• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.168-178
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• 2014

Objectives : Mahuang-Chuanwu(Mahwang-Cheonoh) Pharmacopuncture(MCP) has been used to treat obesity in Clinical Korean Medicine. MCP solution(MCPS) is also expected to have strong anti-obesity activities. However, little is known about the mechanisms of its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. Methods : In the present study, we examined the effects of MCPS on differentiation and lipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To elucidate the mechanism of the effects of MCPS on lowering lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we examined whether MCPS modulates the expressions of transcription factors to induce lipogenesis and adipogenic genes related to regulate the accumulation of lipids. Results : Our results showed that MCPS significantly inhibited differentiation and lipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. MCPS suppressed the mRNA expressions of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine(CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$($C/EBP{\alpha}$), C/EBP ${\beta}$, $C/EBP{\delta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$($PPAR{\gamma}$) genes related to the induction of adipose differentiation. MCPS inhibited the mRNA expressions of adipose-specific aP2, adipsin, lipoprotein lipase(LPL), CD36, TGF-${\beta}$, and leptin genes related to the fat formation. MCPS downregulated the mRNA expressions of liver X receptor(LXR) ${\alpha}$ and fatty acid synthase(FAS) genes related to the induction of lipogenesis. In addition, MCPS reduced the production of adipocyte-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions : MCPS could regulate the accumulation of lipids and expression of adipogenic genes via inhibition of transcript factors related to induction of adipose differentiation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2018

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplementation has been suggested to negatively correlate with obesity in humans and other animals. Previous studies, including ours, have demonstrated that a high-fat diet (HFD) induces obesity and related diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Here, we investigated the effects of vitamin C on visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and glucose intolerance in C57BL/6J mice. Mice received a low-fat diet (LFD, 10% kcal fat), HFD (45% kcal fat), or the same HFD supplemented with vitamin C (HFD-VC, 1% w/w) for 15 weeks. Visceral adiposity and glucose intolerance were examined using metabolic measurements, histology, and gene expression analyses. Mice in the HFD-VC supplementation group had reduced body weight, mesenteric fat mass, and mesenteric adipocyte size compared with HFD-fed mice. Vitamin C intake in obese mice also decreased the mRNA levels of lipogenesis-related genes (i.e., stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c) in mesenteric adipose tissues, inhibited hyperglycemia, and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, vitamin C attenuated the HFD-induced increase in the size of pancreatic islets. These results suggest that vitamin C suppresses HFD-induced visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and glucose intolerance in part by decreasing the visceral adipose expression of genes involved in lipogenesis.

• CELLMED
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.11.1-11.6
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• 2018

In vitro anti-obesity effects of anti-cancer (AC) functional kimchi in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were studied. We constructed three experimental groups: Control, standardized kimchi (SK), and AC functional kimchi (A-FK) that included active ingredients and Lactobacillus plantarum. Kimchi extracts did not show any cytotoxicity in pre-adipocytes in the concentration range of 1 - 5 mg/mL. A-FK significantly reduced fat droplet formation and absorbance in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, as shown by Oil red O staining, compared to Control and SK (P < 0.05). SK and A-FK reduced adipo-/lipogenesis related genes such as $C/EBP{\alpha}$, SREBP-1, LPL, and $LXR{\alpha}$ compared to Control (P < 0.05). Especially, A-FK more greatly reduced SREBP-1 and LPL compared to SK (P < 0.05). A-FK up-regulated the ${\beta}$-oxidation related gene CPT-1c and down-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 compared to Control (P < 0.05). Based on the results, A-FK exhibited anti-obesity effects by inhibiting fat droplet formation and adipo-/lipogenesis related genes by regulating the ${\beta}$-oxidation related gene CPT-1c and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. In previous studies, A-FK kimchi already exhibited a strong anti-cancer effect. These results indicate that A-FK increased anti-obesity activity in this model system due to its functional ingredients and anti-cancer functionality.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.256-264
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• 2006

Salicornia herbacea L. (Chenopodiaceae) has been used as a seasoned vegetable by living in coastal areas. S. herbacea (SH) has been demonstrated to stimulate cytokine production, nitric oxide release, and to show anti-oxidative effect. In a series of investigations to develop potential anti-diabetic and/or anti-hyperlipidemic agents from Korean indigenous plants, 50% ethanol extract of Salicornia herbacea was found to prevent the onset of the hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia induced by high fat diet in ICR mice. At 6 week old, the ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups; two control and three treatment groups. The control mice were to receive either a regular diet (RD) or high-fat diet (HFD), and the treatment groups were fed a high fat diet with either 350 mg/kg, 700 mg/kg of SH (SH350 and SH700) or 250 mg/kg of met-formin (MT250) for a 10-week period. SH not only reduced body weight but also corrected associated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in a dose dependent manner. SH exerted beneficial effects on the plasma glucose and lipid homeostasis possibly ascribed to its specific effects on lipogenesis related genes (SREBP1a, FAS, GAPT), and PEPCK, glucose 6-phosphatase gene expressions in liver. Ethanol extract of S. herbacea has potential as a preventive agent for type 2 diabetes (and possibly hyperlipidemia) and deserves future clinical trial.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.282-287
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effects of various mixtures of Atractylodes macrocephala (AM) and Amomum villosum (AV) water extracts on high-fat diet (HFD) induced mouse model. We classified five groups as follows; control, HFD, HFD + AM extracts : AV extracts (100mg/kg) (1:1), HFD + AM extracts : AV extracts (100mg/kg) (2:1), HFD + AM extracts : AV extracts (100mg/kg) (3:1). Oral administration of various mixtures of AM and AV extracts for 6 weeks inhibited HFD-induced increases of body, liver and epididymal fat weights. Also, lipid profiles including LDL cholesterol were improved by various mixtures of AM and AV extracts treatment compared with HFD-fed group. Lipogenesis-related genes such as acetyl coA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in liver changed in a favorable way for lipid biosynthesis by HFD compared to control, but various mixtures of AM and AV extracts-treated groups did not. Our results show that various mixtures of AM and AV extracts can prevent HFD-induced obesity in mice and suggests that the mechanisms are involved in expressions and modifications of lipogenesis-related genes such as ACC and FAS in liver.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2005

Semisulospira libertine (SL) has been used as a folk medicine for quenching a thirst, hepatic fever and inflammation in oriental countries. Although SL has been anecdotally ascertained to ameliorate the hepatic diseases, there are no sufficient experimental evidences. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Bitam-S, in which SL is a main component, on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease manifested in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. At 6 week old, the ob/ob mice were randomly divided into four groups; control and three treatment groups. The control mice was to receive a regular diet, and the treatment groups were fed a regular diet with either 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg of Bitam-S (BS250 and BS500) or 300mg/kg of metformin (MT300) for a 8-week period. Bitam-S exerted beneficial effects on lipid homeostasis in ob/ob mice that are not necessarily due to its ability to decrease food intake but its specific effects on hepatic lipogenesis related genes (SREBP1a, FAS and SCD-1). The combined effects of Bitam-S to reduce body weight and lipogenic gene expressions, and reduce the deposition of triglyceride in the liver are indicative of a marked improvement in obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Taken together, Bitam-S has potential as a treatment agent for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and deserves clinical trial in the near future.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.345-352
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• 2006

Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) have a good capacity to produce heavily marbled meat of high value. The intramuscular fat in Hanwoo is known to be deposit from 12 months of age by degree of slightly visible and significantly developed in 28 months of age. Lipogenesis gene expression profiling in longissimus dorsi at early and late fattening stage will be helpful to understand the mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in skeletal muscle. Therefore, we analysed the gene expression patterns of six genes related lipid metabolism (FABP4, GLUT4, LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD) between early and late fattening stage. The mRNA expression of FABP4 at late fattening stage (27 months old) was higher about 3.0 fold than at early fattening stage (12 months old) in each three individuals of Hanwoo. However, GLUT4 mRNA expression was not different at late fattening stage compared with at early fattening stage. On the other hand, The expression patterns of LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD genes related lipid metabolism were significantly over-expressed about 3.5 fold, 2.7 fold, 3.7 fold and 7.5 fold at late fattening stage, respectively. Thus, these results suggested that lipogenesis in skeletal muscle at late fattening stage is due to increasing uptake of fatty acid by FABP4 and lipogenesis gene expression such as LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.288-295
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• 2014

Bojungchiseub-tang (BJCST) has been used in symptoms and signs of edema, dampness-phlegm, kidney failure, and so on. BJCST is also expected to have strong anti-obesity activities. However, little is known about the mechanisms of its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. In the present study, we examined the effects and mechanism of BJCST on transcription factors and adipogenic genes of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to understand its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. Our results showed that BJCST significantly inhibited differentiation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism of the effects of BJCST on lowering lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we examined whether BJCST modulate the expressions of transcription factors to induce adipogenesis and adipogenic genes related to regulate accumulation of lipids. As a result, the expression of steroid regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)1, cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, $C/EBP{\delta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) genes, which induce the adipose differentiation, liver X receptor $(LXR){\alpha}$ and fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes, which induce lipogenesis and adipose-specific aP2, Adipsin, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), CD36, TGF-${\beta}$, leptin and adiponectin genes, which compose fat formation were decreased. BJCST also reduced the expression of acyl CoA oxidase (ACO) and uncoupling protein (UCP) genes related to lipid oxidation. In conclusion, BJCST could regulate transcript factor related to induction of adipose differentiation and inhibited the accumulation of lipids and expression of adipogenic genes.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2015

The anti-obesity effects of starter (Leuconostoc mesenteroides+Lactobacillus plantarum) fermented kimchi on 3T3-L1 adipocyte were studied using naturally fermented kimchi (NK), a functional kimchi (FK, NK supplemented with green tea), and FK supplemented with added starters (FKS). Oil red O staining and cellular levels of triglyceride (TG) and glycerol were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-obesity effects of these kimchis in 3T3-L1 cells. The expressions of adipogenesis/lipogenesis-related genes of peroxisome proliferator-active receptor (PPAR)-${\gamma}$, CCAAT/enhance-binding protein (C/EBP)-${\alpha}$, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were determined by RT-PCR. Kimchis, especially FKS, markedly decreased TG levels and increased levels of intracellular glycerol and lipid lipolysis. In addition, FKS also reduced the mRNA levels of PPAR-${\gamma}$, C/EBP-${\alpha}$, and FAS, which are related to adipogenesis/lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest the anti-obesity effects of FKS were to due to enhanced lipolysis and reduced adipogenesis/lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2016

The current study investigated the anti-obesity effect of Cissus quadrangularsis extracts (CQR-300) and its molecular action mechanism on obese mice induced high-fat diet (HFD). To induce the obesity, mice were fed a HFD for 6 weeks and then fed HFD only or HFD with CQR-300 at 50 and 200 mg/kg. Then, body weight gain and white adipose tissue weights were measured. We investigated the reduction in body fat and the regulation of fatty acid synthesis was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and real-time PCR with Western blot, respectively. In vitro study, CQR-300 inhibited pancreatic lipase activity. The CQR-300 treatment was significantly decreased the body weight gain and adipocytes size as well as white adipose tissues weights in HFD-induced obese mice. Furthermore, CQR-300 reduced the body fat and fat mass with regulating of adipose tissue hormones as leptin. Treatment with 50 mg/kg CQR-300 showed effectively lower expression levels of adipogenesis/lipogenesis related genes and proteins such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in white adipose tissue (WAT) as compared with the HFD fed only mice. These results suggest that the CQR-300 has an anti-obesity effect via inhibition of lipase activity, decrease the body fat mass by regulating the adipogenesis and lipogenesis related genes and proteins in epididymal adipose tissue with evaluate body fat reduce in the HFD-induced obese mice.