• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2020

Obesity is a critical health issue in Korea, where half of all adults are overweight and a third obese. Aronia melanocarpa -rich in flavonoids and phenolics- with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, could have anti-obesity activity and reduce body fat mass by upregulating lipolysis and β-oxidation in obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice (n=12) were assigned into four groups: normal chow (18% kcal from fat); high-fat diet control (HFD, 45% kcal from fat); HFD+A. melanocarpa (200 mg/kg diet); HFD+Xenical (500 mg/kg diet, positive control). Antioxidant capacity of A. melanocarpa was established in vitro and in vivo. Weight loss was induced as decreased adiposity and lowered respiratory quotient at rest suggested oxidation of stored fat. Adiposity reduction, accompanied with elevated fat utilization, was owing to enhanced activity of hormone-sensitive lipase. Thus, A. melanocarpa lowered adiposity by enhancing lipolysis and utilization of fatty acids in visceral fat.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1206-1213
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• 2024

Citrus fruits offer a range of health benefits due to their rich nutritional profile, including vitamin C, flavonoids, carotenoids, and fiber. It is known that unripe citrus has higher levels of vitamin C, dietary fiber, polyphenols, and flavonoids compared to mature fruits. In this study, we assessed the nutritional components of unripe citrus peel and pressed juices, as well as their anti-obesity potential through the modulation of adipocyte differentiation and the expression of adipogenesis-related genes, specifically PPARγ and C/EBPα, in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our analysis revealed that unripe citrus peel exhibited elevated levels of fiber and protein compared to pressed juice, with markedly low levels of free sugar, particularly sucrose. The content of hesperidin, a representative flavonoid in citrus fruits, was 3,157.6 mg/kg in unripe citrus peel and 455.5 mg/kg in pressed juice, indicating that it was approximately seven times higher in unripe citrus peel compared to pressed juice. Moreover, we observed that the peel had a dose-dependently inhibitory effect on adipocyte differentiation, which was linked to a significant downregulation of adipogenesis-related gene expression. Thus, our findings suggest that unripe citrus possesses anti-obesity effects by impeding adipogenesis and adipocyte differentiation, with the peel demonstrating a more pronounced effect compared to pressed juice.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.247-255
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• 2024

In this study, we aimed to verify the anti-obesity activity of R. acicularis leaves (RAL) and elucidate its mechanism of action in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RAL dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation of lipid droplets and triacylglycerol. RAL did not affect cell proliferation and survival in undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells, but it inhibited cell proliferation in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. RAL increased ATGL, p-HSL, and HSL, and decreased perilipin-1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, RAL reduced lipid droplet accumulation and increased free glycerol content in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. RAL increased ATGL and HSL in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Also, RAL increased p-AMPK, PPARγ, UCP-1, and PGC-1α in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. AMPK inhibition by compound C attenuated RAL-mediated increase of ATGL, HSL, PPARγ, and UCP-1 in 3T3-L1 cells. Taken together, it is thought that RAL may inhibit lipid accumulation through lipolysis and thermogenesis via the activation of AMPK in adipocytes.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.145-145
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• 2017

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.30-46
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of Gambi-bang 4 (GBB4) on obesity-induced mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (normal, high fat diet with control, high fat diet with Reductil, high fat diet with GBB4 extract) and fed for 8 weeks. We observed body weight change, the weight change of the adipocytes in body, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, serum leptin level, expression of ${\beta}3AR$ and leptin genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and adipose tissue, and histological changes of adipose tissue and liver cells. Results: 1. Compared with the control group, the GBB4 group was significantly lower in body weight, weight of adipocytes, and amount of glucose. 2. The GBB4 group was significantly lower in the amount of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol compared with the control. 3. Compared with the control group, the GBB4 group was significantly lower in the amount of serum leptin. 4. The GBB4 group was significantly higher in the revelation of ${\beta}3AR$ and leptin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary adipose cells compared with the control. 5. Compared with the control group, the GBB4 group was smaller in the size of adipocytes in adipose tissue and the adipose vacuoles in liver tissue were decreased. Conclusions: These results suggested that GBB4 has inhibitory effects on obesity. GBB4 might be applied in treatment of obesity, so further studies analyzing its effects are needed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-59
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (AY) has remarkable bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer activities. On the other hand, the effects of AY against obesity-induced insulin resistance have not been reported. Therefore, this study examined the potential of AY against obesity-associated insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: An obesity model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a 60% HFD for 16 weeks. The C57BL6/When ethyl acetate fraction from AY (EFAY) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day was administered orally to mice fed a HFD for the last 4 weeks. Normal and control groups were administered water orally. The body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured every week. Dietary intake was measured every other day. After dissection, blood and tissues were collected from the mice. RESULTS: The administration of EFAY reduced body and organ weights significantly compared to HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY-administered groups also improved the serum lipid profile by decreasing the triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to the control group. In addition, EFAY ameliorated the insulin resistance-related metabolic dysfunctions, including the fasting blood glucose and serum insulin level, compared to the HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY inhibited lipid synthesis and insulin resistance by down-regulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase and up-regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. EFAY also reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver, indicating that EFAY protected hepatic injury induced by obesity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EFAY improved obesity-associated insulin resistance by regulating the lipid and glucose metabolism, suggesting that AY could be used as a functional food to prevent obesity and insulin resistance.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13.1-13.14
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• 2022

Chronic inflammation plays a critical role in the development of obesity-associated metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance. Obesity alters the microenvironment of adipose tissue and the intestines from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory, which promotes low grade systemic inflammation and insulin resistance in obese mice. Various T cell subsets either help maintain metabolic homeostasis in healthy states or contribute to obesity-associated metabolic syndromes. In this review, we will discuss the T cell subsets that reside in adipose tissue and intestines and their role in the development of obesity-induced systemic inflammation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.4-11
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• 2023

Caloric restriction is a popular approach to treat obesity and its associated chronic illnesses but is difficult to maintain for a long time. Intermittent fasting is an alternative and easily applicable dietary intervention for caloric restriction. Moreover, intermittent fasting has beneficial effects equivalent to those of caloric restriction in terms of body weight control, improvements in glucose homeostasis and lipid profiles, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this review, the beneficial effects of intermittent fasting are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.13-32
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• 2017

Objectives This study is to review the effect of herbal medicines on obesity in animal models reported in Korean domestic journals after 2010. Methods The Databases (Koreantk, KISS, NDSL) are searched with terms as obesity, and animal study reports on obesity with herbal medicines after 2010 were reviewed. Animal model, intervention, and obesity indicator were extracted. Results 69 articles were reviewed. 57 studies used high fat diet to induce obesity. 56 studies used complex herbal medicines. Most used herbal material for anti-obesity effect is Ephedrae Herba. Each study shows significant changes of obesity indicators. Conclusions These results suggest that herbal medicine is effective treatment to obesity. But we need continuously agonize and research more effective and safe herbal medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.641-649
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• 2014

The antiobesity effect of commercial kochujang and fermented wheat grains in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was studied. The experiment was consisted of 6 groups. Normal, high fat diet (HFD), HFD+raw wheat grains, HFD+first fermented wheat grains (FFWG, with Aspergillus oryzae) HFD+final fermented wheat grains (FiFWG, fermented more for 30~40 days), and HFD+ commercial kochujang. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and adipose tissue weight were markedly decreased by the commercial kochujang and the fermented wheat grains, whereas non-fermented raw wheat grains had no such effect. Lipid contents such as total lipid, total triglyceride and total cholesterol decreased in the serum and organs of liver and adipose tissues by the commercial kochujang and the fermented wheat grains as well. These results also indicated that fermented wheat grains exhibited more suppressive effects on high fat induced-obesity than raw wheat grains. Increased fermentation time and adding the red pepper powder resulted in increased the anti-obesity effect. Especially, commercial kochujang showed higher antiobestic effects than fermented wheat grains. These in vivo findings suggested that well-fermented end products of the wheat grains and red pepper powder in kochujang could be useful in the prevention of obesity.