• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2002

Objectives : In this study, water extracts from Coix lachryma-jobi Linne var. mayuen Stapf. were investigated for their effects on insulin-like action and glucose uptake in 3T3-Ll cells. Methods : We examined the effects of insulin-like action on the differentiation of 3T3-Ll fibroblasts. The Coicis Semen was treated with hot water and the extract was freeze-dried. The hot water extract was chromatographed on nonionic polymer resin (Amberlite XAD-4, Sigma) with distilled water (Fr. 1), 20% (Fr. 2), 40% (Fr. 3), 60% (Fr. 4), 80% (Fr. 5), and 100% EtOH (Fr. 6), successively. Results : Total extract of Coicis Semen was fractionated into 0 to 100% MeOH with Amberlite XDA-4 column. Treatment of cells with $10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of total extracts of Coicis Semen significantly increased the differentiation (p<0.05). At $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ level of insulin, the differentiation was accelerated (p<0.01). The effect of extracts plus insulin on the differentiation was greater than that of insulin alone. In 3T3-Ll adipocytes, glucose uptake was higher by 2.7 times with 5 uM of total extract in low dosage of insulin (3 ng/ml) than without total extract. 5 and 50 uM of water and 40% MeOH fractions increased glucose uptake by 3.5 times in 3T3-Ll adipocytes (p<0.00l). Conclusions : Coicis Semen contains compounds which playa role of insulin-like action and insulin sensitizer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.701-707
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• 2007

Anti-diabetic effect of Platycodi radix (PR) extract fractions was determined if vitro by investigating insulin-like action, insulin sensitizing action, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, gene expression related to ${\beta}-cell$ function and mass, and ${\alpha}$-glucoamylase suppressing action. Insulin-like activity was not promoted by the treatment of PR methanol factions in 373-L1 fibroblast. However, treatment with 0, 20 and 100% PR methanol fractions along with 1 ng/mL insulin increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 373-L1 adipocytes. In addition, the treatment of 0% and 100% methanol fractions along with differentiation inducers significantly increased the differentiation of 373-L1 fibroblasts to adipocytes. These fractions may contain insulin sensitizer. The 20%, 80% and 100% methanol fractions enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in Min6 cells, insulin secreting cell line. This was related to the mechanism to promote glucose sensing and ${\beta}-cell$ proliferation, which was regulated by the induction of IRS-2, glucokinase and PDX-1 genes. As expected, 20, 80 and 100% methanol fractions increased mRNA levels of IRS-2, glucokinase and PDX-1 genes. However, PR fractions did not affect the ${\alpha}-glucoamylase$ activity in vitro. These data suggested that PR extract fractions have anti-diabetic actions through improving insulin sensitization, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and ${\beta}-cell$ proliferation. Therefore, PR extracts can be beneficial for anti-diabetic treatment in lean diabetic patients.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2002

Effects of the water extract from Kalopanax pictus NAKAI on insulin-like action and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells were investigated. The bark of K. pictus NAKAI was treated with hot water and the extract was freeze-dried. Total extract of K. pictus NAKAI was fractionated into 6 fractions with increasing gradients from 0 to 100% MeOH on Amberlite XDA-4. Treatment of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts with 1 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 10 ${\mu}g/ml$ of K. pictus NAKAI total extracts significantly increased the differentiation of the cells. When co-treated with inducers such a dexamethasone, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine and insulin, the differentiation was increased at 1 ${\mu}g/ml$ of total extract, but not at 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, glucose uptake was increased by 3.3 times with addition of 0.3 and 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Fr. 1 (0-10% MeOH) and Fr. 3 (30% MeOH) at 3 ng/ml insulin. In conclusion, K. pictus NAKAI contains such compounds that play a role of insulin-like action and insulin sensitizer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.147-151
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• 2009

D-pinitol, another chemical structure of 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol, is an important insulin-sensitizer. The purpose of this review is to examine the characteristics of pinitol and other analogs as functional food biomaterials which were well known to reduce blood glucose levels. Pinitol can be converted to chiro-inositol in normal humans, while diabetic patients can not use the molecule, resulting in exhibiting low level of chiro-inositol in their urine. Recently, it is reported that pinitol can trigger phospholipase C/D, thus the rate of glucose metabolism accelerates to use as fuel for human body. To not only reduce insulin resistance of diabetic patients, but also alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, obesity, and muscle contraction, pinitol and its dietary supplementation is needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1336-1343
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• 2005

In the present study, we screened candidates for enhancing insulin action and secretion from Cinnamomum camphora (CC) fractions, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Min6 cells by investigating insulin- stimulated glucose uptake and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, respectively. CC were extracted by $70\%$ ethanol followed by XAD-4 column chromatography with serial mixture solvents of methanol and water, and the fractional extractions were utilized for determining insulin action and secretion, and $\alpha$-glucoamylase suppressing activity, A significant insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving 0.5 or $5{\mu}g/mL$ of $40\%\;and\;60\%$ methanol fractions plus 0.2 nM insulin, compared to the treatment of DMSO plus 0.2 nM insulin. The treatments of $40\%\;and\;60\%$ methanol fractions plus 0.2 nM insulin reached the glucose uptake of 10 nM insulin treatment. The $40\%$ methanol fraction increased triglyceride accumulation by stimulating differentiation and triglyceride synthesis similar to pioglitazone, PPAR-$\gamma$ agonist. No inhibition of $\alpha$-glucoamylase activity of CC fractions was observed. They did not modulate the insulin secretion capacity In either low or high glucose media. These results suggest that $40\%$ methanol fraction contains a potential insulin sensitizer to have a similar function of PPAR-$\gamma$ agonist. Crude CC extract may improve glucose utilization by enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake without elevating glucose stimulated insulin secretion.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.258-264
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• 2004

Hypoglycemic effect of Schizandrae Fructus (SF) extract containing in Okchun-san was determined on 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes by investigating insulin-like activity, insulin sensitizing activity and ${\alpha}-glucoamylase$ suppressing activity. SF were extracted by using 70% ethanol followed by XAD-4 column chromatography with a mixture solvent of methanol and water, and the fractional extractions were utilized for assaying hypoglycemic effect. No inhibition of ${\alpha}-glucoamylase$ activity of SF was observed. Insulin-like activity 3T3-L1 adipocytes was not shown by SF. A significant insulin sensitizing activity of SF extractions was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving SF extractions with 1 ng/ml insulin to reach glucose uptake level increased by 50 ng/ml of insulin alone. When cells were treated with SF (Fr. 4 or 5) plus 1 ng/ml insulin, glucose uptake was increased more than seven times as compared to 1 ng/ml of insulin alone, suggesting that SF extracts increased GLUT4 content by enhancing insulin signaling. These data suggest that SF extracts (especially Fr. 4 and 5) contains an effective insulin sensitizing compounds for hypoglycemic activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3123-3128
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• 2014

The liver is normally the major site of glucose metabolism in intact organisms and the most important target organ for the action of insulin. It has been widely accepted that insulin resistance (IR) is closely associated with postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the relationship between IR and drug resistance in liver cancer cells is unclear. In the present study, IR was induced in HepG2 cells via incubation with a high concentration of insulin. Once the insulin-resistant cell line was established, the stability of HepG2/IR cells was further tested via incubation in insulin-free medium for another 72h. Afterwards, the biological effects of insulin resistance on adhesion, migration, invasion and sensitivity to cis-platinum (DDP) of cells were determined. The results indicated that glucose consumption was reduced in insulin-resistant cells. In addition, the expression of the insulin receptor and glucose transportor-2 was downregulated. Furthermore, HepG2/IR cells displayed markedly enhanced adhesion, migration, and invasion. Most importantly, these cells exhibited a lower sensitivity to DDP. By contrast, HepG2/IR cells exhibited decreased adhesion and invasion after treatment with the insulin sensitizer pioglitazone hydrochloride. The results suggest that IR is closely related to drug resistance as well as adhesion, migration, and invasion in HepG2 cells. These findings may help explain the clinical observation of limited efficacy for chemotherapy on a background of IR, which promotes the invasion and migration of cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.951-957
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• 2004

Hypoglycemic effect of Prunus mume (PM) extract containing in Sangjinyangheul-tang and Hwangkeumtang, one of the diabetic herbal medicines, was determined by investigating insulin-like action, insulin sensitizing action and a-glucoamylase suppressing action. Insulin-like activity of 3T3-L1 fibroblast was not shown with the treatment of PM methanol extracts. However, treatment with 20% or 40% PM methanol extracts and differentiation inducers significantly decreased the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to adipocytes. A significant insulin sensitizing activity was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving PM extracts (60%, 80% and 100%) with 1 ng/mL insulin to reach glucose uptake level increased by 50 ng/mL of insulin alone. In addition, 20% and 40% methanol extracts of PM suppressed the a-glucoamylase activity by 30% in vitro. However, there was no significant differences in the peak of serum glucose levels and area under the curve in Sprague Dawley male rats treated with PM ethanol extract or cellulose and 2 g maltose or dextrin/kg body weight. These data suggested that PM extracts contain effective insulin sensitizing compounds, lipid synthesis suppressing compounds and possibly a-glucoamylase suppressing compounds. Therefore, PM extracts are beneficial for anti-diabetic treatment in obese diabetic patients.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.377-381
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• 2005

Polymers, containing 5-(4-O-methylacryloylbenzyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione [MABTZD]; poly (MABTZD), poly(MABTZD-co-AA) and poly(MABTZD-co-AMAA), were prepared, and identified by FT-IR, $^1H-$ and $^{13}C-NMR$ spectra. The MABTZD unit contents in poly(MABTZD-co-AA) and poly(MABZD-co-AMAA) were 11.3 and $27.7 mol\%$, respectively. The number average molecular weights of the polymers, as determined by GPC, ranged from 16,800 to 22,300, and with polydispersity indices of $1.2\sim1.4$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.472-477
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• 2004

Hypoglycemie effect of Moutan Radicis Cortex (MRC) extract contained in Yukmijihuang-hwan was determined by investigating insulin-sensitizing and ${\alpha}-glucoamylase-suppressing$ actions. MRC was extracted with 70% ethanol, fractionated by XAD-4 column chromatography with mixture solvent of methanol and water, and utilized for hypoglycemic effect assay. Significant insulin sensitizing activities of MRC extracts were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving MRC extracts with 1 ng/mL insulin reach glucose uptake level increased by 50 ng/mL of insulin alone. MRC methanol extracts of 20, 40, 60, and 80% suppressed ${\alpha}-glucoamylase$ activity in vitro. Peak serum glucose levels and area under curve were lower in Sprague Dawley male rats treated with MRC ethanol extract than those treated with cellulose in oral glucose tolerance test using 2 g dextrin/kg body weight. These data suggest MRC extracts contain effective insulin -sensitizing and ${\alpha}-glucoamylase-suppressing$ compounds for hypoglycemic activity.