• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2014

We compared effects of fruit, leaf, and stem extracts from black raspberry on improvement of cholesterol and blood pressure in HepG2 and HUVEC cells, respectively. Cholesterol secretion was inhibited by water extracts of unripe fruit and stem, but not leaf of black raspberry in HepG2 cells. Also, water extracts of unripe fruit, leaf, and stem reduced HMG-CoA reductase activity. Furthermore, nitric oxide production and expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) protein were regulated by extracts of fruit, leaf, and stem of black raspberry in HUVEC cells. Overall, the rank order according to the improving level of cholesterol and hypertension is as follows: stem > fruit > leaf. In addition, various polyphenol compounds displayed inhibitory effects of HMG-CoA reductase activity and ACE expression. Thus, these data suggested that leaf and stem as wells as fruit of black raspberry can be used as useful food resources for reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2014

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is commonly found in aging men, is characterized by hyperplasia of prostatic stromal and epithelial cells beginning in the periurethral zone of the prostate. The prevalence of BPH increases in an age-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the protective effects of unripe Rubus occidentalis extracts (UROE) on BPH development using a prostate cancer cell line and testosterone-induced BPH rat model. Experiments using an established hormone-dependent prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) showed that UROE treatment significantly decreased expression of androgen-related genes, including androgen receptor (AR), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and 5-alpha reductase 2, but not 5-alpha reductase 1, which was also observed in flutamide-treated cells. Further, AR and PSA gene expression was reduced by UROE treatment under androgen-stimulated conditions using dihydrotestosterone (DHT). BPH animals displayed elevated prostate weights. However, UROE as well as finasteride treatment significantly reduced prostate weights and DHT levels compared to testosterone-induced BPH animals. Histopathological analysis also showed that UROE treatment suppressed testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia. Taken together, the results suggest that UROE may effectively inhibit the development of BPH and thus may be a useful agent in BPH treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of water extracts of unripe black raspberry (UBR) and red ginseng (RG) on cholesterol synthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase activity, and expression of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-related genes in HepG2 and Caco-2 (human hepatoma and intestinal cell lines, respectively). Our results showed that cholesterol synthesis and HMG-CoA reductase activity in HepG2 cells were inhibited by UBR and RG. Further, co-treatment with UBR and RG had a greater effect than did treatment with either UBR or RG. In Caco-2 cells, treatment with UBR and RG increased the expression of LDL-regulated genes, such as LDL receptor and SREBP-2, and also upregulated the level of HDL-associated ABCA1. Moreover, co-treatment with UBR and RG appeared to be more effective than treatment with either UBR or RG. Taken together, our results indicate that UBR and RG regulate the level of HDL-associated ABCA1 via signaling pathway, thereby preventing cholesterol synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1491-1499
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• 2014

We examined the effects of unripe black raspberry (UBR) and red ginseng (RG) extracts on cholesterol improvement in C57BL/6J mice fed a HCD (high cholesterol diet) for 12 weeks. Hepatic total lipid and total cholesterol contents were significantly induced in hyperlipidemic mice. However, supplementation with UBR, RG and simvastatin effectively reduced these lipid profiles. Further, UBR and co-treatment with UBR and RG increased expression of LDL receptor, SREBP2, and SR-B1 mRNA compared with HCD. The ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was reduced by co-treatment with UBR and RG compared to treatment with UBR. In addition, histopathologic evaluation showed that co-treatment with UBR and RG suppressed lipid accumulation as well as FAS and leptin expression in plasma. These results indicate that co-treatment with UBR and RG may be useful for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2022

This study aimed to verify the antidiabetic effects of the unripe black raspberry extract (UBRE) in obese diabetic mice. For the experiment, animal model mice were divided into six groups: normal control, diabetic control, three experimental groups (treated with 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg single dose of UBRE), and a positive control (200 mg/kg metformin). The groups treated with 300 mg/kg UBRE and metformin had significantly reduced blood glucose and triglyceride levels in the diabetic mice compared to those in the vehicle control group. In addition, histopathological evaluation showed that UBRE increased the Langerhans area, cell number, and insulin concentration in the pancreatic islets of db/db mice. Therefore, UBRE exerts significant antidiabetic effects by decreasing the blood glucose and lipid levels, suggesting that it can be consumed as a functional diet for diabetic patients.