while high cholesterol diet was provided to all animals. Compared to the control group, concentrations of hepatic triglycerides, total cholesterol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species in S-sugar, S-stevia, S-scFOS were significantly reduced (P<0.05), indicating that sujeonggwa had inhibitory effects on hepatic lipid accumulation. Protein expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and its transcription factor, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 responsible for triglyceride synthesis, as well as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and its transcription factor, SREBP-2 responsible for cholesterol synthesis, were also reduced in S-sugar, S-stevia, and S-scFOS groups (P<0.05). These benefits of sujeonggwa were even greater in S-stevia and S-scFOS compared to S-sugar. The beneficial effects of S-stevia on regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism were slightly greater than those of S-scFOS although the differences were not significant. In conclusion, sujeonggwa drinks, especially functional sujeonggwa drinks in which sugar was partially substituted with stevia or scFOS, inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation via suppressing FAS and HMGCR protein expression through down-regulation of SREBP-1 and 2.