• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

Although there has been many studies about the co-administration of herb formula and western medicine, there is none about obesity. The aim of this study was to report the effects of co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin on two obese patients for about 2~4 months. During the treatment, we checked body weight and body composition, and collected blood samples to evaluate liver, kidney, thyroid function and lipid profile. This treatment not only decreased body weight but also improved body composition and lipid profile in both patients. There was no hepatic or renal toxicity, nor any serious side effects of treatment. This study demonstrated that co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin is a safe and effective therapy to lose weight and improve metabolic parameters for obese patients. Further large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of the combination of herbal and western medicines.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2015

This study was to examine the antioxidative activity of fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis (FRN) in obese rats. Oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative damage to cells. Mitochondria are especially important in the oxidative stress as ROS have been found to be constantly generated as an endogen threat. Mitochondrial defense depends mainly on superoxide dismutase whereas microsomal defense depends on catalase, which is an enzyme abundant in microsomes. Seven weeks-aged female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed high fat diets for 44 days. Also fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis was administered orally for 44 days at 7.5 ml/kg of body weight of rats. The antioxidative activities of fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis were measured by the superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde levels in liver homogenate. The levels of malondialdehyde in FRN-treated groups were lower than those in obese groups. Superoxide dismutase and catalase levels were significantly increased. These results demonstrated that fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis had the inhibitive effects of oxidative stress in obese rats, suggesting that fermented Rhynchosia nulubilis would be used as an ingredient of the useful functional products.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.235-246
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• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of micro-current stimulation(MCS) on adipogenesis regarding with Wnt/β-catenin pathway using the ob/ob mouse and 3T3-L1 cell line. 6-week old ob/ob male mice were equally assigned to four groups: obese group(ob), obese with MCS groups(50 μA, 200 μA, and 400 μA). 6-week old C57BL/6J male mice were assigned to the control group(CON). We analyzed abdominal adipose tissue volume by using in vivo micro-CT and measured the body weight, feed intake, liver weight and triglycerides in serum. All the MCS groups showed that significantly reduced body weight and triglycerides in serum. In the case of liver weight and abdominal adipose tissue volume, the inhibitory effect of adipogenesis was shown in the 200 μA and 400 μA groups. To elucidate the anti-obesity effect of MCS, β-catenin, C/EBPα and FAS protein expressions were analyzed by western blotting. β-catenin expression was upregulated, C/EBPα and FAS expression were down-regulated in the relatively high-intensity groups(200 μA and 400 μA). Thus, the 200 μA and 400 μA for the intensity of MCS were chosen for cell experiments. In the 3T3-L1 cell line, Wnt/β-catenin pathway including Wnt10b, Wnt3a, β-catenin and Cyclin D1 was activated in all MCS groups. Accordingly, the expression level of C/EBPα was decreased during the differentiation and lipid droplet was significantly reduced in Oil red O staining results. These results suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling might be activated by MCS with current intensities between 200-400 μA and it may lead to anti-obesity effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.25-25
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• 2000

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.241-256
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diabetes-specific oral nutritional supplements (ONS) have anti-hyperglycemic effects, while D-allulose exerts anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of diabetes-specific ONS, including allulose, on glycemic and weight changes in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SUBJECTS/METHODS: A single-arm, historical-control pilot clinical trial was conducted on 26 overweight or obese patients with T2DM (age range: 30-70 yrs). The participants were administered 2 packs of diabetes-specific ONS, including allulose (200 kcal/200 mL), every morning for 8 weeks. The glycemic profiles, obesity-related parameters, and lipid profiles were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of ONS. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level significantly decreased from 139.00 ± 29.66 mg/dL to 126.08 ± 32.00 mg/dL (P = 0.007) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) improved (7.23 ± 0.82% vs. 7.03 ± 0.69%, P = 0.041). Moreover, the fasting insulin (δ: -1.81 ± 3.61 μU/mL, P = 0.017) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (δ: -0.87 ± 1.57, P = 0.009) levels decreased at 8 weeks, and body weight significantly decreased from 67.20 ± 8.29 kg to 66.43 ± 8.12 kg (P = 0.008). Body mass index (BMI) also decreased in accordance with this (from 25.59 ± 1.82 kg/m² to 25.30 ± 1.86 kg/m², P = 0.009), as did waist circumference (δ: -1.31 ± 2.04 cm, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of diabetes-specific ONS with allulose in overweight or obese patients with T2DM improved glycemic profiles, such as FBG, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, and reduced body weight and BMI.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2005

The aims of this study were to evaluate the anti-obese effects of pine needle, black tea and green tea in rats and overweight people. Supplementation of 1, 2, 4 and 8% amount to the control diet of pine needle extract and mixture groups significantly decreased body weight gain and visceral fat mass compared with that of control diet group. Supplementation of 1, 2 and 4% amount to the control diet of black and green tea extracts groups significantly decreased body weight gain and visceral fat mass compared with that of control diet group. Anti-obese effect in body weight gain and visceral fat mass of mixture group was higher than in other groups. In human study, extracts mixture supplementation to overweight subjects significantly decreased both body weight and body fat compared with placebo control group. In vitro study, black and green tea extracts significantly inhibited both the pancreatic lipase and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activities dose dependently. In conclusion, the anti-obese effects of pine needle, black, and green teas in rats were found. In overweight human subjects, extracts mixture decreased body weight and body fat compared with placebo control group. Anti-obese effect in black and green tea groups might be from an decrease in carbohydrate and fat digestions via inhibition of pancreatic ${\alpha}-amylase$ and lipase activities in part.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.71-77
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• 2016

Objectives : Adipogenesis was defined as a differentiation process of preadipocytes into the adipocytes. Thus, to control of this process can be one of the most important strategies to prevent obesity. Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs. Although multiple biological activities of Korean ginseng, particularly ginsenosides, have been known, the anti-adipogenic role and function of polysaccharides from Korean ginseng are still unclear. In this study, we examined anti-adipogenic activity of polysaccharides and its molecular basis mechanisms are further investigated.Methods : The cytotoxicity of KGP in 3T3-L1 was evaluated by MTT assay. Anti-adipogenic effect of KGP was examined by Oil Red O (ORO) staining and microscopy observation in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. The mRNA expression levels of adipogenic transcriptional factors were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR). To elucidate the adipogenic molecular mechanism of KGT, SB431542 (TGF-β specific inhibitor) was used.Results : We found that polysaccharides showed no effect on the viability of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Dose dependent inhibitory effect of polysaccharides on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis was observed as judged by ORO staining and microscopic image analysis. To obtain further mechanistic insight into anti-adipogenic function of polysaccharides, we then tested the effect of polysaccharides treatment on the adipogenic marker genes. The mRNA expressions level of C/EBPα, PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were dose-dependently inhibited by KGP treatment in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes.Conclusions : In conclusion, these findings suggest that the KGP could be used in treatment of obesity and overweight related diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.526-536
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus After inducing obesity by feeding hight fat diet (diet induced obesity model: DIO) for four weeks, each 8 rats were assigned to normal (Nor), high fat diet (HF), high fat diet containing orlistat (PC), high fat diet containing different concentration of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus (UPDM_L, UPDM_H) and Discorea Japonica Thunb. (UPD) extract. Although the UPD, UPDM_L (ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 400 mg/kg) and UPDM_H (DIO oral administration ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 800 mg/kg) showed weight gain inhibition effects, the results of poor obesity inhibition rather than PC were confirmed. However, it showed a more effective weight loss effect in UPDM_H than UPD, and significantly reduced the weight of epididymal fat and subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, the possibility of anti-obesity effects of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be confirmed by observing the effects of reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL concentrations, reducing ALT and AST levels, and inhibiting fat build-up in liver tissue. It is believed that Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be expected to utilize as a functional material that is important to improve anti-obesity and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity effect of Galgeuntang (gegentang) and elucidate the effect of it on gene expression related to obesity. Methods The experiments were performed with the use of Diet-Induced Obese mice. They were grouped NC (normal control), HFD (high fat diet control), GGT (Galgeun-tang (gegentang), 700 mg/kg), ORL (Orlistat, 10 mg/kg). GGT was orally administered for 12 weeks. Body weight was measured every week. Real-time PCR was performed to investigate the effect of GGT on gene expression in liver tissue. Results GGT group and ORL group were reduced in body weight compared with HFD. HFD increased $PPAR{\gamma}$, SREBP-1, Leptin, aP2, FATP1, FAS gene expression compared with NC. GGT increased FATP1 gene expression. But GGT reduced $PPAR{\gamma}$ & FAS gene expression in liver tissue of diet-induced obese mice compared with HFD. Conclusions These results suggest that GGT is supposed to have a certain impact on the treatment of obesity. But more study is needed in the future.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 2024

Objectives: This retrospective study attempted to determine whether the treatment effect improves as the longer the medication for obese patients, also, analyzed whether the long medication increases the burden on liver function. Methods: The subjects were 278 overweight and obese female patients who took the herbal medicine Jibangsayak (JBSY) for more than 15 days. The correlation between the duration of medication and the treatment effect was confirmed, and the correlation with the safety was also analyzed. Results: JBSY significantly reduced all obesity-related measures after treatment. All these valuables before treatment were not factors in determining the duration of medication. As the duration increased, the body mass index (BMI) improvement decreased and lean body and muscle mass increased. As the duration was closer to 60 days, BMI improvement increased, and in more than 90 days group, the BMI and body fat percentage improvement stagnated as the duration longer. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase decreased after treatment. Additionally, AST decreased as the duration increased. Conclusions: This result suggests that not only the high obesity-related measures at first visit not lengthen the duration of JBSY medication. And liver function levels did not worsen as the duration increased. This result is different from the general perception that the longer the duration of medication, the greater the burden on patient's drug metabolism. However, the fact that other factors that could affect liver function could not be excluded and that kidney function evaluation should have been performed simultaneously are limitations of this study and require more detailed research in the future.