• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A high-fat diet (HFD) induces obesity, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cancer, while a calorie-restricted diet can extend life span by reducing the risk of these diseases. It is known that health effects of diet are partially conveyed through epigenetic mechanism including DNA methylation. In this study, we investigated the genome-wide hepatic DNA methylation to identify the epigenetic effects of HFD-induced obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed control diet (CD), calorie-restricted control diet (CRCD), or HFD for 16 weeks (after one week of acclimation to the control diet). Food intake, body weight, and liver weight were measured. Hepatic triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels were determined using enzymatic colorimetric methods. Changes in genome-wide DNA methylation were determined by a DNA methylation microarray method combined with methylated DNA immunoprecipitation. The level of transcription of individual genes was measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The DNA methylation statuses of genes in biological networks related to lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis were influenced by HFD-induced obesity. In HFD group, a proinflammatory Casp1 (Caspase 1) gene had hypomethylated CpG sites at the 1.5-kb upstream region of its transcription start site (TSS), and its mRNA level was higher compared with that in CD group. Additionally, an energy metabolism-associated gene Ndufb9 (NADH dehydrogenase 1 beta subcomplex 9) in HFD group had hypermethylated CpG sites at the 2.6-kb downstream region of its TSS, and its mRNA level was lower compared with that in CRCD group. CONCLUSIONS: HFD alters DNA methylation profiles in genes associated with liver lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis. The methylation statuses of Casp1 and Ndufb9 were particularly influenced by the HFD. The expression of these genes in HFD differed significantly compared with CD and CRCD, respectively, suggesting that the expressions of Casp1 and Ndufb9 in liver were regulated by their methylation statuses.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.358-363
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• 2005

Effects on the feeds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with a giant embryonic rice on lipid peroxides level and antioxidative enzyme activites in plasma and liver tissues were investigated. Along with the experimental periods, all animals in diabetic groups had a lower increase rate in body weight than the normal control group. A giant embryonic rice-fed group showed a inhibition in the decrease of body weight, and a increase in feed intake compared to the normal control group. The organ weights of the diabetic control group were heavier than those of the normal control while rice-fed groups including the giant embryonic rice-fed group were found to have lower organ weights, and its blood sugar level was found to be lower than those of the normal group. Lipid peroxides of the giant embryonic rice-fed animals showed a lower lipid peroxidation values compared to that of the diabetic control group. Plasma vitamin A and E concentrations of the diabetic control group were significantly decreased compared to the normal control while those of the giant embryonic rice-fed group were found to be significantly higher than those of the diabetic control. Of the hepatic antioxidative enzymes, SOD activity of the giant embryonic rice-fed group was higher than that of the diabetic control group. Taken these together, low lipid peroxidation values and, in contrast, high antioxidative enzyme activities were thought to be a cause for decreasing hepatic oxidative damages.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mulberry leaves contain quercetin derivatives, which have the effects of reducing obesity and improving lipid and glucose metabolism in mice with obesity. It is not clear whether or not mulberry leaves can directly affect metabolic disorders, in the presence of obesity, because of the interaction between obesity and metabolic disorders. The aim of the current study was to assess the direct action of quercetin derivatives on metabolic disorders in non-obese conditions in short-term high-fat diet fed mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet, supplemented with either 0% (control), 1%, or 3% mulberry leaf powder (Mul) or 1% catechin powder for five days. Anthropometric parameters and blood biochemistry were determined, and hepatic gene expression associated with lipid and glucose metabolism was analyzed. RESULTS: Body and white fat weights did not differ among the four groups. Plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, and free fatty acids in the 1%, 3% Mul and catechin groups did not differ significantly from those of the controls, however, plasma glucose and 8-isoprostane levels were significantly reduced. Liver gene expression of gp91phox, a main component of NADPH oxidase, was significantly down-regulated, and PPAR-${\alpha}$, related to ${\beta}$-oxidation, was significantly up-regulated. FAS and GPAT, involved in lipid metabolism, were significantly down-regulated, and Ehhadh was significantly up-regulated. Glucose-metabolism related genes, L-PK and G6Pase, were significantly down-regulated, while GK was significantly up-regulated in the two Mul groups compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the Mul quercetin derivatives can directly improve lipid and glucose metabolism by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing ${\beta}$-oxidation. The 1% Mul and 1% catechin groups had similar levels of polyphenol compound intake ($0.4{\times}10^{-5}$ vs $0.4{\times}10^{-5}$ mole/5 days) and exhibited similar effects, but neither showed dose-dependent effects on lipid and glucose metabolism or oxidative stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1562-1569
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• 2004

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs)-enriched diet supplemented with different levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol on the activities of hepatic lipogenic-related enzymes and the contents of liver and plasma lipid fractions in laying Tsaiya ducks. A total of 180 30-wk-old laying Tsaiya ducks, at the beginning of peak production, were allotted into 6 treatments with 3 replicates each. Ducks were fed one of the 6 experimental diets, containing 4% tallow (control), and 4% fish oil supplemented with graded levels of $\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate ($\alpha$-tocopherol) at 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 6 wks. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period. The results indicated that the n-3 PUFAsenriched diet supplemented with different levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol did not affect (p>0.05) egg weight, feed intake, body weight change or liver and abdominal fat weights. Egg production, egg mass and feed efficiency significantly (p<0.05) improved as dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels increased. The activities of hepatic lipogenic-related enzymes including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6. 2. 1. 3; ACC), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1. 1. 1. 49; G-6-PDH), ATP-citrate cleavage enzyme (EC 4. 1. 3. 8; CCE), NADP-malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.40; NADP-MDH) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) were higher (p<0.05) in birds fed with the tallow diet than in those fed with fish oil diets and increased with increasing dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels. None of the dietary treatments significantly affected the contents of triglyceride and total cholesterol in the liver, or total cholesterol, phospholipid and total lipid in the plasma. However, the contents of phospholipid and total lipid in the liver, and triglyceride in the plasma increased as dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels increased. Increasing dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels decreased the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) content in the plasma and trended to decrease the cholesterol contents in the egg yolk. The lipid metabolism of laying Tsaiya ducks was influenced not only by the dietary fat but also by the supplementation levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.385-392
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• 2021

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of lycopene on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, serum lipids levels, activities of hepatic lipid metabolism related enzymes and genes expression in broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 256 healthy one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups with eight replicates of eight birds each. Birds were fed basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene, respectively. Results: Dietary 100 mg/kg lycopene increased the body weight at 21 day of age compared to the control group (p<0.05). Compared to the basal diet, broilers fed diet with 100 mg/kg lycopene had decreased abdominal fat weight, and broilers fed diet with 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene had decreased abdominal fat percentage (p<0.05). Compared to control, diets with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene reduced the levels of total triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum, and diets with 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene reduced the level of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). The activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in 400 mg/kg lycopene treated broilers and the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene treated broilers were lower than those fed basal diet (p<0.05). Lycopene increased the mRNA abundance of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α (AMPK-α), whereas decreased the mRNA abundance of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, FAS, and ACC compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dietary lycopene supplementation can alleviate abdominal fat deposition and decrease serum lipids levels, possibly through activating the AMPK signaling pathway, thereby regulating lipid metabolism such as lipogenesis. Therefore, lycopene or lycopene-rich plant materials might be added to poultry feed to regulate lipid metabolism.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

BACKGROUD/OBEJECTIVES: The mechanism of how black garlic effects lipid metabolism remains unsolved. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of black garlic on lipid profiles and the expression of related genes in rats fed a high fat diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-two male Sqrague-Dawley rats aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) and fed the following diets for 5 weeks: normal food diet, (NF); a high-fat diet (HF); and a high-fat diet + 0.5% or 1.5% black garlic extract (HFBG0.5 or HFBG1.5). Body weights and blood biochemical parameters, including lipid profiles, and expressions of genes related to lipid metabolism were determined. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the final weights between the HFBG1.5 and HF groups. All blood biochemical parameters measured in the HFBG1.5 group showed significantly lower values than those in the HF group. Significant improvements of the plasama lipid profiles as well as fecal excretions of total lipids and triglyceride (TG) were also observed in the HFBG1.5 group, when compared to the HF diet group. There were significant differences in the levels of mRNA of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in the HFBG1.5 group compared to the HF group. In addition, the hepatic expression of (HMG-CoA) reductase and Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) mRNA was also significantly lower than the HF group. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of black garlic extract lowers SREBP-1C mRNA expression, which causes downregulation of lipid and cholestrol metahbolism. As a result, the blood levels of total lipids, TG, and cholesterol were decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2015

This study was conducted to examine whether or not oligonol, a low molecular weight polyphenol derived from lychee fruit, has an ameliorative effect on diabetes-induced oxidative stress-related hepatic damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Oligonol (10 or 20 mg/kg body weight; O10 or O20, respectively) was orally administered every day for 10 days to STZ-induced diabetic rats, and its effects were compared to vehicle-treated diabetic (Veh) and non-diabetic rats. Administration of 20 mg/kg of oligonol significantly decreased liver weight compared with the Veh group (P<0.05). Elevated levels of hepatic glucose, reactive oxygen species, peroxynitrite, and lipid peroxidation were detected in diabetic vehicle rats, whereas oligonol treatment significantly attenuated these levels (P<0.05). In diabetic vehicle rats, hepatic antioxidant enzyme protein levels decreased, whereas oligonol treatment showed significant elevated results. For inflammation-related protein expression, oligonol-treated groups showed insignificant reduction. Oligonol improved expression of proapoptotic protein caspase-3 in the liver of diabetic rats (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results provide important evidence that oligonol exhibits an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress and apoptosis-related protein expression as well as a hepato-protective effect against the development of diabetic complications in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2012

Guinea pigs were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (0.25 g/100 g cholesterol) and randomly allocated either to a Control group (n = 9) or to a Lutein (0.1 g/100 g) group (n = 10) for 12 weeks to evaluate oxidative stress and inflammation in both liver and eyes. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and inflammatory cytokines were measured as well as hepatic nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) binding. Lutein concentrations were greater in eyes ($P$ < 0.01) and liver ($P$ < 0.001) in the Lutein group. All guinea pigs had high concentrations of hepatic cholesterol as well as high plasma ALT and AST levels indicative of liver injury. However, the Lutein group had 43% lower hepatic free cholesterol than the Controls ($P$ < 0.05). Hepatic MDA and MDA in the eye were lower in the Lutein compared to the Control group ($P$ < 0.05). Hepatic tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ was 32% lower in the Lutein group ($P$ < 0.05). Lastly, the Lutein group presented lower NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity than the Control group ($P$ < 0.001). These results suggest that in the presence of high cholesterol, lutein exerts both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which can be explained by attenuated NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity. Furthermore, results also suggest that lutein accumulates in the eyes of guinea pigs to protect against oxidative stress.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.267-276
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• 1990

To achieve a better understanding of antioxidant action manifested by malotilate, the dithiol malonates, we monitored the oxy radical-scavenging system against the chronic hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$ alone or in combination with ethanol. Malotilate was given orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day and $CCl_4$ 1.5 ml/kg was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 4 weeks. In each group receiving ethanol, drinking water was replaced by 20% aqueous solution or glucose, isocaloric amounts of ethanol, as a control of ethanol was diluted in its drinking water. Each rat was killed as a starved state at 18 hours after the period of the experiment, four weeks. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Malotilate inhibited the rate of generation of superoxide radicals, the accumulation of lipoperoxides, and promoted the synthesis of glutathione in the liver. 2) Malotilate stimulated the enhancement of activity of superoxide dismutase in hepatic mitochondria. 3) Malotilate had no effects on the hepatic $H_2O_2$ contents. 4) Malotilate showed the increase of catalase activity in the liver poisoned with $CCl_4$, and also gave a tendency to increase it in the liver intoxicated with ethanol. Thus, our data suggested that the activation of hepatic antioxidant system in the presence of malotilate would play a role in protecting liver against the toxic effects of oxy radical and/or lipid peroxides under the hepatotoxic conditions induced by $CCl_4$ with or without ethanol. However, the effects of malotilate against the ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity appear to be insignificant.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.915-921
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• 2015

Context: In the last half century, discovering, developing and introducing of clinical agents from marine sources have seen great successes, with examples including the anti-cancer compound trabectedin. However, with increasing need for new anticancer drugs, further exploration for novel compounds from marine organism sources is strongly justified. Objective: The major aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor and antioxidant potential of Sargassum tenerrimum J.Agardh (Sargassaceae) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: An ethanol extract of S. tenerrimum (EEST) from whole algae was used to evaluate cytotoxicity followed by in vivo assessment of toxicity, using biochemical parameters including hepatic and non-hepatic enzymes. Antioxidant properties were examined in animals bearing EAC treated with daily oral administration of 100-300 mg/kg extract suspension. Results: Antitumor effects of EEST in EAC bearing mice was observed with LD50 1815 mg/kg. Parameters like body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, tumor cell count, mean survival time and increase in life span in animals in the EAC bearing animals treated with EEST 300 mg/kg was comparable with control group. Significant differences were also seen with changes in total protein content, hepatic enzymes contents, MDA level, and free radical scavenging enzymes in untreated vs. EEST treated group animals. Conclusions: Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes and hepatic enzymes in the EAC animal model treated with EEST exhibited similar effects as the positive control drug 5-flurouracil. S. tenerrimum extracts contain effective antioxidants with significant antitumor activity.