• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.991-998
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• 2012

Ginseng is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines and health foods. Korean red ginseng (KRG; Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) extract is known to have potential therapeutic activities, such as anti-viral effects, the amelioration of food allergies, anti-oxidant effects, and obesity reduction. Nevertheless, no reports have been issued the modulatory effects of KRG extract on the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP). In the present study, we investigated the modulatory effect of KRG extract in vitro and in vivo by using pooled human liver microsomes and male ICR mice. When human liver microsomes were incubated with KRG extract at 0.01-10 mg/ml, CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A were not significantly inhibited by KRG extract, although CYP2B6 was slightly inhibited. Mice were orally administered KRG extract at 50, 250, or 500 mg/kg daily for 3, 7, or 14 days. However, the activities of CYPs in mouse livers were not significantly different from those of vehicle-treated controls. In conclusion, no significant ginseng-drug interaction was observed. KRG extract did not significantly modulate the activities of CYPs in vitro or in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of polyphenols in grape pruning stem extracts (GPSE) using grape stems discarded after harvest. The inhibitory effects on allergy, proliferation, and apoptosis in UVB-induced HR-1 hairless mice were analyzed. The applicability as a material for functional food and functional cosmetics was evaluated. The contents of the active ingredients of GPSE were analyzed by HPLC. After UVB irradiation on the dermis of HR-1 hairless mice, the number of mast cells was determined by toluidine blue staining to confirm that the skin allergic reaction was caused by GPSE. The results were similar to the normal group in the group applied GPSE, and there was no allergic reaction in the GPSE application group and a significant decreased compared to the sun cream control. PCNA immunohistochemical staining of the epidermal proliferation factor had an inhibitory effect on epidermal epithelial cell proliferation in all concentrations of GPSE and serum base mixture as an average of 42% compared to the control group. The mixture of GPSE and serum base suppressed the apoptosis inhibition rate by 27% on average compared to the control. These results confirmed the inhibitory effects GPSE on the allergic, proliferation, and apoptosis activities by with a serum base on UVB-induced skin damage. GPSE is a functional ingredient with potential skin protection effects, and has a high utilization as an ingredient for functional cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2012

This study examined the effects of baked garlic powder on the lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat/highcholesterol diet for 4 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups according to the dietary fat, cholesterol and baked garlic powder levels. The experimental groups were normal diet group (N), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet group (C), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 1.5% baked garlic powder group (GPL) and a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 3% baked garlic powder group (GPH). The body weight gain, food intake and food efficiency ratio were similar in the experimental groups. The epididymal adipose tissues weight of the C group was higher than that of the N group, whereas those of the groups fed baked garlic powder were decreased gradually. The ALT and ALP activities were similar in the C groups, but the serum AST and LDH activities elevated by a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet were decreased significantly by feeding a 3% baked garlic powder diet. The serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels as well as the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor tended to decrease in the groups fed baked garlic powder than the C group, whereas the serum HDL-cholesterol level was lower in the C group and remarkably in groups fed baked garlic powder than the control group. The total cholesterol level in the liver and mesenteric adipose tissue and the triglyceride level in epididymal tissue were lower in the groups fed baked garlic powder than the C group. These results suggest that baked garlic powder reduces the serum lipid components and improves the lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats induced with a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2019

Limonium tetragonum, an edible halophyte that grows on salt marshes in Korea, is thought to possess various health benefits (e.g., antioxidant, antitumor, and hepatoprotective). In the present study, different solvent partitioned subfractions, water ($H_2O$), buthanol (n-BuOH), 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), and hexane (n-hexane), from crude extract of L. tetragonum were tested for their ability to prevent adipogenesis in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The treatment of differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with L. tetragonum subfractions (LTFs) resulted in suppressed adipogenesis and reduced expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAATT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the LTF treatment notably decreased the levels of phosphorylated p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in association with $PPAR{\gamma}$-linked adipogenesis. Among all the tested LTFs, $H_2O$ and n-hexane were the most effective in lowering lipid accumulation and regulating the adipocyte differentiation via $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway. Taken together, the results indicated that the $H_2O$ and n-hexane LTFs contain bioactive compounds that may exhibit significant antiadipogenesis activity by downregulation of the $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway and inactivation of the MAPK signal pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

Purpose: Citron seed oil (CSO) has been reported to have high antioxidant activity. However, the composition and other biologically activities of CSO have not been reported. In this study, we confirmed the fatty acid composition of CSO, which may be beneficial to vascular disease and obesity. Methods: We investigated the oil composition of CSO using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and cytotoxicity was confirmed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured using Griess reagent, and lipid accumulation and leptin secretion in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by Oil-Red O staining and commercial ELISA kit, respectively. Results: GC-MS analysis indicated that CSO contains several components, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid, and arachidic acid. In physiological activity analysis, CSO did not induce cytotoxic effects in HUVECs and 3T3-L1 cells. Further, CSO significantly induced nitric oxide and leptin secretion as well as inhibited lipid accumulation. Conclusion: CSO increased NO release, inhibited lipid accumulation, and induced leptin secretion, suggesting it may be useful for the management of vessels and weight gain. Although further studies are required to investigate the safety and mechanism of action of CSO, our results show that the composition and physiological activity of CSO are sufficient for its use as functional edible oil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2012

The effects of ethanol extract from leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosu were evaluated on hyperlipidemic rats. Male SD rats were divided into a normal group, control (AIN-76 diet) group, Garcinia cambogia extract group, and AIN-76 diet group supplemented with ethanol extract from Eleutherococcus senticosu (EEES). The body weight of the AIN-76 group increased, whereas those of the Garcinia and EEES groups decreased. The serum total cholesterol of the AIN-76 group increased by 28.36% compared to the normal group, but decreased by only 27.15% in the Garcinia group and 25.47% in the EEES group. The serum triglyceride level of the AIN-76 group increased by 35.04% compared to the normal group, but decreased by only 26.76% in the Garcinia group and 37.54% in the EEES group. The serum HDL-cholesterol levels of the Garcinia and EEES groups increased compared to that of the AIN-76 group. The liver and epididymal adipose tissue weights of the EEES group decreased compared to those of the AIN-76 group. In measuring the concentration of triglycerides and total cholesterol level in the liver extracts, the AIN-76 group showed significant increases compared to the normal group, whereas the Garcinia and EEES groups showed a significant decrease compared to the AIN-76 group. These results indicate that the EEES group may improve lipid metabolism and reduce fat accumulation and body weight.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.800-806
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• 2012

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by oxidative stresses which cause various chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer) has been reported to contain various biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, radioprotective, anti-amnestic and anti-aging effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of Panax ginseng, treated with high temperatures and high pressures, on oxidative stress in C2C12 myoblasts and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Oxidative stress was induced in the C2C12 cells through the introduction of $H_2O_2$ (1 mM), and cells were then treated with various ginseng preparations: dried white ginseng (DG), steamed ginseng (SG) and high temperature and high pressure treated ginseng (HG). In addition, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with various ginsengs for up to 8 days following standard induction of differentiation. Our results show that HG treatment significantly protected oxidative stress in both cell lines and enhanced gene expression of antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the protective effects of ginseng on the oxidative stress of adipocytes and muscle cells.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.223-236
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the physiological characteristics and anti-diabetic effects of Lactobacillus plantarum KI69. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of L. plantarum KI69 was 91.17±2.23% and 98.71±4.23%, respectively. The propionic, acetic, and butyric acid contents of the MRS broth inoculated with L. plantarum KI69 were 8.78±1.12 ppm, 1.34±0.07% (w/v), and 0.876±0.003 g/kg, respectively. L. plantarum KI69 showed higher sensitivity to penicillin-G, oxacillin, and chloramphenicol among 16 different antibiotics and showed the highest resistance to ampicillin and vancomycin. The strain showed higher β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activities than other enzymes. Additionally, it did not produce carcinogenic enzymes, such as β-glucuronidase. The survival rate of L. plantarum KI69 in 0.3% bile was 96.42%. Moreover, the strain showed a 91.45% survival rate at pH 2.0. It was resistant to Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus with the rates of 15.44%, 50.79%, 58.62%, and 37.85%, respectively. L. plantarum (25.85%) showed higher adhesion ability than the positive control L. rhamnosus GG (20.87%). These results demonstrate that L. plantarum KI69 has a probiotic potential with anti-diabetic effects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2014

Objectives : In this report, we investigated the effect of ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum(L.) Merr. & Perry.(SAE) on the RBL-2H3 cell-mediated allergic response and studied its possible mechanisms of action. Methods : Cytotoxicity on RBL-2H3 cell was evaluated by MTT assay. Anti-allergic activity of SAE was assessed by ${\beta}$-Hexosaminidase and Histamine secretion, ${\beta}$- Hexosaminidase and Histamine secretion were measured by ELISA assay. Evaluate the mechanisms of effect of SAE on the secretion of degranulate mediators, we examined the effect of SAE on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases using western blot analysis. Results : SAE had no cytotoxicity on rat basophilic leukemia cell(RBL-2H3). Moreover SAE dose-dependently inhibited RBL-2H3 cell degranulation and histamine release. SAE specifically blocked the IgE-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Conclusions : Our findings provide evidence that Syzygium aromaticum ethanol extract inhibits mast cell derived allergic reaction, and also demonstrate the involvement of p38 MAPK phosphorylation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.813-819
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• 2010

The intracellular lipid droplets were stained with Oil Red O dye and quantified. Compared to the control, lipid accumulation was significantly decreased by 19.4% with the treatment of LCM at the concentration of $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) level was also reduced by 21% at the concentration of $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL. To determine the mechanism for the reduction in TG content, levels of glucose uptake and glycerol release were measured. Incubation of the 3T3-L1 adipocytes with LCM did not affect the cellular uptake of glucose. However, the level of free glycerol released into the cultured medium drastically increased by 24.3% with the treatment of LCM. In subsequent measurements using quantitative real-time PCR, mRNA levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) except lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were significantly elevated at higher concentration. These results suggest that LCM partially stimulates the lipolysis through the induction of HSL and/or ATGL gene expression, resulting in the reduced lipid accumulation and increased glycerol release.