• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.538-543
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• 2011

This study was conducted for the antihyperlipidemic effect of ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea in high fat diet-induced obese mice after having injected the ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea to the obese mice with high fat diet. The 30 six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3 groups of 10 and fed for 5 weeks to be obese with high fat diet. Thereafter, for 4 weeks, ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea was provided through oral injection to the 3 groups: control group (HFD), group injected with 75 mg/kg of ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea (HFD+POE 75) and the group injected with 125 mg/kg of ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea (HFD+POE 125). The serum and liver lipid and the alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity were measured. The result showed that there was no significant difference in weight gain and feed intake, and the feed efficiency ratio was significantly low in the group provided with ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea. Serum total cholesterol was significantly low in the group of ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea (HFD+POE 125). It appeared that all the groups provided with ethanol extract from Portulaca loeracea reduced plasma triglyceride significantly according to the ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea dose. There was no dose dependency of HDL-cholesterol to the dose of ethanol extract of Portulaca oleracea. LDL-cholesterol was low in the group dosed with high ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea (HFD+POE 125). There was difference of total cholesterol, triglyceride and total lipid contents in liver. AI (atherogenic index) and CRF (cardiac risk factor) were significantly low in the group with high dose of ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea (HFD+POE 125). There was no difference of serum AST activity, however, serum ALT activity was significantly low in the group with high dose of ethanol extract from Portulaca oleracea (HFD+POE 125).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2016

Schisandrae fructus (SF) and Mori folium (MF) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SF and MF have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SF and MF, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SF, MF and MHMIX. SF, MF and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SF, MF and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SF, MF and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SF, MF and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.903-909
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop Helianthus tuberosus (HT) juice mixed with dried bitter melon juice and assess its hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. HT juice mixed with 5.0% dried bitter melon juice was used in this study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (eight rats per group) and drunk each sample for 4 weeks: normal water [normal control (NC) group], STZ+normal water (STZ group), STZ+HT juice (HT group), STZ+HT juice mixed with 2.5% bitter melon juice (HT2.5 group), and STZ+HT juice mixed with 5.0% bitter melon juice (HT5.0 group). HT juice was diluted to 25% in distilled water and supplied to rats. Food intake, body weight gain, and food efficiency ratio were lower in the STZ group than in the NC group. HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 groups showed higher parameters than the STZ groups. Water intakes were higher in the STZ group than in the NC group. After 3 weeks, HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 groups showed lower parameters than the STZ group. After 1 week, blood glucose level of the STZ group ($476.7{\pm}22.8mg/dL$) was significantly higher than those of the HT group ($376.3{\pm}25.8mg/dL$), HT2.5 group ($405.2{\pm}35.1mg/dL$), and HT5.0 group ($342.8{\pm}29.7mg/dL$). After 4 weeks, blood glucose level of the STZ group were significantly higher than those of the HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 group. Serum insulin levels of the HT group ($3.13{\pm}0.32ng/mL$), HT2.5 group ($3.40{\pm}0.23ng/mL$), and HT5.0 group ($3.48{\pm}0.43ng/mL$) were higher than that of the STZ group ($2.72{\pm}0.53ng/mL$). These results indicate that H. tuberosus juice mixed with dried bitter melon juice helps prevent or attenuate progression of diabetes in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2006

Hepatoprotective effects of Bulro Kugi (Lycium chinense Mill) fruit extracts on $CCl_4-administered$ rats were investigated in vivo. Administration of $CCl_4$ increased plasma glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, induced lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) content of rat liver, and significantly increased liver weight. Feeding of B. Kugi (Lycium chinense Mill) slightly increased body weight gain, although not significantly different from normal group. B. Kugi (Lycium chinense Mill) fruit extracts reduced blood cholesterol level and inhibited $CCl_4-induced$ increases of plasma GPT, GOT, and LDH activities, whereas increased contents of MDA and cytochrome P-450, and GST activity in liver tissue of $CCl_4-administered$ rats. Roasted B. Kugi (Lycium chinense Mill) fruit extract showed highest hepatoprotective effect among samples tested. These results suggest water extracts of B. Kugi (Lycium chinense Mill) fruit possess promising hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ hepatic damage in rats.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.433-442
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• 2021

The fermented red ginseng by microorganism is known to increase pharmacological activity in vivo. To evaluate the bioavailablity of red ginseng fermented by probiotics, we conducted the pharmacokinetic study of ginsenoside Rb1, Rd and total ginsenosides (TG, ginsenosides Rb1 + Rd + Rg1 + F2 + Rg3 + compound K) in BALB/C mice. The AUC value of ginsenoside Rb1 in mice serum administered with 600mg/kg drugs showed 21.93 ± 14.68 ng·h/mL (RGw, water extract), 275.211 ± 110.04 ng·h/mL (RGe, 50% ethanol extract) and 404.91 ± 162.57 ng·h/mL (fRGe, fermented red ginseng extract). Analysis of ginsenoside Rd also showed a higher ACU value in fRGe than in RGw or RGe. And the AUC value of total ginsenosides in mice serum treated with 600 mg/kg were observed 42.12 ± 23.44 ng·h/mL (RGw), 321.44 ± 133.5 ng·h/mL (RGe) and 537.33 ± 229.01 ng·h/mL (fRGe), respectively. C_max value of ginsenoside Rb1 in mice administered with 600mg/kg were observed 3.67 ± 3.34 ng/mL (RGw), 23.27 ± 8.81 ng/mL (RGe) and 25.52 ± 7.29 ng/mL (fRGe). These results can be considered that the fermented red ginseng has more bioavailability than that of unfermented red ginseng. In quantitative analysis of the inflammation-related cytokines IL-1β and TNF, no significant difference was found between the fermented red ginseng (fRGe) and the red ginseng (RGe).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.321-333
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• 2021

Purpose: Reflux esophagitis is a disease caused by the reflux of stomach contents and stomach acid etc. into the esophagus due to defect in the lower esophageal sphincter and is currently increasing worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Citrus Reticulata and Scutellariae Radix (CS) extract on acute reflux esophagitis in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups for examination: normal group (Normal, n = 8), water-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Control, n = 8), tocopherol 30 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Toco, n = 8), CS 100 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS100, n = 8), CS 200 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS200, n = 8). The experimental groups were administrated of each treatment compounds and after 90 min, acute reflux esophagitis was induced through surgery. Rats were sacrificed 5 h after surgery. We measured the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in serum and analyzed the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, inflammatory, and tight junction-related proteins by western blot in the esophageal tissues. Results: CS administration significantly protected the esophageal mucosal damage due to reflux esophagitis, and the level of ROS in the serum was significantly reduced with CS administration as compared to Control. In addition, CS administration significantly suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways and increased protein expressions of tight junction protein. Conclusion: These results suggest that the CS not only regulates the expression of inflammatory proteins by inhibiting oxidative stress, but also reduces damage to the esophageal mucosa by inhibiting the expression of tight junction proteins.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

We investigated the serum cholesterol and visceral fat lowering effects of Momordica charanatia (MC) and Withania somnifera (WS) extracts in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Combination of fermented MC and WS extracts (FMCWS) as well as that of non-fermented extracts (MCWS) were orally administered to HFD-induced obese mice along with the HFD supplementation for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight, food intake, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Body weight and the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased in the HFD-fed mice compared with the normal control (NC) group. However, supplementation of the extracts showed a tendency to reduce body weight gain and suppressed the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride with the increment of HDL-cholesterol levels. Abdominal fat weight was significantly increased in the HFD group, and the size of adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue was markedly expanded compared with the NC group. However, in the FMCWS and MCWS groups, the abdominal fat weight was significantly reduced and the sizes of the adipocytes were noticeably diminished compared with those of the HFD-fed mice. Moreover, the deposition of giant vesicular fat cells observed in the liver tissue of the HFD group was prominently reduced in these groups. These results indicate that the combination of extracts from MC and WS tends to have potent synergic effects in reducing body weight gain as well as significantly lowering the visceral fat and the serum lipid levels, and thus improving anti-obesity efficacy in HFD-induced obese mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.218-221
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of rosiglitazone, a new antidiabetic agent, on in vivo synthesis of bone collagen. The mice were divided into low-fat diet group (LF), high-fat diet group (HF), and high-fat diet with rosiglitazone (6.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kcal diet) group (HF-Rosi), The synthesis of bone collagen was measured by stable isotope-mass spectrometric technique using $^2$$H_2O$ as a tracer. The $^2$$H_2O$ labeling protocol consisted of an initial intraperitoneal injection of 99.9% $^2$$H_2O$, to achieve approximately 2.5% body water enrichment followed by administration of 4％ $^2$$H_2O$ in drinking water for 3 weeks. Although body weight gain and daily diet intake were not significantly different between groups, HF-Rosi had slightly higher body weight gain and daily diet intake than LF and HF. In addition, HF-Rosi showed significantly higher body fat content than LF and HF. Bone collagen synthesis was reduced in HF than LF and further decreased by the treatment of rosiglitazone. These results suggest rosiglitazone affect body fat content and bone turnover in mice.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2008

Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death among Koreans. Control of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia is strongly correlated with decrease in risks for cardiovascular diseases, the most common and fatal diabetic complication. The effects of chronic feeding of a mixture of Chinese herbs on blood lipid profile were measured in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, db/db mice (C57BL/Ks). The Chinese herb mixture was composed of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer,Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lycium chinense, Morus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Schizandra chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Dioscorea batatas, Polygonatum doratumvar. pluriflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, and Rehmannia glutinosa in a ratio of 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.4 : 0.7 : 1.1 : 0.9 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.7 : 0.9 : 0.9. Methanol extract of the Chinese herb mixture was tested for the inhibitory activity against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in vitro. The Chinese herb mixture extract inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase by 25.2% at the concentration of 0.5mg/mL. Four weekold male db/db mice (n = 14) were fed AIN-93G semipurified diet or diet containing 10% powder of the Chinese herb mixture for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation period. Body weight (39.5 ${\pm}$ 1.6 g) and food intake (4.3 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (40.4 ${\pm}$ 2.6 g and 4.5 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day). Consumption of Chinese herb mixture significantly decreased plasma glucose level (442.5 ${\pm}$ 36.0mg/dL) compared with the control group (489.8 ${\pm}$ 34.6 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Plasma cholesterol level (159.2 ${\pm}$ 18.4 mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group was significantly lower than that of the control group (185.4 ${\pm}$ 13.7 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Blood glycated hemoglobin (6.3 ${\pm}$ 0.8%) and plasma triglyceride levels (99.4 ${\pm}$ 15.0mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (6.7 ${\pm}$ 0.7% and 108.8 ${\pm}$ 11.0mg/dL). Thus, the Chinese herb mixture could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.99-116
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• 2016

We herein performed animal safety assessment in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations with the aim of developing sialic acid from glycomacropeptide (hereafter referred to as "GMP") as an index ingredient and functional component in functional foods. GMP is a type of whey protein derived from milk and a safe food, with multiple functions, such as antiviral activity. A test substance was produced containing 7% (w/w) sialic acid and mostly-hydrolyzed whey protein (hereafter referred to as "7%-GNANA") by enzymatic treatment of substrate GMP. The maximum intake test dose level was selected based on 5,000 mg/kg/day dose set for male NOEL (no-observed-effect-level) and female NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect-level) determined by a dose-range finding (DRF) test (GLP Center of Catholic University of Daegu, Report No. 15-NREO-001) that was previously conducted with the same test substance. To evaluate the toxicity of a repeated oral dose of the test substance in connection with the previous DRF study, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg of the substance were administered by a probe into the stomachs of 6-week-old SPF Sprague-Dawley male and female rats for 90 d. Each test group consisted of 10 male and 10 female rats. To determine the toxicity index, all parameters, such as observation of common signs; measurements of body weight and food consumption; ophthalmic examination; urinalysis, electrolyte, hematological, and serum biochemical examination; measurement of organ weights during autopsy; and visual and histopathological examinations were conducted according to GLP standards. After evaluating the results based on the test toxicity assessment criteria, it was determined that NOAEL of the test substance, 7%-GNANA, was 5,000 mg/kg/day, for both male and female rats. No animal death was noted in any of the test groups, including the control group, during the study period, and there was no significant difference associated with test substance, as compared with the control group, with respect to general symptoms, body weight changes, food consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematological and serum biochemical examination, and electrolyte and blood coagulation tests during the administration period (P<0.05). As assessed by the effects of the test substance on organ weights, food consumption, autopsy, and histopathological safety, change in kidney weight as an indicator of male NOAEL revealed up to 20% kidney weight increase in the high-dose group (5,000 mg/kg/day) compared with the change in the control group. However, it was concluded that this effect of the test substance was minor. In the case of female rats, reduction of food consumption, increase of kidney weight, and decrease of thymus weight were observed in the high-dose group. The kidney weight increased by 10.2% (left) and 8.9% (right) in the high-dose group, with a slight dose-dependency compared with that of the control group. It was observed that the thymus weight decreased by 25.3% in the high-dose group, but it was a minor test substance-associated effect. During the autopsy, botryoid tumor was detected on the ribs of one subject in the high-dose group, but we concluded that the tumor has been caused by a naturally occurring (non-test) substance. Histopathological examination revealed lesions on the kidney, liver, spleen, and other organs in the low-dose test group. Since these lesions were considered a separate phenomenon, or naturally occurring and associated with aging, it was checked whether any target organ showed clear symptoms caused by the test substance. In conclusion, different concentrations of the test substance were fed to rats and, consequently, it was verified that only a minor effect was associated with the test substance in the high-dose (5,000 mg/kg/day) group of both male and female rats, without any other significant effects associated with the test substance. Therefore, it was concluded that NOAEL of 7%-GNANA (product name: Helicobactrol) with male and female rats as test animals was 5,000 mg/kg/day, and it thus was determined that the substance is safe for the ultimate use as an ingredient of health functional foods.