• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.250-257
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• 2019

Purpose: Aster glehnii (AG) and Aster yomena (AY) are medicinal plants that belong to the family Compositea and grow widely in Korea. Plants in the genus Aster have been used to treat snakebite wounds or bruises in oriental medicine. This study compared the effects of anti-oxidants and anti-adipocyte differentiation according to the species (the aerial parts of AG and AY). Methods: AG and AY were extracted using 70% ethanol (-E) and water (-W) at room temperature. The anti-oxidant activities were measured by total phenol contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH and $ABTS^+$ assay. In addition, correlation analysis was performed for the anti-oxidant compounds and effect. The level of anti-adipocyte differentiation was assessed using an oil red O assay on pre-adipocytes. Results: AG-W showed higher TPC ($6.92{\mu}g/mL$) and AG-E presented higher TFC ($8.22{\mu}g/mL$) than the other extracts. Furthermore, AG-E exhibited higher radical scavenging activity in the DPPH and $ABTS^+$ assay ($IC_{50}$: 104.88 and $30.06{\mu}g/mL$). In the cytotoxicity assay, AG and AY extracts at concentrations less than $100{\mu}g/mL$ were non toxic. AG-W reduced the lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 cells significantly after differentiation (70.49%) compared to the other extracts. Conclusion: These results show that the water extract of AG has anti-oxidant effects and reduces the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, AG has utility as a functional food material for its anti-oxidant activities and ability to prevent lipid accumulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1635-1641
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• 2014

Diospyros lotus has been cultivated for its edible fruits, which are considered to have medicinal importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antipruritic activities of water-soluble, methanol extract, and ethyl acetate (EA) fractions from D. lotus leaves. The EA fraction showed the lowest $IC_{50}$ vale (DPPH: $5.3{\mu}g/mL$, ABTS: $53.8{\mu}g/mL$). Therefore, we further investigated anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects of the EA fraction. TNF-${\alpha}$ production increased by PMA plus A23187 treatment was significantly inhibited by the EA fraction in a dose-dependent manner. The EA fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Furthermore, EA fraction had inhibitory effects on scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 in Balb/c mice. These results suggest that the EA fraction from D. lotus leaves has potential as ameliorative agent against oxidative stress and pruritus-related disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1637-1644
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• 2015

To develop health-functional food ingredients for improvement of diabetes, we examined biological activities, including total contents of polyphenols and flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase activities of ethanol extracts from unripe fruit of Momordica charantia L. cultivated in Hamyang, Korea. Ethanol extracts were tested using different ethanol concentrations (0%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) and temperatures ($50^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$). Experimental results showed that total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were achieved concentrations of 7.77 mg/g (tannic acid), 7.66 mg/g (gallic acid), and 10.66 mg/g (rutin). The hydroxyl radical scavenging, ABTS cation radical scavenging, and FRAP activities were 82.19%, 42.82%, and 0.19 under the same conditions, respectively. The highest inhibitory activities of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase were achieved in the 70% ethanol extract at $70^{\circ}C$. These results will be useful for development of health functional foods for anti-diabetes using 70% ethanol extract from unripe fruit of bitter melon.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.18-44
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• 2017

Purpose: The object of this study was to observe the anti-climacterium activity of Gagamguibiondam-tang (GGOT) on ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a well-documented rodent models resembles with women postmenopausal climacterium symptoms, as including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, organ steatosis and mental disorders. Methods: In this study, anti-climacteric effects were evaluated separated into three categories; 1) anti-obese, 2) anti-uterine atrophy and 3) anti-osteoporotic effects. Five groups were used (8 rats in each group); sham control, OVX control, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg administered groups. Twenty-eight days after bilateral OVX surgery, GGOT were orally administered, once a day for 84 days, and then the changes on the body weight and gain during experimental periods, serum estradiol levels, abdominal fat pad and uterus weights with histopathology of abdominal fat pads (total thickness and mean adipocyte diameters) and uterus (total, epithelial and mucosal thickness, percentages of uterine gland regions) for anti-obese and estrogenic effects. In addition, femur, tibia and fourth or fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4 or L5) wet, dry and ash weights, mineral density (BMD), bone strength (failure load), serum osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) contents, histological and histomorphometrical analyses - bone mass and structure with bone resorption, were monitored for anti-osteoporosis activity. Results: As a result of OVX, noticeable increases of body weight and gains, food and water consumption, weights of abdominal fat pad deposited in dorsal abdominal cavity, serum osteocalcin levels were demonstrated in this experiment with decrease of uterus, femur, tibia and L5 weights, serum bALP and estradiol levels. In addition, marked hypertrophic changes of adipocytes located in deposited abdominal fat pads, uterine disused atrophic changes, decreases of bone mass and structures of femur, tibia and L4 were also observed in OVX control rats with dramatic increases of bone resorption markers, the Ocn and OS/BS at histopathological and histomorphometrical analysis in this study as compared with sham-operated control rats, suggesting the estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms - obese and osteoporosis were induced by OVX, respectively. However, these estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms induced by bilateral OVX in rats were significantly inhibited by 84 days of continuous oral treatment of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, respectively. Especially, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg showed clear dose-dependent inhibitory activities on the OVX-induced climacterium signs. Conclusion: The results suggest that oral administration of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg has clear dose-dependent favorable anti-climacterium effects - estrogenic, anti-obese and anti-osteoporotic activities in OVX rats in this experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2013

Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schltr. has been reported to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Boesenbergia pandurata extract (BPE) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice model. C57BL/6J mice were fed with either the high-fat diet or a 0.5% BPE-supplemented HFD for 8 weeks. The BPE-containing HFD significantly reduced body weight gain and the accumulation of visceral fat mass in mice model without altering the amount of food intake. Moreover, mice fed with BPE-containing HFD had lower concentrations of lipids in their blood, lower hepatic lipid accumulation, and lower serum leptin levels compared with the HFD-fed mice. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ${\gamma}2$ ($PPAR{\gamma}2$) and CCAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) genes in the epididymal fat tissue of mice fed the BPE-containing HFD increased 1.16- and 1.30-fold, respectively, compared to mice fed HFD only. In conclusion, BPE attenuated visceral fat accumulation and improved dyslipidemia in a mice model with HFD-induced obesity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2018

Purpose: Obesity, a worldwide epidemic, is associated with insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Many strategies, including natural alternative anti-obesity agents, are used widely to prevent obesity. This study examined the effects of silkworm hemolymph on the weight control of C57BL/6N mice fed with a high-fat diet. Methods: The mice were divided into five groups: normal group (N), high-fat diet group (HFC), high-fat diet and silkworm hemolymph (at dose of 1 mL/kg BW (HFS-1), 5 mL/kg BW (HFS-5) and 10 mL/kg (HFS-10) for 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks treatment, the administration of silkworm hemolymph decreased the final body weight significantly along with a decrease in the weights of epididymal fat and total fat. The plasma LDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in the HFS-1, HFS-5, and HFS-10 groups than in the HFC group. In addition, the leptin level of the HFS groups was significantly lower than those of the HFC group without a change in the plasma insulin concentration. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the silkworm hemolymph may have the potential to prevent obesity.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.3973-3981
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• 2015

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of dietary ${\beta}$-glucan obtained from bacterial fermentation on the adiposity and serum lipids level in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats fed high fat diet for 6 weeks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed with 0% (high fat control group), 0.1% or 0.5% ${\beta}$-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 5 weeks. For comparison, normal control groups fed AIN-76A diet. Supplemented with 0.1% ${\beta}$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat induced peritoneal fat and visceral fat development by 16%, 19%, and 28%, respectively(P<0.05). Serum free fatty acid levels were reduced(by 19%), whereas the HDL cholesterol level was increased(by 50%) by 0.1% dietary ${\beta}$-glucan(P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary ${\beta}$-glucan reduced adiposity and improved serum lipids in obese rats fed high fat diet. The present study suggest that ${\beta}$-glucan supplementation to the diet is beneficial in suppressing diet-induced obesity and dyslipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2015

Here we study the anti-obesity effects of by-product from soybean on mouse fed high fat diet. The body weight gain, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight, liver and epididymal adipose tissue weight in freeze-dried soybean-soaking-water (SSW) powder fed group showed lower level than those in high fat diet (HFD) group by determining with weight measuring and histological methods. Also, histological analyses of the liver and fat tissues of SSW grouped mice revealed significantly less number of lipid droplets formation and smaller size of adipocytes compared to the HFD group. Moreover, the levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index were decreased in the SSW groups. Especially, in SSW group, the levels of phosphorylation of two lipid oxidation enzymes, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylasse (ACC) were elevated hence that may activate fatty acid oxidation. But AST and ALT levels were not changed in blood. By micro-CT analysis of abdomen, SSW groups significantly showed a tendency to decrease visceral and subcutaneous fats as well as fat-deposited areas compared to HFD group. Taken together, we suggest that soybean soaking water has a function in ameliorating obesity through inhibiting lipid synthesis as well as stimulating fatty acid oxidation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.703-715
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the fermentation characteristics and anti-obesity effects of acetic acid fermentation products of coffee wine. The live cell counts, soluble solids, pH and total acidity of the acetic acid unfermented coffee wine (AUFCW; day 0, before fermentation) were 6.35 log CFU/mL, 8.10 °Brix, 3.88, and 1.29%, respectively, while the acetic acid fermented coffee wine (AFCW; day 15, after fermentation) were 4.40 log CFU/mL, 8.57 °Brix, 3.07, and 7.45%, respectively. Pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity tended to increase as the acetic acid fermentation period increased. The anti-obesity effects of AFCW on 3T3-L1 cells, which was induced by MDI, were evaluated based on the lipid accumulation rate, leptin expression, and fat production-related gene expression (PPAR-γ and SREBP-1c) at the mRNA level. In the case of AFCW, the lipid accumulation rate and leptin expression were decreased to 69.37% and 50.20% at a concentration of 200 ㎍/mL, respectively, and the expression levels of PPAR-γ and SREBP-1c at the mRNA level were decreased to 79.89% and 48.81%, respectively. These results indicate that anti-obesity effect of acetic acid fermentation products could be increased by acetic acid fermentation of coffee wine.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.240-264
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• 2017

The present study was carried out to identify traditional konwledges on Korean Campanulaceae plants and conduct a comprehensive review of them through analyzing phytochemistry and pharmacology of Korean Campanulaceae plants. According to the literature study, the ethnobotanical plants of Korean Campanulacae consisted of a total 18 taxa. Of them, 12 taxa including Platycodon grandiflorus, Adenophora triphylla var. japonica, Codonopsis lanceolata and others have been used as ethnomedicinal plants. These plants have been used for the treatment of 49 diseases such as cold, asthma and postnatal care. Phytochemical studies have identified the constituents present from Korean Campanulaceae (Adenophora, Codonopsis, Platycodon, Campanula and Asyneuma). A wide range of chemical compounds comprised 109 triterpenes, 8 sterols, 4 polyacetylenes, 21 alkaloids, 14 flavonoids, 14 phenolic acids, 11 phenolic glycosides, 8 phenylpropanoids and 22 other compounds. Pharmacological studies of these compounds have demonstrated immuno-stimulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, apophlegmatic and anti-allergic effects. They have also shown antioxidant, estrogenic, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antinociception and anti-tumor activities, as well as anti-obesity and cardiovascular effects. In light of traditional knowledge and phytochemical and pharmacological studies summarized, uses of Korean Campanulaceae based on traditional knowledge (for the treatment diseases and conditions of respiratory, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium, genitourinary, circulatory, musculoskeletal and other systems) have been supported by phytochemical and pharmacological studies.