• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2016

Gamrosu was originally conceptualized from Jeho-tang, a selected thirst quencher of the kings in Chosun Dynasty and Saeng-Maek-san, a qi-vigorating summer beverage recommended by Dongeuibogam. It is a modified fasting therapy beverage which is manufactured from the single herbal medicines composed of those two prescriptions. This study was conducted on 6 obese patients with hypertension. A modified fasting therapy with Gamrosu was practised on them for 10 consecutive days. After the therapy, their average blood pressures were descended from 148/89 mmHg to 119/79 mmHg. The modified fasting therapy with Gamrosu is supposed to be more effective than general diet program or dietary sodium reduction on controlling hypertension. And, Gamrosu improves anti-hypertensive effect by reducing the side effects, such as fatigue, electrolyte imbalance, heartburn, nausea, and headache, during the modified fasting therapy.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2017

Present study aimed to determine the effect of 'bitter melon', a popularly used fruit in Bangladesh and several other Asian countries, on high-fat-diet-induced type 2 diabetes. To investigate the effect, ethanol extract from bitter melon (BME) as a dietary supplement with mouse chow was used. BME was found to significantly attenuate the high-fat diet (HFD) -induced body weight and total fat mass. BME also effectively reduced the insulin resistance induced by the HFD. Furthermore, dietary supplementation of BME was highly effective in increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing hepatic fat and obesity. These results indicate that BME could be effective in attenuating type 2 diabetes and could therefore be a preventive measure against type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.288-295
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• 2014

Bojungchiseub-tang (BJCST) has been used in symptoms and signs of edema, dampness-phlegm, kidney failure, and so on. BJCST is also expected to have strong anti-obesity activities. However, little is known about the mechanisms of its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. In the present study, we examined the effects and mechanism of BJCST on transcription factors and adipogenic genes of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to understand its inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. Our results showed that BJCST significantly inhibited differentiation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism of the effects of BJCST on lowering lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we examined whether BJCST modulate the expressions of transcription factors to induce adipogenesis and adipogenic genes related to regulate accumulation of lipids. As a result, the expression of steroid regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)1, cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, $C/EBP{\delta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) genes, which induce the adipose differentiation, liver X receptor $(LXR){\alpha}$ and fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes, which induce lipogenesis and adipose-specific aP2, Adipsin, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), CD36, TGF-${\beta}$, leptin and adiponectin genes, which compose fat formation were decreased. BJCST also reduced the expression of acyl CoA oxidase (ACO) and uncoupling protein (UCP) genes related to lipid oxidation. In conclusion, BJCST could regulate transcript factor related to induction of adipose differentiation and inhibited the accumulation of lipids and expression of adipogenic genes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2016

Statins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are known to cause serious muscle injuries (e.g. myopathy, myositis and rhabdomyolysis), and these adverse effects can be rescued by co-administration of coenzyme $Q_{10}$ ($CoQ_{10}$) with statins. The goal of the current research is to assess the efficacy of combined treatment of $CoQ_{10}$ with Atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet in SD rats. 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed normal diet or high-fat diet for 6 weeks. Then, rats were treated with either Statin or Statin with various dosages of $CoQ_{10}$ (30, 90 or 270 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for another 6 weeks. Compared to Statin only treatment, $CoQ_{10}$ supplementation significantly reduced creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in serum which are markers for myopathy. Moreover, $CoQ_{10}$ supplementation with Statin further reduced total fat, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In contrast, the levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and $CoQ_{10}$ were increased in the $CoQ_{10}$ co-treated group. These results indicate that $CoQ_{10}$ treatment not only reduces the side effects of Statin, but also has an anti-obesity effect. Therefore an intake of supplementary $CoQ_{10}$ is helpful for solving problem of obese metabolism, so the multiple prescription of $CoQ_{10}$ makes us think a possibility that can be solved in being contiguous to the obesity problem, a sort of disease of the obese metabolism.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2014

Obesity occurs when a person's calorie intake exceeds the amount of energy burns, which may lead to pathologic growth of adipocytes and the accumulation of fat in the tissues. In this study, the effect and mechanism of pear pomace extracts on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and apoptosis of mature adipocytes were investigated. The effects of pear pomace extract on cell viability and the anti-adipogenic and proapoptotic effects were investigated via MTT assay, Oil red O staining, western blot analysis and apoptosis assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated with DMEM containing 10% FBS, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), $5{\mu}g/ml$ insulin and $1{\mu}M$ dexamethasone for differentiation to adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with PBS or water extract of pear pomace. Water extract of pear pomace effectively inhibited lipid accumulations and expressions of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ in 3T3-L1 cells. It also increased expression of p-AMPK and decreased the expression of SREBP-1c and FAS in 3T3-L1 cells. The induction of apoptosis was observed in 3T3-L1 cells treated with pear pomace. These results indicate that pear pomace water extract inhibits adipogenesis and induces apoptosis of adipocytes and thus can be used as a potential therapeutic substance as part of prevention or treatment strategy for obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.136-147
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• 2007

Objective : Recently there are a lot of attempts to treat obesity through energy expenditure. Especially UCP-1 and PPAR-${\delta}$ is known to play a key role for energy dissipation through the increasing thermogenesis. Gambi-hwan extract is a traditional medicine made of herbs containing the polyunsaturate fatty acids related to the energy expenditure. It is expected to reduce the weight by means of the expression of UCP-1 and PPAR-${\delta}$. Meterial and Method : We divided 21 rats into 3 groups and assigned 8 rats respectively. The normal group was administered normal diet, the control group was administered high-fat diet, and the G50 group was administered high-fat diet with Gambi-hwan extracts50 mg/kg. And then the weights of body, food intake, the changes of lipids in blood stream, and the expressions of UCP-1 and PPAR-${\delta}$ on adipose tissues were measured respectively. Result : The reduction of body weight and the increasing tendency of expression of UCP-1 and PPAR-${\delta}$ mRNA were shown in G50 group. In the G50 group the Triglyceride level is decreased and the HDL-cholesterol level and the expression of PPAR-${\delta}$ and UCP-1 protein on Visceral adipose tissue were significantly increased. Conclusion : This result indicates that Gambi-hwan Extract upregulate the expression of UCP-1 and PPAR-${\delta}$ in adipose tissue, which may contribute to reducing the weight of adipose tissue.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2015

Objectives: Schizandrae fructus (Schizandra chinensis) is one of very common herbs, it is known as natural antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agent. Also some reports show that its extract works to regulate of dyslipidemia. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Schizandrae fructus chloroform fraction (SFCF) on serum lipid levels in dyslipidemic mice. Methods: The levels of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting blood glucose in serum were measured. Histopathological and gene expression changes in liver tissue were also observed. Results: Oral administration of SFCF lowered levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride, which were elevated by high-fat diet. But SFCF did not affect on weight changes and serum AST, ALT levels in dyslipidemic mice. After carrying out gene ontological analysis, large numbers of genes in high-fat diet group were up-(347) or down-regulated (235). In SFCF treated mice, some changed expression of the genes was restored to normal levels, with a recovery rate of 17%. And it seems that fatty acid biosynthesis pathway was one of important key pathways to recovery. Conclusions: SFCF has beneficial effect on dyslipidemia, and could be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2015

Objectives: It was investigated the cytoprotective efficacies of isorhamnetin, a flavonoid originally derived from Hippophae rhamnoides L., against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts. Methods: The effects of isorhamnetin on cell growth, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and flow cytometry. The levels of apoptosis-regulatory and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway-related proteins, and caspase activities (caspase-3 and -9) were determined by Western blot analysis and colorimetric assay, respectively. Results: Our results revealed that treatment with isorhamnetin prior to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) exposure significantly increased the C2C12 cell viability and, indicating that the exposure of C2C12 cells to isorhamnetin conferred a protective effect against oxidative stress. Isorhamnetin also effectively attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis and ROS generation, which was associated with the restoration of the upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 induced by $H_2O_2$. In addition, $H_2O_2$ enhanced the activation of caspase-9 and -3, and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase, a typical substrate protein of activated caspase-3; however, these events were almost totally reversed by pretreatment with isorhamnetin. Moreover, isorhamnetin increased the levels of heme oxygenase-1, a potent antioxidant enzyme, associated with the induction of Nrf2. Conclusions: Our data indicated that isorhamnetin may potentially serve as an agent for the treatment and prevention of muscle disorders caused by oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2019

Objectives: We investigated whether membrane free stem cell extract from adipose tissue (MFSCE) has anti-diabetic effect. Methods: To determine glucose uptake effect of MFSCE, we carried out glucose uptake assay in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The regulatory mechanisms of MFSCE on glucose uptake were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: When MFSCE was treated to adipocytes at the concentration of 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 ㎍/mL, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate uptake was elevated approximately 1.8-fold compared to cells not treated with MFSCE. It indicated that MFSCE enhances glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, MFSCE reduced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 at serine 307 and induced Akt and glucose transporter 4 protein expressions that were related to insulin signaling. Furthermore, MFSCE regulated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway by increases of increase phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase that were related to AMPK pathway. Conclusions: These results indicated that MFSCE promotes glucose uptake via modulation of insulin signaling and AMPK pathway. Therefore, MFSCE could be a promising agent for treatment of diabetes mellitus.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2011

Capsaicin is a pungent component of red pepper, which is widely consumed as food adjuncts. The present study was performed to investigate anti-obesity effects of capsaicin in diet-induced obese rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=14) were fed with a high-fat diet (Control) or high-fat diet containing 0.016% capsaicin (w/w) (Capsaicin) for 8 weeks. The final body weight and the mass of white adipose tissue were significantly lower in capsaicin supplemented group compared to control. Dietary capsaicin ameliorated lipid profiles with decrease in the plasma concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol, and decrease in the levels of total lipids and triglycerides in the liver. Activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), an indicator of triglyceride biosynthesis in white adipose tissue, decreased by 35% in the group supplemented with capsaicin. However, consumption of capsaicin increased the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in white adipose tissue, which is related to energy consumption. Our data suggests that capsaicin may reduce body weight and fat accumulation in high fat diet-induced obese rats. These effects may be mediated, at least partially, by the upregulation of UCP2 gene expression and its ability to inhibit GPDH activity.