• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Pleurotus eryngii fruiting body on blood glucose and cholesterol levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as experimental animals and experimental groups were divided into three groups, consisting of two control groups (diabetic and non-diabetic) and one P. eryngii group. Animals were fed experimental diets for 2 weeks. The values of died and water intake of P. eryngii group were lower than those of diabetic control group. The body weights of both groups after 2 weeks decreased by 18% as compared with initial values. The level of blood glucose decreased significantly by 16.9% in P. eryngii group as compared with diabetic control group, and there was a significant difference in glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) level between both groups. The levels of total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol in plasma and atherosclerotic index were not significantly different between both groups. However the level of HDL-cholesterol increased significantly by 28% in P. eryngii group as compared with diabetic control group. These results suggested that fruiting bodies of P. eryngii exert blood glucose-lowering effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Objectives: Ephedrae herba (EH) and Coicis semen (CS) has been frequently prescribed for the treatment of obesity. However, effects of combinational extracts of these two herbs on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of EH and CS on lipid accumulation and glucose absorption in free fatty acids (FFAs) or palmitic acid (PA)-treated HepG2 cells. Methods: Five samples of EH and CS were extracted by combination ratios (S1=0:100, S2=25:75, S3=50:50, S4=75:25, S5=100:0). Oil Red O staining was used to measure lipid accumulation in FFAs-induced steatosis cells. Intracellular triglycerides and total cholesterol levels were measured in FFAs-induced steatotic HepG2 cells. In PA-treated cells, intracellular 2-NBDG was detected using a fluorescence microplate reader and flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of key metabolism-related factors of AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, expression of key lipid synthesis-related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 alpha (CPT1α), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) were confirmed by western blot. Results: Treatment of EH-CS combination in the FFAs-induced steatotic HepG2 cells significantly reduced lipid accumulation. As the relative ratio of Ephedrae herba increased, the lipid-lowering effects of the combination were increased. However, S1 and S5 of Ephedrae herba and Coicis semen did not significantly reduce triglycerides and total cholesterol induced by FFAs. However, the combination of Ephedrae herba and Coicis semen restored glucose absorption in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Major makers of SREBP1, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and CPT1α expression tended to decrease with EH ratio. Conclusions: The EH-CS combination has advantages over sole EH and CS extracts in improving lipid and glucose metabolism in liver steatosis models.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2009

This study examined the effects of com gluten (CG) and its hydrolysate consumptions on weight reduction in rats fed a high-fat diet. Eight-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were fed a high-fat diet (40% calorie as fat) for 4 weeks. They were then randomly divided into four groups and fed the isocaloric diets with different protein sources for 8 weeks. The protein sources were casein (control group), intact CG (CG group), CG hydrolysate A (CGHA group, 30% of protein as peptides and 70% as free amino acids) and CG hydrolysate P (CGHP group, 93% of protein as peptides and 7% as free amino acids). Body weight gain, adipose tissue weights, nitrogen balance, absorptions of energy, protein and fat, lipid profiles in plasma, liver and feces and hepatic activities of camitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT), fatty acid synthase (FAS), malic enzyme (ME) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) were assessed. The CGHA diet had the highest amount of BCAAs, especially leucine, and most of them existed as free amino acid forms. The CGHA group showed significant weight reduction and negative nitrogen balance. Protein absorption and apparent protein digestibility in the CGHA group were significantly lower than those in other groups. Adipose tissue weights were the lowest in the CGHA group. Activity of CPT tended to be higher in the CGHA group than in other groups and those of FAS, ME and G6PDH were significantly lower in the CGHA group than in other groups. In conclusion, the CGHA diet which had relatively high amounts of free amino acids and BCAAs, especially leucine, had a weight reduction effect by lowering adipose tissue weight and the activities of FAS, ME and G6PDH in experimental animals, but it seemed to be a negative result induced by lowering protein absorption, increasing urinary nitrogen excretion and protein catabolism.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2007

Low glycemic index (GI) foods have been reported to be very important in the control of blood glucose levels in diseases such as diabetes mellitus and obesity, which are becoming more prevalent in Korea. Bread consumption at breakfast and as a snack is also on the rise. To provide low GI alternatives, breads supplemented with dietary fibers-fructooligosaccharide (FOS), ground whole rye, and 2 types of resistance starch (RS2 and RS4)-were developed. The GIs for these breads were evaluated with 13 healthy college students (M6, F7) and sensory tests were done. Four kinds of breads were made through the modification of a basic recipe for white bread (the control, B) as follows: for Bf, the entire amount of sugar was replaced with FOS. For Ryef, 50% of the white wheat flower was replaced with roughly ground wholerye (20 mesh: 12-20 mesh = 1 : 3) in addition to replacing sugar with FOS. For RS2f and RS4f, 20% of the white wheat flower was replaced with RS2 or RS4, in addition to replacing sugar with FOS. The overall preference score of Bf was similar to that of B, while those of Ryef, RS2f and RS4f were lower than that of B, but showed the acceptable degree of the overall preference. The glycemic indices of Ryef and RS2f were 46.1 and 45.9 respectively, which were significantly lower than the GI of B, 67.8. The GIs of Bf and RS4f were, however, 66.7 and 80.5 respectively, showing no significant difference compared to B. The glycemic loads for a 30 g serving were 9.5, 5.9, 6.2, 11.0 and 9.0 for B, Bf, Ryef, RS2f and RS4f, respectively. In conclusion, addition of RS2 or roughly ground whole rye to the dough formula significantly lowered the GI. Since the preferences shown for those two breads were acceptable, they may be recommended as a substitute for white bread fir persons who need blood glucose management. More studies on the bread making process are required to improve preference and acceptance. Although GI lowering effects for F and RS4 were not found in this study, further studies are needed to verify their effects.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.382-390
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• 2018

Background: The plant Aster koraiensis has long been used as an ingredient in folk medicine. It has been reported that Aster koraiensis extract (AKE) prevents the progression of diabetes-induced retinopathy and nephropathy. However, although these beneficial effects of AKE on diabetes complications have been identified, the antidiabetic effects of AKE have not yet been completely investigated and quantified. In the present study, the glucose-lowering and antioxidant effects of aqueous and ethanolic AKEs were evaluated. Methods and Results: The glucose-lowering effects of aqueous and ethanolic (30%-, 50%-, and 80%-ethanol) AKEs were investigated via ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory assays. The mode of inhibition by AKEs on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was identified through kinetic analysis. The total antioxidant capacity of each of the 4 AKEs was evaluated by assessing their conversion rate of $Cu^{2+}$ to $Cu^+$. The content of chlorogenic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, the bioactive compounds in AKE, in each extract were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The AKEs showed potent ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity with mixed inhibition mode, and significant antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: These results of this study suggested that the AKEs tested had ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant effects. Among the extracts, the 80% ethanol extract showed the most significant ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$ value) of $1.65{\pm}0.36mg/m{\ell}$ and a half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$ value) for its antioxidant activity of $0.42{\pm}0.10mg/m{\ell}$. It can therefore be used as a source of therapeutic agents to treat diabetes patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.199-210
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mulberry juice and cake powder on blood glucose and lipid status along with intestinal disaccharidase and erythrocyte antioxidative enzyme system in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing $100{\pm}10g$ were randomly assigned to one normal group, and eight STZ-induced diabetic groups: control diet group without mulberry juice and cake powders (DM-C), three mulberry juice powder groups (0.5%: DM-0.5J, 1%: DM-1J, 2%: DM-2J) and low mulberry cake powder groups (0.25%: DM-0.25C, 0.5%: DM-0.5C, 1%: DM-1 C, 2%: DM-2C). After three-week feeding of each experimental diet, diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg body weight of STZ in sodium citrate buffer (pH 4.3) via tail vein of eight DM groups. Rats were sacrificed at the 9th day of diabetic states. Level of blood glucose was 505 mg/dl in DM-C group but it was 28% and 39% lower in mulberry juice and cake powder fed groups, respectively, than the DM-C group. Activities of maltase, sucrase and lactase in proximal part of small intestine were significantly lower in the mulberry juice and cake powder groups by $42{\sim}47%$ than those of DM-C group. Erythrocytic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly reduced by STZ but increased close to normal levels along with less accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Serum levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol by STZ-DM were reduced and increased respectively, to the norma] levels by the mulberry juice and cake powder. Except the levels of TBARS, the effects on the other measurements by the various dietary levels of mulberry juice and cake powder were almost same and the effect of the cake powder was most significant at the lowest level. These results indicate that mulberry juice and cake powders have consityerable hypoglycemic effect and strengthening antioxidant defense systems at the low levels in diabetic state and may be able to reduce diabetic complications.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2015

Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, has interesting pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant. As supported by recent scientific reports on the beneficial effects of M. charantia, it is one of the most promising functional plants for diabetes today. In this study, we fermented the bitter melon with lactic acid bacteria and investigated the capability of controlling diabetic conditions by decreasing the blood glucose levels. After extracting the fermented bitter melon with hot water or ethanol, we tested several biological activities using mouse models. When we tested the efficacy of the glycemic control, the extracts of fermented bitter melon significantly lowered the blood glucose levels of the alloxan-induced diabetic mice. We also found that the lactic acid bacteria-fermented bitter melon protected liver damages from the treatment of alloxan monohydrates and maintained low levels of triglycerides and high levels of HDL cholesterol in these mouse models. These results suggest that our approach on fermenting bitter melon and the extracts of fermented bitter melon could lead to the possibility of the development of functional foods that contain the effectiveness of controlling blood glucose and lipid levels as well as preventing liver damages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1171-1176
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Cassia tora ethanol extract on the lipid levels in serum and liver of rats fed high cholesterol diet. Experimental rats were divided into the following 4 groups: normal diet group, high cholesterol diet group, high choleslerol-0.25% C. tora ethanol extract group and high cholesterol-0.5% C. tora ethanol extract group. After 4 weeks, rats were sacrificed and analyzed the serum lipid profiles, activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and malic enzyme (ME). It was also determined the contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in liver. There was no difference in weight gains between experimental groups. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid were tended to be decreased in C. tora groups compared with control group. HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased in high cholesterol diet group and slightly increased by C. tora ethanol extract feeding. The contents of liver cholesterol and triglyceride were higher in high cholesterol diet group than normal group, but significantly decreased by feeding of C. tora ethanol extract. Supplementation of 0.5% C. tora extract decreased significantly the activities of hepatic G6PDH and ME. Activities of serum AST, ALT and contents of liver TBARS were tended to be increased with high cholesterol diet and reduced by C. tora ethanol extract supplementation but had not significance. These results suggest that C. tora ethanol extract may exert a lipid lowering effect in serum and liver of rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.801-806
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• 2005

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on plasma glucose and lipid levels in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabolic rats. 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. fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. The food intake and body weight were monitored and plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) , free fatty acid (FFA) , and aminotransferase activity were analyzed. A significant lowering effects of plasma glucose levels were observed in the chloroform fraction and $H_2O$ fraction group compared to STZ-control group at 14 days. Administrations of each of the three fractions decreased plasma TG and FFA levels in diabetic rats. Activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in $CHCl_3$ fraction and $H_2O$ fraction groups and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in $H_2O$ fraction group significantly lower than STZ-control group. The results show that $CHCl_3$ fraction of Benincasa hispida could be effective to control the STZ-induced diabetic rats. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10): 801$\sim$806,2005)

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.363-374
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect and safety of herbal extracts in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: We investigated 19 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were administered Banhasasim-tang (BST), Gumiganghwal-tang (GGT), or Pyeongwee-san (PWS) at Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Hospital for at least three days between January 2012 and December 2021. Their clinical characteristics and laboratory tests were reviewed retrospectively. The glucose-lowering effect of the herbal extracts was assessed by comparing blood glucose levels, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), two-hour postprandial glucose (PP2) levels, and glycated hemoglobin levels. To evaluate the safety of the herbal extract, liver function test and kidney function test results were compared, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr). Results: After taking herbal extracts, PP2 and HbA1c levels significantly decreased from 205.82 mg/dL to 171.41 mg/dL and 7.58% to 6.62%, respectively. The safety profile reported no significant difference after taking herbal extracts. Conclusions: BST, GGT, and PWS may have hypoglycemic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus taking hypoglycemic medication.