• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2004

Sopungsungi-won has been used as a traditional medicine for diabetes and it has been proved to be a potential remedy for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We previously reported that water extract of Sopungsungi-won exhibits anti-diabetic effects both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the present study, we have chosen to examined anti-apoptotic effect of Rheum undulatum, which is the main component of Sopungsungi-won, on pancreatic ${\beta}-cells$, HIT-T15, against hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$. oxidative stress. To investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of Rheum undulatum water extract (RUWE) against $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis in pancreatic ${\beta}-cell$ line of hamster, HIT-T15, MTT assay, DAPI staining, TUNEL assay, RT-PCR and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed. The morphological analysis demonstrated that cells treated with $H_2O_2$ exhibited classical apoptotic features, while such changes was reduced in cells pre-treated with RUWE. In addition, RUWE pre-treated cells prior to $H_2O_2$ treatment induced increase of levels of bcl-2 expression and decrease of caspase-3 enzyme activity compared to cells treated with $H_2O_2$ only. These results provide the possibility of usage of RU in patients with progressively deteriorated diabetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.401-411
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• 2015

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) has various biological functions, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant activities. However, the development of foods using bitter melon (BM) is unexplored due to its bitter taste. In this study, BM pickle was prepared, and changes in quality characteristics and antioxidant activity during ageing were determined. After 4 weeks of ageing, pH levels, salinities, soluble solids, and reducing sugars of BM pickle decreased, whereas acidities increased. In addition, total viable, lactic acid bacteria, and yeast viable cell numbers greatly increased until 1 week, after which they slightly decreased. Levels of soluble phenolics increased during ageing, antioxidant activity increased accordingly. Crude protein, K, and P contents of pickles were lower than in raw material of BM, whereas crude fat and Na contents increased. Corn silk extracts were added to BM pickle during ageing in order to improve the bitter taste and flavor. The best sensory quality was obtained by adding 0.25% corn silk extracts.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2023

Sphaeranthus africanus is commonly used as a traditional remedy for sore throats and pain treatment in Vietnam. The aerial parts have been studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. However, the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of the plant has not been explored. In this work, hydrophilic extracts of the plant's aerial parts were prepared in order to investigate its antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Also, the cytotoxicity of the root was evaluated and compared to that of the aerial parts. All of the extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2.05 to 3.56 ㎍/mL, indicating substantial antioxidant activity. At an IC₅₀ value of 4.80 ㎍/mL, the 50% ethanol extract exhibited the most potent inhibition of α-glucosidase. The cytotoxic activity of root extracts is 2 to 5-fold less than that of the aerial parts. Nevertheless, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of the root demonstrated a selective effect on leukemia cells, with no harm towards the normal HEK-293 cell line. This work provides a scientific support for the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the plant. Hence, it may find a promising material for the development of novel antioxidant and antidiabetic agents. More research can be conducted on the phytochemistry and anticancer activities of the plant's root.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.599-611
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Hwanggi-tang on glucose digestion, uptake, and metabolism in murine C2C12 myotubes. Methods: Hwanggi-tang was prepared according to the Dong-ui-bo-gam (≪東醫寶鑑≫) prescription by 70% ethanol extraction. The effect on glucose digestion was examined by determining the inhibitory effect of Hwanggi-tang on α-glucosidase activity. We also compared and verified the gene and protein expression of genes related to glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes treated with Hwanggi-tang or insulin. Glucose metabolism was assessed by the expression levels of associated enzymes. Results: Hwanggi-tang caused a dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase activity, induced glucose uptake by activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in the insulin signaling pathway, and promoted glucose oxidation and β-oxidation. Conclusions: Hwanggi-tang exerts an anti-diabetic effect on murine myotubes by inhibiting glucose digestion and inducing glucose uptake and consumption.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 2017

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drug with relatively minor side effect. Substantial evidence has suggested that metformin is associated with decreased cancer risk and anticancer activity against diverse cancer cells. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has shown powerful activity for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and also induces growth arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. In this study, we tested the combination of imatinib and metformin against HCT15 colorectal cancer cells for effects on cell viability, cell cycle and autophagy. Our data show that metformin synergistically enhances the imatinib cytotoxicity in HCT15 cells as indicated by combination and drug reduction indices. We also demonstrate that the combination causes synergistic down-regulation of pERK, cell cycle arrest in S and $G_2/M$ phases via reduction of cyclin B1 level. Moreover, the combination resulted in autophagy induction as revealed by increased acidic vesicular organelles and cleaved form of LC3-II. Inhibition of autophagic process by chloroquine led to decreased cell viability, suggesting that induction of autophagy seems to play a cell protective role that may act against anticancer effects. In conclusion, our present data suggest that metformin in combination with imatinib might be a promising therapeutic option in colorectal cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.170-173
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• 2014

Two unrecorded yeasts, Meyerozyma caribbica UL5-1 and Pichia silvicola UL6-1 were screened from 58 yeasts which were isolated from wild flowers in Ulleungdo in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. The morphological and cultural characteristics of these unrecorded yeasts were investigated. Both yeasts were oval in shape and formed pseudomycelia. P. silvicola UL6-1 formed ascospore, but M. UL5-1 did not. P. silvicola UL6-1 and M. caribbica UL5-1 also grew in vitamin-free medium and 5% NaCl-containing yeast extract-peptone-dextrose medium. The two unrecorded yeasts assimilated glucose, galactose, xylose, cellobiose, trehalose, glycerol and sorbitol, and also fermented glucose, fructose and mannose. The supernatant of both M. caribbica UL5-1 and P. silvicola UL6-1 showed high antihypertensive angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity of 84.2% and 82.6%, respectively. Cell-free extract of P. silvicola UL6-1 also showed very high anti-diabetic ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity (85.8%).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.622-628
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• 2014

The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seeds for the management of type 2 diabetes by controlling glucose absorption. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory effects of the hexane extracts from oriental melon seeds were investigated. A bioassay-guided fractionation technique was used to elucidate the principal active components. The results show that the hexane extract from oriental melon seeds exhibited high inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase. The hexane extract was further fractionated into four sub-fractions. Among them, the sub-fraction F-1 exhibited the most potent anti-diabetic effect. The active components were isolated and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Free fatty acids showed significant hypoglycemic activity (p < 0.001) and fatty acid composition influenced enzyme inhibitory activities. These results suggest that oriental melon seeds could be used to prevent type 2 diabetes.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.291-296
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• 2004

Sparganium stoloniferum Buch.-Ham. (Sparganiaceae) is a perennial herb which has been used as treatments for menstrual disorder, galactagogue and endometriosis in folk remedies. The Sparganii Rhizoma processed, heated with vinegar, used to different purpose compared with origin in medicine. In order to estimate the different effects between processed (PSR) and unprocessed (USR) Sparganii Rhizoma, extraction and systemic fractionation of the rhizomes were archived. Inhibitory effects of the extracts as well as the fractions of PSR and USR on rat lens aldose reductase and on rat platelet aggregation were investigated for the prevention or the treatment of chronic diabetic complications. Their antioxidant effects, measured using lipid peroxidation of liver tissue and radical scavenging activities on 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl in vitro, were evaluated. The most of biological activities tested except rat platelet aggregation, fractions from PSR were shown to exhibit stronger activities than those from USR. It seems that caused by changing of the chemical components by heating process in conditioned with acetic acid. Compounds isolated were shown to significant inhibitory activity on rat lens aldose reductase. Inhibitory activity of compounds isolated on rat lens aldose reductase have been tested in vitro. $IC_{50}$/ (6.31 $\mu$M) of cerebroside I (V) was nearly equal to that (6.32 $\mu$M) of a reference compound, tetrametbylene glutaric acid (TMG).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.684-691
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• 2008

As part of studies to develop new materials to lower blood glucose levels using crude polysaccharide, this study was attempted to analyze the characteristics of crude polysaccharide obtained from the extracts of a mixed herbal medium(OCM) where Trichloloma matsutake mycelium and Cordyceps militaris mycelium were cultured together and to look into the influence of administering these by concentration upon the blood glucose and serum lipid levels of rats with diabetes which was induced by STZ(Streptozotosin). Experimental group was divided into 6 groups: first, it was divided into normal control group(NC group) and diabetes-induced group, and diabetes-induced group was subdivided into diabetic control group(DC group), acarbose-treated group(PC group), 100 mg/kg/body weight-treated by crude polysaccharide of OCM(UE) group(UE100 group), 200 mg/kg/body weight-treated group(UE200 group), and 300 mg/kg/body weight-treated group(UE300 group). In diabetic-induced groups, after streptozotocin was melted in 0.01M citrate buffer at 50 mg/kg/body weight, when the non-fasting blood glucose level not on an empty stomach was 300 mg/dl or more in blood collected from the tail vein, it was regarded as diabetic induction and then such diabetic-induced experimental animals were used in this experiment. The yield of crude polysaccharide obtained from OCM was found to be 0.31% and the ${\beta}$-glucan content 39.40%. As a result of analyzing NO on immune function, which is known as major physiological activity of crude polysaccharide, high NO viability was shown; when 1 mg/ml LPS was treated at 1 ug/ml, it was found to be 50.77 uM, and when LPS was treated at 10 ug/m, it was found to be 53.78 uM. Also, regarding cancer cells, cell count was decreased by about 26% in proportion to sample concentration, while for normal cells, it was a little decreased in proportion to concentration, however, cell count was maintained in the range of $81.92{\sim}98.16%$ at all concentrations. In case of blood glucose level, it was decreased in all extract-treated groups compared to DC group and in the cases of ALT and AST, they were found to be lower in extract-treated groups compared to PC group and for serum lipid, it was found to be lower in UE100 group compared to PC group. Thus this study tried to utilize these results as fundamental data for development of preventive and therapeutic agents against diabetes as well as functional foods using the crude polysaccharide of mushrooms.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) is used to flavor food, in cosmetics, as an antioxidant, and to treat microbial, diabetic and common inflammation. No study to date, however, has assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of fennel in experimental models of inflammation. The aims of this study were to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of fennel in model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury. Mice were randomly assigned to seven groups (n=7~10). In five groups, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 1% Tween 80-saline (vehicle), fennel (125, 250, $500{\mu}l/kg$), or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), followed 1 h later by intratracheal instillation of LPS (1.5 mg/kg). In two groups, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle or fennel ($250{\mu}l/kg$), followed 1 h later by intratracheal instillation of sterile saline. Mice were sacrificed 4 h later, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were obtained. Fennel significantly and dose-dependently reduced LDH activity and immune cell numbers in LPS treated mice. In addition fennel effectively suppressed the LPS-induced increases in the production of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, with $500{\mu}l/kg$ fennel showing maximal reduction. Fennel also significantly and dose-dependently reduced the activity of the proinflammatory mediator matrix metalloproteinase 9 and the immune modulator nitric oxide (NO). Assessments of the involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway showed that fennel significantly decreased the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK. Fennel effectively blocked the inflammatory processes induced by LPS, by regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production, transcription factors, and NO.