• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.511-519
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• 2011

Dietary intake of whole grains reduces the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In an earlier study, we showed that Panicum miliaceum L. extract (PME) exhibited the highest anti-lipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells among extracts of nine different cereal grains tested. In this study, we hypothesized that PME in the diet would lead to weight loss and augmentation of hyperlipidemia by regulating fatty acid metabolism. PME was fed to ob/ob mice at 0%, 0.5%, or 1% (w/w) for 4 weeks. After the experimental period, body weight changes, blood serum and lipid profiles, hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression, and white adipose tissue (WAT) fatty acid composition were determined. We found that the 1% PME diet, but not the 0.5%, effectively decreased body weight, liver weight, and blood triglyceride and total cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) compared to obese ob/ob mice on a normal diet. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene ($PPAR{\alpha}$, L-FABP, FAS, and SCD1) expression decreased, whereas lipolysis-related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 1% PME diet (P < 0.05). Long chain fatty acid content and the ratio of C18:1/C18:0 fatty acids decreased significantly in adipose tissue of animals fed the 1% PME diet (P < 0.05). Serum inflammatory mediators also decreased significantly in animals fed the 1% PME diet compared to those of the ob/ob control group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that PME is useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of obesity and obesity-related disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2017

Chronic diffuse hepatopathy is one of the important clinical tasks to reduce mortality and morbidity due to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the criteria for predicting liver and chronic liver disease using Fibroscan based on ultrasound diagnosis. Serum and liver stiffness measurement(kPa) were analyzed in 280 patients and cut-off values of liver stiffness measurement for predicting fatty liver and chronic diffuse hepatopathy were determined using ROC curve analysis. Bilirubin and PT(prothrombin time) were not related to disease prediction(p=0.243, p=0.115). Serum glucose and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the liver (p<0.05). The cut-off value for predicting chronic diffuse hepatopathy was determined as 10.3 kPa(AUC 0.98, sensitivity 94.94%, specificity 94.93%) in the order of control group, fatty liver and chronic diffuse hepatopathy. Therefore, it will be used as a primary tool for the diagnosis of chronic liver disease patients with quantitative evaluation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation with Opuntia humifusa on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPAR-${\delta}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-${\gamma}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) in the skeletal muscle of rats fed a high-fat diet. Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats at 6 weeks of age were randomly divided into 2 groups: a control diet group (CG, n=8) and an experimental diet group (EG, n=8). The rats were fed a high-fat diet (CG) or a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% O. humifusa (EG) for 8 weeks. The results showed that the abdominal fat pad and epididymal fat pad weights were significantly lower in the EG than in the CG (p<0.01). In the blood, serum glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in the EG group were lower than in the CG (p<0.01). The expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ protein in the skeletal muscle of the EG was increased compared with that of the CG (p<0.05). These results indicate that 8 weeks of O. humifusa supplementation lowers serum glucose and triglyceride levels and suppresses weight gain by reducing fat weight through an increase in the expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ in the muscle tissue of rats.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.99-107
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effects of mixed water extract of Plantaginis Semen & Poria (CJB) on obese rats induced with high fat diet. Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups; Normal group, high-fat (HF) group, HF+CJB(100 mg/kg, P.O.) for 8 weeks. The body weight, food intake and weights of adipose tissues were measured, respectively. Lipid profiles in serum were analyzed by automatic analyzer of blood. Obese marker proteins and the changes of NPY and LR immunoreactivities in hypothalamus were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results : CJB significantly reduced body weight, food intake, adipose tissue weights compared to HF group. Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly higher in HF group than in Normal group however, CJB significantly lowered those of HF group. HDL-cholesterol level in CJB groups was elevated compared to HF group. The pAMPK in hypothalamus were decreased in that of HF group and that of CJB group decreased. Inversely, ACC was increased in HF group and that of CJB groups decrease. Expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in hypothalamus was increased by CJB treatment. However, $PPAR{\alpha}$ levels in CJB group were decreased compared to HF group. The expressions of NPY and LR in PVN and ARC of hypothalamus were decreased in CJB group, respectively. Conclusion : Administration of CJB can play anti-obesity through regulations of NPY and LR activities and obesity marker proteins in obese rat's hypothalamus.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2014

Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, has been known to reverse hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. Although many studies have evaluated molecular targets of Ex-4, its mechanism of action on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis has not fully been determined. In the liver, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is mainly expressed in hepatocytes, endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In the present study, the effects of Ex-4 on GLUT4 expression were determined in the liver of ob/ob mice. Ob/ob mice were treated with Ex-4 for 10 weeks. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic triglyceride levels, and liver tissues were evaluated for hepatic steatosis. The weights of the whole body and liver in ob/ob mice were reduced by long-term Ex-4 treatment. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic fibrosis in ob/ob mice were reduced by Ex-4. Particularly, Ex-4 improved hepatic steatosis by enhancing GLUT4 via GLP-1R activation in ob/ob mice. Ex-4 treatment also inhibited hepatic fibrosis by decreasing expression of connective tissue growth factor in HSCs of ob/ob mice. Our data suggest that GLP-1 agonists exert a protective effect on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1394-1400
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• 2003

In this study a natural composition containing oriental herbs, KSH28, for reducing obesity and metabolic syndrome was constructed and its efficacy was evaluated in animal and human. To investigate the anti-obesity effect of KSH28, animal study was conducted using high fat diet-induced obese mice. KSH28 significantly decreased body weight and adipose tissue in high fat diet-fed obese mice. The mean size of fat cells in adipose tissue was significantly reduced. Glucose and triglyceride levels were also significantly decreased. To elucidate its efficacy in human, a natural food containing KSH28 with grains, vegetables, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers was constructed and 40 subjects (8 male and 32 female) were tested for the change of body composition, blood pressure and blood lipid profile. All subjects had 2 pack (309 each) of natural food per day for 4 weeks. Compared to the baseline value, body fat was significantly reduced, however, water, protein and mineral contents in the body were not changed, suggesting selective reduction of fat tissue. Blood pressure and serum lipid profile were significantly decreased to reduce risk for metabolic syndrome. Serum GPT, a liver function indicator, was not changed and no significant side effects were detected. Therefore, it was shown that the KSH28 is a safe and effective composition for reducing obesity and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.302-308
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• 2008

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of soybean powder with rich aglycone isoflavone through bio-transformation on lipid metabolism and antioxidative activites in diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: NO (basal diet normal group), CO (high fat diet control group), BFF10 (soybean powder with rich aglycone isoflavone 10% group), and BFF20 (soybean powder with rich aglycone isoflavone 20% group). After 7 weeks of BFF10 or BFF20 diets consumption, the concentrations in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and atherogenic index ratios were significantly decreased in the BFF10 and BFF20 diets groups compared with those in the CO group. The activities of alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase were significantly decreased in the BFF10 and BFF20 than those in the CO group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels of serum were decreased in BFF10 and BFF20 groups compared to that of the CO group. The super oxide dismutase activites were increased in BFF10 and BFF20 groups compared to that of the CO group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.825-832
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of extract of Fomes fomentarius (FF) on blood glucose, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and immune cells in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, STZ-induced diabetic group (DM), STZ plus FF water extract treated group (DM-FW 200) and STZ plus FF methanol extract treated group (DM-FM 200). FW (200 mg/kg BW) and FM (200 mg/kg BW) were orally administered once a day for 14 days. Admdinistering FW and FM to STZ-induced diabetic rats lowered the blood glucose level. The supplementation of FW and FM suppressed the increase in the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the serum and liver of the diabetic rats. The high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level and glutathione peroxidase activity were higher in the FF-sup-plemented group compared to the diabetic group. Administering FW and FM increased the suppress in the serum complement component C3, whole blood B-cell, T-cell, helper T cell and suppressor T cell of the diabetic rats. Therefore, it could be suggested that FW and FM are alleviated the diabetic complication through enhancing the hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 1998

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplemental Astragalus membranaceus on performance and meat quality of broiler chicks for 5 weeks. Basal diets based on corn and soybean meal contained 21％ crude protein for the first three weeks and 19％ for the rest of two weeks. Four levels of dietary Astragalus membranaceus(0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00％) were fed in a one way design. There were four replicates of 50 chicks per treatment. Weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, blood component, breast meat lipid and protein were measured at the end of experiment. No increased growth rate was observed in chicks fed the basal diet supplemented with Astragalus membranaceus. Chicks fed the diet containing 0.5 and 1.00％ Astragalus membranaceus tended to depress the growth rate. Feed intake of 0.25％ Astragalus membranaceus treatment was significantly lower than control group(P<0.05), Dietary supplemental Astragalus membranaceus improved the feed efficiency compared to the control group, but was not significantly different between them. However, Astragalus membranaceus treatment exhibited decreased serum cholesterol and AST compared to those of control group, but was not significantly different between supplemental groups. Serum hematocrit, triglyceride, phosphate and BUN decreased at 0.25％ Asparagus membranaceous supplementation. Growth hormone and IGF-1 (ng/ml) of chicks fed more than 0.50％ Astragalus membranaceus significantly decreased compared to those of control(P<0.05). The total lipid and protein content of chicks fed 0.25 and 0.50％ Astragalus membranaceus tended to increase, but did not show consistency at more than 0.50％ supplement. The results of this experiment indicated that optimum dietary Astragalus membranaceus level to improve the performance and meat quality of broiler chicks may be less than 0.25％.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.981-986
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• 2004

This study were investigated the effects of physiologically active compounds isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The experimental groups were divided into six groups, normal, diabetic control (CM), and four experimental groups (inulin (IN), inulin + saponin (IS), oligosaccharide (OS), and total extract group (WE)). The rats have free access to water and diet. Experimental groups were administered orally with inulin (630 mg/mL), inulin (630 mg/mL) + saponin (25.2 mg/mL), oligosaccharide (367.5 mg/mL), and total extract (225 mg/mL) into the diabetic rats for 5 weeks after STZ injection; The levels of fasting blood glucose in diabetic control increased by 10.0% for 5 weeks, but the level of blood glucose in inulin and total extract groups decreased by 21.3% and 21.2%, respectively. The concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum of diabetic rats fed physiologically activity compounds were lower than those in diabetic control rats. HDL-cholesterol was similar among all the groups. Weights of testicle and heart were lighter, while weight of kidney was significantly increased in diabetic groups than normal group. The concentrations of serum protein insulin and albumin in diabetic groups were significantly decreased compared with those of the normal group. Urinary glucose excretion was decreased in inulin group than other diabetic groups.