• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2014

This study investigated anti-obesity and antioxidant effects of dietary non-fermented soybean crud residue (SCR) and fermented SCR by Monascus pilosus (FSCR) in high-fat induced-obese mice. SCR and FSCR were supplemented with high-fat diet at 2% (wt/wt) dose for 8 weeks. Both SCR and FSCR significantly lowered body weight, epididymal fat weight and weight gain rate compared to high-fat diet control (HC) group and FSCR group showed lowest weight gain rate. In addition, it was observed that serum and hepatic lipid profiles including triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were significantly improved by supplementing SCR or FSCR. Furthermore, SCR and FSCR administration showed increase of glutathione content and decrease of hepatic lipid peroxide content, serum aminotransferase activity, and hepatic xanthine oxidase activity. On the other hand, activities of reactive oxygen species scavenging enzyme such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in two test groups were higher than those of HC. Lastly, in comparison with SCR, FSCR was more effective in restoring obesity-related biomarkers to normal level in high-diet induced obese mice. In conclusion, the present study indicates that FSCR could have not only anti-obese effects such as inhibition of abdominal fat accumulation, but also protective effects of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis by decreasing serum and hepatic lipid contents. Furthermore, these results suggest that experimental diets in this study could alleviate hepatic damage caused by overproduction of reactive oxygen spices (ROS) due to obesity via inhibition of ROS generating activities and induction of ROS scavenging activities.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.206-213
• /
• 2011

Hepatoprotective effects of Monascus pilosus mycelial ethanol extract (MPME) were examined in high-fat diet induced-obese rats. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups; normal control (NC) and a high-fat and high cholesterol diet group (HFC). The HFC diet group was fed a 5L79 diet supplemented with 15% lard and 1% cholesterol for 3 weeks for induction of obesity. And then, the rats were divided into 4 groups (n=5); the NC, a HFC diet obesity control group (HF), 0.5% MPME supplemented HFC diet group (MPM), and 2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplemented HFC diet group for 7 weeks. Whereas the daily weight gain of NC and HFC groups were 3.48 g and 4.48 g, respectively, those of MPM and CLA were 3.09 g and 4.38 g, respectively. Furthermore, activity of serum alanine and aspartic aminotransferase in HF was markedly higher than those of NC group, but, the activity in MPM and CLA was significantly lower than HF. Hepatic reduced glutathione content in MPM and CLA was higher than HF. On the contrary, hepatic lipid peroxide content in MPM and CLA was significantly lower than HF. In conclusion, although the precise mechanisms of the hepatoprotective effects of the MPME in this study are unknown, our study provides experimental evidence that MPME may prevent obesity and hepatic damage by high-fat and high cholesterol diet via inhibition of lipid absorption and induction of reactive oxygen spices scavenging enzyme such as superoxide dismutase.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.987-995
• /
• 2009

The effects of Kwamaegi on serum lipid profiles and ROS(reactive oxygen spices) generating and scavenging enzyme activities were investigated in rats. The three experimental groups were divided as follows: normal control diet group (NC), 5% naturally prepared and freeze-dried Kwamaegi supplemented diet group (NPK) and 5% chitosan-ascorbate treated and artificially dried (CWDD: Chilly Wind & Dehumidification Drier) Kwamaegi supplemented diets group (CAK). There were no significant differences in weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio or organs weights per body weight including liver, kidney, heart and spleen among the group. In addition, there were no significant differences in serum triglyceride and total cholesterol contents. The HDL-cholesterol contents of the NC, CAK and NPK groups were 62.00, 36.48 and 78.44 mg/dL while LDL-cholesterol contents were 62.00, 36.48 and 78.44 mg/dL, respectively, which were significantly different. The atherogenic indeces in the experimental groups were 0.62, 1.20 and 0.13, respectively. There were no significant differences in total XOD (xanthine oxidoreductase) activities; however XOD type O activity was higher in the NPK group than un the NC group and in the CAK group XOD type O activity was 21~45% lower compared to NC and NPK groups. SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity was significantly higher in the CAK group than in the NC and NPK groups, while there were no significantly differences in GST (glutathione S-transferrase) activity among the groups. Furthermore, serum ALT activity was higher in the NPK group versus the NC and CAK groups. GSH (glutathione) content was higher and LPO (lipid peroxide) content lower in the CAK group compared to the NC and NPK groups. Forem the above results, we suggest that CA treated and artificially dried Kwamaegi is not only a hygienic product but also has lowering effects on LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index together with the lowering of ROS-generating and increasing of ROS-scavenging enzyme activities compared to other natural products.