• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2013

The anti-obesity effects of a hot water extract from wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum.) leaves (WLE), without its specific pungent constituents, such as allyl-isothiocyanate, were investigated in high fat-diet induced mice. C57J/BL mice were fed a high-fat diet (control group) or a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% WLE (WLE group). Physical parameters and blood profiles were determined. Gene expression associated with lipid metabolism in liver and white adipose tissue were analyzed. After 120 days of feeding, significantly lower body weight gain, liver weight and epididymal white adipose tissue weight was observed in the WLE group compared to the control group. In liver gene expression within the WLE group, PPAR${\alpha}$ was significantly enhanced and SREBP-1c was significantly suppressed. Subsequent downstream genes controlled by these regulators were significantly suppressed. In epididymal white adipose tissue of the WLE group, expression of leptin, PPAR${\gamma}$, and C/EBP${\alpha}$ were significantly suppressed and adiponectin was significantly enhanced. Acox, related to fatty acid oxidization in adipocytes, was also enhanced. Our results demonstrate that the WLE dietary supplement induces mild suppression of obesity in a high-fat diet induced mice, possibly due to suppression of lipid accumulation in liver and white adipose tissue.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis (AC) and fermented AC (fAC) on microorganisms and efficacies. Methods: AC was fermented for four weeks without using any bacterial strains. Then we investigated fermentation characteristics including potential of hydrogen (pH), total sugar, microbial profiling and antioxidant compound contents such as total polyphenol and total flavonoid. The anti-obesity effects of AC and fAC were evaluated by using Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 adipocyte. Also anti-diabetic effects of them were evaluated by using 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG) uptake in C2C12 skeletal muscle cell. Results: Both pH and total sugar of fAC were decreased significantly compared to unfermented AC. And the abundance of total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria increased during fermentation, especially Lactobacillus plantarum. Also fermentation of AC increased the content of total polyphenol. On the metabolic aspects, we found that AC and fAC suppressed fat accumulation. Conclusions: After four weeks of fermentation, AC increased concentrations of active compounds, altered microbial composition, and inhibited fat accumulation such as triglyceride. These results indicate that fermentation of AC might be a beneficial therapeutic approach for obesity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1043-1055
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The fruit of Cydonia oblonga Miller (COM) is used traditionally in Mediterranean region medicine to prevent or treat obesity, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Beyond a demonstrated anti-obesity effect, the fruit was tested for the mechanism of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured for 8 days with COM fruit extract (COME) at different concentrations (0-600 ㎍/mL) with adipocyte differentiation medium. The cell viability was measured using an MTT assay; triglyceride (TG) was stained with Oil Red O. The expression levels of the adipogenesis-related genes and protein expression were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: COME inhibited intracellular TG accumulation during adipogenesis. A COME treatment in 3T3-L1 cells induced upregulation of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α phosphorylation and downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factors, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α. The COME treatment reduced the mRNA expression of fatty acyl synthetase, adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase, adipocyte protein 2, and lipoprotein lipase. It increased the mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I in 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: COME inhibits adipogenesis via the AMPK signaling pathways. COME may be used to prevent and treat obesity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1648-1656
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• 2023

We have previously observed that feeding with single-cell hemoprotein (heme-SCP) in dogs (1 g/day for 6 days) and broiler chickens (1 ppm for 32 days) increased the proportion of lactic acid bacteria in the gut while reducing their body weights by approximately 1~2%. To define the roles of heme-SCP in modulating body weight and gut microbiota, obese C57BL/6N mice were administered varied heme-SCP concentrations (0, 0.05, and 0.5% heme-SCP in high fat diet) for 28 days. The heme-SCP diet seemed to restrain weight gain till day 14, but the mice gained weight again later, showing no significant differences in weight. However, the heme-SCP-fed mice had stiffer and oilier bodies compared with those of the control mice, which had flabby bodies and dull coats. When mice were dissected at day 10, the obese mice fed with heme-SCP exhibited a reduction in subcutaneous fat with an increase in muscle mass. The effect of heme-SCP on the obesity-associated dyslipidemia tended to be corroborated by the blood parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein) at day 10, though the correlation was not clear at day 28. Notably, the heme-SCP diet altered gut microbiota, leading to the proliferation of known anti-obesity biomarkers such as Akkermansia, Alistipes, Oscillibacter, Ruminococcus, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium. This study suggests the potential of heme-SCP as an anti-obesity supplement, which modulates serum biochemistry and gut microbiota in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.31-42
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity potential and mechanisms of action of Rhizoma Atractylodis(RA) herbal acupuncture in high fat diet- induced obese ICR mice. Methods : Sample solutions for herbal acupuncture were prepared from the Rhizoma Atractylodis water extract powder at concentration of 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg with distilled water. Five week-old ICR mice acclimatized to the laboratory environment for 1 week were allocated into four groups: regular diet group (RD), high fat diet group(HFD), groups fed HFD with 150mg/kg RA herbal acupuncture treatment (RAE 150) and with 300mg/kg RA herbal acupuncture treatment(RAE 300). Herbal acupuncture groups were injected with either 150mg/kg or 300mg/kg of Rhizoma Atractylodis(RA) subcutaneously onto both Sinsu($BL_{23}$) alternately on the same time everyday for 30days. Body weight, gross appearance of epididymal fat area, blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance(HOMA-IR), non-esterified fatty acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, histological analysis of white adipose tissue, gene expression responsible for adipocyte differentiation and AMPK activation were analyzed. Results : RA herbal acupuncture inhibited the development of weight gain, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, increases of AST and ALT, and the enlargement of fat cell size induced by HFD. Also, RA herbal acupuncture inhibited the expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$, C/$EBP{\alpha}$, aP2, LPL, FAS, SCD-1 and enhanced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase. Conclusions : The results of this study demonstrate that RA herbal acupuncture can exert the anti-obesity effect and it is partially mediated by activation of AMPK and inhibition of the gene expressions responsible for adipocyte differentiation. Further studies will be required to ascertain the nti-obesity effect and mechanisms of action of RA herbal acupuncture in animal models and human for aclinical application.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.108-121
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• 2013

Objective This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gamiygin-tang (GY) extract (GYE) and fermented solution (GYF) on body weight, serum lipid level and adipocyte differentiation in high fat diet-fed obese mice. Materials and Methods High fat diet-fed obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes mice were treated with GYE and GYF and obesity related markers were assessed. A cytotoxicity assay was carried out by MTS assay. Inhibitory effects of GYE and GYF on adipocyte differentiation were carried out by Oil Red O staining. The effects of GYE and GYF on the expression of adipocyte differentiation regulatory factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBP-${\alpha}$) were measured by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The effects of GYE and GYF on the expression of adipocyte differentiation regulatory factors were also determined in relation to protein production/protein levels by western blotting. The anti obesity effects of GYE and GYF were measured in high fat-diet induced obese mice. Various factors were measured from the serum of the high fat-diet mice. Results Though GYE did not show toxicity at the concentration of 1mg/ml, GYF showed toxicity at the concentration of 1mg/ml. The GYE at 0.1 and 1mg/ml inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, and the GYF also inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. The effect of GYE on adipocyte differentiation factors including PPAR-${\gamma}$ and CEBP-${\alpha}$ was investigated and compared to the corresponding concentration levels of GYF. GYE and GYF both suppressed the RNA and protein levels of adipocyte differentiation factors. In the animal test both GYE and GYF reduced weight gain. GYE and GYF reduced blood cholesterol, TG and LDL levels. GYF better reduced blood cholesterol levels. Conclusions These results demonstrate that GYE and GYF exerts anti-obesity effect in 3T3-L1 cells and obese mice induced by high-fat diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1585-1591
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine how to relate with hypothalamus protein BDNF and mRNA leptin expression, and test the effect of exercise training upon anti-obesity in high-fat induced obese rats. Weight and plasma TC of the high-fat diet group (HF) significantly reduced in comparison to those in the high-fat diet and training group (HF-T), high-fat diet and normal diet group (HF-ND), and high-fat diet, training, and normal diet group (HF-ND+T) (P<0.05). Plasm TG of the HF group significantly decreased in comparison to the HF-ND+T group (P< 0.05). The plasma leptin level significantly reduced in the HF-T group in comparison to the HF group, in the HF-ND group compared to the HF-T group, and the HF-ND+T group in comparison to the HF-ND group (P<0.05, respectively). All groups were significantly increased in hypothalamus BDNF protein expression in comparison to the HF group. In hypothalamus leptin mRNA expression, the HF-T and HF-ND groups reduced, but the HF-NF+T group increased in comparison to the HF group. This result suggests that it shows the effect of exercise training upon anti-obesity in high-fat diet induced obese rats and the combined exercise and/or normal diet may affect the optimal obesity improvement and prevention in appetite and weight control.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.642-648
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to investigate Chegameuiin-tang water extracts (CETE) have potent anti-obesity activities in a high fat diet-induced obesity mouse model. In this study, we designed three group (normal diet group, high fat diet group, high fat diet plus CETE group for 13-week oral administration). Increases in body weight and fat storage were inhibited by 13-week oral administration of CETE at a 500 mg/kg concentration in this animal model, while the amount of food intake was not affected. Results from blood lipid analysis showed that the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lowered by CETE administration, also HDL-cholesterol was increased more than high fat diet-induced obese mouse. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level, the effects of CETE were examined on the expression of the genes involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis by real-time PCR. In epididymal fat of CETE-treated mice, the mRNA level of lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and fatty acid synthase were decreased, which was well correlated with the reduction of the epididymal fat weight. Also, CETE administration inhibited decreases of the hormone-sensitve lipase and lipoprotein lipase mRNA expressions, which are genes related with lipolysis. These results suggest that Chegameuiin-tang may have great potential as a novel anti-obesity agent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.99-107
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effects of mixed water extract of Plantaginis Semen & Poria (CJB) on obese rats induced with high fat diet. Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups; Normal group, high-fat (HF) group, HF+CJB(100 mg/kg, P.O.) for 8 weeks. The body weight, food intake and weights of adipose tissues were measured, respectively. Lipid profiles in serum were analyzed by automatic analyzer of blood. Obese marker proteins and the changes of NPY and LR immunoreactivities in hypothalamus were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results : CJB significantly reduced body weight, food intake, adipose tissue weights compared to HF group. Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly higher in HF group than in Normal group however, CJB significantly lowered those of HF group. HDL-cholesterol level in CJB groups was elevated compared to HF group. The pAMPK in hypothalamus were decreased in that of HF group and that of CJB group decreased. Inversely, ACC was increased in HF group and that of CJB groups decrease. Expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in hypothalamus was increased by CJB treatment. However, $PPAR{\alpha}$ levels in CJB group were decreased compared to HF group. The expressions of NPY and LR in PVN and ARC of hypothalamus were decreased in CJB group, respectively. Conclusion : Administration of CJB can play anti-obesity through regulations of NPY and LR activities and obesity marker proteins in obese rat's hypothalamus.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2016

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Scutellariae Radix extract (SRE) on lipids metabolism, oxidation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats fed highly oxidized fat. Methods: To induce obesity, male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed a highly oxidized fat diet for 10 weeks. SRE at 100 mg/kg were administered orally to obesity-induced rats for 6 weeks, and their lipid metabolism, oxidation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined. Results: The concentrations of free fatty acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol in plasma decreased in SRE-treated groups, although the difference was not significant between control and SRE-treated groups, while that of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly increased in SRE group. The concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver were tended to decrease in SRE-treated group. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid in plasma and liver were lower in SRE group than in control group. The levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in plasma were decreased in SRE group. Activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in liver were tended to increase in the SRE group. The plasma concentrations of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 were lower in SRE group than in control group, while that of IL-10 was higher. The liver concentrations of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6 were tended to decrease while that of IL-10 tended to increase in SRE group. Conclusions: Finally SRE could be used in the production of nutraceuticals for lowering lipids and exerting anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effects in obesity rats fed highly oxidized rat.