• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.655-661
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and associated mechanisms of arctiin, a lignan compound found in burdock, on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Also, the effects of arctiin supplementation in obese mice fed a high-fat diet on adiposity were examined. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with arctiin (12.5 to $100{\mu}M$) during differentiation for 8 days. The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining and intracellular triglyceride contents. The expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. For in vivo study, C57BL/6J mice were first fed either a control diet (CON) or high-fat diet (HF) to induce obesity, and then fed CON, HF, or HF with 500 mg/kg BW arctiin (HF + AC) for four weeks. RESULTS: Arctiin treatment to 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes markedly decreased adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The arctiin treatment significantly decreased the protein levels of the key adipogenic regulators $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and also significantly inhibited the expression of SREBP-1c, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid-binding protein and lipoprotein lipase. Also, arctiin greatly increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream target phosphorylated-acetyl CoA carboxylase. Furthermore, administration of arctiin significantly decreased the body weight in obese mice fed with the high-fat diet. The epididymal, perirenal or total visceral adipose tissue weights of mice were all significantly lower in the HF + AC than in the HF. Arctiin administration also decreased the sizes of lipid droplets in the epididymal adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Arctiin inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through the inhibition of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and the activation of AMPK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that arctiin has a potential benefit in preventing obesity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.865-871
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• 2017

Objective: The aim was to evaluate carcass characteristics, cut yield, and meat quality in lambs that were fed different inclusion levels of palm kernel cake. Methods: Forty-five woolless castrated male Santa $In{\hat{e}}s$ crossbred sheep with an initial average body weight of $23.16{\pm}0.35kg$ were used. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five treatments, with palm kernel cake in the proportions of 0.0%, 7.5%, 15.0%, 22.5%, and 30.0% with nine replications per treatment. After slaughter, the gastrointestinal tract was weighed when it was full, after which it was then emptied. The heart, liver, kidney, pancreas perirenal fat were also collected and weighed. The carcass was split into two identical longitudinal halves and weighed to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Results: The empty body weight, carcass weight and yield, and fat thickness decreased linearly (p<0.05) as a function of palm kernel inclusion in the diet. There was no difference (p>0.05) for the rib eye area of animals that were fed palm kernel cake. There was a reduction in the commercial cut weight (p<0.05), except for the neck weight. The weights of the heart, liver, kidney fat, small, and large intestine, and gastrointestinal tract decreased. Nevertheless, the gastrointestinal content was greater for animals that were fed increasing levels of cake. For the other organs and viscera, differences were not verified (p>0.05). The sarcomere length decreased linearly (p<0.05), although an effect of the inclusion of palm kernel cake was not observed in other meat quality variables. It is worth noting that the red staining intensity, indicated as A, had a tendency to decrease (p = 0.050). Conclusion: The inclusion of palm kernel cake up to 30% in the diet does not lead to changes in meat quality characteristics, except for sarcomere length. Nevertheless, carcass quantitative characteristics decrease with the use of palm kernel cake.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2011

Effect of Sargassum confusum extract on the reduction of body weight gain and lipid contents in obese rats were evaluated to find natural materials with anti-obesity benefits. After inducing obesity by feeding 42.5% high-fat diet for 5 weeks, each 10 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to high-fat diet control (HFD) group and high-fat diet group containing 3% Sargassum confusum extract (HFDSC). Weight gain of HFD group ($2.96{\pm}0.31g/day$) was significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared to that of normal diet (ND) group ($2.19{\pm}0.17g/day$). Weights of adipose tissues of HFD group were higher than those of ND group. Body weight gain of HFDSC group, however, was $2.36{\pm}0.24g/day$, which was significantly (p<0.05) lower by 21% than that of HFD group. In addition, weights of epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues were lower by 15% and 16%, respectively, as compared to those of HFD group. Biochemical analyses showed that concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and fatty acids were significantly (p<0.05) lower in HFDSC group. These results suggest that Sargassum confusum extract has a high potential as an anti-obesity material by reducing weight gain and obesity-related factors in serum.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effect of lysine-limited diets containing different levels of L-carnitine on body weight and lipid metabolism in obesity-induced adult rats. Eight-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 90) were raised for one month with high fat diet (40% fat as calorie) to induce obesity. After induction of obesity, rats weighing 739.5 g were randomly blocked into three groups according to the body weight and raised for eight weeks with control diet (Co), 50% lysine-limited diet (-L), 50% lysine limitation with 0.3% pivalate diet (-L + P). Each of three groups was allotted to 0.0% L-carnitine (0.0% CT), 0.5% L-carnitine (0.5% CT) and 2.5% L-carnitine (2.5% CT) groups, respectively. The levels of AST, ALT, total protein and albumin in plasma were within the normal range. Daily food intake and calorie intake tended to be lower in 2.5% CT groups than those of other groups regardless lysine limitation or pivalate intake. And body weight gain and calorie efficiency ratio (weight gain (g) /calorie intake (100 kcal)) were significantly the lowest in 2.5% CT groups among all experimental groups regardless of lysine limitation or pivalate intake. The weights of perirenal, epididymal fat pads and brown adipose tissue in 2.5% CT groups were significantly lower than 0.0% CT groups. Plasma total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol concentrations in all groups were not significant by experimental compound. HDL-cholesterol concentrations in -L + P +2.5% CT group were highest in -L + P groups. Levels of hepatic total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol in 2.5% CT groups were tend to be lower those than in 0.0% CT groups regardless of dietary lysine limitation and pivalate intake. Fecal total lipid excretions of 2.5% CT groups were significantly lower than in 0.0% CT groups in all experimental groups. But fecal triglyceride excretions of 2.5% CT groups were significantly higher than 0.0% CT groups regardless of lysine limitation and pivalate. In conclusion, there was no difference on body weight and lipid metabolism by dietary lysine limitation and pivalate intake. And feeding of 2.5% L-carnitine was more effective than feeding of 0.5% L-carnitine and 0.0% L-carnitine in reduction of body weight, body fat and lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2002

The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of administration of antiserum against adipocyte plasma membrane(APM) proteins into rats on body fat mass. Twenty(20) male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into either control or antiserum treatment group(10 rats/treatment) and immunized with physiological saline(control group) and polyclonal antiserum (treatment group), respectively, raised in sheep against rat APM proteins(5times, 2day interval). All animals were killed 4weeks after last injection. Intraperitoneal(i.p.) administration of antiserum significantly(P=0.0054 and P=0.0019, respectively) reduced subcutaneous(21.9%) and perirenal + mesentric + epididymic(36.0%) adipose tissue mass in rats of treatment group. Although body weights of antiserum treated rats were decreased during immunization, the rats recovered their body weight after 1 week of treatment. There were no significant changes in the level of blood glucose and in the contents of muscle protein and fat in antiserum treated animals. Current results indicate that polyclonal antibodies against APM proteins could be used to manipulate body fat mass in meat animals as well as laboratory animals. Further studies, however, are necessary for the practical applications of the current results.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.714-722
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of leucine on body weight reduction in high fat diet-induced overweight rats. To induce overweight, six-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 80) were divided into 8 groups; one group of 10 rats was fed on a normal fat diet and the remaining 70 rats were fed on a high-fat diet (40% of energy as fat) for 14 weeks. Then, 10 rats fed on the normal fat diet and another 10 rats fed on the high fat diet were sacrificed to identify overweight induction. The remaining 60 rats were divided randomly into 6 groups according to body weight and fed on one of the diets with different dietary fat levels (9.6% or 40% of energy as fat) and leucine levels (0, 0.6 or 1.2 g/kg BW) for the following 5 weeks of experiments. The body weight loss in the Leu-administered groups (0.6 g, 1.2 g/kg BW) was significantly higher than those of Leu non-administered groups. The perirenal fat pad weights in the Leu-administered groups were significantly lower than those of the Leu non-administered groups. Of the hepatic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activities were reduced significantly in the Leu-administered groups than in the Leu non-administered groups. With the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the incremental areas under the curve of the glucose response (IAUC) of the Leu-administered groups were significantly lower than those of the Leu non-administered groups. The fasting glucose concentration and HOMA-IR of the Leu-administered groups were significantly lower than those of the Leu non-administered groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that one of the possible mechanisms of leucine in the observed body weight reduction might involve the inhibition of lipogenic enzyme activities such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, rather than the activation of lipolysis enzymes. Additionally, leucine adminstration resulted in improved glucose metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.200-206
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• 2014

We investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-obesity effects of extracts from young Akebia quinata D. leaves, including hot water (AQH) and 80% ethanol (AQE) extracts. The inhibitory effects of AQH and AQE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells were examined by Oil Red O staining. Compared to control, lipid accumulation was significantly reduced by 18.3% with the treatment upon AQE at a concentration of $5{\mu}g/mL$. The levels of intracellular triglycerides and free glycerol were also reduced by 52.8% and 9.1% at the same concentration of AQE. The in vivo anti-obesity effect of AQE was evaluated in terms of body and white adipose tissue weights in ICR mice. Experimental groups were divided into the following five groups: normal diet (ND), high fat diet (HFD), high fat diet with 60 mg/kg/day of Orlistat (HFD-RF), high fat diet with 200 mg/kg/day of AQE (HFD-AL), and high fat diet with 600 mg/kg/day of AQE (HFD-AH). Feeding of HFD for eight weeks resulted in significant increases in body weight as well as weight gain compared to the ND group. HFD-AH group showed reduced body weight, weight gain, epididymal white adipose tissue weight, and perirenal white adipose weight as compared to the HFD group. These results indicate that AQE supplementation might have beneficial effects on anti-obesity by inhibiting lipid accumulation.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.108-123
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• 2016

Objectives : This comparative study was to investigate on anti-obesity effects of Ephedrae Herba and Cyperi rhizoma in high fat diet(HFD) fed mice. Methods : Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet(normal group, N), high fat 45 cal% diet[HFD, control group, C), HFD with Ephedrae Herba(EH group) and Cyperi rhizoma(CR group) extracts fed for 5 weeks. We were observed as follows : changes of body weight, amount of diet intake, weight of total visceral fats, levels of obesity-related hormones and blood lipids. Results : The change of body weight after EH and CR oral administration significantly more decreased in EH group than that of control group. The FFR(Food Efficiency Ratio) was decreased in EH group, but more increased in CR group than that of control group. The weight of periepididymal and perirenal fats were significantly decreased in EH and CR groups compared to the control group. The levels of serum leptin and insulin were significantly decreased in EH group, and the level of serum adiponectin was increased in EH group compared to control group. The levels of serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly decreased in EH and CR groups, and HDL-cholesterol levels was significantly increased in EH group compared to control group. Conversely in CR group, its values showed the opposite effect. The staining density of lipid droplets within the hepatocytes was widely distributed in CR and control groups, but in EH group, its density was weakly stained. Conclusions : These experimental results suggest that Ephedrae Herba shows conspicuous anti-obesity effect, and Cyperi rhizoma shows weak anti-obesity effect.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-226
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• 1986

To understand the pathogenesis of anicteric leptospirosis with severe pulmonary hemorrhage occured in Korea, the microbiological and pathological features were observed in the experimentally induced leptospirosis in guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans isolated from the patient at Wonju, Korea, and the results are summarized as follows. 1. The main pathological features were widespread hemorrhages, especially affecting lung, skeletal muscles, retroperitoneal and perirenal adipose tissues. The hemorrhages accompanied inflammatory process especially of vasculitic pattern as well as occasional coagulation necrosis in the liver, skeletal muscle, and myocardium. The main inflammatory cells were of plasma cell even in the fairly early stage of the infection. 2. Those pathologic changes were more exaggerated in the inoculation site. 3. Within 144 hours of infection, the longer the infection time, the more antigens were observed in the tissues, and the severer the pathologic changes. 4. Leptospiral antigens were detected at first by indirect immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase technics. As the infection time extended, the antigens were observed in all of the tissues examined except in the skeletal muscle. The shape of the antigens was spiral or thread-like within 72 hours of infection. As the infection progressed, they became fragmented and granular. 5. Leptospires were detected in the blood within 144 hours of infection by darkfield microscopic examination. Thereafter, none was observed. 6. Antibody to leptospires were detected as early as 72 hours of infection. In summary, the virulent strain of L. interrogans used in this experiment induced widespread hemorrhages with inflammatory reaction especially in lung, skeletal muscles, and retroperitoneal adipose tissue. With these findings, it is suggested that the direct toxic effect of leptospires might playa great role in the pathogenesis of this infection.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2015

We investigated the anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus C isolated from kimchi and red ginseng and black raspberry mixture fermented by this strain. Experimental samples were prepared with 10% skim milk, 1% red ginseng extract and 1% immature black raspberry powder and without red ginseng extract and black raspberry fermented by this strain at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hour. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (a normal diet group (N), a high-fat diet group (HF), a high fat diet with L. acidophilus C (C), and a high fat diet with fermented mixture (CEx)) and were orally administered daily for 6 weeks at concentration of 2,000 mg/kg body weight. The results showed that weight gain, weight of periepididymal fat and perirenal fat, adipocyte size, lipid accumulation in liver, serum glucose concentration, serum GOT and GPT concentration and serum leptin were decreased and concentration of HDL-cholesterol and serum adiponectin were increased compared to HF group. These results suggest that fermented mixture (CEx) might be helpful in improvement of high-fat diet-induced obesity than only L. acidophilus C intake.