• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.332-337
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• 2006

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic and hard to control disease. In order to develop the therapeutic agent for type 2 DM, many researchers investigated natural products using an in vitro and in vivo assay. In this study, we tried to explore the anti-diabetic activity and mechanisms of ginsam, which is a vinegar-processed ginseng radix. The db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups. The diabetes control (DC) group was orally administrated with distilled water, ginseng radix (GR) or ginsam (GS) was administrated orally at a dose of 150 mg/kg, and the positive control group was orally injected with metformin (MET) at a dose of 300 mg/kg for 5 weeks in db/db mice and measured body weight and blood glucose level every week. All treatment groups decreased the plasma glucose levels compared with diabetic control and GS group significantly lowered the insulin resistance index. GS group also reduced the plasma lipid levels mainly due to reduce the lipogenesis and increase the lipolysis in the fat tissue. In addition, GS group increased the GLUT4 mRNA expression levels in the fat and muscle tissues by 10 fold probably due to increase a $PPAR_{-\gamma}$ mRNA expression in fat tissue. Taken together, GS showed the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities and those activities may ascribe to over-expression of GLUT4 mRNA level and decrease the lipogenesis in fat tissue.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2002

The renoprotective activities of white ginseng radix and rootlet were compared in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) with diabetes. During oral administration of white ginseng radix (Ginseng Radix Alba, GRA) and white ginseng rootlet (Ginseng Radix Palva, GRP) for four weeks, arterial blood pressure and blood glucose levels were determined at every 10 days. In both GRA- and GRP-treatment groups, arterial blood pressures started to go down after 10 days of administration and maintained throughout the study period. After four weeks administrations of GRA and GRP, diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased with 17% and 9%, respectively. GRA treatment also decreased blood glucose levels after 10 days of administration when compared with diabetic SHR group. At the end of the experiment, serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were not significantly different between the groups, except 62% higher value of BUN in diabetic SHR group when compared with SHR group. In the diabetic SHR group, the excretion of urinary albumin was increased significantly when compared with SHR. The level of urinary albumin in GRA treated group was markedly reduced when compared with diabetic SHR group $(67.8{\pm}4.7\;vs.\;131.3{\pm}13.5\;mg/24\;h).$ To examine the effects of ginseng radices on an overt diabetic nephropathy, index of kidney hypertrophy and transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1\;(TGF-{\beta}1)$ protein levels were evaluated. The glomerular and tubular cells stained positive for $TGF-{\beta}1$ seemed to be more abundant in diabetic SHR than in those with SHR, and GRA treated rats showed somewhat less $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein in glomerular and tubular cells when compared with diabetic SHR. Our results suggest that GRA might be a useful antihypertensive and antidiabetic agent with renoprotective effect.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-217
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Centella asiatica, also known as Gotu kola, is a tropical medicinal plant native to Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. It is well known to have biological activities, including wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of extracts of C. asiatica against age-related eye degeneration and to examine their physiological activities. MATERIALS/METHODS: To determine the effects of CA-HE50 (C. asiatica 50% EtOH extract) on retinal pigment cells, we assessed the cytotoxicity of CoCl₂ and oxidized-A2E in ARPE-19 cells and observed the protective effects of CA-HE50 against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal damage in C57BL/6 mice. In particular, we measured factors related to apoptosis and anti-oxidation and the protein levels of rhodopsin/opsin. We also measured glucose uptake to characterize glucose metabolism, a major factor in cell protection. RESULTS: Induction of cytotoxicity with CoCl₂ and oxidized-A2E inhibited decreases in the viability of ARPE-19 cells when CA-HE50 was administered, and promoted glucose uptake under normal conditions (P < 0.05). In addition, CA-HE50 inhibited degeneration/apoptosis of the retina in the context of MNU-induced toxicity (P < 0.05). In particular, CA-HE50 at 200 mg/kg inhibited the cleavage of pro-caspase-3 and pro-poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase and maintained the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 similar to normal control levels. Rhodopsin/opsin expression was maintained at a higher level than in normal controls. CONCLUSION: A series of experiments confirmed that CA-HE50 was effective for inhibiting or preventing age-related eye damage/degeneration. Based on these results, we believe it is worthwhile to develop drugs or functional foods related to age-related eye degeneration using CA-HE50.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 2013

We studied the total polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition of water extracts from 17 medicinal plants. Total polyphenol contents ranged from 10.0 (Coix lachryma-jobi L, CL) ~ 279.7 (Perilla sikokiana, PS)mg/g. The water extract from medicinal plants were evaluated for its free radical scavenging activities and compared with a commercial antioxidant, ascorbic acid. DPPH radical scavenging activity of Pyrus pyrifolia (PP), Chamaecyparis obtusa L. (COL), Chamaecyparis obtusa F. (COF), and PS were higher than positive control. Higher hydroxyl radical scavenging activity were shown in Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) and Cordyceps militaris (CM) than the other plants. The highest anti-${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity was observed in Cornus officinalis (CO) and Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (PSA) water extracts. PSA showed not only the higher DPPH radical scavenging activity but also the anti-${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity. The results of our study that PP, COL, COF, PS, AS, CM, CO and PSA could be potential candidates for natural antioxidants.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2018

Quercetin and resveratrol are known to have beneficial effects on the diabetes and diabetic complication, however, the effects of combined treatment of these compounds on diabetes are not fully revealed. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the combined antidiabetic action of quercetin (QE) and resveratrol (RS) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. To test the effects of co-treated with these compounds on diabetes, serum glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, oxidative stress biomarkers, and ions were determined. Additionally, the activities of hepatic glucose metabolic enzymes and histological analyses of pancreatic tissues were evaluated. 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups; normal control, 50 mg/kg STZ-induced diabetic, and three (30 mg/kg QE, 10 mg/kg RS, and combined) compound-treated diabetic groups. The elevated serum blood glucose levels, insulin levels, and dyslipidemia in diabetic rats were significantly improved by QE, RS, and combined treatments. Oxidative stress and tissue injury biomarkers were dramatically inhibited by these compounds. They also shown to improve the hematological parameters which were shown to the hyperlactatemia and ketoacidosis as main causes of diabetic complications. The compounds treatment maintained the activities of hepatic glucose metabolic enzymes and structure of pancreatic ${\beta}-cells$ from the diabetes, and it is noteworthy that cotreatment with QE and RS showed the most preventive effect on the diabetic rats. Therefore, our study suggests that cotreatment with QE and RS has beneficial effects against diabetes. We further suggest that cotreatment with QE and RS has the potential for use as an alternative therapeutic strategy for diabetes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1016-1024
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• 2011

The concentrations of bioactive material (polyphenolics and flavonoids) and the biological activities of antioxidative (DPPH [${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl] free radical scavenging activity, peroxidation of rat liver microsome, and Fe/Cu reducing power), ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, and fibrinolytic activity were tested by in vitro experimental models using 70% methanolic extract from Ganoderma lucidum, Momordica charantia, Fagopyrum tataricum and their mixtures. The highest yield and the concentrations of polyphenolics and flavonoids were shown in the mixture extract. Mixture extract was shown to have the highest activities of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition and tyrosinase inhibition, fibrinolytic, DPPH free radical scavenging, and Fe/Cu reducing power in a concentration-dependent manner. From these results, mixture methanol extract was shown to have the most potent bioactive properties and to contain large amounts of biological materials such as polyphenolics and flavonoids. This mixture could be a good dietary supplement material candidate, such as for antidiabetic functional foods.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.735-743
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• 2012

Purple sweet potato (PSP, Ipomoea batatas) has various biological effects including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. In this study, the antioxidant activity of PSP after roasting were compared using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. In addition, the total phenolics and flavonoid contents, Maillard reaction products, and phenolic acid contents were measured to identify the factors that changed PSP,s antioxidant activity due to roasting. The roasted PSP exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than unroasted PSP. In particular, the PSP roasted at $200^{\circ}C$ for 10 min showed the highest antioxidant activity among all the PSPs that were roasted under different conditions. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, Maillard reaction products and phenolic acid contents markedly increased, corresponding to the general increase in antioxidant activities after roasting. These results suggest that roasted PSP extracts are potential source of natural antioxidants that may be used in certain food applications.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2014

The roots of Paeonia lactiflora (PL) has been traditionally used as analgesic, spasmolytic and tonic in Korea, China, and Japan. As part of a search for herbal medicine to treat diabetes and obesity, we confirmed hypoglycemic effect of PL through high fat diet-induced obese and diabetic mice experiments in vivo. Treatment of ethanolic extract from PL led to a significant decrease in glucose level, which is comparable to that of an antidiabetic drug metformin. In addition, PL selectively stimulates the transcriptional activities of both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\alpha}$ and ${\gamma}$, and inhibits enzymatic activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which are predicted to be therapeutic target in treatment of type2 diabetes and obesity. Especially, the n-hexane fraction (Hx) from PL ethanol extract showed more potent activities on $PPAR{\alpha}$ and than others and exihibited moderate inhibitory activity against PTP1B.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.615-622
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• 2017

This study investigated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Stachys sieboldii Miq. extracts by solvents (water, ethanol, butanol, chloroform, and hexane). The contents of total polyphenols (7.18-37.25 mg/g) and flavonoids (0.21-5.21 mg/g) in extracts from Stachys sieboldii Miq. showed a significant difference dependent on the extraction solvents, butanol > ethanol > water > chloroform > hexane. Antioxidant activities by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were increased in a dose-dependent manner. These activity trends associated with the extraction solvent were different at each concentration, but resembled phenolic compound contents trend, generally. FRAP value increased in a dose-dependent manner, but there was a difference in radical scavenging activities when comparing between extraction solvents by butanol > ethanol > hexane > chloroform > water on all concentrations. The trend of ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibition of extracts from $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ was not affected as enzyme activity is promoted and not inhibited. The inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was increased in a dose-dependent manner without water extracts, the activity on hexane extracts was higher than others per the extraction solvent. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibition of hexane extracts showed 57.76% at $250{\mu}g/mL$, which is 2.8 times higher than the second highest chloroform extract (20.65%). From these results, we presume that the active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. is different according to the extraction solvent and also the activity is different by these major functional groups.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1049-1057
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• 2015

This study investigated the physicochemical properties of Dioscorea batatas for improvement of biological activities during a three-step steaming process, steaming $120^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and hot air drying at $60^{\circ}C$ for 8 hrs. Samples were extracted with 70% ethanol and analyzed for free sugars, and organic acids were analyzed by HPLC. The DPPH & ABTS radical scavenging activities, crude saponin, water binding capacity, oil absorption, and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity were measured. The major free sugars in all samples were fructose, maltose, and sucrose, and the free sugar contents increased to 157~235% after the three-step steaming process compared to the control. Organic acid contents of samples treated by steaming increased to greater than 55.8 mg/100g. The ABTS radical scavenging activity significantly increased with repeated steaming process, especially after the three-step process. As the time of steaming process increased, DPPH radical scavenging activity increased from 26.99% fresh Dioscorea batatas to 80.46~97.79% after the three-step process. Crude saponin content increased rapidly as steaming time increased, but decreased after the three-step process steaming process. The water-binding capacities of the samples treated by steaming process were higher than that of the control, whereas oil absorption decreased as steaming time increased. From the results, steaming process could be suggested as beneficial for controlling fat intake. Compared to acarbose, a known antidiabetic drug, used as a positive control, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of samples treated by two-step steaming was among the samples. The results suggest that Dioscorea batatas treated by steaming process has antioxidative and anti-diabetis activities and can be used as a natural health product.