• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.688-696
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of red ginseng-derived saponin fraction (SF) on lipid accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) signaling during adipocyte differentiation. SF effectively inhibited lipid accumulation, with the downregulation of adipogenic factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$). A high dose of SF decreased the protein levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ by over 90% compared to the control. SF-mediated downregulation of adipogenic factors was due to the regulation of early adipogenic factors including $C/EBP{\beta}$ and $Kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like Factor 2 (KLF2). In addition, SF ($200{\mu}g/mg$) decreased intracellular ROS generation by 40% during adipocyte differentiation. However, the SF significantly upregulated Nrf2 and its target proteins, hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADPH dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1). Furthermore, SF ($200{\mu}g/mg$) promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. The SF-mediated reduction of lipid accumulation was associated with the regulation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2011

The anti-cancer effects of Angelica keiskei ethanol extract were evaluated in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. The concentrations of extract were 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg/mL. Dose-dependent reductions in the number of cells with altered cell shape and pyknotic nuclei were observed at 48 h after treatments. MTT assay also exhibited a similar dose-dependent reduction in mitochondrial reductase activity (p<0.05), in particular, with a rapid reduction in the activity of the 5 mg/mL group. Analysis of cell death with propidium iodide (PI) staining revealed only a slight increase in cell death in the 5 mg/mL group. Analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporations also showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation (p<0.05). Finally, increases in total radical oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in cells, as revealed by DCF-DA staining, were observed in the treated groups in a similar dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05). These results indicate that Angelica keiskei ethanol extract exhibiting anti-cancer effects in MDA-MB-231 cells causes multiple changes in cell shape, enzyme activity, and ROS accumulation, thereby inducing cell death.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2014

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is considered a coronary heart disease risk factor and its prevalence rate is increasing in Korea. Because obesity is relevant to metabolic syndrome, we investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire in middle-aged health check-up examinees. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 125 patients who visited a health promotion center of university hospital from October 2012 to January 2013. We analyzed the association of Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire and the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. Results: Pi deficiency (脾虛), phlegm (痰飮), liver stasis (肝鬱) and food accumulation (食積) pattern showed significantly highs score in the group with hypertriglyceridemia. Also, females demonstrated significantly high scores of liver stasis (肝鬱) and food accumulation (食積) in the group with hypertriglyceridemia. The questions of Pattern Identification that showed especially significant high score in the group of hypertriglyceridemia are as follows: 'Easily get annoyed', 'Usually worried', 'Frequently overeating or bingeing', and 'Having more after getting full'. There are positive correlations between triglyceride and the score of Pi deficiency (脾虛), phlegm (痰飮) and food accumulation (食積) pattern. Conclusions: Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire can be used for the management of hypertriglyceridemia in an effort to prevent metabolic syndrome.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.555-567
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Abeliophyllum distichum is a plant endemic to Korea, containing several beneficial natural compounds. This study investigated the effect of A. distichum leaf extract (ALE) on adipocyte differentiation. MATERIALS/METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of ALE was analyzed using cell viability assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated using induction media in the presence or absence of ALE. Lipid accumulation was confirmed using Oil Red O staining. The mRNA expression of adipogenic markers was measured using RT-PCR, and the protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR𝛾) were measured using western blot. Cell proliferation was measured by calculating the incorporation of Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA. RESULTS: ALE reduced lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes, as indicated by Oil Red O staining and triglyceride assays. Treatment with ALE decreased the gene expression of adipogenic markers such as Ppar𝛾, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/ebp𝛼), lipoprotein lipase, adipocyte protein-2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase. Also, the protein expression of PPAR𝛄 was reduced by ALE. Treating the cells with ALE at different time points revealed that the inhibitory effect of ALE on adipogenesis is higher in the early period treatment than in the terminal period. Furthermore, ALE inhibited adipocyte differentiation by reducing the early phase of adipogenesis and mitotic clonal expansion. This was indicated by the lower number of cells in the Synthesis phase of the cell cycle (labeled using BrdU assay) and a decrease in the expression of early adipogenic transcription factors such as C/ebp𝛽 and C/ebp𝛿. ALE suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPK, confirming that the effect of ALE was through the suppression of early phase of adipogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the results of the present study revealed that ALE inhibits lipid accumulation and may be a potential agent for managing obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2019

In this study, the in vitro hepatotoxic mechanism of Ephedra sinica (ma-huang) was investigated by measuring the degree of cell death, secretion of cytokine, and fat accumulation by treating HepG2 cells with 70% ethanolic extracts of ma-huang. Cell death was observed at concentrations of around $5-100{\mu}g/mL$ by treatment with ma-huang extracts (p<0.05). The secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), which are inflammatory cytokines, were significantly promoted at concentrations of around 0.05-100 and $0.5-100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively (p<0.05). In this experiment, it was shown that the extracts of ma-huang stimulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-8 and M-CSF, and lead to fat accumulation in the hepatocytes, thereby causing inflammation of the hepatocytes. Hepatotoxicity was observed at around 10-500 times lower concentration than the concentration required to cause serious toxicity, such as cell death, suggesting that hepatic toxicity (hepatitis) may be induced at a low dose.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.444-455
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adipocytes undergo angiogenesis to receive nutrients and oxygen needed for adipocyte' growth and differentiation. No study relating quercetin with angiogenesis in adipocytes exists. Therefore, this study investigated the role of quercetin on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, acting through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MATERIALS/METHODS: After proliferating preadipocytes into adipocytes, various quercetin concentrations were added to adipocytes, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was investigated as an indicator of fat accumulation. The mRNA expressions of transcription factors related to adipocyte differentiation, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs), peroxisomal proliferatoractivated receptors (PPAR)-γ, and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), were investigated. The mRNA expressions of proteins related to angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9, were investigated. Enzyme activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also measured. RESULTS: Quercetin treatment suppressed fat accumulation and the expressions of adipocyte differentiation-related genes (C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, PPAR-γ, and aP2) in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. Quercetin treatments reduced the mRNA expressions of VEGF-α, VEGFR-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in 3T3-L1 cells. The activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also decreased significantly as the concentration of quercetin increased. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that quercetin inhibits adipose tissue differentiation and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, which could occur through inhibition of the angiogenesis process related to MMPs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2024

Purpose: The carbohydrate-restricted diet has been recognized to be effective into preventing and alleviating lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The rare sugar ᴅ-allulose is a functional monosaccharide with anti-obesity effects. In the present study, we examined the effects of dietary ᴅ-allulose on body fat accumulation in rats fed severely carbohydrate-restricted diets containing high concentrations of different fats, beef tallow, or soybean oil. Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 35, 3-week-old) were divided into 5 groups: One chow-fed control (C) group, and four carbohydrate-restricted groups, namely, beef tallow (B), beef tallow + ᴅ-allulose (BA), soybean oil (S), and soybean oil + ᴅ-allulose (SA), with free access to the diet and water for 8 weeks. The B and BA diets contained 23% beef tallow and 2% soybean oil, whereas the S and SA diets contained 25% soybean oil. Furthermore, the BA and SA diets contained 5% ᴅ-allulose. Results: The final body weight, weight gain, and food intake were significantly higher, and food efficiency was significantly lower in the control group compared to the other carbohydrate-restricted groups. Intra-abdominal adipose tissue, carcass fat, and total body fat weights were not influenced by dietary fat type or ᴅ-allulose supplementation, except for the epididymal adipose tissue weight. In contrast, carbohydrate restriction suppressed body weight gain in rats, but remarkably increased body fat accumulation. Conclusion: Under carbohydrate-restricted conditions, no anti-obesity effects of dietary ᴅ-allulose were observed, regardless of the dietary fat type. The causes of these effects are unknown. However, they may be influenced by a very low carbohydrate and high protein diet. Further research is required to elucidate the effects of ᴅ-allulose under various nutrient compositions with different fat, carbohydrate, and protein energy ratios.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.317-326
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• 2011

With its recent advances, nanotechnology is now being applied to various areas. Despite the benefits of nanoparticles, their risk in the environment has caused controversy, which is now becoming an international issue. Nanoparticles can easily infiltrate into cells, accumulate in biota, and may cause adverse effects in the levels of molecules, cells and organisms, and in the community. If nanoparticles are released into the environment, they can be transferred to organisms in the ecosystem, and eventually to the human body through the food chain. In this study, the research trend of the trophic transfer of nanoparticles in the food chain was investigated. Although a few investigations have been conducted regarding this topic, the trophic transfer of nanoparticles is becoming a significant issue in the area of nanotoxicology due to the potential risk to humans via the biomagnification process. While previous studies have demonstrated evidence of the trophic transfer of nanoparticles intensive future studies are needed to provide further information on the properties of nanomaterials, the exposure media, and the in vivo mechanisms such as uptake, accumulation, and depuration.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1500-1504
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• 2009

Effects of methanol extract from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) (CME) on underlying mechanisms of lipolysis were investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Compared to the control, lipid accumulation with 72 hr treatment of CME at the concentration $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ was significantly decreased by 19.9% as quantified by Oil red O dye. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) content was also lowered by 19.3%. To determine the mechanism for TG content reduction, glycerol release level was measured. Incubation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with 15 and $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ of CME significantly elevated the level of free glycerol released into the cultured medium by 20.4 and 28.6%, respectively. In subsequent measurements using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), mRNA levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) were significantly increased by 21.2 and 24.9%, respectively, at the concentration $20\;{\mu}g/mL$. Results indicated that CME stimulated lipolysis through induction of HSL and ATGL mRNA expressions, resulting in increased glycerol release.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

Fermented ginseng (FG) is an ethanol extract of ginseng radix processed with $\beta$-galactosidase. It was hypothesized that FG may exert anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic activities through modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. In this study, we showed that AMPK phosphorylation was stimulated by FG. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with an AMPK inhibitor, compound C. In addition, FG regulated the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and lipolysis, thus causing suppression of hepatic triglyceride accumulation. In vivo study using db/db mice, FG reduced fasting plasma glucose, HbAlc, and insulin resistance index, when compared to diabetic control. FG also increased the phospho-AMPK and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expressions in liver and skeletal muscle, respectively. In liver, expressions of lipogenic gene were decreased whereas expressions of lipolytic genes were induced, when compared to diabetic control. Taken together, we may suggest that FG ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through activation of AMPK and could be developed as a health functional food or therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetic patients.