• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.223-227
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• 2009

The fruits of Cornus kousa Burg. were extracted with 80% aqueous methanol (MeOH) and the concentrated extract was partitioned with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and $H_2O$. From the EtOAc traction, 5 triterpenoids were isolated through repeated silica gel ($SiO_2$), octadecyl silica gel (ODS), and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography (c.c.). These compounds were determined to be ursolic acid (1), corosolic acid (2), taraxasterol (3), betulinic acid (4), and betulinic aldehyde (5) on the basis of their spectroscopic data including electronic ionization mass spectrometry, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. This is the first reported isolation of these compounds from this plant. Also, compounds 1, 3, 4, and 5 show a relatively high inhibitory activity against human acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (hACAT-1) with inhibition values of $52.8{\pm}0.7$, $91.1{\pm}0.4$, $93.0{\pm}0.7$, and $96.2{\pm}0.2%$ at a concentration of $100{\mu}M$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.200-205
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• 2000

Ethanol extract of Alpiniae Katsumadaii semen inhibited potently cholesterol esterase activity in vitro. Chloroform fraction of ethanol extract showed the stronger inhibitory effect than other solvent fractions-ethylacetate fraction, butanol fraction, and aqueous fraction. The chloroform frac ion of Alpiniae katsumadaii semen were studied as a candidator of plasma cholesterol lowering material in high cholesterol-fed rats. In high cholesterol-fed rats, the diet with chloroform fraction of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg lowered not only plasma neutral lipids contents 25.9% and 26.5% but also plasma total cholesterol level 11.8% and 20.8%, respectively. Plasma HDL-cholesterol level and Atherogenic Index(AI) in Alpiniae chloroform fraction-fed rats were recovered as those level of normal rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.625-631
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• 1999

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of safflower seed powder on the improvement of lipid metabolism in high fat and high cholesterol fed rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats of 10 weeks old, weighing 325$\pm$5g, were divided into two groups; the control group(C group, high fat(10% lard) and high cholesterol(1% cholesterol)) and safflower seed group(S group, 10% safflower seed powder), they were fed experimental diets for 6 weeks. Food intake, body weight gains and organ weight had little differences between the groups. Concentration of lipoprotein in serum was remarkably lower in S group than in C group. Serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in S group(72.94$\pm$4.08 mg/dl) than in C group(89.41$\pm$4.19mg/dl). The level of serum HDL cholesterol was higher in S group than in C group. The level of serum LDL C was significantly lower in S group than in C group. The ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol were higher in the S group than in the C group, too. The value of atherogenic index(AI) was determined to be low in S group. The content of liver triglyceride and cholesterol in the S group was lower than that of C group. ACAT activities which involves in cholesterol esterification in liver, was not significantly different between two groups.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2002

Ethanol extract of Cinnamomi cortex inhibited potently cholesterol esterase activity in vitro. Chloroform fraction of ethanol extract showed the stronger inhibitory effect than other solvent fractions - ethylacetate fraction, butanol fraction, and aqueous fraction. The chloroform fraction of Cinnamomi cortex was studied as a candidator of plasma cholesterol-lowering material using high cholesterol-fed rats. In high cholesterol-fed rats, the diet with chloroform fraction of 150 mg/kg lowered not only plasma neutral lipids contents 25.1% but also plasma total cholesterol level 49.6% than only high cholesterol diet. Plasma HDL-cholesterol level in Cinnamomi cortex chloroform fraction-fed rats was recovered as those level of normal rats. LD$_{50}$ of Cinnamomi chloroform extract was calculated as 1,300 mg/kg.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2013

This study determined the effects of fucoxanthin on gene expressions related to lipid metabolism in rats with a high-fat diet. Rats were fed with normal fat diet (NF, 7% fat) group, high fat diet group (HF, 20% fat), and high fat with 0.2% fucoxanthin diet group (HF+Fxn) for 4 weeks. Body weight changes and lipid profiles in plasma, liver, and feces were determined. The mRNA expressions of transcriptional factors such as sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c, Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1), Cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase1 (CYP7A1) as well as mRNA expression of several lipogenic enzymes were determined. Fucoxanthin supplements significantly increased plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration (P < 0.05). The hepatic total lipids, total cholesterols, and triglycerides were significantly decreased while the fecal excretions of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly increased in HF+Fxn group (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of hepatic Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), Fatty acid synthase (FAS), and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) as well as SREBP-1C were significantly lower in HF+Fxn group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). The hepatic mRNA expression of Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) and Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) were significantly low while lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was significantly high in the HF+Fxn group (P < 0.05). There was significant increase in mRNA expression of CPT1 and CYP7A1 in the HF+Fxn group, compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, consumption of fucoxanthin is thought to be effective in improving lipid and cholesterol metabolism in rats with a high fat diet.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.557-563
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• 2017

Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae) is a perennial parasitic plant that has a unique lifestyle of being in a symbiotic interaction with fungi. The underground root of Gastrodia is used for medicinal treatment to cure high blood pressure, stroke, leukemia, headaches, and especially neurasthenia. This study is intended to investigate the effect of the global warming on the ecological responses of Gastrodia. We cultivated the small tuber of Gastrodia with the oak wood lot and mulberry fungus under control (ambient $CO_2$ concentration + ambient temperature, ACAT), temperature treatment (ambient $CO_2$ concentration+elevated temperature, ACET), and $CO_2$+temperature treatment (elevated $CO_2$ concentration+elevated temperature, ECET). The elevated $CO_2$ concentration was about twice in the ambient air while the elevated temperature was about $2^{\circ}C$ higher than the control group. And then we observed the growth and production of reproductive organs and the underground root. The observation showed that the number of flower stalk was highest at ACET and lowest at ECET. The flower stalk was longest at ACET and shortest at ECET. The inflorescence was longest at ACAT and shortest at ECET. The seed capsule was heaviest at ACET and lightest at ECET. The aboveground biomass was highest at ACET and lowest at ECET. The number of rhizomes was highest at ACET and lowest at ECET. The total rhizome biomass was highest at ACET and lowest at ECET. The average rhizome biomass was highest at ACET and lowest at ECET. The results showed that the growth of Gastrodia increased because of more active growth of Gastrodia elata when only the temperature increased and decreased when both $CO_2$ concentration and temperature increased, indicating the poor growth of Gastrodia elata under the global warming condition. Therefore, the Gastrodia elata plantation should be maintained at the temperature of $20-25^{\circ}C$ and not be exposed to a high $CO_2$ concentration.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2001

This review showed a discussion on the biofunctional activities of citrus flavonoids. The major flavonoids of citrus species, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringin, and naringenin, were selected to evaluate their biological effects on the lipid metabolism in rats and hamsters, the proliferation of human hepatocyte HepG2 cells, and the antioxidative effect in lipid peroxidation models. These flavonoids showed hypotriglyceridemic effect in hamsters and hypochloesterolemic effect in rats. They also significantly inhibited the activities of phosphatidate phophohydrolase and acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase, which are key enzymes for biosynthesis of triglyceride and cholesterol, repectively, in vivo and in vitro experiments. These biofunctional activities by citrus flavonoids were shown more potent in the aglycone flavonoids, hespreretin and naringenin, than their corresponding glycoside flavonoids, hesperidin and naringin. These aglycone flavonoids also have inhibitory effects on proliferation of human hepatocyte cancer HepG2 cells. Hesperidin showed lowering activities of cellular triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in HepG2 cells. Citrus flavonoids have significant importance in functional food industry as biofunctional active ingredients.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 2009

It has widely been observed that the effect of elevating atmospheric $CO_2$ concentrations on rice productivity depends largely on soil N availabilities. However, the responses of ammonia volatilization from flooded paddy soil that is an important pathway of N loss and thus affecting fertilizer N availability to concomitant increases in atmospheric $CO_2$ and temperature has rarely been studied. In this paper, we first report the interactive effect of elevated $CO_2$ and temperature on ammonia volatilization from rice paddy soils applied with urea. Urea labeled with $^{15}N$ was used to quantitatively estimate the contribution of applied urea-N to total ammonia volatilization. This study was conducted using Temperature Gradient Chambers (TGCs) with two $CO_2$ levels [ambient $CO_2$ (AC), 383 ppmv and elevated $CO_2$ (EC), 645 ppmv] as whole-plot treatment (main treatment) and two temperature levels [ambient temperature (AT), $25.7^{\circ}C$ and elevated temperature (ET), $27.8^{\circ}C$] as split-plot treatments (sub-treatment) with triplicates. Elevated temperature increased ammonia volatilization probably due to a shift of chemical equilibrium toward $NH_3$ production via enhanced hydrolysis of urea to $NH_3$ of which rate is dependent on temperature. Meanwhile, elevated $CO_2$ decreased ammonia volatilization and that could be attributed to increased rhizosphere biomass that assimilates $NH_4^+$ otherwise being lost via volatilization. Such opposite effects of elevated temperature and $CO_2$ resulted in the accumulated amount of ammonia volatilization in the order of ACET>ACAT>ECET>ECAT. The pattern of ammonia volatilization from applied urea-$^{15}N$ as affected by treatments was very similar to that of total ammonia volatilization. Our results suggest that elevated $CO_2$ has the potential to decrease ammonia volatilization from paddy soils applied with urea, but the effect could partially be offset when air temperature rises concomitantly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.677-683
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• 2010

This study investigated the effect of young Phragmites communis (Pc) leaves on lipid profiles, lipid metabolism and erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in high-fat diet fed mice. Three groups of mice were fed different diets for 8 weeks: normal diet (Normal), high-fat diet (High-fat; 37% calories from fat) and high-fat diet supplemented with 1% Pc (wt/wt, HF-Pc). Body weight, daily food intake and energy intake tended to decrease by Pc supplement in high-fat fed mice. Pc supplementation significantly lowered plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations compared to the high-fat control group. Pc also lowered hepatic and heart cholesterol contents, whereas it significantly increased fecal excretion of triglyceride and cholesterol compared to the high-fat control group. Pc significantly inhibited fatty acid synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activities compared to the high-fat control group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were also significantly higher in the high-fat group than in the normal group, however Pc supplementation reversed these changes. The Pc supplementation significantly lowered erythrocyte lipid peroxidation level compared to the high-fat control group. Accordingly, these results suggest that Pc improves lipid metabolism and erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in high-fat diet fed mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of powdered young barley leaf and its water extract on body weight and lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice. Male mice were divided into normal group, high-fat (HF) group, high-fat group supplemented with powdered young barley leaf (HF-YBL) and high-fat group supplemented with water extract of the powdered young barley leaf (HF-WYBL). The powdered young barley leaf or its water extract was added to a standard diet based on 1% dried young barley leaf (1 g YBL/100 diet and 0.28 g WYBL/100 g diet) for 8 weeks. Supplementation of YBL and WYBL significantly reduced body weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight in high-fat fed mice. Food intake and daily energy intake were significantly lower in the YBL group than in the HF group. After 8 weeks, plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the HF group than in the Normal group; however, both YBL and WYBL significantly lowered those of the high-fat fed mice. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol of the YBL and WYBL groups were significantly elevated compared to that of HF group. Both YBL and WYBL significantly increased fecal excretion of triglyceride in high-fat fed mice, whereas they did not affect fecal cholesterol concentration. The triglyceride levels of liver, adipose tissue and heart were significantly lower in the YBL and WYBL groups than in the HF group. Supplementation of WYBL also lowered the kidney triglyceride and heart cholesterol concentrations compared to those of HF group. Hepatic lipid regulating enzyme activities, fatty acid synthase, HMG-CoA reductase and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase, were significantly lower in the YBL and WYBL groups than in the HF group. Accordingly, these results suggest that YBL and WYBL improve plasma and organ lipid levels partly by increasing fecal lipid excretion and inhibiting fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver.