• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2021

With the recent rapid improvement in the standards of life and westernization of dietary lifestyles, the consumption of high-calorie diets such as high-fat and high-protein red meat and instant foods has increased, while less vegetables containing dietary fiber are consumed. In addition to that, stress, erroneous dietary behaviors, and contaminated environments are linked to the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, which is on the rise. Another cause of ulcerative colitis is that involve laxative abuse, including repeated, frequent use of laxatives, and include such conditions as deteriorated bowel function, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, etc. The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): group I-normal group, group II-DSS control group, group III-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg), group IV-DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg), group V-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Radish Extract mixture (30 mg /kg) (SRE). DSS-treated mice developed symptoms similar to those of human UC, such as severe bloody diarrhea and weight loss. SRE supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SRE treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules through suppression both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways, and prevented the apoptosis of colon. Moreover, SRE administration significantly led to the up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme including SOD and Catalase. This is the first report that Radish extract mixture combined with sulfasalazine protects against experimental UC via the inhibition of both inflammation and apoptosis, very similar to the standard-of-care sulfasalazine.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.431-443
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nobiletin (NOB), a citrus flavonoid, is reported to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health. However, there is limited research investigating the effect of long-term supplementation with low-dose NOB on high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced hypercholesterolemia and non-obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, we investigated the influence of NOB on hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD in HCD-fed mice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or HCD (35 kcal% fat, 1.25% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid) with or without NOB (0.02%) for 20 weeks. RESULTS: HCD feeding markedly reduced the final body weight compared to ND feeding, with no apparent energy intake differences. NOB supplementation suppressed HCD-induced weight loss without altering energy intake. Moreover, NOB significantly decreased the total cholesterol (TC) levels and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/very-LDL-cholesterol to TC ratio, and increased the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol/TC ratio in plasma, compared to those for HCD feeding alone. The plasma levels of inflammatory and atherosclerosis markers (C-reactive protein, oxidized LDL, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) were significantly lower, whereas those of anti-atherogenic adiponectin and paraoxonase were higher in the NOB-supplemented group than in the HCD control group. Furthermore, NOB significantly decreased liver weight, hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents, and lipid droplet accumulation by inhibiting messenger RNA expression of hepatic genes and activity levels of cholesterol synthesis-, esterification-, and fatty acid synthesis-associated enzymes, concomitantly enhancing fatty acid oxidation-related gene expression and enzyme activities. Dietary NOB supplementation may protect against hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD via regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism in HCD-fed mice; these effects are associated with the amelioration of inflammation and reductions in the levels of atherosclerosis-associated cardiovascular markers. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that NOB may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCD-induced hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.559-564
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• 2022

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent diseases in modern society. Many complicationssuch as hepatic cirrhosis, neuropathy, cardiac infarction, and so on are associated with diabetes. Although a relationship between diabetes and hair loss has been recently reported, the treatment of diabetic hair loss by Wnt/β-catenin activators has not been achieved yet. In this study, we found that the depilation-induced anagen phase was delayed in both db/db mice and high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In diabetic mice, both hair regrowth and wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) were reduced because of suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and decreased proliferation of hair follicle cells. We identified that KY19382, a small molecule that activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling, restored the capabilities of regrowth and WIHN in diabetic mice. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling activator also increased the length of the human hair follicle which was decreased under high glucose culture conditions. Overall, the diabetic condition reduced both hair regrowth and regeneration with suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Consequently, the usage of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activators could be a potential strategy to treat diabetes-induced alopecia patients.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2015

Objectives : Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Jeokhasuo in Korean) is a Oriental traditional herbs widely used in East Asian countries. Overconsumption of fructose results in hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and impaired glucose tolerance which have documented as a risk of cardiovascular diseases. This experimental study was designed to investigate the beneficial effects of an ethanol extract from Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) in high-fructose (HF) diet-induced metabolic syndrome rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups; Control group, receiving regular diet and tap water, HF group, and HF + PMR group both receiving supplemented with 65% fructose (n=10), respectively. The HF + PMR group initially received HF diet with PMR (100 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Results : PMR significantly prevented the metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. Chronic treatment with PMR significantly decreased body weight, fat weight and adipocyte size, suggesting a role of anti-obesity effect. PMR led to improve the hyperlipidemia through the increase in HDL cholesterol level as well as the decrease in triglyceride and LDL cholesterol level. In addition, PMR suppressed adhesion molecules and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression in aorta resulting in the decrease of hypertension. In muscle tissue, PMR significantly recovered the HF-induced insulin resistance through increase of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), p-$AMPK{\alpha}1/2$, and p-Akt expression. PMR improved HF-induced metabolic disorders and its action was caused by energy metabolism-mediated insulin signaling activation. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that PMR may be a beneficial therapeutic for metabolic syndrome through the improvement of hyperlipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.77-82
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• 2014

Objectives : The effects of ethanol extract of Plantago asiatica L. were investgated on adipocyte differentiation, lipopogenesis, lipolysis and apoptosis using differnentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods : Plantago asiatica L. was extracted with ethanol (CCE). We carried on MTT assay for cell proliferation, Oil Red O staining for determination of cell differentiation and intracelluar adipogenesis. TUNEL staining assay for cell apoptosis, and Western blot analysis for measurement of pAMPK and pACC, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$ protein expressions were performed. Results : The addition of CCE up to 0.2 mg/ml into cell culture media showed no cytotoxicity. Treatment of 0.2 mg/ml CCE significantly inhibited differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Lipid accumulation of the CCE treated cells was decreased compared with that of control. Induction of cell apoptosis was increased in CCE treated cells compared with that of control. AMPK and ACC levels of the cells with 0.2 mg/ml CCE were led to phosphorylation and also expressions of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, as adipogenic transcription factors, were suppressed compared with those of control. Conclusions : Taken together, these results provide evidence that CCE has a regulatory role in lipid metabolism that is related to differentiation into adipocytes, adipogenesis and apoptosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.94-103
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• 2024

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver, and there is a global increase in its incidence owing to changes in lifestyle and diet. Recent findings suggest that p53 is involved in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; however, the association between p53 expression and the disease remains unclear. Doxorubicin, an anticancer agent, increases the expression of p53. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of doxorubicin-induced p53 upregulation in free fatty acid (FFA)-induced intracellular lipid accumulation. HepG2 cells were pretreated with 0.5 ㎍/mL of doxorubicin for 12 h, followed by treatment with FFA (0.5 mM) for 24 h to induce steatosis. Doxorubicin pretreatment upregulated p53 expression and downregulated the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress- and lipid synthesis-associated genes in the FFA -treated HepG2 cells. Additionally, doxorubicin treatment upregulated the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase, a key modulator of lipid metabolism. Notably, siRNA-targeted p53 knockdown reversed the effects of doxorubicin in HepG2 cells. Moreover, doxorubicin treatment suppressed FFA -induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 spheroids. Conclusively, these results suggest that doxorubicin possesses potential application for the regulation of lipid metabolism by enhance the expression of p53 an in vitro NAFLD model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.197-203
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• 2024

Tuberculous pericarditis is an extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis that is most commonly associated with pericardial thickening, effusion, and calcification. We present a case of tuberculous pericarditis mimicking a malignant pericardial tumor in a 77-year-old male. CT revealed an irregular and nodular pericardial thickening. MRI revealed high signal intensity on T1-weighted fat-suppressed images and peripheral rim enhancement after gadolinium administration. MRI can be helpful in determining the differential diagnoses in cases of tuberculous pericarditis with nonspecific imaging findings.

• Journal of Web Engineering
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1822-1832
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• 2022

We explored the physiological effects of inhaling basil essential oil (BEO) and/or linalool and identified odor-active aroma compounds in BEO using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-olfactometry (GC-O). Linalool was identified as the major volatile compound in BEO. Three groups of rats were administered BEO and linalool via inhalation, while rats in the control group were not. Inhalation of BEO for 20 min only reduced the total weight gain (190.67 ± 2.52 g) and increased the forced swimming time (47.33 ± 14.84 s) compared with the control group (219.67 ± 2.08 g, 8.33 ± 5.13 s). Inhalation of BEO for 5 min (392 ± 21 beats/min) only reduced the pulse compared with the control group (420 ± 19 beats/min). Inhalation of linalool only reduced the weight of white adipose tissue (5.75 ± 0.61 g). The levels of stress-related hormones were not significantly different among the groups. The total cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased after inhalation of BEO for 20 min (by more than -10% and -15%, respectively). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lowered (by more than -10%) by the inhalation of BEO and linalool, regardless of the inhalation time. In particular, BEO inhalation for 20 min was associated with the lowest level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (53.94 ± 2.72 mg/dL). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased after inhalation of BEO (by more than +15%). The atherogenic index and cardiac risk factors were suppressed by BEO inhalation. Animals exposed to BEO and linalool had no significant differences in hepatotoxicity. These data suggest that the inhalation of BEO and linalool may ameliorate cardiovascular and lipid dysfunctions. These effects should be explored further for clinical applications.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.355-365
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• 2011

This study investigated how dietary fat affects muscle atrophy and lipid metabolism in various muscles during hindlimb immobilization in rats. Twenty-four male Sprague?Dawley rats had their left hindlimb immobilized and were divided into four groups by dietary fat content and composition. The contralateral hindlimb (control) was compared with the immobilized limb in all dietary groups. Rats (n = 6/group) were fed a 4% corn oil diet (CO), 2.6% corn oil + 1.4% fish oil diet (FO), 30% corn oil diet (HCO), or a 30% beef tallow diet (HBT)after their hind limbs were immobilized for 10 days. Data were collected for the gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus muscles. Muscle atrophy was induced significantly after 10 days of hindlimb immobilization, resulting in significantly decreased muscle mass and total muscle protein content. The protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\delta}$ (PPAR${\delta}$) in the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus increased following hindlimb immobilization irrespective of dietary fat intake. Interestingly, the PPAR${\delta}$ mRNA level in the plantaris decreased significantly in all groups and that in the FO group was lower than that in the other groups. The soleus PPAR${\delta}$ mRNA level decreased significantly following hindlimb immobilization in the FO group only. Muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (mCPT1) mRNA level was not affected by hindlimb immobilization. However, the mCPT1 mRNA level in the FO group was significantly lower in the plantaris but higher in the soleus than that in the other groups. The pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) mRNA level in the plantaris decreased significantly, whereas that in the soleus increased significantly following hindlimb immobilization. The plantaris, but not soleus, PDK4 mRNA level was significantly higher in the FO group than that in the CO group. The increased PPAR${\delta}$ protein level following hindlimb immobilization may have suppressed triglyceride accumulation in muscles and different types of dietary fat may have differentially affected muscle atrophy according to muscle type. Our results suggest that ${\omega}$-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may suppress muscle atrophy and lipid accumulation by positively affecting the expression level and activity of PPAR${\delta}$ and PPAR${\delta}$-related enzymes, which are supposed to play an important role in muscle lipid metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.