• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.184-199
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• 2012

Objectives: There is a steady increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide and obesity is often accompanied by inflammation. Although much emphasis has been placed on the adipose tissue inflammation in obesity, a study with herbal medicine is few. This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effect of a complex herbal medicine (CHM) composed of Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea rhizoma, Aurantii fructus, and Mori Foliumon on obese type 2 diabetes mice. Methods: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity were induced by Surwit's high fat, high sucrose diet for 8 weeks. Mice were divided into ND (normal diet, n=10), HFD (high fat and high sucrose diet, n=10), CHM (high fat and high sucrose diet with complex herbal medicine, n=10) and Met (high fat and high sucrose diet with metformin, n=10) groups. The body weight, fructosamine and OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) were measured. After 8 weeks the blood samples of all mice were taken from the heart, and lipid profiles were measured. Epididymal fat pad, histological size of the adipocyte tissue and liver weights were measured. Inflammatory markers such as leptin and adipocyte tissue macrophage were measured to evaluate the effect of CHM on adipocyte tissue inflammation. Results: Compared with the HFD group, there was an improvement in OGTT and epididymal fat decreased in the CHM group. White adipocyte size and adipocyte tissue macrophage decreased in CHM group. Conclusions: These results suggest that CHM has antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects in high fat, high sucrose diet induced obese mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.154-160
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: We examined the hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of yeast hydrolysate (YH) enriched with Cyclo-His-Pro (CHP) in the C57BL/6J ob/ob mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mice were separated into 4 groups (8 mice/group) on the basis of blood glucose and body weight: WT control, lean mice given vehicle; ob/ob control, ob/ob mice given vehicle; YH-1, ob/ob mice given 0.5 g/kg of YH; YH-2, ob/ob mice given 1 g/kg of YH. YH in saline or vehicle was administered orally in the same volume every day for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Mice treated with YH (0.5 and 1 g/kg) for 3 weeks displayed a significant reduction in overall body weight gain and perirenal and epididymal adipose tissue weight compared to the ob/ob control group. Additionally, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, glucose, and atherogenic indexes were significantly decreased in the blood of YH-1 and YH-2 groups compared to the ob/ob control. In ob/ob mice, YH administration significantly improved glucose tolerance and blood insulin levels. These data indicate that YH treatment produces potent hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects by controlling body weight, fat mass, blood lipid, insulin levels, and glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION: YH could potentially be used as a treatment option for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The CHP-enriched YH may be a promising strategy in the development of hypoglycemic peptide nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cassia acutifolia on the obesity and the glucose levels in a rat model of obesity and diabetes. Methods: By random selection, 36 Wistar male rats were divided in two control groups, the positive and the negative control groups, and into four experimental groups receiving different infusions of Cassia acutifolia in water ad libitum. Results: The results revealed a statistically significant anti-obesogenic effect (P = 0.02), although this was not considered clinically significant. Additionally, Cassia acutifolia lowered the glucose levels by 30 mg/dL to 90 mg/dL (P = 0.05). However, we observed adverse effects in the liver, a two-fold increase in transaminase levels (P = 0.002), and in the kidneys, decreased creatinine levels (P = 0.001), and these adverse effects had no viable explanation. Conclusion: Cassia acutifolia has anti-hyperglycemic effects in obese diabetic rats. However, Cassia acutifolia also has adverse effects, so it should not be administered to patients.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.122-126
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• 2009

Transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) is a highly pleiotropic cytokine playing pivotal roles in immune regulation. TGF-$\beta$ facilitates tumor cell survival and metastasis by targeting multiple cellular components. Focusing on its immunosuppressive functions, TGF-$\beta$ antagonists have been employed for cancer treatment to enhance tumor immunity. TGF-$\beta$ antagonists exert anti-tumor effects through #1 activating effector cells such as NK cells and cytotoxic $CD8^+$ Tcells (CTLs), #2 inhibiting regulatory/suppressor cell populations, #3 making tumor cells visible to immune cells, #4 inhibiting the production of tumor growth factors. This review focuses on the effect of TGF-$\beta$ on T cells, which are differentiated into effector T cells or newly identified tumor-supporting T cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.766-770
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• 2008

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is regulated by the balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Curcumin isolated from Kang-hwang (Turmeric) is widely used as a foodstuff, cosmetic, and medicine. However, the effect of curcumin isolated from Kang-hwang in osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we sought to examine the role of curcumin in osteoclast differentiation. Here we show that curcumin greatly inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation in osteoclast precursors without cytotoxicity. RANKL induced the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mediated $I-{\kappa}B$ degradation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). However, RANKL-mediated p38 MAPK phosphorylation was inhibited by the addition of curcumin. Curcumin inhibited the mRNA expression of TRAP, c-Fos, and NFATc1 in BMMs treated with RANKL. Furthermore, the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 induced by RANKL was suppressed by curcumin treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that curcumin may have a potential therapeutic role in bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2017

Objective: Adipose tissue plays a key role in the development of obesity and diabetes. We previously reported that lignosulfonic acid suppresses the rise in blood glucose levels through the inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity and intestinal glucose absorption. The purpose of this study is to examine further biological activities of lignosulfonic acid. Methods: In this study, we examined the effect of lignosulfonic acid on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Results: While lignosulfonic acid inhibited proliferation (mitotic clonal expansion) after induction of differentiation, lignosulfonic acid significantly increased the size of accumulated lipid droplets in the cells. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that lignosulfonic acid increased the expression of the adipogenic transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), leading to increased glucose transporter 4 (Glut-4) expression and 2-deoxyglucose uptake in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Additionally, feeding lignosulfonic acid to diabetic KK-Ay mice suppressed increase of blood glucose level. Conclusion: Lignosulfonic acid may be useful as a functional anti-diabetic component of food.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.239-245
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• 2012

The inhibitory activities of a water extract of Sanghwang mushroom(Phellinus linteusau)(SWE) against ${\alpha}$-glucosidases were evaluated in this study. Inhibiting these enzymes involved in the absorption of disaccharides significantly decreases the postprandial increase in blood glucose level after a mixed carbohydrate diet. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl scavenging activities of the SWE were evaluated to investigate the antioxidant activity of the SWE associated with complications of long-term diabetes. Furthermore, the postprandial blood glucose lowering effect of SWE was compared to a known type 2 diabetes drug($Acarbose^{(R)}$) in a Sprague-Dawley rat model. SWE significantly reduced the blood glucose increase after sucrose loading. These results suggest that SWE, which has high ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity and high antioxidant activities, has the potential to contribute to a useful dietary strategy for controlling postprandial hyperglycemia.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.622-628
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• 2014

The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seeds for the management of type 2 diabetes by controlling glucose absorption. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory effects of the hexane extracts from oriental melon seeds were investigated. A bioassay-guided fractionation technique was used to elucidate the principal active components. The results show that the hexane extract from oriental melon seeds exhibited high inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase. The hexane extract was further fractionated into four sub-fractions. Among them, the sub-fraction F-1 exhibited the most potent anti-diabetic effect. The active components were isolated and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Free fatty acids showed significant hypoglycemic activity (p < 0.001) and fatty acid composition influenced enzyme inhibitory activities. These results suggest that oriental melon seeds could be used to prevent type 2 diabetes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2016

Oroxylum indicum has long been used in Asian traditional medicine to prevent and treat respiratory diseases, diabetes, diarrhea and other conditions. Oroxylin A is a flavone that is present in Oroxylum indicum and in Scutellaria baicalensis. Because the root extracts of both plants have been shown to have anti-allergic effects, the authors investigated whether oroxylin A is likely to have beneficial effects on allergic asthma using female Balb/c mice and rat RBL-2H3 mast cells. Antigen-induced degranulation was measured in vitro by measuring b-hexosaminidase activity. A murine ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma model was used to test the in vivo efficacy of oroxylin A. Sensitization and challenge of ovalbumin induced allergic asthma responses, the accumulations of eosinophils and Th2 cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues. Oroxylin A administration decreased numbers of inflammatory cells, especially eosinophils, and reduced the expression and secretion of Th2 cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-13, in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Histologic studies showed oroxylin A reduced inflammatory signs and mucin production in lungs. These findings provide evidence that oroxylin A has potential use as an anti-allergic therapeutic.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Obesity is a worldwide problem that contributes to serious diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Recently, much research has examined functional natural materials and their anti-obesity activity. This study investigated the effect of enzyme-treated Ecklonia cava extracts on mice fed a high fat diet. To test the anti-obesity effects of a diet containing the enzyme-treated E. cava extracts (EEc), C57BL/6NTacSam mice were divided into six groups : normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat with Garcinia extract diet (GHD), and three high-fat with EEc diet (EHD250, EHD500, and EHD1000) groups. After 9 weeks, body weight was increased significantly in the HFD group compared to all of the EHD groups, and the weights of the liver, perirenal fat and epididymal fat paralleled the increase in body weight. The serum GOT, GPT, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in the EHD1000 group than in the HFD group. The glucose and leptin concentrations were lowest in the EHD1000 group and C/EBP family expression was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that E. cava extracts not only have anti-oxidation functions but also anti-obesity effects.