• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.105-120
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• 2004

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Mori Folium herbal acupuncture at St36 on ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA (ovalbumin) for 12 weeks (once a week) Two experimental groups were treated with different concentrations (1%, 0.1%) of Mori Folium herbal acupuncture at Chok-samni (St36) for the later 8 weeks (3times/week). Result : 1. Lung weight of the mice group treated with Mori Folium herbal acupuncture decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. Total Leukocytes in BALF of the mice group treated with Mori Folium herbal acupuncture decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 3. The number of Eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with Mori Folium herbal acupuncture decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 4. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b,\;CCR3^+,\;CD4^+,\;CD8^+,\;CD3e^+/CD69^+,\;IgE^+/B220^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with Mori Folium herbal acupuncture decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 5. The concentration of IgE, IL-13, IL-4 in serum of the mice group treated with Mori Folium herbal acupuncture decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 6. The concentration of IL-4 in BALF of the mice group treated with Mori Folium herbal acupuncture decreased significantly compared with that of control group. Conclusion : We conclude that Mori Folium herbal acupuncture is effective on OVA-induced asthma of C57BL/6 mouse.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2007

As obesity is known to be related to hyperlipidemia, diabetes and coronary heart disease, and other chronic diseases, many researches have focused on functional food materials showing anti-obesity activity. The adipokines secreted by adipose tissue, resistin and adiponectin are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases directly. C-reactive protein and homocysteine are molecules regulated by adipose tissue indirectly also relate to the chronic diseases. This study was performed to study of the anti-obesity effects of Sasa borealis in diet-induced obese mice (C57/BL6J). The mice were divided into four group: NFD (Normal fat diet), HFD (High fat diet), BSE (High fat diet containing 5% of 70% ethanol extract of Sasa borealis leaves), BLW (High fat diet containing 5% of water extract of Sasa borealis leaves). The experimental diets were fed for 11 weeks. The final body weight of the mice in the groups of BSE and BLW groups were significantly lower than the HFD group. The effects of weight reduction were due to reduced body fat accumulation. The adiponectin levels are significantly decreased in HFD group compared than NFD group and increased taken by Sasa borealis containing diet. The resistin levels are not significantly different between experimental groups. The CRP and homocyteine levels are significantly higher in HFD group than NFD group and significantly decreased by Sasa borealis containing diet, especially BLW group. These results indicate that orally administered Sasa borealis not only has the effect of reducing the body weight and total fat weight, but preferable effect in adiponectin levels and related molecules as CRP and homocysteine. Therefore we expect the Sasa borealis may have an anti-obesity function and anti-metabolic syndrome effect in diet-induced obese mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2009

The $\beta$-glucans derived from yeast cell walls have been reported for having many immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. In this study, Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) $\beta$-glucan (Sophy $\beta$-glucan) was checked for natural killer (NK) activity and for the production of IFN-$\gamma$ and IL-4 in Leishmania amazonensis infection. The main experiment was performed with a group of female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, orally supplemented with 5% of Sophy $\beta$-glucan and infected with promastogotes of L. amazonensis ($1\;{\times}\;10^7$) into the footpad. Increase in the footpad thickness with time was observed in BALB/c mice in spite of the oral Sophy $\beta$-glucan supplement, but it was less in C57BL/6 mice. The difference in overall mean footpad thickness between 'infection only' versus 'infection + glucan' groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). High NK activity in C57BL/6 than BALB/c mice was observed in 'glucan only' group compared to the control group and also in 'infection + glucan' group compared to 'infection only' group. The difference in the NK activity among these groups was significant (P < 0.05). The IFN-$\gamma$ level increased at weeks 7 and 8 post-infection in C57BL/6 mice and was significantly high in 'infection + glucan' group compared to the 'infection only' group (P < 0.05). IL-4 levels did not increase up to detectable levels throughout the study. The results led a conclusion that Sophy $\beta$-glucan enhances NK activity and cellular immunity in L. amazonensis-infected mice.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-obesity effect of Scutellariae Radix extract combined with metformin. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice, 4 weeks of age, were used to set high-fat diet induced obesity model. They were grouped NOR (normal control), HFD (high fat diet control), MET (metformin, 100 mg/kg/day), MH2 (metformin 50 mg/kg/day+Scutellariae Radix 200 mg/kg/day), and HG4 (Scutellariae Radix 400 mg/kg/day). MET, MH2, and HG4 were orally administered for 10 weeks. Body weight was measured every week. Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were measured before sacrifice. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed. Organ weight and internal fat weight were measured after sacrifice. Results: MH2 group showed a reduction of body weight when compared with HFD group. MH2 group showed stable blood level control which was calculated areas under the curves by OGTT. TC, GOT, GPT level, internal fat, and organ weight in MH2 group reduced. Conclusions: The combined treatment of Scutellariae Radix and Metformin has impact on treating obesity. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of Metformin and herbal medicine combination therapy.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.72-87
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• 2014

Objectives This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE) and microneedle therapy system (MTS) on hair growth in an alopecia model of C57BL/6N mice. Methods Five-week old mice were depilated and separated in 4 groups ; CON (50% EtOH), MXD (5% Minoxidil), MTS and GLE + MTS. The treatments were applied twice a week for 3 weeks. The hair growth was determined photographically, the hair density, thickness and length were identified by Folliscope and the weights of body and organs were measured. In dorsal skin tissue, the expression of hair growth-related gene and protein was analyzed by RT - PCR or Western blot. In addition, the hair follicles in the dermis were observed by H&E staining. Results The promotion of hair growth was observed in GLE + MTS and MTS compared to CON. The hair density, thickness and length were also improved in GLE + MTS and MTS compared to CON. The mRNA expression of TGF-${\alpha}$, TGF-${\beta}1$, IGF-1, PRL and PL and the protein expression of VEGF and IGF-1 were increased in GLE + MTS and MTS compared to CON. The hair follicles and hair root growth were improved in GLE + MTS and MTS compared to CON. In the above results, GLE + MTS were more effective than MTS. Conclusions These results suggest that GLE and MTS has a hair growth activity and can be useful for the treatment of alopecia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.476-480
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• 2013

Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in developed countries. It negatively affects diverse aspects of human wellbeing. Of these, a relationship between obesity and depression is widely recognized but biomarkers for assessment of obesity-associated mood changes in animal obesity models are rarely known. Here we explored the link between obesity and the plasma levels of monoamine neurotransmitters involved in mood control using a sensitive UPLC/MSMS technique in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model in male C57BL/6 mice to explore the potential utility of plasma tests for obesity-associated mood change. HFD (60% of total calories, 8 weeks) induced significantly higher weight gains in body (+37.8%) and fat tissue (+306%) in male C57BL/6 mice. Bioanalysis of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in plasma at 8 weeks of HFD revealed that serotonin decreased significantly in the obese mice when compared to normal diet-fed mice ($2.7{\pm}0.6$ vs $4.3{\pm}2.0ng/ml$, N=8). Notably, a negative correlation was found between the levels of serotonin and body weight gains. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) with the individual levels of neurotransmitters revealed that plasma levels of dopamine and serotonin could apparently differentiate the obese mice from lean ones. Our study demonstrated that blood plasma levels of neurotransmitters can be employed to evaluate the mood changes associated with obesity and more importantly, provided an important clue for understanding of the relationship between obesity and mood disorders.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.137-148
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of soy isoflavones to dairy ice cream modifies diabetic biomarkers in the type 2 diabetic model mice. Forty male C57BL/6J-ob/ob mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed control diet (basal, 7% fat), MS diet (milk ice cream with sugar, 20% fat), MS-SI diet (MS ice cream with 0.01% soy isoflavones, 20% fat), or MF-SI diet (milk ice cream with 0.01% soy isoflavones, 5% fructooligosaccharide, 20% fat) for 12 weeks. Blood response area by glucose tolerance test, plasma levels of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, leptin, and blood $HbA_{1c}$ were not significantly different among all the groups. Concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ secreted from splenocytes induced by Concanavalin A were not significantly different among all the groups. In conclusion, soy isoflavones supplemented to ice cream did not alter diabetic biomarkers in diabetic type 2 model mice.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-38
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of herb formula HDDM, a modification of Huangdan decoction that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of glomerulonephritis and chronic renal failure, on the blood glucose levels in multiple low doses (MLD; 50 mg/kg for five consecutive days) of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated female B6C3F1 mice. Initial studies were performed to compare diabetes induction in five strains (e.g., B6C3F1, NOD, CD-1, C3H/HeN and C57BL/6) of mice by MLD-STZ, and immune changes following the treatment. The results suggested that the order of susceptibility to diabetes induction was NOD $\approx$ CD-1 > B6C3F1 $\approx$ C3H > C57BL/6. Furthermore, STZ modulation of T cell development, differentiation and activation might play a role in diabetes induction by MLD-STZ treatment. MLD-STZ-induced diabetes in female B6C3F1 mice was moderate, which allowed the evaluation of drug-induced protection or exacerbation of diabetes to be performed. As such, modulation of blood glucose by HDDM, which consisted of Da Huang (Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei), Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Seu Hedysari), Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Yin Yang Huo (Herba Epimedii), Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis or Coix lacryma-jobi), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) and Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni), was evaluated in MLD-STZ-treated female B6C3F1 mice. The results suggested that HDDM could lower the blood glucose levels, but it had no immunomodulatory activities. Additionally, HDDM-treated mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance. In conclusion, these studies have suggested that MLD-STZ-induced diabetes in female B6C3F1 mice is a useful model to evaluate drug modulation of diabetes, and that the herb formula HDDM possesses anti-diabetic effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2021

Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium are commonly used probiotics. This study aimed to identify the effect of live combined Bacillus subtilis R0179 and Enterococcus faecium R0026 (LCBE) on obesity-associated hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota in C57BL/6 mice. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: normal group (N group), model group (M group), low-dose group (L group), and high-dose group (H group). Mice were gavaged with LCBE at 0.023 g/mice/day (L group) or 0.23 g/mice/day (H group) and fed with a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. In vitro E. faecium R0026 showed an ability to lower the low-concentration of cholesterol by 46%, and the ability to lower the high-concentration of cholesterol by 58%. LCBE significantly reduced the body weight gain, Lee index, brown fat index and body mass index of mice on a high-fat diet. Moreover, LCBE markedly improved serum lipids (including serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein) while also significantly reducing liver total cholesterol. Serum lipopolysaccharide and total bile acid in L and H groups decreased significantly compared with M group. PCR-DGGE analysis showed that the composition of gut microbiota in the treatment groups was improved. Akkermansia muciniphila was found in H group. The PCA result indicated a similar gut microbiota structure between LCBE treatment groups and normal group while the number of bands and Shannon diversity index increased significantly in the LCBE treatment groups. Finally, qPCR showed Bifidobacterium spp. increased significantly in H group compared with M group, LCBE alleviated liver steatosis and improved brown adipose tissue index.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-59
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (AY) has remarkable bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer activities. On the other hand, the effects of AY against obesity-induced insulin resistance have not been reported. Therefore, this study examined the potential of AY against obesity-associated insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: An obesity model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a 60% HFD for 16 weeks. The C57BL6/When ethyl acetate fraction from AY (EFAY) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day was administered orally to mice fed a HFD for the last 4 weeks. Normal and control groups were administered water orally. The body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured every week. Dietary intake was measured every other day. After dissection, blood and tissues were collected from the mice. RESULTS: The administration of EFAY reduced body and organ weights significantly compared to HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY-administered groups also improved the serum lipid profile by decreasing the triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to the control group. In addition, EFAY ameliorated the insulin resistance-related metabolic dysfunctions, including the fasting blood glucose and serum insulin level, compared to the HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY inhibited lipid synthesis and insulin resistance by down-regulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase and up-regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. EFAY also reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver, indicating that EFAY protected hepatic injury induced by obesity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EFAY improved obesity-associated insulin resistance by regulating the lipid and glucose metabolism, suggesting that AY could be used as a functional food to prevent obesity and insulin resistance.