• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.129-138
• /
• 2019

In many cases, obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. Recently, natural compounds that may be beneficial for improving obesity have received increasing attention. Bitter melon has received attention as a diabetes treatment. $NAD^+$-dependent deacetylase (Sirtuin 1, SIRT1) has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. In this study, ethanol extract of bitter melon (BME) suppressed adipocyte differentiation and significantly increased the expression of SIRT1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, it enhanced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In high-fat diet (HFD)-fed induced-obesity mice, BME suppressed HFD-induced increases in body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight. BME also increased the expression of SIRT1 and suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 expressions of WAT from HFD-fed mice. These findings suggest that BME prevents obesity by activating the SIRT1 and AMPK pathway and that it may be a useful dietary supplement for preventing obesity.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.122-130
• /
• 2009

Anti-angiogenic mechanism was examined for anti-obesity agents with the extract of P.radix, P.semen, S.hebra and C.furctus through anti-cell adhesion effect and western blot. Cell adhesion molecules, VCAM-1 was supressed with the order of P.radix (0.2 ppm, 125%) > P.semen (0.5 ppm, 100%) > S.hebra (5.0 ppm, 114%) > C. furctus (5.0 ppm, 111.8%), ICAM-1 was inhibited by P.radix (0.25 ppm, 130%) > P.semen (0.5 ppm, 100%) > S.hebra (5.0 ppm, 138%) > C. furctus (5.0 ppm, 66.7%), E-Selectin was also supressed P.radix (0.25 ppm, 100%) > P.semen (1.0 ppm, 128%) > S.hebra (5.0 ppm, 120%) > C. furctus (5.0 ppm, 100.7%). And signal molecules, VE-cadherin was supressed by P.radix and S.hebra, ${\beta}$-catenin was inhibited by P.radix, and Akt was supressed all these 4 kinds of natural products. These P.radix, P.semen, S.hebra and C.furctus were showed the possibility of anti-obesity agents based on anti-angiogenesis.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.291-294
• /
• 2010

In obesity, adipocytes undergo abnormal growth characterized by increased cell numbers and differentiation. Thus, inhibition of mitogenesis of preadipocytes and their differentiation to adipocytes would be beneficial for the prevention and progression of obesity. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate antiadipogenic activity of adlay (Coix seed, the seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) employing preadipocytes cell line, 3T3-L1 as an in vitro assay system. Because several varieties of adlay are in use in Korea, anti-adipogenic activity of three varieties of adlay such as Sang-Gang, Jo-Hyun and Yulmu-Ilho was evaluated. All the three varieties of adlay showed significant inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil Red O staining. Adlay, however, showed little effects on adipocyte proliferation. Further studies with interval treatment demonstrated that adlay exerted inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation via acting on early stage of adipogenesis. Taken together, adlay might be useful in the prevention of obesity.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2010

A substantial body of evidence has emerged over the last decade in support of the novel concept that dietary calcium and dairy foods play an important role in regulating energy metabolism and thereby promote healthy weight management and reduce obesity risk. This concept has been demonstrated in experimental animals studies, cross-sectional and prospective population studies and a number of randomized clinical trials. Notably, the effects of dairy foods in weight management are more consistent than the effects of supplemental calcium across clinical trials, and calcium per se is responsible for approximately 40-50% of the effects of dairy. The calcium component is only effective in individuals with chronically low calcium intake, as it serves to prevent the endocrine response to low calcium diets which otherwise favors adipocyte energy storage; calcium also serves to promote energy loss via formation of calcium soaps in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby reduce fat absorption. The calcium-independent anti-obesity bioactivity of dairy resides primarily in whey. The key components identified to date are leucine and bioactive peptides resulting from whey protein digestion. The high concentration of leucine in whey stimulates a repartitioning of dietary energy from adipose tissue to skeletal muscle where it provides the energy required for leucine-stimulated protein synthesis, resulting in increased loss of adipose tissue and preservation of skeletal muscle mass during weight loss. Finally, dairy rich diets suppress the oxidative and inflammatory responses to obesity and thereby attenuate the diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk associated with obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The all anti-obesity drugs currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration work by reducing energy intake. In fact, no approved drug targets energy expenditure. In Korean medicine, it is known to Qi or Yang invigorating therapy could increase energy metabolism. Aconitum carmichaeli Debx (ACD) is a Yang invigorating herb, often used for treat obesity in Korean medicine. In the present study, the authors investigated the regulatory effects of ACD in energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Methods: The water extract of ACD (0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml) were treated in differentiated C2C12 cells. The protein or mRNA levels of target genes were analyzed and mitochondrial mass were investigated. Results: ACD activated the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha ($PGC-1{\alpha}$), nuclear respiratory factor 1 and TFAM and increased mitochondrial mass. ACD also increased adenosin monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Conclusions: This study suggests that ACD has the potential to increase energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis by activating AMPK and $PGC1{\alpha}$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.309-313
• /
• 2011

Abnormal growth of adipocyte characterized by increased cell numbers and differentiation is considered as an major pathological characteristic feature in obesity. Thus, inhibition of mitogenesis of preadipocytes and their differentiation to adipocytes would be beneficial for the prevention and inhibition of obesity. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate anti-adipogenic activity of eggplants (the fruits of Solanum melongena L.) employing preadipocytes cell line, 3T3-L1 as an in vitro assay system. Water extract of eggplants significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation when treated during adipocyte differentiation process, as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil Red O staining. Eggplant extract, however, showed little effects on fully differentiated adipocytes. Eggplant didn't show significant toxicity up to 500 ${\mu}g$/ml to the 3T3-L1 cells. Further studies with interval treatment demonstrated that eggplant exerted inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation via acting on early stage of adipogenesis. Conclusively, eggplants are suggested to be beneficial for the prevention of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2003

Obesity is caused by unbalance of energy intake and expenditure, which results in extra accumulation of adipose tissue. Obesity is directly related to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and so on. To investigate the anti-obesity effects of Scutellariae Radix, 70% EtOH extract and water extract of it were tested by in vitro and in vivo studies of fat accumulation. 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line was used in a in vitro study of fat accumulation. After 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes, S. radix extract were added and fat accumulation was measured by oil red O staining. In vivo study showed that weight and epididymal/ retro-peritoneal adipose tissues were significantly reduced in mice fed Scutellariae Radix extract compared with control group. Especially, mice fed Scutellariae Radix extract showed reduced serum triglyceride and glucose levels. When adipose tissues were analyzed by microscope, mean adipocyte size was significantly reduced in Scutellariae Radix extract-fed mice. Therefore, this study showed inhibitory effects of Scutellariae Radix on in vitro and in vivo fat accumulation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.1785-1788
• /
• 2006

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) may progress to advanced liver disease. The diagnosis is made on liver biopsy when investigating a patient with raised transaminases and an otherwise negative biochemical and serological work-up. The subject was a obese male patient who had unexplained raised GOT, GPT. He had no alcoholic consumption and drug ingested. On serological examination, HBsAg and Anti-HCV test are negative. The subject was diagnosed as NASH, and was treated with oriental treatment for obesity. After 2months treatment the raised GOT, GPT decreased to normal range.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.1811-1821
• /
• 2018

Obesity is generally caused by quantitative changes in adipocyte differentiation and fat metabolism. Only a few studies have been determined the effect of red beans extract on obesity and plasma cholesterol concentration. We have been studied the functional activities of red-bean extracts including anti-oxidative effect against DNA and cell damages. Histological study including micro CT analysis showed that the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes and intestines was significantly decreased in red bean extract treated group. In addition, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were decreased in blood samples. In addition, it was confirmed that the red bean extract inhibited the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, Fabp4 and RETN genes, which regulate total adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. Red bean extract inhibits the expressions of transcription factors associated with adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting fat accumulation and decreasing blood lipid levels in obese mice induced by high fat diet.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.161-167
• /
• 2022

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaf (NL) extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obese db/db mice. NL extract among various parts (leaf, seed, and root) of N. nucifera most effectively reduced adipogenesis via inhibiting CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The addition of NL extract enhanced the protein expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) as compared to untreated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The oral administration of NL extract (100 mg/kg BW) significantly reduced food efficacy ratio, body weight, and face or total cholesterol level in obese db /db mice. Also, administration of NL extract significantly decreased adipocyte size and C/EBPα or PPARγ expression in the adipose tissues as compared with control (obese db/db mice). Therefore, our results suggest that NL extract among various parts of N. nucifera could be used as a functional food ingredient for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes.