• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.63-73
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• 2008

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture(CFP) on the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, lipolysis in rat epididymal adipocytes and histological changes in porcine adipose tissue. Methods Inhibiton of preadipocyte differentiation and/or stimulation of lipolysis play important roles in reducing obesity. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated with adipogenic reagents by incubating for 3days in the absence or presence of CFP ranging from 0.01 to 1mg/mL. The effect of CFP on adipogenesis was examined by measuring GPDH activity and by Oil Red O staining. Mature adipocytes from rat epididymal fat pad was incubated with CFP ranging from 0.01 to 1mg/mL for 3 hrs. The effect of CFP on lipolysis was examined by measuring free glycerol released. Fat tissue from pig skin was injected with CFP ranging from 0.1 to 10mg/mL to examine the effect of CFP on histological changes under light microscopy. Results The following results were obtained from present study on adipogenesis of preadipocytes, lipolysis of adipocytes and histological changes in fat tissue. 1. Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture inhibited adipogenic differentiation at the concentration of 1.0mg/mL. 2. Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture decreased the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GPDH) at the concentration of 0.1mg/mL. 3. Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture ok. lipolysis at the concentration of 0.1mg/ml. 4. Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture ranging 0.1 to 10mg/mL failed to exert lysis of cell membrane in porcine fat tissue. Conclusions These results suggest that Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture at relatively high concentration inhibited adipogenesis and increased lipolysis of adipocytes. However, Crataegi Fructus Pharmacopuncture didn't exert any effect on lysis of cell membrane in fat tissue.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2006

Peripheral insulin resistance in obese/type II diabetes animals results from an impairment of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. Insulin stimulate the translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular location to the plasma membrane. Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) is implicated in mediation of fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicle with the plasma membrane. Present study investigated regulatory effects of Rhodiola sachalinensis administration and exercise training on the expression of GLUT4 protein and SNAREs protein in skeletal muscles of obese Zucker rats. Experimental animals were randomly assigned into one of five groups ; lean control(LN), obese control(OB), exercise-treated(EXE), Rhodiola sachalinensis-treated(Rho), combine of Rho & EXE (Rho-EXE). All animals of exercise training (EXE, Rho-EXE) performed treadmill running for 8 weeks, and animals of Rho groups (Rho, Rho-EXE) were dosed daily by gastric gavage during the same period. After experiment, blood were taken for analyses of glucose, insulin, and lipids levels. Mitochondrial oxidative enzyme (citrate synthase, CS ; $\beta$-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, $\beta$-HAD) activity were analysed. Skeletal muscles were dissected out for analyses of proteins (GLUT4, VAMP2, syntaxin4, SNAP23). Results are as follows. Exercise and/or Rhodiola sachalinensis administration significantly reduced body weight and improved blood lipids (TG, FFA), and increased insulin sensitivity. Endurance exercise significantly increased the activity of mitochondrial enzymes and the expression of GLUT4 protein, however, administration of Rhodiola sachalinensis did not affect them. The effect of exercise and/or Rhodiola sachalinensis administration on the expression of SNARE proteins was unclear. Our study suggested that improvement insulin sensitivity by exercise and/or Rhodiola sachalinensis administration in obese Zucker rats is independent of expression of SNARE proteins.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2017

A brain-enriched secreting signal peptide, NELL2, has been suggested to play multiple roles in the development, survival, and activity of neurons in mammal. We investigated here a possible involvement of central NELL2 in regulating feeding behavior and metabolism. In situ hybridization and an immunohistochemical approach were used to determine expression of NELL2 as well as its colocalization with proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the rat hypothalamus. To investigate the effect of NELL2 on feeding behavior, 2 nmole of antisense NELL2 oligodeoxynucleotide was administered into the lateral ventricle of adult male rat brains for 6 consecutive days, and changes in daily body weight, food, and water intake were monitored. Metabolic state-dependent NELL2 expression in the hypothalamus was tested in vivo using a fasting model. NELL2 was noticeably expressed in the hypothalamic nuclei controlling feeding behavior. Furthermore, all arcuatic POMC and NPY positive neurons produced NELL2. The NELL2 gene expression in the hypothalamus was up-regulated by fasting. However, NELL2 did not affect POMC and NPY gene expression in the hypothalamus. A blockade of NELL2 production in the hypothalamus led to a reduction in daily food intake, followed by a loss in body weight without a change in daily water intake in normal diet condition. NELL2 did not affect short-term hunger dependent appetite behavior. Our data suggests that hypothalamic NELL2 is associated with appetite behavior, and thus central NELL2 could be a new therapeutic target for obesity.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.23-28
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• 2017

Arctigenin is the main active ingredient of Fructus Arctii, which has been reported with a variety of therapeutic activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-virus, and anti-obesity effects. In this study, a simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of arctigenin in rat plasma. The assay utilized a simple protein precipitation with methanol and the mobile phase consisted of 100% methanol and water containing 0.1% formic acid (65:35 v/v). Arctigenin and the internal standard (psoralen) were monitored using a positive electrospray turbo ionspray mode with multiple reaction monitoring transitions of m/z $373.2{\rightarrow}136.9$ and m/z $187.2{\rightarrow}130.9$, respectively, and total chromatographic run time was within 5 min. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of arctigenin was 5 ng/mL in the rat plasma. The intra- and inter-day accuracy of arctigenin at LLOQ and matrix-matched quality control samples ranged 97.4 - 104.8% and 97.2 - 102.0%, respectively. The intra-day precision was within 4.80% and the inter-day precision was within 5.92%. Application of the present method was demonstrated through a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous and oral administration of arctigenin in male Sprague Dawley rats.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 1986

This work was designed as basic studies on the development of diet for the treatment of obesity. The effect of alginic acid which is the major component of brown algae was investigated by comparing with agar, cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), chitin, and lignin as dietary fibers. These dietary fibers ($10\%$) supplemented to basic diet were fed ad libitum to Sprague Dawley rat for 4 weeks, and the inhibitory effects on obesity were evaluated by measuring body weight gain and feed efficiency, the content of glucose and cholesterol in serum, lipase activity in serum, lipid content in liver, adipose tissue around epididymis and ovarium, and Lee index etc. Among the inhibitory effect of these dietary fibers on obesity, lignin was the most effective (p<0.001), followed by Na-alginate (p<0.01) for body weight gain, but lignin was the most effective, followed by CMC, and followed by Na-alginate for feed efficiency (p<0.001). In the inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissue around epididymis and ovarium, lignin and Na-alginate group among these dietary fibers were more effective than others, but there was no significant difference between male and female. The inhibitory effect on obesity evaluated by Lee index was effective in the order of Na-alginate>lignin>CMC>chitin>cellulose (p<0.001). The decreasing effects of lipid content in liver by dietary fibers were found in the order of agar>CMC>cellulose>Na-alginate>chitin>lignin (p<0.001). Glucose content in serum was significantly decreased in cases of CMC, lignin and Na-alginate, whereas a slight difference was found in chitin, but cholesterol content in serum was decreased for all dietary fibers examined except cellulose group. The increasing effect of lipase activity in plasma was found in cases of Na-alginate and chitin, while cellulose, CMC and lignin groups were decreased.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1421-1429
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• 2017

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of dietary provision of lactic acid bacteria (LB) and sea tangle (ST) on the obesity-associated intestinal microbiota in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Forty-eight 8-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a basal diet (CON), a high fat diet (HFD; CON supplemented with 10% lard), HF supplemented with LB [HFL; $5{\times}10^8cfu$ of each of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium lactis], or HFL containing 10% ST (HFLS), with 4 replicates (cages) of 3 rats per dietary treatment, for 6 wk, and the intestinal microbiota were determined by pyrosequencing. The HFL and HFLS groups exhibited reduced rates of weight gain than the HF group, and the former groups had smaller ratios of Firmicutes and greater ratios of Bacteriodetes, with decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios, than the latter at the level of the phylum. Compared with the results for the HF group, HFL and HFLS had reduced ratios of the families of Roseburia, Mollicute, Erysipelotrichi, and Oscillibacter within Firmicutes associated with obesity and increased ratios of the families of Prevotella, Alistipes and Bacteroides within the Bacterioidetes phylum known to have an anti-obesity effect. The content of butyric acid in feces was greater in the HFLS group vs. HF and HFL. In conclusion, the present results suggest that dietary provision of LB plus ST has an anti-obesity effect and induced changes in intestinal microorganisms, and enhanced the content of butyric acid, which is an intestinal metabolite.

• Plant Resources
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2004

The present study examined the effects of Schizandra chinensis extract on the serum lipid composition and the antioxidant of rats in which obesity was induced through high fat diet. Fifty male Sprague-Dawely rats weighing 163.91$\pm$4.17g on the average were adjusted to basic diet and laboratory environment and were fed with high fat diet freely for 6 weeks to induce obesity. Forty rats, the final weight of which was 400g, were selected and were divided into a control group(C), treated groups(T I ; body weight of 100mg/kg, TII ; 150mg/kg and TIII ; 200mg/kg), 10 heads of similar weight for each, and test breeding was performed for 4 weeks. During the test breeding, all treated groups were fed with basic diet and difference in intake among the treated groups were maintained to be less than 5%. According to the result, the quantity of Triglyceride in serum was lower in all of the groups treated with Schizandra chinensis than the control group, but the difference was not significant except the treated group of 200mg (P>0.05). The quantity of Total cholesterol in serum was significantly lower in all the groups treated with Schizandra chinensis than in the control group (P<0.05) but differences according to the quantity of Schizandra chinensis applied were not observed. The quantity of HDL-cholesterol was not significantly different among all the groups including the control group (P<0.05) and no regular tendency of change in the quantity was observed according to the quantity of Schizandra chinensis applied. The quantity of LDL-cholesterol was lower in all the groups treated with Schizandra chinensis, but the treated group of 100mg was not significantly different from the control group. The quantity of TBARS in serum was lower in all the groups treated with Schizandra chinensis than in the control group (P<0.05), but no regular tendency of change in the quantity was observed according to the quantity of Schizandra chinensis applied. The quantity of liver TBARS was not significantly different among all the treated groups (P>0.05). The levels of glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and catalase activity were higher in all the groups treated with Schizandra chinensis treated group than in the control group (P<0.05), and the treated group of 200mg showed the highest activity among the treated groups.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.8
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• 2014

Metabolic effects of ten daily doses of standardized extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves (AP) rich in andrographolide were evaluated in a rat model of type-2 diabetes and in diet induced obese rats. AP was administered per-orally as suspension in 0.3% carboxymethylcellulose at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 10 consecutive days. Blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile of rats were measured by using enzyme kits. In addition, effects of such treatments on anti-oxidant enzymes activity and histopathological changes in various organs of diabetic rats were assessed. AP treatments reversed body weight losses and increased plasma insulin level in diabetic rats. The anti-oxidant enzymes activity became normal and histopathological changes observed in pancreas, liver, kidney and spleen of diabetic animals were less severe in extract treated groups. On the other hand, hyperinsulinemia and increased body weight gains observed in high fat or fructose fed rats were less severe in the extract treated groups. These observations revealed therapeutic potentials of the extract for treatments of diabesity associated metabolic disorders, and suggest that the effects of the extract on insulin homeostasis depend on the metabolic status of animals. Activation of cytoprotective mechanisms could be involved in its mode of action.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze the single-dose toxicity and the safety of Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture extracts. Methods: Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. Doses of Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture extracts were set at 0.25 mL (low-dose), 0.5 mL (medium-dose) and 1.0 mL (high-dose) for the test groups. A dose of 1.0 mL of normal saline solution was set for the control group. During 14 days, general symptoms, mortalities, and changes in hematology, blood biochemistry and histopathology of all rats were observed. Results: No death was observed in all test groups. Any abnormal symptom was not observed in all of the groups. No significant changes in weight between the control group and the test groups were observed. In addition, no significant differences in the hematology signs, the blood biochemistry levels and the histopathological signs related to the Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture extracts injection were observed. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Mahwangcheonoh pharmacopuncture at doses of 1.0 mL or less may be consider safe and non-toxic. So, it can be used for therapy of obesity sufficiently. But further studies on this subject must be performed to confirm and verify this conclusion.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary grape skin on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in rats fed high fat diet. The Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either control (5% fat) diet or high fat (25% fat) diet which was based on AIN-93 diet for 2 weeks, and then they were grouped as control group (C), control + 5% grape skin group (CS), high-fat group (HF), high fat + 5% grape skin group (HFS) with 10 rats each and fed corresponding diets for 4 weeks. The hepatic thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) were increased in high fat group as compared with control group, but reduced by grape skin. The serum total antioxidant status, and activities of hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase, xanthine oxidase and glucose-6-phosphatase were increased by supplementation of grape skin. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in CS group than in C group. Grape skin feeding tended to increase the concentration of total glutathione, especially in control group. The ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione was lower in high fat groups than in control groups. The ratio was increased by dietary supplementation of grape skin in control group. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of grape skin would be effective on protection of oxidative damage by lipid peroxidation through improvement of antioxidant defense system in rats fed high fat diet as well as rats with low fat diet.