• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.921-929
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• 2011

Stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling followed by increase of glucose uptake in L6 myotubes were studied with organic solvent extract of Malva verticillata (MV) seeds. Ethanol extract of M. verticillata seeds (MVE) significantly increased the phosphorylation level of AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and glucose uptake in L6 myotube cells. The MVE was fractionated with n-hexane (MVE-H), chloroform (MVE-C), ethylacetate (MVE-E), n-butanol (MVE-B), and water (MVE-W). MVE-H (150 ${\mu}g$/ml) showed the highest phosphorylating activity and increased glucose uptake by 2.3-fold. Oral administration of MVE-H (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks to type 2 diabetic (db/db) mice reduced non-fasting and fasting blood glucose levels by 17.1% and 23.3%, respectively. Phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC in the soleus muscle and liver tissue of db/db mice were significantly increased by the administration of MVE-H. MVE-H was further fractionated using preparative HPLC to identify the AMPK-activating compounds. The NMR and GC-MS analyses revealed that ${\beta}$-sitosterol was a major effective compound in MVE-H. Phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC, and glucose uptake were significantly increased by the treatment of MVE-S (${\beta}$-sitosterol) isolated from M. verticillata to L6 cells, and these effects were attenuated by an AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) pretreatment. These results, taken together, demonstrate that increased glucose uptake in L6 myotubes by MVE-H treatment is mainly accomplished through the activation of AMPK. Our finding suggests that the extract isolated from M. verticillata seed would be beneficial for the treatment of metabolic disease including type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2015

Background: Korean ginseng is an ethnopharmacologically valuable herbal plant with various biological properties including anticancer, antiatherosclerosis, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Since there is currently no drug or therapeutic remedy derived from Korean ginseng, we developed a ginsenoside-enriched fraction (AP-SF) for prevention of various inflammatory symptoms. Methods: The anti-inflammatory efficacy of AP-SF was tested under in vitro inflammatory conditions including nitric oxide (NO) production and inflammatory gene expression. The molecular events of inflammatory responses were explored by immunoblot analysis. Results: AP-SF led to a significant suppression of NO production compared with a conventional Korean ginseng saponin fraction, induced by both lipopolysaccharide and zymosan A. Interestingly, AP-SF strongly downregulated the mRNA levels of genes for inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase) without affecting cell viability. In agreement with these observations, AP-SF blocked the nuclear translocation of c-Jun at 2 h and also reduced phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and TAK-1, all of which are important for c-Jun translocation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AP-SF inhibits activation of c-Jun-dependent inflammatory events. Thus, AP-SF may be useful as a novel anti-inflammatory remedy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.540-548
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• 2018

Background: Acute hepatic failure is a life-threatening critical condition associated with rapid deterioration of liver function and liver transplantation. Several studies have shown that Panax ginseng Mayer has antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. However, the hepatoprotective effect of ginseng berry is still unveiled. In this study, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of ultrasonication-processed ginseng berry extract (UGBE) on acute hepatic failure model in rats. Methods: Ginseng berry extract (GBE) was ultrasonically processed. The GBE, silymarin, and UGBE were orally administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 wk. Twenty-four h after the last administration, rats were challenged with D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: After ultrasonication, the component ratio of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh4, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 in GBE had been elevated. Administration of UGBE significantly increased the survival rate of D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats. Pretreatment with UGBE significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of enzymatic markers for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione) were increased by UGBE treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Tumor necrosis factor alphalevel, inducible nitric oxide synthase activities, and nitric oxide productions were reduced by UGBE treatment. In addition, hemeoxygenase-1 levels in liver were also significantly increased in the UGBE-treated group. The protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 was decreased by UGBE administration. Hematoxylin and eosin staining results also supported the results of this study showing normal appearance of liver histopathology in the UGBE-treated group. Conclusion: UGBE showed a great hepatoprotective effect on D-GalN/LPS-challenged rats via the toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2021

Helianthus annuus L. has been reported with various pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. According to recent studies, H. annuus L. is known to contain components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenoids, and lignans. The seeds of H. annuus L. have been reported to contain chlorogenic acid and di-O-caffeoylquinic acid as major components. However, studies on the main components and content of leaves of H. annuus L. are still incomplete. Therefore, in this study, the contents of four major components of H. annuus L. were evaluated by simultaneous quantitative analysis with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector (DAD). The isolated four compounds Caffeoylquinic acid(CQA), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid(3,4-DCQA), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid(3,5-DCQA) and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid(4,5-DCQA) were shown in a large linearity with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. In addition, as a result of intra-inter day analysis of four major compounds by the analysis method of this study, the accuracy of 88.46% or more and less than 112.85% and excellent precision of less than 3% were shown, the content analysis showed CQA (0.383±0.018 mg/g), 3,4-DCQA (0.282±0.017 mg/g), 3,5-DCQA (1.109±0.068 mg/g), and 4,5-DCQA (0.673±0.020 mg/g).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.369-376
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of rose hip utilization on various diseases. Rose hips are produced on a shrub native to Europe, and have been used for medicinal purposes and nutritional supplementation for centuries. It is rich in minerals, vitamins, and various functional compounds, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, quercetin, catechin, β-carotene, β-sitosterol, polyphenol, flavonoid, taxifolin, ellagic acid, and salicylic acid. Extracts and powders of rose hips have been reported to contain antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory activity, and exert beneficial effects including amelioration of osteoarthritis, body fat reduction, anti-obesity activity, anti-bacterial activity, antidiabetic properties, and anti-cancer activity. Therefore, rose hips as a functional natural food may be considered effective for use in treating diseases including obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.275-280
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• 2015

Among the naturally occurring antioxidants, polyphenols are widely distributed in various fruits, vegetables, wines, juices, and plant-based dietary sources and divided into several subclasses that included phenolic acid, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans. As part of our continuing search for bioactive food ingredients, the antioxidant and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the aqueous ethanolic extract from the aerial parts of Ainsliaea acerifolia were investigated in vitro. The antioxidant properties were evaluated via radical scavenging assays using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) ($ABTS^+$) radicals. In addition, the anti-diabetic effect of A. acerifolia extracts was tested via ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory assay. Furthermore, the total phenolic contents were determined using a spectrophotometric method. All the tested samples showed dose-dependent radical scavenging and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities. In particularly, the ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory and radical scavenging properties of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion from the aerial parts of the A. acerifolia were higher than those of the other solvent-soluble portions. These results suggest that A. acerifolia could be considered a new potential source of natural antioxidants and antidiabetic ingredients. More systematic investigation of the aerial parts of A. acerifolia will be performed for the further development of anti-oxidative and antidiabetic drugs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.840-846
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• 2002

Male Sprague-Bawler rats were blocked into four groups which were normal rats fed control diet (NC) diabetic rats fed control diet (DC), normal rats fed Hamcho powder diet (NH), and diabetic rats fed Hamcho powder diet (DH). Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg B.W. i.p.). The animals were fed ad libitum for 5 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glucose 6-phosphtase (Gspase), glutathione S-transferase (GST) glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were measured in the homogenates of liver and kidney, and total lipid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the blood serum. Food and water intakes were markedly higher in diabetic groups than those of normal groups and were not significantly decreased by Hamcho powder supplementation, But, FER (Feed efficiency ratio) of DH Brood was higher than that of U group. Total cholesterol level of DH group was decreased in the second and third week, and the weekly change of blood sugar was also decreased in the 5th week. Dietary Hamcho intake showed 41.2% of hypoglycemic effect in diabetics rats. Levels of total lipid and triglycerides of DH group were lower than those of DC group. Hepatic GR activity of DH group was higher than those of other groups. However, renal GR activity was lower than those of other groups. Hepatic G6Pase activity was significantly high in DH group and reduced by Hamcho powder supplementation. GST was reduced by Hancho diet in diabetic rats. In conclusion Hamcho supplementation decreased serum lipid and glucose concentration in STZ-induced diabetic rats and this effects of Hamcho might exert antidiabetic effect of Hamcho powder diet.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

The Artemisia capillaris THUNB is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Compositae spp and probably the most common plant among the various herbal folk remedies being used in the treatment of abdominal pain, hepatitis, chronic liver disease, jaundice and coughing in Korea. Recently the biological and pharmacological actions of herb have been studied well such as antibacterial, antidiabetic and antitumor activities. This experiment was conducted to investigate antitumor and immunomodulatory effects of Artemisia capillaris extracts against Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180 cancer cells in in vivo experimental tests. In in vivo experimental tests using 210 ICR mice, based on flow cytometry, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and TNF-${\alpha}+$ splenocytes were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180 inoculated vehicle controls, HP and SP, compared to those of the intact vehicle control on both the $28^{th}$ day and the $42^{nd}$ day, respectively. These decreases of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and TNF-${\alpha}+$ cells induced by tumor inoculations were significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by mACH treatment regardless of the type of experiments and tumor cells inoculated. The results suggest that Artemisia capillaris methanol extracts have prominent antitumor effects on the cancer cell lines Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.382-390
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• 2018

Background: The plant Aster koraiensis has long been used as an ingredient in folk medicine. It has been reported that Aster koraiensis extract (AKE) prevents the progression of diabetes-induced retinopathy and nephropathy. However, although these beneficial effects of AKE on diabetes complications have been identified, the antidiabetic effects of AKE have not yet been completely investigated and quantified. In the present study, the glucose-lowering and antioxidant effects of aqueous and ethanolic AKEs were evaluated. Methods and Results: The glucose-lowering effects of aqueous and ethanolic (30%-, 50%-, and 80%-ethanol) AKEs were investigated via ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory assays. The mode of inhibition by AKEs on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was identified through kinetic analysis. The total antioxidant capacity of each of the 4 AKEs was evaluated by assessing their conversion rate of $Cu^{2+}$ to $Cu^+$. The content of chlorogenic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, the bioactive compounds in AKE, in each extract were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The AKEs showed potent ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity with mixed inhibition mode, and significant antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: These results of this study suggested that the AKEs tested had ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant effects. Among the extracts, the 80% ethanol extract showed the most significant ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$ value) of $1.65{\pm}0.36mg/m{\ell}$ and a half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$ value) for its antioxidant activity of $0.42{\pm}0.10mg/m{\ell}$. It can therefore be used as a source of therapeutic agents to treat diabetes patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1130-1136
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• 2017

Traditionally, the larvae of Allomyrina dichotoma (AD), a species of the rhinoceros beetle, have been widely used for their antidiabetic, antihepatofibrotic, antineoplastic, and antiobesity effects. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization has reported on the possibility of using edible insects in human dietary supplements in the future. However, despite the growing interest in insect-based bio-active products, the biological activities of these products have rarely been studied. Previously, we reported that AD larvae inhibit the in vitro differentiation of adipocytes via transcription factor downregulation. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the effects of a hot-water extract of AD larvae on allergy and inflammation. To investigate the inhibitory effect of the extract on allergic reactions, we measured the levels of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) after activation of RBL-2H3 cells using Compound 48/80. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the extract on inflammation was determined using Raw 264.7 cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The extract significantly inhibited the ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, and COX-2 levels in RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, it effectively inhibited the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, nitric oxide, and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. These results suggest that AD larval extract can be potentially developed as an antiallergic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.