• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2022

Consumption of high fat diet (HFD) induces obesity by accumulating triglycerides and inflammation in the body. In the present study, we investigated the effects of black onion vinegar (BV) on HFD-induced C57BL/6 obese mice model. The HFD-fed obese mice were administered black onion juice (BJ) and BV, respectively, for 6 weeks. The HFD-fed group increased body and organ weights compared with normal control diet-induced group. However, administration of BV significantly reduced body and organ weights compared with HFD-fed group. The BJ- and BV-administered groups improved the serum lipid profiles such as total cholesterol and triglyceride, compared with HFD-fed group. In addition, BV-administered group significantly improved serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The BV-administered mice had increased the number and size of adipose cells in the liver and adipose tissues. The administrations of BJ and BV significantly down-regulated adipogenesis transcription factors and proinflammatory proteins in the liver compared with HFD-fed group. In particular, BV-administered group showed stronger attenuation of adipogenesis-related proteins than the BJ-administered group. Therefore, this study demonstrated that administration of BV attenuated HFD-induced obesity, in particular down-regulation of adipogenesis, and it could be developed as a functional vinegar for anti-obesity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.228-240
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cocoa consumption is associated with health benefits due to its high content of polyphenols. However, the effects of short-term cocoa consumption remain unclear. We aimed to determine the effects generated by cocoa consumption (for 7 days) in young adults in normoweight and class II obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Before-and-after study was carried out in normoweight (NW) (n = 15) and class II obesity (CIIO) (n = 15) young adults. The NW and CIIO participants consumed 25 and 39 g of cocoa, respectively, per day for 7 days. The effect of cocoa consumption was evaluated on the lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation. Oxidative damage was also examined by assessing the biomarkers of oxidative damage in plasma. In addition, recombinant human insulin was incubated with blood obtained from the participants, and the molecular damage to the hormone was analyzed. RESULTS: Cocoa consumption resulted in decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in both groups (P = 0.04), while the total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were maintained at the recommended levels. Initially, IR was detected in the CIIO group (homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] = 4.78 ± 0.4), which is associated with molecular damage to insulin. Interestingly, intervention with cocoa resulted in improved IR (HOMA = 3.14 ± 0.31) (P = 0.0018) as well as molecular damage to insulin. Finally, cocoa consumption significant decreased the arginase activity (P = 0.0249) in the CIIO group; this is a critical enzymatic activity in the inflammatory process associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term consumption of cocoa improves the lipid profile, exerts anti-inflammatory effects, and protects against oxidative damage. Results of this study indicate that cocoa consumption can potentially improve IR and restore a healthy redox status.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.24
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• pp.29-35
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• 2006

In this study we evaluated the anti-diabetic potential of Puerariae Radix and its isoflavone (puerarin) by investigating their inhibitory activities against digestive enzymes, ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and lipase and effect on glucose uptake and PPAR ${\gamma}$ expression. The activities of carbohydrate digestive enzymes were not inhibited by puerarin. Glucose uptake in differentiated adipocytes was stimulated by puerarin. Furthermore, puerarin enhanced the differentiation of preadipocytes as evaluated by triacylglycerol (TG) accumulation, which is specific for differentiated adipocytes. The effect of puerarin on expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) gene, which is associated with obesity and dyslipidemia, was examined by both real-time PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR. The study demonstrated that puerarin increased the expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$. In conclusion, puerarin showed potential to exert anti-diabetic action by enhancing cellular glucose uptake and thereby TG accumulation in adipocyte tissue.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.255-264
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• 2009

Background: Chronic low grade inflammation is closely linked to type II diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Macrophages play a key role in the regulation of pro- or anti-inflammatory actions at the lesion sites of disease. Components of cordyceps militaris, cordycepin and adenosine, have been used for the modulation of inflammatory diseases. The effects of cordycepin in the modulation of macrophages have yet to be be elucidated. We investigated the effects of cordycepin and adenosine on the morphological changes of macrophages under the inflammatory condition of LPS and an anti-inflammatory condition involving high concentrations of adenosine. Methods: We confirmed the mRNA levels of the M1/M2 cytokine genes through RT-PCR and morphological change. Results: LPS-activated macrophages returned to their inactivated original shape, i.e., they looked like naive macrophages, through the treatment with high concentrations of cordycepin ($40{\mu}g/ml$). LPS and adenosine activated macrophages also returned to their original inactivated shapes after cordycepin treatment; however, at relatively higher levels of cordycepin than adenosine. This change did not occur with relatively low concentrations of cordycepin. Adenosine down-regulated the gene expression of M1 cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) and chemokines (CX3CR1, RANTES), such as cordycepin. Additionally, M2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-1ra, TGF-${\beta}$) were up-regulated by both cordycepin and adenosine. Conclusion: Based on these observations, both cordycepin and adenosine regulated the phenotypic switch on macrophages and suggested that cordycepin and adenosine may potentially be used as immunomodulatory agents in the treatment of inflammatory disease.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.133-142
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the total phenol, total flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity of 80% ethanolic extract from Ixeris dentata Nakai(IDE) as well as to assess the lipid accumulation during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. The results demonstrated that the total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the IDE were $4.01{\pm}0.63$ GAE mg/g and $0.05{\pm}0.01$ RE mg/g, respectively. The antioxidative activities of the IDE were significantly increased in a dose dependent manner on DPPH(1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging, ABTS(2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt) radical scavenging, reducing power value. During adipocyte differentiation, IDE significantly inhibited lipid accumulation compared with the control cells. These results indicated that the anti-adipogenesis effect of Ixeris dentata Nakai could be attributed to phenolic compounds that may potentially inhibit ROS(reactive oxygen species) production.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2011

The dietary intake of whole grains is known to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. To investigate whether there are anti-adipogenic activities in various Korean cereals, we assessed water extracts of nine cereals. The results showed that treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, Setaria italica Beauvois, or Panicum miliaceum L. extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation, as determined by measuring oil red-O staining, triglyceride accumulation, and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Among the nine cereals, P. miliaceum L. showed the highest anti-adipogenic activity. The effects of P. miliaceum L. on mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ were evaluated revealing that the extract significantly decreased the expression of these genes in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, P. miliaceum L. extract changed the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids in adipocytes, which is related to biological activity and cell characteristics. These results suggest that some cereals efficiently suppress adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In particular, the effect of P. miliaceum L. on adipocyte differentiation is associated with the downregulation of adipogenic genes and fatty acid accumulation in adipocytes.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.303-309
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• 2013

The extract from Lysimachia foenum-graecum (LFE) has been known to possess various instructive characters including anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, fungicidal activities. However, the accurate mechanism of those effects of LFE is not well known. In that respect, we evaluated the apoptotic effect and anti-cancer efficacy of extracts of LFE in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In this study, we hypothesized that LFE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through regulating p53 and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. And this substance can generate ROS to cause free radical-induced apoptosis. Accordingly, the generation of ROS by LFE triggers the activation of p53 which are accompanied by pro-apoptotic protein activation and suppression of pro-survival proteins. We determined with MTT assay, flow cytometry for detection of intracellular ROS and Annexin V-PI staining, Western blotting. Consequently, our researches demonstrated that the treatment of LFE to breast cancer cells resulted in an activation of p53, Puma, Bax, cleaved-PARP and an inhibition of Bcl-2 expressions.

• CELLMED
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.8.1-8.7
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• 2017

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the major diseases of the urinary system in older men. WSY-0702 is the extracted from the traditional medicinal plant; Seoritae, and it has effects of anti-obesity, chronic cervical pain, and anti-oxidant. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of WSY-0702 in the prevention and treatment of BPH. Several parameters including inflammatory mediators, hormones, and oxidative stress (OS) have been considered to play a role in the development of BPH. Prostate tissue damage and OS may lead to compensatory cellular proliferation with resulting hyperplastic growth. An in vitro study showed that proliferation inhibited the human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 in a dose-dependent manner. In cell line, the cell cycle at the G2/M and G0/G1 phase and downregulated the expression of CyclineB1 (CCNB1) and CyclineD1 (CCND1). In addition, we measured the $H_2O_2$-induced OS damage using RWPE-1 cells. We examined the relative expression of protein involved in the regulation of prostate apoptosis: transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$, a negative growth factor able to induced prostate apoptosis under physiological conditions. These results suggest that WSY-0702 that can inhibit the growth of prostate epithelial cell by a mechanism that may involve arresting the cell cycle and downregulating CCNB1 and CCND1 expression. In addition, WSY-0702 exposure resulted in significant protective effects in $H_2O_2$-stressed PWPE-1 cells by reduction in TGF-${\beta}$ levels.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2018

Astilbe rubra (AR) is a perennial, belongs to the Saxifragaceae family, it contains tannin and triterpene. AR has been used in republic korea to improve toxication, fever, pain and convulsion. Recently, number of natural products have been analyzed for potential pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic medication. Consequently, we investigated the growth inhibition effect of Astilbe rubra water extract (WAC), ethanol extract (EAC) and bergenin on Hela cell (human adenocarcinoma cell). From whole plant of A. rubra, bergenin was isolated by column chromatography and its structures were identified by $^1H$, $^{13}C$ NMR and IT TOF-ESI MS. High extraction efficiency of bergenin was shown at 0.95% under 60 min reflux extraction with 50% MeOH. The MTS assay showed that EAC (ethanol extract) treatment increased cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, EAC treatment on Hela cell increased apoptotic cell death and caspase-3 activity. Results suggest that EAC has growth inhibition effect on Hela cells, but not WAC and bergenin. $500{\mu}g/mL$ EAC treatment inhibited Hela cell at $60.2{\pm}1.5%$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.537-547
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effects of sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) extract (Dasi-Ex group: dry base 4.0%) and fucoidan-added (Fuco-I, II, III group: fucoidan of 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% added to Dasi-Ex) beverages on the anti-stress action. ICR male mice (20$\pm$2g) were fed basic experimental diets and given free through water bottle filled with these beverages instead of water for 18 days including sociopsychological stress. Body weight gains were consistently lower in Dasi-Ex and Fuco-I,II,III groups compared with control group, expecting in a inhibitory effect of obesity. Dasi-Ex group resulted in a significant decrease of 25% in serum corticosterone (CS) secretion, while Fuco-I,IIand IIIgroups resulted in a marked decreases of 45~55% in serum CS secretion compared with control group. Noradrenaline (NA) secretions were significantly increased about 15% in Dasi-Ex group, and 20~22% in Fuco-I,II,III groups compared with control group. Significant differences in brain MHPG-SO4 levels of Dasi-Ex group could not be obtained, but Fuco-I,II,III groups resulted in a marked decreases of 20~25% in brain MHPG-SO4 ratio of brain, but Fuco-I,II and III groups resulted in a marked increases of 45~60% in NA/MHPG-SO4 ratio of brain compared with control group. These results suggest that fucoidan beverage may play a effective role in a ridding of the sociopsychological stress by pivotal anti-stress effect of fucoidan.