• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.17-26
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• 2022

Objective : The aim of the present study is to examine hepatic lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects of silymarin combined with Jakyakgamcho-tang on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a high fat diet-induced obese mice model. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were divided into four dietary groups: (1) Normal, (2) Control (60% high-fat diet), (3) Control + silymarin 50 mg/kg/day (Silymarin), (4) Control + Silymarin 50 mg/kg/day + Jakyakgamcho-tang 100 mg/kg/day (SPG). After 12 weeks administration, mice were sacrificed and lipids and inflammation-related biomarkers were analyzed liver and plasma. Results : Silymarin and SPG treatments significantly lowered body and liver weights compared to the Control. Serumlipids (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1𝛽, and IL-6) concentrations were significantly lowered in the Silymarin and SPG groups than the Control group. Silymarin and SPG treatments suppressed hepatic TG level and hepatic lipid droplets compared to the Control. Theses two treatments significantly increased hepatic kinase B1 and AMP-activated protein kinase protein levels, and significantly decreased hepatic key lipogenic enzymes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and stearyl coenzyme A desaturase 1) protein levels than the Control. SPG also significantly increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation-related protein (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and uncoupling protein 2) levels than the Control. Conclusions: Silymarin and SPG suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation by regulating hepatic protein expression, and lowered blood pro-inflammatory cytokines concentrations though the synergic effect of silymarin and Jakyakgamchotang was not clear.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.466-475
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• 2005

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) is highly enriched in membrane of brain and retina, and plays an important role in maintaining an optimal function of the central nervous system. We investigated the effect of n-3 fatty acid deficiency on rat brain, retina and liver fatty acyl composition at two different ages (3 wks and 15 wks) under DHA deficient condition. Rat pups born to dams fed a diet with $3.1\%$ of total fatty acids as $\alpha-linolenic$ acid (LNA) were fed using an artificial rearing system either an n-3 deficient (n-3 Def) or n-3 adequate (n-3 Adq) diet. Both diets contained $17.1\%$ linoleic acid (LA) but the n-3 Adq diet also contained $3.1\%$ LNA. Rats consuming the n-3 Def diet showed a lower brain $(50\%\;in\;13\;wks\;and\;70\%\;in\;15\;wks,\;p<0.05)$ and retinal $(50\%\;in\;13\;wks\;and\;63\%\;in\;15\;wks,\;p<0.05)$ DHA than those on the n-3 Adq diet, which was largely compensated for by an increase in docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6, DPAn-6). In the liver of the n-3 Def group, the percentage of DHA decreased by $97\%$ at 3 wks of age with an apparent increase in DPAn-6 relative to the n-3 Adq group (p<0.05), while there was a $65\%$ lower liver DHA in n-3 Def group at 15 wks of age than the n-3 Adq group (p<0.05). Liver arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) was increased at 3 wks of age but decreased at 15 wks of age in the n-3 Def group compared with n-3 Adq group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the replacement of DHA by DPAn-6 in brain and retina fatty acid composition may be related to the suboptimal function in spatial learning, memory and visual acuity. This artificial rearing method presents a first generation model for n-3 deficiency that is similar to the case of human nutrition that commonly employed two generation model.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.302-312
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of two herbal medicines, Agastachis Herba and Lysimachiae Herba, on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NFLDs). Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with palmitic acid and with various concentrations of Agastachis Herba (AH) or Lysimachiae Herba (LH) extract in water. The lipotoxicity was assessed using EZ-cytox, and the lipoapoptosis was assessed using cell death detection ELISA. Intracellular lipids were measured by oil red O staining. The efficacy of AH and LH on sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in HepG2 cells was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Both AH and LH extracts increased lipoapoptosis and decreased lipotoxicity and levels of SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS (SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS are factors in lipid synthesis). In the oil red O staining experiment, both extracts also reduced intracellular lipid accumulation; in this instance, LH's efficacy was superior to that of AH. Conclusions: According to the results, both AH and LH are likely to contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as both interfere with lipid synthesis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.442-452
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the anti-lipogenic effect and the mechanism of Jungmanbunso-hwan extract (JMBSH) on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells.Methods: The JMBSH was prepared, andHepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of JMBSH in order to perform an MTT assay. The HepG2 cells were cultivated in palmitate-containing media with or without extract of JMBSH. The intracellular lipid content in the HepG2 cells was examined. The effects of JMBSH on sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in HepG2 cells were measured.Results: JMBSH did not reduce HepG2 cell viability under 1,000 μg/mL. JMBSH considerably decreased intracellular lipid accumulation caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells. JMBSH repressed expression of SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes (ACC, FAS, and SCD-1). JMBSH also activated AMPK, which plays animportant role in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.Conclusions: This study suggested that JMBSH relieves hepatic steatosis by repressing SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes. The anti-lipogenic effect of JMBSH may also be related to the activation of AMPK. Therefore, JMBSH could potentially be applied to NAFLD treatment after further clinical studies.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2010

It is suggested that ovariectomy induces body weight gain primarily in the form of adipose tissue in rodents. Since liver peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ (PPAR${\alpha}$) and uncoupling 2 (UCP2) are involved in the regulation of energy expenditure, it was investigated whether swim training regulates ovariectomy-induced adiposity and steatosis through liver PPAR${\alpha}$ and UCP2 activation in female ovariectomized mice, an animal model of postmenopausal women. Swim-trained mice had significantly decreased adipose tissue weights compared with sedentary control mice. Histological analysis showed that hepatic lipid accumulation was inhibited by swim training. Concomitantly, swim training significantly increased mRNA levels of PPAR${\alpha}$ and its target genes responsible for peroxisomal fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as acyl-CoA oxidase, enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and thiolase in the liver. Moreover, swim training induced the mRNA expression of UCP2. These results suggest that swim training can effectively prevent adiposity and steatosis caused by ovariectomy, in part through activation of liver PPAR${\alpha}$ and UCP2 in female obese mice.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.134-142
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• 2005

Liver cancer is a leading cause of tumor-related mortality, Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is one of the most extensively studied hepatic carcinogens to date. In this study, the mRNA expression profile in DEN-induced liver tumors in mice was analyzed using DNA microarrays. We report increased expression of genes that participate in hypoxia response, including metallothionein 1 (Mt1), metallothionein 2 (Mt2), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), transferrin (Trf), adipose differentiation-related Protein (AdfP) and ceruloplasmin (CP), as well as those involved in predisposition and development of cancers, such as cytochrome P450 2A5 (Cyp2a5), alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein (Ahsg) and Jun-B oncogene (Junb). The hepatic iron regulatory peptide, hepcidin (Hampl), was downregulated in DEN-stimulated liver tumors. Expression of tumor suppressor genes, such as tripartite motif protein 13 (Trim13), was decreased under these conditions. The data collectively indicate that DEN-induced tumor development can be exploited as a possible model for liver cancer, since this process involves various genes with important functions in hepatic carcinogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.457-465
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• 2019

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) often suffer from diverse skin disorders, which might be attributable to skin barrier dysfunction. To explore the role of lipid alterations in the epidermis in DM skin disorders, we quantitated 49 lipids (34 ceramides, 14 free fatty acids (FFAs), and cholesterol) in the skin epidermis, liver, and kidneys of db/db mice, a Type 2 DM model, using UPLC-MS/MS. The expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis was also evaluated. With the full establishment of hyperglycemia at the age of 20 weeks, remarkable lipid enrichment was noted in the skin of the db/db mice, especially at the epidermis and subcutaneous fat bed. Prominent increases in the ceramides and FFAs (>3 fold) with short or medium chains ($LXR{\alpha}/{\beta}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, nuclear receptors promoting lipid synthesis, lipid synthesis enzymes such as elongases 1, 4, and 6, and fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase were highly expressed in the skin and livers of the db/db mice. Collectively, our study demonstrates an extensive alteration in the skin and systemic lipid profiles of db/db mice, which could contribute to the development of skin disorders in DM.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.60-60
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• 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the common diseases with 25% of prevalence globally, but there is no thera-peutic access available. Amomum villosum var. xanthioides (Wall. ex Baker) T.L.Wu & S.J.Chen (AX), which is a medicinal herb and traditionally used for treating digestive tract disorders in Asia countries. We aimed to examine pharmacological effects of ethyl acetate fraction of AX (AXEF) against ER stress-induced NASH mice model using C57/BL6J male mice by tunicamycin (TM, 2 mg/kg) injection focusing on the oxidative stress. Mice were orally administrated AXEF (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg), silymarin (50 mg/kg) or distilled water daily for 5 days, and outcomes for fatty liver, inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured in serum or liver tissue levels. AXEF drastically attenuated hepatic ER stress-induced NASH which were evidenced by decreases of li-pid droplet accumulations, serum liver enzymes, hepatic inflammations, and cell death signals in the hepatic tissue or serum levels. Interestingly, AXEF showed potent antioxidant effects by quenching of reactive oxidative stress and its final product of lipid peroxide in the hepatic tissue, specifically increase of metallothionein (MT). To confirm underlying actions of AXEF, we ob-served that AXEF increase MT1gene promoter activities in the physiological levels. Collectively, AXEF showed antioxidant properties on TM-induced ER stress of NASH by enhancement of MTs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1383-1388
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• 2008

Because of high growth rate and large deposition of fat in the abdomen, the chicken has been used as a model organism for understanding lipid metabolism, fattening and growing. In this study, differentially expression of proteins in chicken liver, one of the important organs for lipid metabolism, has been investigated at four different growing stages. After separation of proteins using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), more than 700 protein spots were detected. Among them, 13 growing stage specific proteins in chicken liver were selected and further investigated by matrix-assisted laser adsorptions ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Of these, 12 proteins were matched to existing proteins based on a database search. The identified fat-related proteins in this study were fatty acid synthase (FASN) and malic enzyme (ME1). These proteins were more highly expressed at week 32 than at other weeks. In order to confirm the differential expression, one of the proteins, FASN, was confirmed by western blotting. The identified proteins will give valuable information on biochemical roles in chicken liver, especially for lipid metabolism.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Culinary herbs and spices have received much attention since they contain high concentrations of bioactive ingredients for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Protection effect of the herb and spice against acute alcohol consumption has been investigated using zebrafish as a vertebrate model. During 30 days bathed in water containing 1% Et-OH and the designated herb or spice, the survival rate of the Et-OH group was decreased sharply (up to 20% at 10 days). The cinnamon-fed group showed the highest and longer survival rate up to 80% up to for 30 days under the presence of Et-OH, while clove-fed group showed 40% survival rate for 25 days. Et-OH group serum exhibited the weakest antioxidant ability from ferric ion removal ability (FRA) assay; FRA ability was increased in the cinnamon-fed group up to 414%, while the clove and laurel group increased 256% and 309%, respectively. Histologic observation and Oil-red O staining showed hepatic tissue damage was severe in the Et-OH group. The cinnamon- or clove-fed group showed much ameliorated hepatic tissue morphology with minimized steatosis. The cinnamon- or clove-fed group showed lower serum GOT and GPT levels than the Et-OH group. Among hepatic tissue extract, the clove-fed group exhibited the lowest level of GOT and GPT. These results suggest that consumption of cinnamon and clove might be beneficial to attenuate progress of acute fatty liver change by alcohol consumption.