• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing interest in anti-obesity strategies. According to the National Statistical Office, the obesity rate in Korea was 38.3% in 2020 and 37.1% in 2021. Obesity is a risk factor for several severe diseases, including stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Pinus rigida × Pinus taeda is a hybrid of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus taeda Linn, and its cones are considered a by-product. Although previous studies have investigated their pharmacological effects on antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative DNA damage, few researchers have explored their potential as functional natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of the cone of ethyl acetate fraction of P. rigida × P. taeda (ERT), specifically its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation. Our analysis showed that ERT contains phytochemicals (catechin and caffeic acid) which are known to improve immune function and inhibit cell damage. ERT inhibited lipid droplet accumulation at the cellular levels through Oil Red O staining. Furthermore, ERT suppressed the expression of adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ and CEBP/α) as well as downstream lipogenic target genes (FAS and SREBP-1) thereby inhibiting adipogenesis. ERT also down-regulated key adipogenic markers, including aP2α, while inducing the phosphorylation of AMPK. It has been reported that PPARγ and CEBP/α are expressed in the early stages of adipose differentiation, while SREBP-1 is expressed in the late stage. Therefore, our findings suggest that ERT activates AMPK signaling pathways, which inhibits adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1) and lipogenic genes (FAS and aP2α), thereby blocking lipid accumulation and preventing obesity and related disorders. ERT showed potential as a new resource for developing a functional material for anti-obesity agents.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.536-540
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• 2001

Hepatic lipid peroxide contents were examined in bromobenzene-treated rats firstly after the oral administration of MeOH extract of Kalopanax pictus stem bark its n-BuOH fraction, EtOAc fraction and an alkaline hydrolysate of the n-BuOH fraction, and secondly after the intraperitoneal administration of hederagenin monodesmosides and bisdesmosides. Two hederagenin monodesmosides, kalopanaxsaponin A (KPS-A) and sapindoside C, exhibited significant anti-lipid peroxidation effects after intraperitoneal administration at doses of $10-30{\;}{\mu}mole/kg$, whereas their bisdesmosides did not exhibit any significant activity. These results suggest that it is the hederagenin monodesmosides that are responsible for anti-lipid peroxidation in vivo. The activity of KPS-A was established by the observation of decreased aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and increased epoxide hydrolase activity.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.117-128
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• 2014

Objective : It is known that Pueriaria lobata has an anti-osteoporetic effect, anti-cancer effect, anti-pyretic effect, and anti-diabetic effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity effect of Pueriaria lobata extract (PLE), and elucidate the effect of it on gene expression related to lipid metabolism. Method : The experiments were performed with the use of ovariectomized rats as estrogen-deficient obesity model. They were grouped NC (normal control), OC (estrogen-deficient control), PLH (100mg/kg of PLE), PLL (20mg/kg). PLE was orally administered for 6 weeks. Body weights and serum lipid level were estimated, and real-time PCR was performed to investigate the effect of PLE on gene expression in liver. Results : PLE decreased the body weight and serum cholesterol and triglyceride, but increased HDL-cholesterol. And PLE increased leptin, CYP27, CPT1, CYP8B1, ACAT2, LDLR, and SCD1, but reduced $PPAR{\gamma}$, PGC1A, HMG-CoA-R, ACAT1, SCD1, and APoB gene expression in liver tissue of rat with estrogen-deficient obesity. Conclusion : It is concluded that Pueriaria lobata reduced body weight, and its effect was expressed by regulation of gene expression related to lipid metabolism in rats with estrogen-deficient obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate anti-glycemic and anti-lipid effects of Supungsunkihwan-gagambang, which is composed of Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea Batatas Decaisne, Auantii fructus and Platicodon grandiflorum. Methods: Diabetes was induced in ICR male mice ($24{\pm}1g$) with Surwit's high fat and high sucrose diet. Mice were divided into 3 groups (n=10) of normal, control and Supungsunkihwan-gagambang. The Supungsunkihwan-gagambang group was given 5% herbal medicine in their diet. The animals were fed on each experimental diet for 8 weeks. Body weight was assessed every week. At the 7th week, the fasting blood sugar (FBS) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were conducted in all experimental groups. After 8 weeks, fructosamine, lipid profile, epididymal fat weight, liver weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) size were measured. Results: Supungsunkihwan-gagambang significantly reduced FBS, OGTT and fructosamine. It also increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and significantly reduced triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and WAT size. Conclusions: These results show that Supungsunkihwan-gagambang improves anti-glycemic and anti-lipid effect in high fat diet-induced obese mice. Therefore we suggest that Supungsunkihwan-gagambang could be an effective treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.53-60
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was carried out to determine if Dendrobii Herba have protective effect against cell injury induced by various toxic agents in rat kidney slices. Water(DWe) and methanol(DMe) extracts were prepared for this experiment. Methods : Cell injury was estimated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase(LDH). Lipid peroxidation was examined by measuring malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation. Results : DMe prevented the LDH release by $CCl_4$, menadione, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and mercury treatment in vitro in kidney slices, but DWe prevented the LDH release by $CCl_4$ and mercury. DMe also prevented reduction in GSH and lipid peroxidation induced by $CCl_4$ and mercury. Conclusion : Thus, DMe may have more powerful efficacy on anti-oxidative effects when compared with DWe. And further studies have to be followed concerned with extraction of Dendrobii Herba and its change of effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.405-409
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• 2005

To investigate anti-inflammatory activity of Noni extracts, we measured the phospholipase $A_2$ activity using both in vitro and in vivo system. Water soluble fraction of Noni extracts did not affect melittin-induced arachidonic acid release, whereas lipid soluble fraction inhibited it in a dose dependent manner in Raw 264.7 cells. The purified phos­pholipase $A_2$ activity was dose-dependently inhibited by lipid soluble fraction of Noni extracts but not by its water soluble fraction. Lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase and phospholipase $A_2$ activity in incised skin of mice were significantly increased as compared with those in non-incised skin, and these increase was attenuated by the treatment with Noni pow­der. Our data suggest that Noni extracts has anti-inflammatory activity, and this is, in part, caused by inhibitory activity of phospholipase $A_2$.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Objectives: Tanshinone I is a bioactive constituent in Salvia miltiorrhiza. At present, the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of tanshinone I are not fully understood. Here we investigated the effect of tanshinone I on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Methods: Lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. The expression and phosphorylation levels of adipogenic/lipogenic proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adipogenic/lipogenic markers and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lipid accumulation in zebrafish was assessed by LipidGreen2 staining. Results: Tanshinone I at 5 μM largely blocked lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, tanshinone I decreased the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone I increased the phosphorylation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) while decreased the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with no change in the phosphorylation and expression of liver kinase-B1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, tanshinone I also reduced the extent of lipid deposit formation in developing zebrafish. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that tanshinone I has strong anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and reduces adiposity in zebrafish, and these anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 cells are mediated through control of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, STAT-3, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, and AMPK.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.101-108
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• 2007

Objectives : To compare the anti-oxidant effects of Ligusticum chuanxiang and Cnidium officinale extracts and their mixture with Angelica gigas, we investigated the anti-oxidative activities using rat liver tissues. Methods : We investigated the anti-oxidative activities by analysis of lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase activity, aldehyde oxidase activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity in rat liver tissues. Results : Both Ligusticum chuanxing and Cnidium offieinale inhibited the lipid peroxidation compared to the control, there is no significant differences between two groups. Cnidium officinale showed strong inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase activities compared with that of Ligusticum chuanxing. Ligusticum chuanxing and Cnidium officinale were scavenged the hydroxy radicals, and increased SOD and catalase activities. These results suggested that Ligusticum chuanxing and Cnidium officinale were showed antioxidant activity, especially Cnidium officinale showed higher activity than Ligusticum chuanxing. Conclusions: These results suggest that Ligusticum chuanxing could be replaced by Cmdium afficinale in clinical trial.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2013

This study is a basic study on the development of functional substances involved in obesity prevention, lipid metabolism, and immune regulation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Allium monanthum extracts (AME) were administered orally to obesity-induced rats, and their lipid-lowering, antioxidative and various types of biological effects related to the immune system were examined. Blood free fatty acid and triglyceride concentrations decreased as the dose of AME increased. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations in the blood decreased as the dose of AME increased. The total cholesterol concentrations in the liver of the AME-treated groups were lower than the control group. The thiobarbituric acid reactive concentrations were lower in the plasma and liver of all AME-treated groups than the control group. Plasma AST and ALT activities did not show any significant differences among the treatment groups. IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 concentrations in the liver tended to decrease as the dose of AME increased. TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10 concentrations did now show any significant differences compared to the control group. Lower expression levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, Apo-B and Apo-E genes were found in the AME-treated groups. Taken together, these results indicate that AME may show positive effects in lipid lowering, antioxidation and anti-inflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1152-1157
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• 2008

Hyperlipidemia has been treated as one of the most important etiological cause factor in 21th century. The cortex and root of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (AR), a herbal medicine, have been used for several diseases including cardiovascular diseases in Oriental countries. Recently, we reported that AR has anti-hyperlipidemic action. BS-01 was made using extract from AR. For these reasons, we investigated the effects of BS-01 as anti-hyperlipidemic drug through measurement of body weights, cholesterol levels, total lipid, phospholipid in serum. In our results, mice induced by high fat diet elevated body weight level compared to naive group. And total lipid in serum was also elevated by induction of hyperlipidemia. In BS-01 group, body weight of mice was lowered significantly compared to that of control group. Oral administration of BS-01 decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride level back to that of naive mice. HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were not affected by BS-01. In addition, total lipid level, which elevated by induction of hyperlipidemia was also lowered by oral administration of BS-01. Finally, free fatty acid level was lowered in BS-01 group. These results demonstrate that BS-01 lowered body weight and titers involved in hyperlipdemia such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid and total lipid. In these results, we demonstrate that BS-01 has anti-hyperlipidemic action.