• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.236-245
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of guava leaf extract (GLE) supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activity and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA in ovariectomized rats. Methods: All animals were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 7 for each group): non-ovariectomized control (Sham), the ovariectomized control (OVX), ovariectomy + 150 mg/kg b.w. of GLE ($OVX{\cdot}GL$), and ovariectomy + 300 mg/kg b.w. of GLE ($OVX{\cdot}GH$). Treatment groups were administered GLE for 8 weeks every day. Results: Body weight gain was significantly reduced in the $OVX{\cdot}GL$ group compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). The level of serum $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) was significantly lower in the OVX groups than the Sham group (p < 0.05). Serum triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly different between all groups. However, serum total cholesterol (TC) level was significantly reduced in the $OVX{\cdot}GH$ group compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). Serum free fatty acid (FFA) level and liver TG level were significantly reduced in both $OVX{\cdot}GL$ and $OVX{\cdot}GH$ groups compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was significantly elevated in the GLE groups (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of GPx was not affected by ovariectomy. However, administration of GLE resulted in significantly increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and catalase (CAT) mRNA expression levels in the liver (p < 0.05). In addition, liver nitric oxide (NO) level was significantly reduced in the $OVX{\cdot}GH$ group compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). Expression level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was significantly elevated in the $OVX{\cdot}GH$ group compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that GLE could have protective effects in OVX rats by stimulating eNOS expression and improving the antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.985-991
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological effect of obesity-induced oxidative damage on neurogenesis and early protein expression. Obesity was induced I thirty 4-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats through a high fat diet for 15 weeks. After one week of environmental adaptation, the rats were divided into 2 groups: high fat diet sedentary group (HDS, n=15) and high fat diet training group (HDT, n=15). Exercise training was performed 5 times a week for 8 weeks, with mild-intensity treadmill running for weeks 1-4 and moderate-intensity treadmill running for weeks 5-8. After the 8 week training period, we analyzed lipid profiles, serum 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG), liver tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) related to oxidative damage factors, nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), c-fos, c-jun, and extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk) in the hippocampus. The results of this study are as follows. There were differences between HDS and HDT in triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) (p<0.05). In high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), the HDT was higher than HDS after treadmill training (p<0.05). In 8-OHdG, the HDT was lower than HDS after treadmill training (p<0.05). Genetic expressions of c-jun, BDNF and MDA in the HDT were higher than in the HDS after treadmill training in hippocampus (p<0.05). Therefore, we conclude that 8 weeks of treadmill training can improve imbalanced lipid profiles, reduce oxidative damage, and activate neurogenesis in obese rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.967-977
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• 2023

Rubus crataegifolius (RC) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits of RC are known to prevent adult diseases through antioxidants. In this study, the effects of RC extract (RCex) on obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in animal models. Twenty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become obese for 8 weeks and then the extract was orally administered for 8 weeks. RCex reduced body weight, adipose tissue, liver weight. RCex improved biochemical biomarkers including lipid metabolism (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reduced the expression of adipogenesis genes (liver × receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and the effect of enhancing carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity by RCex was verified. RCex also influence on plasma production of hormones (adiponectin & leptin) related on energy expenditure and metabolism. In addition, we confirmed that RCex improved glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese rats. RCex was first demonstrated to have anti-obesity as well as anti-NAFLD effects by regulating fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of AMPK. This suggests that RCex could be a good supplement for the prevention of obesity and related NAFLD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.284-291
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise (EX) and Korean red ginseng (KRG) on inflammation mechanism in aging model rats with diet-induced atherosclerosis. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups: Young control (Y-C), Aging control (A-C), A-C with HFD (AHF), AHF with EX (AHF-EX), AHF-EX with KRG (AHF-EX+RG), and AHF with KRG (AHF-RG). Aging was induced by D-gal (100mg/kg) and atherosclerosis was induced by HFD (60% fat) for 9 weeks. The experimental rats were performed swimming (60 min/day, 5 days/week) and supplied KRG orally (dose of 200 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. All rat aorta samples were harvested for biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. REULTS: The EX and KRG supplementation significantly inhibited body weight and levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and enhance of HDL-C compared with untreated AHF groups. AHF-EX, AHF-EX+RG, and AHF-RG group showed a decreased plasma CRP and increase plasma NO activities compared to AHF group. In addition, these groups revealed reduced 4-HNE, NF-kB, TNF-, ${\alpha}$, IL-6, COX-2, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and enhanced eNOS expression in the aorta. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EX alone, KRG alone, and combined treatment of EX and KRG may be an effective anti-inflammatory therapeutic for the atherosclerosis, possibly acting via the decreased of CRP and pro-inflammation proteins and the increased NO and eNOS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1477-1483
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• 2014

This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of African mango (Irvingia gabonesis, IGOB $131^{TM}$) extract in leptin-deficient obese mice. Experimental groups were treated with two different doses of IGOB $131^{TM}$ (1% and 2% in each AIN93G supplement) for 8 weeks. Treatment of obese mice with both low and high dose of IGOB $131^{TM}$ significantly reduced body weight gain by 10.9% and 13.3%, respectively, compared to control obese mice. Subcutaneous adipose tissue weight of mice was significantly reduced by 18% by low-dose and 23% by high-dose supplementation. This result was supported by micro-CT analysis around the abdominal regions of mice, indicating that the adipose tissue area and volume were significantly reduced by treatment with IGOB $131^{TM}$. Serum levels of triglycerides in the low- and high-dose groups were reduced by 36.5% and 43.8%, respectively, upon treatment with IGOB $131^{TM}$, whereas total cholesterol levels were reduced by 31.8% and 35.4%. Interestingly, the serum LDL level decreased upon treatment with IGOB $131^{TM}$ while the serum level of HDL dramatically increased upon high-dose treatment with IGOB $131^{TM}$, resulting in a significant reduction in the LDL to HDL ratio of 59.2%. These results were supported by the expression levels of enzymes and proteins related to lipid metabolism assessed by real-time PCR. There was a significant increase of in adiponectin expression as well as significant decreases in the expression of FAS, LPL, and lipid regulatory transcription factors such as PPAR-${\gamma}$, C/EBP, and SREBP upon both low- and high-dose IGOB $131^{TM}$ treatment. However, there was no statistical difference between low- and high-dose treatments. These results suggest that IGOB $131^{TM}$ is able to regulate the serum lipid profiles by reducing triglyceride and increasing HDL levels as well as regulate expression of lipid metabolic factors, resulting in reduction of a weight gain in leptin-deficient obese mice.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture on weight loss, food intake, lipid metabolism, adipogenesis. Methods Four week-old C57BL/6J mice acclimatized to the laboratory environment for 1 week were allocated into four groups of 6~8 mice each: normal diet group, high fat diet group, high fat diet group and treated with acupuncture at HT7, high fat diet group and treated with acupuncture at ST36 for 90days. High fat diet group was used to control group. Results 1) Body weight, food intake of the ST36, HT7 groups decreased compared with those of control group. ST36 group was more effective with body weight decrease, and HT7 group was more effective with food intake decrease. 2) NEFA, TG, TC, ALT, AST of the ST36, HT7 groups decreased compared with those of control group. ST36 group was more effective. 3) The expression of SREP-1c, SREBP-2 of the ST36 group decreased compared with those of control group. These decreased rates were statistically significant. SREBP-2 of the HT7 group decreased significantly compared to the control group. 4) LXR, FAS, SCD of the ST36 group decreased significantly compared with control group. 5) p-ACC, HMGCR of the ST36 group decreased significantly compared with those of control group. HMGCR of the HT7 group decreased significantly compared with control group. Conclusions These results suggest that ST36, HT7 acupuncture may be used prevent or treat the obesity induced by high fat diet.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to test the association between APOA5 3'-UTR variants (rs662799) and cardiometabolic traits in Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For this study, epidemiological data, Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) genotype information, and lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) biospecimens from a subset of the Ansung-Ansan cohort within the Korean Genome and Epidemiology study (KoGES-ASAS; n = 7,704) as well as epidemiological data along with genomic DNA biospecimens of participants from a subset of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2011-12; n = 2,235) were obtained. APOA5 mRNA expression was also measured. RESULTS: APOA5 rs662799 genotype distributions in both the KoGES-ASAS and KNHANES groups were 50.6% for TT, 41.3% for TC, and 8.1% for CC, which are similar to those in previous reports. In both groups, minor C allele carriers, particularly subjects with CC homozygosity, had lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and higher triglyceride levels than TT homozygotes. Linear regression analysis showed that the minor C allele significantly contributed to reduction of circulating HDL cholesterol levels [${\beta}=-2.048$, P < 0.001; ${\beta}=-2.199$, P < 0.001] as well as elevation of circulating triglyceride levels [${\beta}=0.053$, P < 0.001; ${\beta}=0.066$, P < 0.001] in both the KoGES-ASAS and KNHANES groups. In addition, higher expression levels of APOA5 in LCLs of 64 healthy individuals were negatively associated with body mass index (r = -0.277, P = 0.027) and circulating triglyceride level (r = -0.340, P = 0.006) but not significantly correlated with circulating HDL cholesterol level. On the other hand, we observed no significant difference in the mRNA level of APOA5 according to APOA5 rs662799 polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: The C allele of APOA5 rs662799 was found to be significantly associated with cardiometabolic traits in a large Korean population from the KoGES-ASAS and KNHANES. The effect of this genotype may be associated with post-transcriptional regulation, which deserves further experimental confirmation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.361-376
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• 2023

Purpose: This study evaluates the potential protective effects of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil supplementation in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Rats were fed a 1.25% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, followed by oral administration of either of the two doses of hemp seed oil (HO) (0.5 mL/kg (HOL group) or 1 mL/kg (HOH group) body weight/day) or simvastatin at 10 mg/kg body weight/day. Oxidative stress, lipids, liver enzymes, and renal markers were measured in the serum. Western blot analysis was applied for evaluating the expressions of inflammatory makers. Results: Except for HDL-cholesterol, the altered levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, urea, and creatine kinases in hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly corrected by HO administration. Especially, compared to the HOH group, HOL treatment further reduced AST, ALT, creatinine, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, both the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor (CRF) in the HOL group were more restrained compared to the HOH group. Increased levels of p-AMPK coincided with the inhibition of SREBP-2 activation which subsequently suppressed the expression of HMGCR. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation coincided with the PI3K/Akt pathway activation and the increased phosphorylation of p38; these levels were significantly suppressed by HO treatment. In addition, HO treatment markedly reversed the changes in chemokines such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1. Histological alterations induced by cholesterol overload in cardiac and hepatic tissues were ameliorated by HO supplementation. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate a low concentration of HO demonstrates improved dysfunctions caused by a high-cholesterol diet via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2011

Purpose: Placental corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 (CRHR1) expression is reduced in pregnancies with abnormal placental function such as preeclampsia (PE), and the levels and/or function of CRHR1 are genetically influenced. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the c.33+8199C>T polymorphism in the CRHR1 gene and PE in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: Using a case-control design, the association between the CRHR1 polymorphism and the risk of PE was investigated in 203 individuals with PE and 211 normotensive controls. Genotypes were determined using a SNapShot kit and an ABI Prism 3100 Genetic analyzer. Results: Genotypes and allele frequencies for the CRHR1 polymorphism did not differ between PE and normotensive pregnancies. The variant T allele was more frequent than the ancestral C allele in both of the groups and was more frequent in the controls than in the cases. In risk analysis for PE, there was not an increased risk of preeclampsia in subjects who were concomitant homozygous rare allele genotypes (CC) (OR, 0.3; P=0.15) or heterozygous rare allele genotypes (TC) (OR, 0.8; P=0.29). There were no differences in the complications of PE such as severity or preterm delivery in patients with the CRHR1 polymorphism. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the CRHR1 polymorphism was not associated with PE in the present Korean study group.