• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2022

Purpose: Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid abundant in many fruits and vegetables. It has potential health-beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the lipid metabolism improvement effect of quercetin affected the regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and microRNA (miR)-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with normal diet, quercetin-free diet and diets containing 0.05% or 0.1% quercetin for six weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. Serum and liver triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were analyzed using a commercial enzymatic colorimetric kit. AMPK activity was quantified using an AMPK kinase assay kit. The levels of miR-21 and genes involved in lipid metabolism were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Supplementation of quercetin reduced serum and hepatic TG and TC levels without changing body weight and food intake. Dietary quercetin significantly inhibited the mRNA levels of hepatic sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and fatty acid synthesis, which are involved in hepatic lipogenesis. Dietary quercetin enhanced AMPK activity and suppressed miR-21 expression, promoting hepatic lipid accumulation. Conclusion: These results suggest that the lipid-lowering effect of quercetin on the serum and liver of mice may be partially mediated by the regulation of lipogenic gene expression, AMPK activity and miR-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.502-513
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammation effects of extract from Maclura tricuspidata twig fermented with Ganoderma lucidum mycelium (EMFG) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 100, 200, 300 ㎍/mL of EMFG. The result showed that EMFG dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation of intracellular lipid content in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and enhanced increase of adiponectin release and inhibition of leptin release. EMFG treatment reduced expression of adipogenic transcriptional factor such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). EMFG also decreased production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] and the protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NOS (iNOS) in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The study demonstrated that EMFG inhibited adipogenesis and inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that EMFG may have potential as an anti-obesity and anti-metabolic disease agent that works by inhibiting adipogenesis and inflammation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.633-639
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• 2015

The experience of natural dyeing is expected to be effective in promoting health through good exercise, in giving emotional stability based on the functional aromatic components of the dyeing material, and in improving self-esteem and increasing positive experiences through the behavior of creation. A natural dyeing material easily found around us, artemisia has long been used in food and Oriental medicine and was recently found to contain antioxidative, anticancer, deodorizing, antibacterial, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetes substances through chemical analysis. It has also been reported that group reminiscence therapy using the fragrance of artemisia is effective in relieving pain and depression and in promoting ego integrity in the elderly population. This study aimed to make a comparative analysis of dyeability, washing fastness, and deodorization between Artemisia princeps, Artemisia iwayomogi, and Artemisia annua, all of which are considered to be healthful and functional dyeing materials, among about thirty domestic plants in the genus of Artemisia and to provide basic data concerning natural dyeing in mind-peace education for the silver generation. The fabric dyed and post-mordanted at $80^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes showed the greatest surface color variation; in this condition, artemisia princes (32.29) gave the greatest color difference, followed by artemisia iwayomogi (31.07) and artemisia annua (26.17). While all the types of artemisia were excellent in washing fastness, dry-cleaning fastness, and rubbing fastness at the fourth- or fifth-grade, light fastness was at the third grade for artemisia princes, at the second to third grade for artemisia annua, and at the second grade for artemisia iwayomogi; therefore, artemisia princes was found to give better fastness than the other two types of artemisia. In determining functionality of the fabric dyed with artemisia, deodorization test also found that the fabric dyed with artemisia princes had 20% higher deodorization.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.357-361
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• 2006

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) synthesized in the body has virtues such as anti-oxidation, blood sugar regulation, appetite suppression, and anti-obesity, etc. ALA, which is also used as a drug, has a five-membered ring including disulfide and so easily losses bioavailability due to ring opening and subsequent polymerization by heat or ultraviolet. This report studies various conditions for ring opening polymerization. The ring opening starts above the melting point of ALA, but there was no temperature dependence above it. At $70^{\circ}C$, the degree of ring opening was proportional to reaction time and inversely proportional concentration. The degree of ring opening in acetic acid with UV for 1 hour reached the maximum conversion (70%). Most cleaved ALA changed into disulfide polymers, and the molecular weight of the polymers increased as the amount of ring opening increased.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2010

Isaria sinclairii (Cicada Dongchunghacho) was studied as a potential crude natural food in powdered form. The role of tissue fatty acids in relation to the anti-obesity effects of I. sinclairii (IS) was examined by feeding the powder to SD rats ad libitum at 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10% (calculated about 8 g/kg) of the feed for a period of 3 months and 6 months. The fatty acid composition profile as indicated GC-MS, showed significantly slight dose-dependent increases in the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly, arachidonic acid (C20: 4n6), oleic acid, linoleic acid, eicosadienoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (C20: 5) concentration in the the ad libitum IS-fed groups compared to the control group in SD abdominal fat over 6 month period. Over viewing of the SD and Ob mice treated Isaria sinclairii powder; there were increases in the single (mono) unsaturated fatty acids ratio but decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acid. In IS-fed groups in proportion to the treatment period, this Dongchunghacho also induced an increase in the level of same result of unsaturated fatty acid in C57BL/6 obese (ob/ob) mice over a 6-month period treatment compared to those given 10% dry mulberry leaf powder (ML) or silkworm powder mixed with the standard diet.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 2014

In Korean Cosmetic Act, four uses of functional cosmetics are recognized: skin whitening, anti-wrinkle, UV protection or suntan. Cosmeceuticals, one of the functional cosmetics, have been specifically developed for medical and cosmetic benefits. However, the uses of cosmeceuticals in patent applications are not limited to those of functional cosmetics, and the number is increasing with variety of medical use claims such as anti-inflammatory, prevention of hair loss, or obesity in cosmeceutical patent applications. Since some of the cosmeceutical use claims are not clearly distinguished from medical use claims in pharmaceuticals, there has been a controversy over the extent of granting patents regarding the medical use of cosmeceuticals. In this article, we have investigated the range of medical uses in patented claims of functional cosmetics, summarized examiners' views and discussed the examination practice of cosmetic-related inventions in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.867-876
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• 2007

This study was performed to determine the attitudes of 397 housewives on the function, preference, eating frequency, and manufacturing procedures of traditional doenjang and traditional soy sauce by age in Seoul. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: 95.5% of the housewives recognized a necessity for traditional doenjang and soy sauce, and 88.7% of them considered traditional doenjang and soy sauce as being 'good for health', as compared to marketplace doenjang and soy sauce. Also, the proportion of those holding this view of 'good for health' increased with increasing age. The believed functions for traditional doenjang and soy sauce were 'anti-cancer effects' (87.1%), 'prevention of obesity' (51.1%), and 'prevention of constipation' (38.5%). The preference for traditional doenjang or soy sauce by those in their 60s (4.65, 4.45) was higher than by those in their 20s (4.05, 3.65). The frequency of intake for traditional doenjang increased with increasing age. The main reasons for frequently consuming traditional doenjang and soy sauce were 'good for health' (64.0%, 59.2%) and 'delicious' (58.5%, 57.1%). The main reason for not frequently consuming traditional doenjang and soy sauce was 'I have no traditional doenjang or soy sauce' (71.4%, 71.6%). About 39.5% of the housewives manufactured traditional doenjang and soy sauce at home. Those in their 60s (78.1%) manufactured more traditional doenjang and soy sauce than those in their 20s (25.0%), 30s (22.4%), 40s (37.7%), and 50s (52.9%).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.469-474
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• 2012

Fagopyrum esculentum(FE) is an important food crop and medicinal plant that is used to improve diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and constipation in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. We investigated the effects on the release of inflammatory mediator and proximal signal events in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated RBL-2H3 cell activation. FE reduced antigen (DNP-HSA)-induced release of histamine, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and cysteinyl Leukotriene (cysLT) in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. In addition, it inhibited antigen-induced HDC2 and COX-2 and 5-LO mRNA expression in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. FE also suppressed antigen-induced $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\beta}$ and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\gamma}$ subunit mRNA expression in these cells. To identify the mechanisms underpinning the inhibition of release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine and PGD2 and cysLT by FE, we examined the proximal signal events of intracellular FceRI signaling molecules. FE suppressed antigen-induced phosphorylation of Lyn, Syk, LAT, $PLC{\gamma}1$, PI3K, Akt and cPLA2. Collectively, the anti-allergic effects of FE in vitro suggest its possible therapeutic application to inflammatory allergic diseases, in which its inhibition of inflammatory mediator and FceRI-dependent signaling events in mast cells may be hugely beneficial.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2014

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution For decades, Spergularia marina, a local food that is popular in South Korea, has been regarded as a nutritious source of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. While several halophytes are reported to possess distinct bioactivities, S. marina has yet to be promoted as a natural source of bioactives. In this study, the effects of S. marina on the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and the osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts and C2C12 myoblast cells were evaluated. The anti-adipogenic effect of S. marina was assessed by measuring lipid accumulation and adipogenic differentiation marker expression. S. marina treatment significantly reduced lipid accumulation and notably decreased the gene levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c. In addition, S. marina enhanced osteoblast differentiation, as indicated by increased alkaline phosphatase activity and increased levels of osteoblastogenesis indicators, namely bone morphogenetic protein-2, osteocalcin, and type I collagen. In conclusion, S. marina could be a source of functional food ingredients that improve osteoporosis and obesity. Further studies, including activity-based fractionation, will elucidate the mechanism of action and active ingredients of S. marina, which would provide researchers with a better understanding of the nutraceutical and therapeutic applications of S. marina.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2020

Oxidative stress is one of the contributors of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. According to previous studies, Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (AY) possesses variable pharmacological activities including anti-coagulant and anti-obesity effect. In this study, we aimed to determine the neuroprotective effect of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (EFAY) against oxidative stress. Therefore, we carried out 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,3-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate assays in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). H₂O₂-treated control cells exhibited reduced viability of cells, and increased LDH release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared to normal cells. However, treatment with EFAY restored the cell viability and inhibited LDH release and ROS production. To investigate the underlying mechanisms by which EFAY attenuated neuronal oxidative damage, we measured protein expressions using Western blot analysis. Consequently, it was observed that EFAY down-regulated cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-1β protein expressions in H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cells that mediated inflammatory reaction. In addition, apoptosis-related proteins including B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase protein expressions were suppressed when H₂O₂-treated cells were exposed to EFAY. Our results indicate that EFAY ameliorated H₂O₂-induced neuronal damage by regulating inflammation and apoptosis. Altogether, AY could be potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases.