• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.451-456
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• 2004

Based on the data from our previous studies, four new diabetic remedies were composed with the addition of Coicis Semen into Okchun-san (OCH), Commelinae Herba into Gangsim-tang (GST) , Scrophulariae Radix into Sunki-san (SKS), and Erythrinae Cortex into Yukmijihuang-hwan (YMG). The water extracts of these new remedies were treated in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes in order to investigate insulin-like substances and insulin sensitizers, respectively. With and without differentiation inducers, unmodified SKS (SKS-O) treatment induced 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes more than the control. However, without inducers, YMG treatment, but not SKS, induced the differentiation more than the control among modified remedies. Without inducers, SKS, OCH as well as YMG increased the induction of differentiation from 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes, compared to the control. The treatment of OCH and YMG with 1 ng/mL insulin increased glucose uptake much more than only insulin 1 ng/mL treatment. Thus, OCH and YMG contained increased insulin actions. In conclusions, the modified remedies, OCH and YMG, contained insulin-like substances and insulin sensitizers, and they can be improved the hypoglycemic effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2012

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which has been known to be able to clear away heat and remove dampness, was used for febrile disease. It is now clear that Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play major roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications such as atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi suppress the AGE mediated inflammatory responses in the THP-1 cells. AGE treatment increased the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed that S. baicalensis had inhibitory effects on the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and protein levels in AGE-treated THP-1 cells. S. baicalensis had also reduced the production of ROS in the AGE-treated THP-1 cells. These results suggest that S. baicalensis has inhibitory effects for the development of diabetic vascular complication.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2008

Spirulina is a microscopic and filamentous cyanobacterium that contains essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidative components. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of spirulina intervention in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. The subjects were 37 type 2 diabetic patients who visited a diabetic clinic in Seoul and randomly assigned into spirulina (8 g/day) or control group. During the intervention period of 12 weeks, subjects were asked to keep usual diet and prohibited to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. Spirulina supplementation for 12 weeks did not affect anthropometric parameters, however, lowered plasma triglycerides level significantly (p<0.05). Spirulina supplementation also resulted in a significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde level (p<0.05) and an increase in plasma adiponectin level (p<0.1). The lipid lowering effect of spirulina supplementation was different according to serum lipid levels of the subjects before entering the intervention. The subjects with higher initial triglyceride level showed higher reduction in plasma triglyceride and blood pressure. The subjects with higher initial total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level showed higher reduction in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, IL-6, and blood pressure. It seems that spirulina supplementation is more effective in subjects with dyslipidemia. This study provides the evidence for beneficial effects of spirulina supplementation on blood lipid profiles, inflammatory variables, and antioxidant capacity in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. The results suggest that spirulina is a promising agent as a functional food for diabetes management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.662-665
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• 2008

Takju lees extract is expected to be a promising material for functional food. This study was conducted in order to assess the glycemic index (GI) of Takju lees extract and its effects in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The GI for Takju lees extract was evaluated with 10 healthy young adults (Male 5, Female 5). OGTT was conducted in 20 male db/db mice, fed on a diet containing 2% Takju lees extract for 4 weeks. Those animals were subjected to OGTT after one oral administration of Takju lees extract at 2 g/kg BW. The GI of the Takju lees extract was measured at 97.97. The effects of the Takju lees extract on the oral glucose tolerance test in db/db mice evidenced no differences as compared to the control group. In conclusion, Takju lees extract is a high GI material, and it has no effect on blood glucose levels in a type II diabetic animal model. Further studies will be required to confirm its anti-diabetic effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2022

Many bone diseases such as osteolysis, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis are caused by gram-negative bacterial infection, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial product, plays an essential role in this process. Drugs that inhibit LPS-induced osteoclastogenesis are urgently needed to prevent bone destruction in infective bone diseases. Marein, a major bioactive compound of Coreopsis tinctoria, possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-diabetic effects. In this study, we measured the effect of marein on RAW264.7 cells by CCK-8 assay and used TRAP staining to determine osteoclastogenesis. The levels of osteoclast-related genes and NF-κB-related proteins were then analyzed by western blot, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were quantified by ELISA. Our results showed that marein inhibited LPS-induced osteoclast formation by osteoclast precursor RAW264.7 cells. The effect of marein was related to its inhibitory function on expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and osteoclast-related genes containing RANK, TRAF6, MMP-9, CK, and CAII. Additionally, marein leads to markedly inhibited NF-κB signaling pathway activation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Concurrently, when the NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited, osteoclast formation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were decreased. Collectively, marein could inhibit LPS-induced osteoclast formation in RAW264.7 cells via regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our data demonstrate that marein might be a potential drug for bacteria-induced bone destruction disease. Our findings provide new insights into LPS-induced bone disease.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2023

Genus Penicillium comprising the most important and extensively studied fungi has been well-known as a rich source of secondary metabolites. Our study aimed to analyze and investigate biological activities, including in vitro anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties, of metabolites from a marine-derived fungus belonging to P. levitum. The chemical compounds in the culture broth of P. levitum strain N33.2 were extracted with ethyl acetate. Followingly, chemical analysis of the extract leaded to the isolation of three ergostane-type steroid components, namely cerevisterol (1), ergosterol peroxide (2), and (3β,5α,22E)-ergosta-6,8(14),22-triene-3,5-diol (3). Among these, (3) was the most potent cytotoxic against human cancer cell lines Hep-G2, A549 and MCF-7 with IC₅₀ values of 2.89, 18.51, and 16.47 ㎍/mL, respectively, while the compound (1) showed no significant effect against tested cancer cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of purified compounds were evaluated based on NO-production in LPS-induced murine RAW264.7 macrophages. As a result, tested compounds performed diverse inhibitory effects on NO production by the macrophages, with the most significant inhibition rate of 81.37±1.35% at 25 ㎍/mL by the compound (2). Interestingly, compounds (2) and (3) exhibited inhibitory activities against pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro assays. Our study brought out new data concerning the chemical properties and biological activities of isolated steroids from a P. levitum fungus.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2014

In order to develop a new anti-diabetic ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor, we compared the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the cell-free extracts of 48 strains of yeasts isolated from Korean fermented foods, and found that Pichia burtonii Y257-7 exhibited the highest ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of 55.6%. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor was maximally produced when Pichia burtonii Y257-7 was cultured in LB broth (initial pH of 6.0) at $28^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor, partially purified by Sephadex G-50 gel permeation chromatography and systematic solvents extraction, revealed potent hypoglycemic effects in normal rats and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after the oral administration of starch.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.270-277
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Crataegus pinnatifida which was extracted with water and different concentrations of EtOH (0~100%). The extraction yield of 70% EtOH (33.16%) was higher than that of 50% EtOH (27.79%), water (21.71%), 30% EtOH (21.88%) and 100% EtOH (19.03%). Total polyphenol contents of 50% EtOH extract from C. pinnatifida were the highest. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were $80.79{\pm}0.83%$ and $34.92{\pm}0.97%$ in 50% EtOH extract, respectively, which were higher than those of other extracts. The inhibitory activities of 50% ethanol extract from C. pinnatifida against advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase were determined to be $27.09{\pm}2.27%$ and $58.87{\pm}0.70%$, respectively. The inhibitory activity of water extract from C. pinnatifida against aldose reductase was higher ($30.68{\pm}1.41%$) than those of other extracts. Overall, 50% EtOH extract from C. pinnatifida showed the highest antidiabetic and antioxidant effects. These results suggest that 50% ethanol extracts from C. pinnatifida have potential as a useful ingredient with antidiabetic and antioxidant effects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.241-256
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diabetes-specific oral nutritional supplements (ONS) have anti-hyperglycemic effects, while D-allulose exerts anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of diabetes-specific ONS, including allulose, on glycemic and weight changes in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SUBJECTS/METHODS: A single-arm, historical-control pilot clinical trial was conducted on 26 overweight or obese patients with T2DM (age range: 30-70 yrs). The participants were administered 2 packs of diabetes-specific ONS, including allulose (200 kcal/200 mL), every morning for 8 weeks. The glycemic profiles, obesity-related parameters, and lipid profiles were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of ONS. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level significantly decreased from 139.00 ± 29.66 mg/dL to 126.08 ± 32.00 mg/dL (P = 0.007) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) improved (7.23 ± 0.82% vs. 7.03 ± 0.69%, P = 0.041). Moreover, the fasting insulin (δ: -1.81 ± 3.61 μU/mL, P = 0.017) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (δ: -0.87 ± 1.57, P = 0.009) levels decreased at 8 weeks, and body weight significantly decreased from 67.20 ± 8.29 kg to 66.43 ± 8.12 kg (P = 0.008). Body mass index (BMI) also decreased in accordance with this (from 25.59 ± 1.82 kg/m² to 25.30 ± 1.86 kg/m², P = 0.009), as did waist circumference (δ: -1.31 ± 2.04 cm, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of diabetes-specific ONS with allulose in overweight or obese patients with T2DM improved glycemic profiles, such as FBG, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, and reduced body weight and BMI.