• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 2006

The effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on lipid levels and lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were examined. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups [chloroform $(CHCl_3)$ fraction group, butanol (BuOH) fraction group, and water fraction group]. Fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. The liver glycogen levels of $CHCl_3$ fraction group and the muscle glycogen levels of BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly higher than that of STZ-control group. Pancreas protein levels of BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly higher than that of STZ-control group. The liver cholesterol level of BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly lower when compared with the STZ-control group. The level of liver triglyceride in BuOH and water fraction groups were significantly higher than that of STZ-control group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver of normal and diabetic groups were not significantly different. In the pancreas, the MDA levels of BuOH and water fraction group were significantly lower than that of STZ-control group. The results suggested that the supplementation of the BuOH and water fractions of Benincasa hispida extract could be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damages from the lipid peroxidation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of the this study was to evaluate the effect of various perinatal conditions on TSH and thyroid hormone levels in cord blood. Methods : Cord blood samples were collected from 130 neonates immediately after birth. TSH, $T_3$, and free $T_4$ levels were measured by the radioimmunoassay(RIA) method. The effects of gestational age, sex, birth weight, delivery method, perinatal asphyxia, maternal diabetes mellitus(DM), and preeclampsia on TSH and thyroid hormone levels were assessed by ANOVA test, Student t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Results : Birth weight and sex did not affect TSH and thyroid hormone levels. TSH level increased according to gestational age(P<0.05). TSH level was $4.42{\pm}0.66{\mu}IU/mL$ in infants born vaginally, which was higher than that of cesarian section delivery($3.31{\pm}0.33{\mu}IU/mL$)(P<0.05). TSH level was $5.18{\pm}0.93{\mu}IU/mL$ in asphyxiated newborns and $2.97{\pm}0.84{\mu}IU/mL$ in non-asphyxiated newborns(P<0.05). TSH level in infants with maternal DM($8.911{\pm}1.25{\mu}IU/mL$) was higher than that of infants without maternal DM($4.32{\pm}0.42{\mu}IU/mL$)(P<0.05). TSH level was $5.28{\pm}0.42{\mu}IU/mL$ in infants with maternal preeclampsia and $3.65{\pm}0.46{\mu}IU/mL$ in infants without maternal preeclampsia(P<0.05). Thyroid hormones were lower in infants with perinatal asphyxia(P<0.05). In asphyxiated infants, $T_3$ level was $75.33{\pm}55.65ng/mL$ and free $T_4$ was $0.54{\pm}0.21ng/mL$. $T_3$ and free $T_4$ level was $109.85{\pm}41.77ng/mL$ and $0.76{\pm}0.22ng/mL$ each in infants without perinatal asphyxia. Among the perinatal factors, gestational age, 1 min Apgar score and maternal DM influenced TSH level independently. Conclusion : In our study, cord blood TSH and thyroid hormone levels were affected by perinatal stress events.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.682-688
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to measure the blood glucose level and glycemic index (GI) in response to persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb) syrup extracted from persimmon and extract of persimmon by-products. Major component analyses of persimmon syrup I (PSI, 95:5 mixture of purified persimmon syrup and non-purified persimmon syrup) and persimmon syrup II (PSII, 50:50 mixture ratio of purified persimmon syrup and non-purified persimmon syrup) were $0.3{\pm}0.1$ and $0.6{\pm}0.2$ mg/g for total polyphenolic compounds and $70.6{\pm}0.6$ and $66.6{\pm}1.6%$ for total carbohydrates, respectively. Blood glucose responses of PSI and PSII were determined using both normal ICR mice and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Further, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on diabetic rats to assess the effects of the experimental diets. Blood glucose response and OGTT showed that blood glucose levels were significantly lower in mice and diabetic rats fed PSI and PSII compared to those fed diets of sugar, maple syrup, or honey. The GIs of healthy volunteers in response to PSI and PSII were calculated to be 51.9 and 35.7, respectively. On the contrary, the GIs of healthy volunteers fed diets including sugar, maple syrup, or honey were 52.6, 20.0, and 93.0, respectively. These results suggest that persimmon syrup can be used for both the treatment of diabetics and healthy people due to its beneficial effects on blood glucose level.