• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2024

Metabolic abnormalities in the liver are closely associated with diverse metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorating effect of robinetin (RBN) on the significant pathogenic features of metabolic failure in the liver and to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. RBN significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) accumulation by downregulating lipogenesis-related transcription factors in AML-12 murine hepatocyte cell line. In addition, mice fed with Western diet (WD) containing 0.025% or 0.05% RBN showed reduced liver mass and lipid droplet size, as well as improved plasma insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. CD38 was identified as a target of RBN using the BioAssay database, and its expression was increased in OPA-treated AML-12 cells and liver tissues of WD-fed mice. Furthermore, RBN elicited these effects through its anti-histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Computational simulation revealed that RBN can dock into the HAT domain pocket of p300, a histone acetyltransferase, which leads to the abrogation of its catalytic activity. Additionally, knock-down of p300 using siRNA reduced CD38 expression. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that p300 occupancy on the promoter region of CD38 was significantly decreased, and H3K9 acetylation levels were diminished in lipid-accumulated AML-12 cells treated with RBN. RBN improves the pathogenic features of metabolic failure by suppressing the p300-CD38 axis through its anti-HAT activity, which suggests that RBN can be used as a new phytoceutical candidate for preventing or improving this condition.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives : Although the anti-obesity effect of Schizandrae Fructus water extract has been demonstrated, its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of Schizandrae Fructus water extract through the p-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), sirtuin1 (Sirt1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling in 60% high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. Methods : Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups. The Normal group was fed a normal diet and the obese groups were fed 60% HFD. Except for the Control group, the GG group was supplemented with 0.5% Garcinia gummigutta and the SCW group was supplemented with 0.5% Schizandrae Fructus water extract. After 6 weeks, obesity-related biomarkers in serum were measured and the expressions of protein for lipid-related factors in liver tissue were analyzed by western blot. Results : Treatment with SCW significantly down-regulated body weight compared to the Control group. SCW down-regulated levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum and significantly increased p-AMPK, Sirt1, and PGC-1α in liver tissue. In addition, the expressions of fatty acid oxidation-related proteins such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT-1A), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) were significantly up-regulated. However, fatty acid synthesis-related proteins including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), phospho-Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (p-ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly down-regulated. Conclusions : Taken together, SCW treatment showed anti-obesity effect by regulating both fatty acid oxidation-related and fatty acid synthesis-related proteins through AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α signaling in 60% HFD-induced obese mice.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-162
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• 2016

Objectives The objective of this study is to develop a taeeumin animal-experimental model induced lung fibrosis with Bleomycin and evaluate the effect on obesity in this animal-experimental model.Methods The subjects were divided into 3 groups : normal group, high fat diet(HFD) control group, and HFD group administered with bleomycin(n=10 per group). To develop taeeumin animal-experimental model with reduced respiratory metabolism, 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were administered with 0.03ml solution of bleomycin 1U/ml dissolved in distilled water, intratracheal(IT), once. Then, the HFD control group and the experimental group were fed with high fat diet for 6 weeks. Airway hyperresponsiveness(AHR) to methacholine was measured at the 1st and 3rd week after bleomycin was administered. Food intake and body weight were measured at regular time weekly. After the final experiment, blood was gathered by cardiac puncture for bloodchemical examination and organs(liver, fatty tissue) were remoed, weighted, and mRNA was analyzed.Results and Conclusions Through the experiment, it was found that Bleomycin induced Taeeumin animal-experimental models have leptin resistace. In the experimental group administered with Bleomycin, fatty acid synthesizing gene expression increased and energy metabolizing gene expression decreased. As mRNA expression of adiponectin decreased, it was found that Taeeuim animal-experimental model is susceptible to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.521-527
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• 2001

The effects of dietary restriction (DR) on antioxidant enzymes were studied in liver, lung and erythrocytes of diabetic rats. Experimental animals used Sprague-Dawley (SD; body weight 350$\pm$20g) male rats and Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETE; body weight 5--$\pm$30g) male rats, as a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type I diabetes was induced in SD rats by intramuscular injection of alloxan (80 mg/kg BW). Animals were randomly assigned either to continue the ad libitum diet or 40% DR (60% intake of ad libitum diet) groups. The body weight was measured at every 2 weeks to 4 months following DR. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were measured in liver, lung and erythrocytes and the concentration of TBARS as a marker of reactive oxygen species-induced tissue injry was also measured in rats after 4 months 40% DR. The body weight 4 months after 40% DR of control SD, alloxian-diabetid SD and OLETE rats were 80%, 98% and 75% of each control groups, respectively. The activities of SOD, catalase and GSHPx in lung and erythrocytes of rats were not change by 40% DR but in 4 month 40% DR rat liver, the activities of SOD and catalase were increased in control SD, alloxan-diabetic SD, and OLETF groups. The concentration of TBARS in lung and erythrocytes was also not changed by 40% DR, while liver TBARS concentration was decreased in OLETF and control SD rats compared to each non-DR control rats. These results suggested that the body weight changes in diabetic rats by DR was more prominent in type 2 diabetes and changes of antioxidant enzymes is most prominent in liver by DR either type 1 and 2 diabetic rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.449-454
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• 2009

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric complex consisting of a catalytic ($\alpha$) and two regulatory ($\beta$ and $\gamma$) subunits. Two isoforms are known for catalytic subunit (${\alpha}1$, ${\alpha}2$) and are encoded by different genes. To assess the metabolic effects of $AMPK{\alpha}1$, we examined the effects of overexpression of adenoviral-mediated $AMPK{\alpha}1$ in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic rats. The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an established animal model of type 2 diabetes that exhibits chronic and slowly progressive hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Thirty five-week-old overt type 2 diabetic rats (n=10) were administered intravenously with Ad.$AMPK{\alpha}1$. AMPK activity was measured by phosphorylation of acetyl CoA carboxlyase (ACC). To investigate the changes of gene expression related glucose and lipid metabolism, quantitative real-time PCR was performed with liver tissues. Overexpression of $AMPK{\alpha}1$ showed that blood glucose concentration was decreased but that glucose tolerance was not completely recovered on 7th day after treatment. Plasma triglyceride concentration was decreased slightly, and hepatic triglyceride content was markedly reduced by decreasing expression of hepatic lipogenic genes. Overexpression of $AMPK{\alpha}1$ markedly improved hepatic steatosis and it may have effective role for improving hepatic lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic state.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.12
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• pp.450-455
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• 2019

Background: Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is associated with the presence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults. Purpose: Here we evaluated the ability of LAP to predict NAFLD in obese children. Methods: Eighty obese children (38 girls; age 6-18 years) were included. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical values were obtained from the patients' medical records. LAP was calculated as [waist circumference (WC) (cm) - 58]×triglycerides (mmol/L) in girls; [WC (cm) - 65]×triglycerides (mmol/L) in boys. The minLAP and adjLAP were described (3% and 50% of WC values, respectively) and the total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol index (TC/HDL-C) was calculated. NAFLD was observed on ultrasound, and patients were divided into 3 groups by steatosis grade (normal, grade 0; mild, grade 1; moderate-severe, grade 2-3). The area under the curve (AUC) and appropriate index cutoff points were calculated by receiver operator characteristic analysis. Results: LAP was positively correlated with puberty stage (rho=0.409; P<0.001), fasting insulin (rho= 0.507; P<0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (rho=0.470; P<0.001), uric acid (rho=0.522; P<0.001), and TC/HDL-C (rho=0.494; P<0.001) and negatively correlated with HDL-C (rho=-3.833; P<0.001). LAP values could be used to diagnose hepatosteatosis (AUC=0.698; P=0.002). The LAP, adjLAP, and minLAP cutoff values were 42.7 (P=0.002), 40.05 (P=0.003), and 53.47 (P= 0.08), respectively. For LAP, the differences between the normal and mild groups (P=0.035) and the normal and moderate-severe groups were statistically significant (P=0.037), whereas the difference between the mild and moderate-severe groups was not (P>0.005). There was a statistically significant difference between the normal and mild groups for adjLAP (P=0.043) but not between the other groups (P>0.005). There was no significant intergroup difference in minLAP (P>0.005). Conclusion: LAP is a powerful and easy tool to predict NAFLD in childhood. If LAP is ≥42.7, NAFLD should be suspected. This is the first study to assess LAP diagnostic accuracy for childhood obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.459-468
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• 1984

The currently accepted model of membrane structure proposes a dynamic, asymmetric lipid matrix of phospholipids and cholesterol with globular proteins embedded across the membrane to various degrees. Most phospholipids are in the bilayer arrangement and also closely associated with integral membrane proteins or loosely associated with peripheral proteins. Biological functions of membrane, such as membrane-bound enzyme functions and transport systems, are influenced by the membrane physical properties, which are determined by fatty acid composition of phospholipids, polar head group composition and membrane cholesterol content. Polar and non-polar region of the phospholipid molecule can interact, with changes in the conformation of a membrane-associated protein altering either its catalytic activity or the protein's interaction with other membrane proteins. Mammalian dietary studies attempted to change the lipid composition of a few cell membranes have shown comparisons, using essential fatty acid-deficient diets. In recent years, Clandinin and a few other workers have pioneered the study proving the influence of dietary fat fed in a nutritionally complete diet on composition of phospholipid classes of cell membrane. Modulation caused by diet fat was rapid and reversible in phospholipid fatty acyl composition of membranes of cardiac mitochondria, liver cell, brain synaptosome and lymphocytes. These changes were at the same time, accompanied by variety of membrane associated functions controlled by membrane-bound enzymes, tranporter and receptor proteins. The findings suggest the basic concept of the necessity of dietary fatty acid balance if consistency of optimal membrane structural lipid composition is to be maintained, as well as the overall inadequacy of describing the nutritional-biochemical quality of a dietary fat solely by its content of linoleic acid. Furthermore, they give light on the possible application to clinical and preventive medicine.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Obese children may often present with advanced bone age. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between factors associated with childhood obesity and advanced bone age. Methods: We enrolled 232 overweight or obese children. Anthropometric and laboratory data, and the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were measured. We analyzed factors associated with advanced bone age by measuring the differences between bone and chronological ages. Results: The normal and advanced bone age groups were comprised of 183 (78.9%) and 49 (21.1%) children, respectively. The prevalence of advanced bone age significantly increased as the percentiles of height, weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) increased. BMI z-score was higher in the advanced bone age group than in the normal bone age group (2.43±0.52 vs. 2.10±0.46; p<0.001). The levels of insulin (27.80±26.13 μU/mL vs. 18.65±12.33 μU/mL; p=0.034) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (6.56±6.18 vs. 4.43±2.93; p=0.037) were significantly higher, while high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were lower (43.88±9.98 mg/dL vs. 48.95±10.50 mg/dL; p=0.005) in the advanced bone age group compared to those in the normal bone age group, respectively. The prevalence of advanced bone age was higher in obese children with metabolic syndrome than in those without (28.2% vs. 14.7%; p=0.016). The prevalence of advanced bone age was higher in obese children with a more severe degree of NAFLD. Conclusion: Advanced bone age is associated with a severe degree of obesity and its complications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1576-1584
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• 2013

This study is carried out to assess the relative effects of different doses of dietary glucose or fructose on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic metaflammation in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes. KK/HlJ male mice were fed experimental diets as follows: 1) control (CON), 2) moderate glucose (MG, 30% of total calories as glucose), 3) high glucose (HG, 60% of total calories as glucose), 4) moderate fructose (MF, 30% of total calories as fructose), and 5) high fructose (HF, 60% of total calories as fructose) for three weeks. Food intake was not affected by treatments. Compared with HF, HG not only increased serum fasting glucose and area under the curve during oral glucose tolerance test, but also decreased the levels of serum insulin and adiponectin. It indicated that glucose control was complicated via high glucose intake. High fructose treatment led to increased triglyceride in the serum and liver. In comparison to HG, high fructose diet activated NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome consisting of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), NLRP3 and caspase 1, which increases interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ maturation and secretion. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was accompanied by increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and IL-6. However, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and pro-inflammatory cytokines did not differ between CON and HG. These data suggested that dietary fructose triggers hepatic metaflammation accompanied by NLRP3 inflammasome activation and has deleterious effects on NAFLD.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.99-103
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the anti-diabetic effect of the water extract of Neolentinus lepideus in a diabetic mouse model. Seven-week-old C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were fed either a control diet (CD) or diet supplemented with 1% or 5% of N. lepideus water extract (NLWE1 or NLWE5) for 10 weeks. Oral administration of NLWE significantly decreased the body weight gain compared to that of CD-fed group. Mice in the NLWE group had significantly lower levels of fasting serum glucose, fatty acids, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to those in the control group. These effects were accompanied by reduced fatty liver and improved glucose tolerance in the NLWE group. Taken together, these results suggest that N. lepideus might have potential as a dietary supplement to control diabetes.