• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-281
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• 2001

Leek(Allium tuberosum Rotter) is a korean traditional herb of which leaves are used for daily food. In order to improve the potency of leek as a functional food, we investigated the several biochemical functions in vitro. The quinone reductase activity, an anticarcinogenic enzyme, was induced 2 times at the concentration of 1mg/ml of leek as compared to that of negative control(80% methanol). The induction of SOD(Superoxide dismutase) activity was also demonstrated. But the functional activities of leek were shown to be a little difference depending on the place where the leek was produced. The difference might to be due to the different environmental factors where affects the growth of leek. In an experiment to test the lypolytic activity of leek, the glycerol release was significantly increased(about 3 times to that of negative control). This was suggested that leek can be considered as a potential food for diet. The above results provide the potential food, and more profound research is requested.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2017

Adipogenesis in murine preadipocyte 3T3L-1 has been used as a model system to study anti-obese bioactive molecules. During adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we found that capsanthin inhibited adipogenesis ($IC_{50}$; $2.5{\mu}M$) and also showed lipolytic activity in differentiated adipocytes from the preadipocytes ($ED_{50}$; 872 nM). We identified that the pharmacological activity of capsanthin on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 was mainly due to its adrenoceptor-${\beta}_2$-agonistic activity. In high-fat diet animal model study, capsanthin significantly enhanced spontaneous locomotive activities together with progressive weight-loss. The capsanthin-induced activation of kinetic behavior in mice was associated with the excessive production of ATP initiated by both the enhanced lipolytic activity together with accelerated oxidation of fatty acids due to the adrenoceptor ${\beta}_2$-agonistic activity of capsanthin. Capsanthin also dose-dependently increased adiponectin and p-AMPK activity in high fat diet animals, suggesting that capsanthin has both anti-obesity and insulin sensitizing activities.