• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Different fatty acids exert different health benefits. This study investigated the potential protective effects of perilla, olive, and safflower oils on high-fat diet-induced obesity and colon inflammation. MATERIALS/METHODS: Five-week old, C57BL/6J mice were assigned to 5 groups: low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) and high-fat diet supplemented with-perilla oil (HPO), olive oil (HOO), and safflower oil (HSO). After 16 weeks of the experimental period, the mice were sacrificed, and blood and tissues were collected. The serum was analyzed for obesity- and inflammation-related biomarkers. Gene expression of the biomarkers in the liver, adipose tissue, and colon tissue was analyzed. Micro-computed tomography (CT) analysis was performed one week before sacrifice. RESULTS: Treatment with all the three oils significantly improved obesity-induced increases in body weight, liver weight, and epididymal fat weight as well as serum triglyceride and leptin levels. Treatment with perilla oil (PO) and safflower oil (SO) increased adiponectin levels. The micro-CT analysis revealed that PO and SO reduced abdominal fat volume considerably. The mRNA expression of lipogenic genes was reduced in all the three oilsupplemented groups and PO upregulated lipid oxidation in the liver. Supplementation of oils improved macroscopic score, increased colon length, and decreased serum endotoxin and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the colon. The abundance of Bifidobacteria was increased and that of Enterobacteriaceae was reduced in the PO-supplemented group. All three oils reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels, as indicated by the mRNA expression. In addition, PO increased the expression of tight junction proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data indicate that the three oils exert similar anti-obesity effects. Interestingly, compared with olive oil and SO, PO provides better protection against high-fat diet-induced colon inflammation, suggesting that PO consumption helps manage inflammation-related diseases and provides omega-3 fatty acids needed by the body.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.17-26
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• 2022

Objective : The aim of the present study is to examine hepatic lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects of silymarin combined with Jakyakgamcho-tang on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a high fat diet-induced obese mice model. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were divided into four dietary groups: (1) Normal, (2) Control (60% high-fat diet), (3) Control + silymarin 50 mg/kg/day (Silymarin), (4) Control + Silymarin 50 mg/kg/day + Jakyakgamcho-tang 100 mg/kg/day (SPG). After 12 weeks administration, mice were sacrificed and lipids and inflammation-related biomarkers were analyzed liver and plasma. Results : Silymarin and SPG treatments significantly lowered body and liver weights compared to the Control. Serumlipids (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1𝛽, and IL-6) concentrations were significantly lowered in the Silymarin and SPG groups than the Control group. Silymarin and SPG treatments suppressed hepatic TG level and hepatic lipid droplets compared to the Control. Theses two treatments significantly increased hepatic kinase B1 and AMP-activated protein kinase protein levels, and significantly decreased hepatic key lipogenic enzymes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and stearyl coenzyme A desaturase 1) protein levels than the Control. SPG also significantly increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation-related protein (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and uncoupling protein 2) levels than the Control. Conclusions: Silymarin and SPG suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation by regulating hepatic protein expression, and lowered blood pro-inflammatory cytokines concentrations though the synergic effect of silymarin and Jakyakgamchotang was not clear.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2013

This study is a basic study on the development of functional substances involved in obesity prevention, lipid metabolism, and immune regulation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Allium monanthum extracts (AME) were administered orally to obesity-induced rats, and their lipid-lowering, antioxidative and various types of biological effects related to the immune system were examined. Blood free fatty acid and triglyceride concentrations decreased as the dose of AME increased. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations in the blood decreased as the dose of AME increased. The total cholesterol concentrations in the liver of the AME-treated groups were lower than the control group. The thiobarbituric acid reactive concentrations were lower in the plasma and liver of all AME-treated groups than the control group. Plasma AST and ALT activities did not show any significant differences among the treatment groups. IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 concentrations in the liver tended to decrease as the dose of AME increased. TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10 concentrations did now show any significant differences compared to the control group. Lower expression levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, Apo-B and Apo-E genes were found in the AME-treated groups. Taken together, these results indicate that AME may show positive effects in lipid lowering, antioxidation and anti-inflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2024

Metabolic abnormalities in the liver are closely associated with diverse metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorating effect of robinetin (RBN) on the significant pathogenic features of metabolic failure in the liver and to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. RBN significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) accumulation by downregulating lipogenesis-related transcription factors in AML-12 murine hepatocyte cell line. In addition, mice fed with Western diet (WD) containing 0.025% or 0.05% RBN showed reduced liver mass and lipid droplet size, as well as improved plasma insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. CD38 was identified as a target of RBN using the BioAssay database, and its expression was increased in OPA-treated AML-12 cells and liver tissues of WD-fed mice. Furthermore, RBN elicited these effects through its anti-histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Computational simulation revealed that RBN can dock into the HAT domain pocket of p300, a histone acetyltransferase, which leads to the abrogation of its catalytic activity. Additionally, knock-down of p300 using siRNA reduced CD38 expression. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that p300 occupancy on the promoter region of CD38 was significantly decreased, and H3K9 acetylation levels were diminished in lipid-accumulated AML-12 cells treated with RBN. RBN improves the pathogenic features of metabolic failure by suppressing the p300-CD38 axis through its anti-HAT activity, which suggests that RBN can be used as a new phytoceutical candidate for preventing or improving this condition.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Jowiseungcheung-tang (JWSCT) extract on the lipid metabolism, anti-oxidation and inflammatory reflex. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high fat diet for 8 weeks and were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 mice in each group): control group, 100 mg/kg JWSCT group, 200 mg/kg JWSCT group, 300 mg/kg JWSCT group. The control group was administered 100 mg/kg of water, but the other three groups were administered 100, 200, 300 mg/kg JWSCT extract for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, we measured lipid level, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cytokines in plasma and liver. The gene expression level and the ratio of apo-B and apo-E were then investigated by way of reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results : In the JWSCT group, compared with the control, free fatty acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TBARS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ decreased significantly in plasma and liver. However HDL-cholesterol, IL-10, GSH-Px, SOD and CAT increased. In the JWSCT group, compared with the control, the gene expression level and the ratio of apo-A and apo-E decreased significantly in the RT-PCR analysis. Conclusions : The extract of JWSCT has anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.478-484
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• 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is known to be frequently associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. We examined the effects of EtOH extracts from Triticum aestivum on lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to screening the candidate materials in preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The lipid level in adipocytes was determined by Oil Red O staining. The treatment of 50% ethanol, but not water and 100% ethanol extracts, from Triticum aestivum at concentration of 0.5 $mg/ml$ inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, revealing no cell toxicity. Thus, the fractions of $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc and BuOH were separated from 50% EtOH extract to characterize anti-adipogenic effect. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$ effectively inhibited the lipid accumulation in the adipocytes compared to those of EtOAc and BuOH at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$. The intracellular triglyceride accumulation also was significantly reduced by treatment of $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction in concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction attenuated the intracelluar level of fatty acid synthase(FAS) accompanied by attenuated expression of Peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) adipogenic transcription factor. These results suggest that $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction from 50% EtOH extract of Triticum aestivum may has the potent anti-adipogenic effects by inhibiting the transactivation of $PPAR{\gamma}$.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Culinary herbs and spices have received much attention since they contain high concentrations of bioactive ingredients for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Protection effect of the herb and spice against acute alcohol consumption has been investigated using zebrafish as a vertebrate model. During 30 days bathed in water containing 1% Et-OH and the designated herb or spice, the survival rate of the Et-OH group was decreased sharply (up to 20% at 10 days). The cinnamon-fed group showed the highest and longer survival rate up to 80% up to for 30 days under the presence of Et-OH, while clove-fed group showed 40% survival rate for 25 days. Et-OH group serum exhibited the weakest antioxidant ability from ferric ion removal ability (FRA) assay; FRA ability was increased in the cinnamon-fed group up to 414%, while the clove and laurel group increased 256% and 309%, respectively. Histologic observation and Oil-red O staining showed hepatic tissue damage was severe in the Et-OH group. The cinnamon- or clove-fed group showed much ameliorated hepatic tissue morphology with minimized steatosis. The cinnamon- or clove-fed group showed lower serum GOT and GPT levels than the Et-OH group. Among hepatic tissue extract, the clove-fed group exhibited the lowest level of GOT and GPT. These results suggest that consumption of cinnamon and clove might be beneficial to attenuate progress of acute fatty liver change by alcohol consumption.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.99-103
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the anti-diabetic effect of the water extract of Neolentinus lepideus in a diabetic mouse model. Seven-week-old C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were fed either a control diet (CD) or diet supplemented with 1% or 5% of N. lepideus water extract (NLWE1 or NLWE5) for 10 weeks. Oral administration of NLWE significantly decreased the body weight gain compared to that of CD-fed group. Mice in the NLWE group had significantly lower levels of fasting serum glucose, fatty acids, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to those in the control group. These effects were accompanied by reduced fatty liver and improved glucose tolerance in the NLWE group. Taken together, these results suggest that N. lepideus might have potential as a dietary supplement to control diabetes.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study investigated effects of Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg ethanol extract(EtOH ext). on lowering lipid, anti-oxidation and concentration of plasma inflammatory mediators using rat fed on high oxidized fat. Methods : We divided fat sprague-dawley rats fed on high oxidized into 4 groups. They were normal group, feed with 100 mg/kg Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg group, feed with 200 mg/kg Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg group and feed with 300 mg/kg Artemisia capilaris Thunberg group. They were administered for 4 weeks. We measured concentration of plasma free fatty acid(FFA), plasma triglyceride, plasma total cholesterol, and plasma low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-cholesterol), plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-cholesterol), concentration of liver total cholesterol and liver triglyceride (TG), concentration of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and catalase(CAT) activity, plasma nitric oxide(NO), ceruloplasmin and ${\alpha}-glycoprotein$. Results : 1. The Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups showed low concentration of plasma FFA, plasma triglyceride, plasma total cholesterol and plasma LDL-cholesterol compared to control group. However, concentration of plasma HDL-cholesterol was increased in the Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups. 2. Concentration of liver total cholesterol and liver TG showed a significantly decrement in all Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. 3. The Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups showed lower values in concentration of plasma TBARS and liver TBARS than that of control group. The values of GSH-Px activity, SOD activity and CAT activity were increased in the Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups. 4. The values of plasma NO, ceruloplasmin and ${\alpha}-glycoprotein$ were decreased in Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups. Conclusions : Based on the results in this study, the Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. showed a positive effect in lowering lipid, anti-oxidation and decrement of plasma inflammatory mediators.