• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2002

In this study, we found a new food additive as an natural herbal extracts against lipid digestion enzymes for the regulation of fatty acid absorption and weight control. The Water extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum and Solanum melongena. inhibited lipase activity and decresed serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in mouse fed lipid emulsion. Twenty three volunteers were subjected to the intake of the herbal extracts plus the egg yolk IgY that inhibit carbohydrate digestion enzymes in gut for 50 days. In average, the treated subjects appeared to lose 1.96 kg of body weight and 3.4 kg of body fat mass during the treated period. Furthermore, Panniculus adiposus and breech size were significantly decreased during the experimental period. Above results suggested that the administration of the dietary additives composed of natural herbal extract and egg yolk IgY improve the obesity by the decrement of body weight and body fat mass.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.823-830
• /
• 2005

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan fiber on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in rats. In order to induce obesity, Sprague-Dawley weanling male rats were allowed free access to AIN-76A diet until 4 weeks of age, and fed high-fat diet (beef tallow, $40\%$ of calories as fat) for 6 weeks until 10 weeks of age. Rats were then fed with $0\%$ thigh- fat control group), $1\%$, or $5\%$ bacterial ~-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 6 weeks. For comparison, normal control group was fed with AIN-76 diet $11.7\%$ fat). Supplementation with bacterial $\beta$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced white fat (i.e., visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced, but, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by bacterial $\beta$-glucan supplementation. Serum leptin level was lower in the $\beta$-glucan groups than in the high-fat group. The expression of UCPs (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were significantly increased by $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan-containing diet. This study suggests that the anti-obesity effect of $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan is attributed to upregulation of UCPs and inefficient energy utilization.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2017

The prevalence of obesity has noticeably increased worldwide over several decades with various complication. Even though anti-obesity drug treatments have been spotlighted by resulting in effective mean weight losses, its adverse effects cannot be overlooked. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of multi-frequency whole body vibration, one of the mechanical stimulus, as a countermeasure against obesity. Thirty-two-6-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were equally assigned to four groups: the Control group (CON, n = 8), the Sham group (Sham, n = 8), the sham with single frequency whole body vibration (S+V, n = 8), and the sham with multi frequency whole body vibration (S+MV, n = 8). After 4 weeks, morphologic changes in the adipose tissue were evaluated from three-dimensional images using in vivo micro-computed tomography. At 4 weeks, the volume of the abdominal adipose tissue, which had the highest value in Sham group, noticeably reduced in S+MV group compared to it in S+V group. These results implied that the accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue can be effectively reduced through applying multi-frequency whole body vibration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.903-911
• /
• 2002

The effects of dietary levan, high-molecular-weight $\beta$-2,6-linked fructose polymer, on adiposity, serum leptin and UCP expression in rats fed high fat diet were studied. The adipose tissue hormone, leptin has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Uncoupling protein (UCP), a mitochondrial protein that uncouples the respiratory chain from oxidative phosphorylation, generates heat instead of ATP, thereby increase energy expenditure. To determine whether the dietary levan may have the anti-obesity effect, 4 wk old Sprague Dawley male rats fed high fat diet for 6 wks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed one of three diets for further 6 wks: 1) high fat (40% of calories) diet without levan 2) with 3% (w/w) levan 3) with 5% levan. For the comparison, control group fed AIN-76A diet. Visceral and peritoneal fat masses were lower in high fat diet with levan groups compared to high fat diet group. The effect of levan was dose-dependent. Adipocyte size was significantly reduced in the levan diet groups compared to the no levan diet group. Serum cholesterol level was not affected by levan containing diet, while the serum HDL cholesterol level was higher in leven diet groups. In addition, serum triglyceride level was markedly reduced by levan containing diet, thus lower than that of control group. Serum leptin was reduced by levan containing diet and lower in 5% levan group compared to 3% levan group (p < 0.001), as a result, serum leptin and insulin levels of 5% levan group were reduced to level of control group. Futhermore, the serum leptin level reflected the adiposity. The expression of UCP 1, and UCP 2 in brown adipose tissue was up-regulated by levan containing diet. In conclusions, levan containing diet reduced adiposity and serum triglyceride but increased UCP expression in the obese rats fed high fat diet. (Korean J Nutrition 35(9) : 903~911, 2002)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.298-306
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a global health problem of significant importance which increases mortality. In place of anti-obesity drugs, natural products are being developed as alternative therapeutic materials. In this study, we investigated the effect of Brassica juncea L. leaf extract (BLE) on fat deposition and lipid profiles in high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFC)-induced obese rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group) according to diet: normal diet group (ND), high-fat/high-cholesterol diet group (HFC), HFC with 3% BLE diet group (HFC-A1), and HFC with 5% BLE diet group (HFC-A2). Each group was fed for 6 weeks. Rat body and adipose tissue weights, serum biochemical parameters, and tissue lipid contents were determined. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The HFC-A2 group showed significantly lower body weight gain and food efficiency ratio than the HFC group. BLE supplementation caused mesenteric, epididymal, and total adipose tissue weights to decrease. The serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased in rats fed BLE. These results were related to lower glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acetyl-coA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase mRNA expression, and to higher expression of the cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase and low density lipoprotein-receptor, as well as increased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$. Histological analysis of the liver revealed decreased lipid droplets in HFC rats treated with BLE. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of HFC with 3% or 5% BLE inhibited body fat accumulation, improved lipid profiles, and modulated lipogenesis- and cholesterol metabolism-related gene and protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.620-624
• /
• 2016

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is mandatory in adipogenesis. In this study, we investigated the applicability of functional materials for the treatment of obesity by examining Wnt/β-catenin pathway reporter activity related to adipocyte differentiation inhibiting with korean native plant extracts. The luciferase activity of HEK 293-TOP cells increased the reporter activity approximately 152% and 130% by treatment with Sanguisorba officinalis and Thuja orientalis, respectively. Ricinus communis were represented about 90% higher activity, two samples(Rosa rugosa and Sophorae Flos) showed 80% higher activity than the control. Three samples of plant extracts (Zanthoxylum piperitum, Pueraria thunbergiana, Solanum nigrum) were about 70% higher activity compared with the non-treated control. Cytotoxicity of plant extracts was not detected in the rat neural stem cells. These results suggest that the selected eight plant extracts are safe compounds. Our findings indicate that Wnt/β-catenin pathway reporter activity could be used for high throughput screening system. In addition, the plant extracts selected as candidates for adipocyte differentiation inhibiting may be potential therapeutic agents for obesity, it will be exploring the possibility of developing an anti-obesity materials through further experiments with selected plant extracts.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.138-145
• /
• 2020

Adipocytes are the main constituent of adipose tissue. Understanding the molecular basis of adipogenesis is pivotal to finding the therapeutic targets for treatment of obesity. Melatonin is associated with obesity and its mechanism is currently under intensive investigation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin on adipogenesis in differentiating preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 5% calf serum at 37℃ with 5% CO₂ in a humidified incubator. Differentiation was induced using DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum supplemented with MDI two days after cell confluence (day 0). Cells were treated with 0, 10 and 100 μM melatonin on either day 0 or day 5. 72 hours after each treatment, lipid accumulation was measured by oil red O staining. Proteins were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred to membranes. As a result, lipid accumulation decreased with melatonin treatment. ERK pathway, activated when differentiation is induced, also decreased with an increase in melatonin concentration. Furthermore, the expression of key adipogenic factors, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, and PPARγ, were reduced by melatonin treatment. These results imply that melatonin may inhibit the process of adipogenesis and may have a role as a new anti-obesity agent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2010

This study investigated the effects of onion juice on the serum lipid components and blood pressure in obese rats fed high fat diets. Thirty-nine of Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups, and were treated for 8 weeks: (1) normal diet (ND); (2) high fat diet (HFD); (3) HFD for first 4 weeks and high fat diet with 40% onion juice for the last 4weeks (H-H+O); (4) HFD with 40% onion juice for 8 weeks (H+O); (5) HFD for first 4 weeks and ND for the last 4 weeks (H-N); (6) HFD for first 4 weeks and ND with 40% onion juice for the last 4 weeks (H-N+O). The rates of increasing body weight were reduced in H+O and H-H+O groups compared with HFD group. The levels of triglyceride, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total cholesterol in blood serum were significantly decreased in the H+O and H-H+O groups compared with the HFD group. Administration of onion reduced the size of adipocyte, steatosis, and serum hyperlipidemia in obese rats fed HFD. Moreover, the antihypertensive effects of onion were observed in obesity rat fed HFD. Overall results suggest that onion reduces the serum lipid components and improves hypertension in obese rat fed HFD.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2011

We investigated the effect of Orostachys japonicus extracts on serum lipids, leptin and insulin level in hyperlipidemic rats. Also, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were assessed. Inhibitory effect of DGAT related to triglyceride synthesis emerged approximately 96% in EtOAc fraction and showed 90% and 67%, respectively, in CHCl3 and BuOH fractions. Furthermore, the EtOAc and BuOH fractions inhibited 81% and 77%, respectively, in glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase (GPAT). Hyperlipidemia and obesity marker, contents of leptin and insulin on serum of hyperlipidemic rats, decreased 50% and 25%, respectively, compared with control group in treated EtOAc fraction. The oxidative stress marker, a concentration of TBARS, showed decrease of approximately 30% in treated EtOAc fraction. Moreover, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol contents on serum of rats fed a hyperlipidemic diet were increased 10% and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol decreased 50% as well as triglyceride amount of feces multiplied approximately two times more than control group in treated EtOAc fraction. The data suggest that the fractions of O. japonicus may be a potent biomaterial for treatment of hyperlipidemia or obesity.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the ameliorating effects of steamed soybeans (SS) and fermented SS (FSS) on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. ICR mice were divided into four groups and given the following different diets: normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with 1% SS (HFD + SS), and HFD with 1% FSS (HFD + FSS). After 14 weeks, the body weight gain was higher in the HFD group compared with the ND group but lower in the HFD + FSS group compared with the HFD group. Plasma levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly higher in the HFD group compared to the ND group, but lower in the HFD + SS and HFD + FSS groups compared with the HFD group. In addition, leptin concentration in plasma was lower in the groups fed HFD + SS and HFD + FSS compared with the HFD group. The accumulation of hepatic TG and TC was significantly inhibited in the HFD + SS and HFD + FSS groups. Furthermore, SS and FSS attenuated lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide formation in the liver induced by the high-fat diet. These results suggest that soybeans, especially FSS, may be useful in preventing obesity-induced abnormalities in lipid metabolism.