• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2010

Tight control of blood glucose is the most important strategy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of Welsh onion on fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia. Inhibitory activities of hot water extracts from the green stalk and white bulb, which are the edible portions of the Welsh onion, and the fibrous root extract against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase were measured in vitro. To study the effects of Welsh onion on postprandial hyperglycemia, a starch solution (1 g/kg) with and without Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) or acarbose (50 mg/kg) was administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after an overnight fast. Postprandial plasma glucose levels were measured and incremental areas under the response curve were calculated. To study the hypoglycemic effects of chronic feeding of Welsh onion, five-week-old db/db mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing either Welsh onion fibrous root extract at 0.5% or acarbose at 0.05% for 7 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Fasting plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin were measured. Compared to the extract from the edible portions of Welsh onion, the fibrous root extract showed stronger inhibition against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, with an $IC_{50}$ of 239 ${\mu}g/mL$. Oral administration of Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) and acarbose (50 mg/kg) significantly decreased incremental plasma glucose levels 30-120 min after oral ingestion of starch as well as the area under the postprandial glucose response curve, compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin levels of the Welsh onion group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01), and were not significantly different from those fed acarbose. Thus, we conclude that the fibrous root of Welsh onion is effective in controlling hyperglycemia in animal models of diabetes mellitus.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2005

Changes of plasma lipids, total cholesterol and phospholipids content according to diet of silkworm extract powder were as follows. Decrease ratios of plasma lipids at 3, $5\%(w/w)$ treating groups were plasma lipids 5.16, $9.15\%$, those of total cholesterols were 1.63, $2.76\%$ and those of phospholipids were 1.37, $2.00\%$, respectively. Decreasing effects of plasma triglyceride content according to diet of silkworm extract powder was higher than those of total cholesterols and phospholipids contents. Decrease of plasma glucose concentrations were $4.62\%\;and\;6.46\%\;at\;3\%,\;5\%(w/w)$ treating group than control group, respectively. These results were not proportional decrease according to treating amount. In the other hand, changes of insulin concentration of plasma, pancreas and femur were appeared the similar tendency with plasma glucose concentration. Relationship between treating amount of silkworm extract powder and insulin concentration had not positive relativity, In conclusion, treatment of silkworm extract powder about $3\%(w/w)$ could be expected to prevention and/or medical treatment effect of diabetic patients.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.437-447
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• 1999

Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) results from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic $\beta$ cells by a progressive $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmune process. The pathogenesis of autoimmune IDDM has been extensively studied for the past two decades using animal models such as the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse and the Bio-Breeding (BB) rat. However, the initial events that trigger the immune responses leading to the selective destruction of the $\beta$ cells are poorly understood. It is thought that $\beta$ cell auto-antigens are involved in the triggering of $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmunity. Among a dozen putative $\beta$ cell autoantigens, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has bee proposed as perhaps the strongest candidate in both humans and the NOD mouse. In the NOD mouse, GAD, as compared with other $\beta$ cell autoantigens, provokes the earliest T cell proliferative response. The suppression of GAD expression in the $\beta$ cells results in the prevention of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. In addition, the major populations of cells infiltrating the iselts during the early stage of insulitis in BB rats and NOD mice are macrophages and dendritic cells. The inactivation of macrophages in NOD mice results in the prevention of T cell mediated autoimmune diabetes. Macrophages are primary contributors to the creation of the immune environment conducive to the development and activation of $\beta$cell-specific Th1-type CD4+ T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells that cause autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both believed to be important for the destruction of $\beta$ cells. These cells, as final effectors, can kill the insulin-producing $\beta$ cells by the induction of apoptosis. In addition, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells release granzyme and cytolysin (perforin), which are also toxic to $\beta$ cells. In this way, macrophages, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells act synergistically to kill the $\beta$ cells in conjunction with $\beta$ cell autoantigens and MHC class I and II antigens, resulting in the onset of autoimmune type I diabetes.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 1998

Studies were conducted on anti-dibetic effect of the water extract from leaves of Eriobotryae folium, which had been used in Korea as a remedy for dibetes. The extract was found to inhibit the increase in the plasma level of sugar bu the not the decrease in the plasma level of insulin in alloxan-induced dibetic rats. Also, we investigated the in vivo effect of an aqueous extract (referred to as EF) from Eriobotryae folium on glucokinase and hexokinase activities of diabetes mellitus induced by interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$). After 1 week of $IL-1{\beta}$ injection, the levels of serum glucose concentration and insulin secretion were dramatically increased. However, the insulin secretion was decreased with administration of EF. The level of glucose concentration was decreased by EF administration. Furthermore, it was observed that EF was effective in recovering the levels of insulin secretion. Enzyme activities of the glucokinase and hexokinase, which are key enzymes of glucose phosphorylastion, were decreased by $IL-1{\beta}$. EF administration to the mice allowed proportional increasing by stimulation of induction of enzyme activities as high as normal group. These results suggested that EF is highly effective in treatment of diabetes mellitus induce by $IL-1{\beta}$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.329-335
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• 2008

Korean Deep ground sea-like water (KDSW) has a similar mineral composition with deep sea water. KDSW has demonstrated its usefulness and attracted in the medical fields. KDSW and Danasoo (desalted deep ground sea-like water) intake improve antioxidant, antidiabetic activity and immunity. Antioxidant activities of KDSW and Dnansoo were measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-l-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, superoxide dismutase-like activity (SODA) and photochemiluminescence (PCL). DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activities of KDSW and Danasoo were remarkably increased in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant activities of KDSW and Danasoo 85.32 and 14.02 nmol of ascorbic acid equivalent/ml KDSW and Danasoo, respectively, using the PCL method. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages RAW264.7 cells was inhibited up to 30% by treatment with Danasoo (20%). NO is synthesized by the enzyme of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and plays an important role tumor growth and angiogenesis. The anticancer effects of Danasoo on human gastric and lung cancer cells was performed by levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Danasoo significantly reduced iNOS expression of human gastric cancer (SNU-l) and lung carcinoma (A549). The serum glucose level was significantly reduced by Danasoo (20%) diet in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. These result suggest that KDSW has excellent biological activities and thus it has great potential as a source for natural health products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1257-1262
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• 2007

To develop basidiomycetes-fermented cereals with hypoglycemic property, inhibitory effects of basidiomycetes mycelia and basidiomycetes-fermented cereals on postprandial glucose were investigated. In vitro effect of basidiomycetes mycelia on retarding the membrane transport of glucose was compared with pectin. For basidiomycetes mycelia, $13.1{\pm}3.6{\sim}41.8{\pm}8.0%$ of total glucose remained in inner solution of dialysis membrane after dialysis for 120 min, indicating that most of basidiomycetes mycelia might effectively retard membrane transport of glucose. Glucose tolerance of basidiomycetes mycelia and basidiomycetes-fermented cereals was tested on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats administrated with maltose. Postprandial glucose levels of basidiomycetes mycelia, $389.4{\pm}43.8{\sim}426.3{\pm}49.4mg/dL$, were considerably lower than that of control, $535.3{\pm}78.6mg/dL$, at 30 minutes after maltose administration. Namely, basidiomycetes mycelia showed better postprandial glucose lowering effect than pectin. Brown rice and barley fermented with Paecilomyces japonica showed much lower postprandial glucose level than raw brown rice and barley, especially hypoglycemic effect of barley fermented with Paecilomyces japonica was significant.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.413-417
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Saururus chinensis Baill in vitro and in vivo. Methanol extract of S. chinensis Baill inhibited yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity by 49.8%, which was twice as strong as that of acarbose at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL in vitro. The effect of S. chinensis Baill methanol extract on the postprandial increase in blood glucose levels was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using a carbohydrate load test. Oral administration of S. chinensis Baill extract (500 mg/kg) significantly decreased incremental blood glucose levels at 60 and 90 min (p<0.05) after oral ingestion of starch (1 g/kg). The area under the glucose response curve of the S. chinensis Baill group was significantly decreased compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). The effect of prolonged feeding of S. chinensis Baill was studied in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. Three-week-old db/db mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 0.5% S. chinensis Baill extract for 7 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Plasma glucose, insulin, and blood glycated hemoglobin levels of the mice fed S. chinensis Baill extract were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, we conclude that S. chinensis Baill is effective in controlling hyperglycemia in animal models of diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2023

Objectives: Moroccan Arbutus unedo is an essential medicinal plant; however, little is known about the biological properties of its leaves mentioned in Moroccan traditional medicine. Methods: Various standard experiments were performed to evaluate the phytochemical, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and acute and sub-chronic toxicity characteristics of A. unedo leaves. Results: Phytochemical screening led to the identification of several phytochemical classes, including tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones, with high concentrations of polyphenols (31.83 ± 0.29 mg GAEs/g extract) and flavonoids (16.66 ± 1.47 mg REs/g extract). Further, the mineral analysis revealed high levels of calcium and potassium. A. unedo extract demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities by inhibiting α-amylase (1.350 ± 0.32 g/mL) and α-glucosidase (0.099 ± 1.21 g/mL) compared to the reference drug Acarbose. Also, the methanolic extract of the plant exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract. Precisely, three of the four examined bacterial strains exhibited substantial susceptibility to the methanolic extract . Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values indicated that A. unedo harbor abundant bactericidal compounds. For toxicological studies, mice were administered with A. unedo aqueous extract at single doses of 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg. They did not exhibit significant abnormal behavior, toxic symptoms, or death during the 14-day acute toxicity test and the 90-day sub-chronic toxicity test periods. The general behavior, body weight, and hematological and biochemical status of the rats were assessed, revealing no toxicological symptoms or clinically significant changes in biological markers observed in the mice models, except hypoglycemia, after 90 days of daily dose administration. Conclusion: The study highlighted several biological advantages of A. unedo leaves without toxic effects in short-term application. Our findings suggest that conducting more comprehensive and extensive in vivo investigations is of utmost importance to identify molecules that can be formulated into pharmaceuticals in the future.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.185-197
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• 2009

For utilizing Cattail pollen as a raw material for functional foods, the nutrients such as free sugar, free amino acid, fatty acid composition, flavonoid content, and the biological activity within Cattail pollen were measured. The results of proximate analysis within Cattail pollen included the following readings: 12.7-13.2% of moisture, 15.7-17.8% of crude protein, 1.3% of crude fat, 7.5-7.7% of free sugar, 13.7-18.6% of crude fiber, 3.4-4.9% of ash, and 49.7-55.9% of nitrogen free extracts. The composition of free amino acids consisted of 1.923% of T. orientalis, 0.907% of T. angustata, and 0.333% of T. latifolia, which were measurements that varied significantly among different species. However, all species showed considerable portions of GABA alanine, glutamic acid, and proline. Specifically, it was shown that the GABA composition, which is known for increasing immunity while simultaneously lowering blood pressure, exceeded 50%. Therefore, this result implies that Cattail pollens have potential as a powerful utilization for functional foods. The composition of the fatty acids mainly consisted of linoeic, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid, and didn't show many variances across different species. Also, the total contents of unsaturated fatty acid were particularly high with a measured ratio of 67.2-76.0% value. Mineral in Cattail pollen was composed of 0.354-0.492% of K, 0.0516-0.0546% of Mg, 0.045-0.0486% of Ca, and 0.0101-0.0204% of Na. Among the Cattail pollens known as anti-oxidants, flavonoid contains 0.169-0.186% of quercetin, and therefore is the largest constituent followed by rutin making up a measurement of 0.0094-0.0147%. For the purpose of the study, the Cattail pollen and its extracts were fed to SC class rats for a span of 4 weeks. Then, the DPPH radical scavenging activity was measured from the tested rats'serums and the results showed significant variances. Also, the results indicated that the cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood were decreased which in turn led to the conclusion that the cattail pollen can help hyperlipidemia and diabetic treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.986-992
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• 1996

This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extract on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipids in the serum and liver of alloxaninduced hyperglycemic rats(S.D. strain, ♂), alloxan monohydrate 15mg/kg B.W./day I.P. injection) for 3 weeks. Concentrations of blood glucose were significantly higher in the alloxan administration(I.P.) groups(groups 2, 3 and 4) than those in the control group(group 1, basal diet). Blood glucose concentrations were remarkably lower in the group 3(basa1+alloxan+6years Platycodon grandiflorum) and 4(basa1+alloxan+22years Platycodon grandiflorum) than those in the group 2(basal+alloxan), and particularly, lower in the group 4. Concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in the groups 3, 4 than those in the group 2, and remarkably, lower in the group 4 than those in the group 3. Concentrations of HDL-cholesterol in serum were tile highest in the group 1. Those in the groups 3 and 4 were higher than those in the group 2. Atherosclerotic index were lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. In the alloxan-induced diabetic groups(groups 2, 3, 4), the serum free cholesterol, cholesterol ester, triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations were significantly lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. Contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid in liver were remarkably lower in the all experimental groups than those in the group 2. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase In serum were the highest in the group 2, but the other groups were rather lower. From the above research, the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extracts were effective on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid compositions in serum and liver. And particularly, Platycodon grandiflorum(22 years) was more effective than those in the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 years).