• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.356-362
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the biological activities of fermented mugworts and their effects on the lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemia-induced rats. The proximate compositions of two kinds of mugwort, Artemisia capillaris Thumberg and Artemisiae asiaticae Nakai, were compared before and after fermentation. In both types of mugwort crude protein and amino nitrogen contents markedly increased with fermentation. Thrombolytic activity determined from the size of the clear zone on a fibrin plate was higher for the Artemisiae asiaticae Nakai, especially in the fermented sample. Antioxidative activity according to DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging effects was higher for Artemisia capillaris Thumberg but no significant differences were found between the samples after fermentation. The body weights of hyperlipidemia-induced rats that were fed the mugworts for 4 weeks were lower than those of the control group. In all the mugwort-fed rats serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels remarkably decreased. Furthermore the fermented mugworts were found to be more effective at decreasing triglyceride (TG) levels. It is also noteworthy that the highest HDL-cholesterol levels were observed in the rats treated with the fermented Artemisiae asiaticae Nakai. And fatty liver weights were higher in the rats fed Artemisia capillaris Thumberg. In conclusion the feeding of fermented Artemisiae asiaticae Nakai was effective for increasing thrombolytic activity and HDL-cholesterol levels as well as reducing TG levels in rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a global health problem of significant importance which increases mortality. In place of anti-obesity drugs, natural products are being developed as alternative therapeutic materials. In this study, we investigated the effect of Brassica juncea L. leaf extract (BLE) on fat deposition and lipid profiles in high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFC)-induced obese rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group) according to diet: normal diet group (ND), high-fat/high-cholesterol diet group (HFC), HFC with 3% BLE diet group (HFC-A1), and HFC with 5% BLE diet group (HFC-A2). Each group was fed for 6 weeks. Rat body and adipose tissue weights, serum biochemical parameters, and tissue lipid contents were determined. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The HFC-A2 group showed significantly lower body weight gain and food efficiency ratio than the HFC group. BLE supplementation caused mesenteric, epididymal, and total adipose tissue weights to decrease. The serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased in rats fed BLE. These results were related to lower glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acetyl-coA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase mRNA expression, and to higher expression of the cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase and low density lipoprotein-receptor, as well as increased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$. Histological analysis of the liver revealed decreased lipid droplets in HFC rats treated with BLE. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of HFC with 3% or 5% BLE inhibited body fat accumulation, improved lipid profiles, and modulated lipogenesis- and cholesterol metabolism-related gene and protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.824-827
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• 1990

Phenolic acids are widely distributed in all plant meterial. Most of these acids were combined with plant or grain cell wall. On the other hand, it had been reported that p-coumaric acid exhibited hypocholesterolemic activity in rats. We have undertaken a study of these compounds with regard to their effect on the rat. In this study, the effects of phenolic acid on the serum cholesterol level in rats fed with cholesterol free and cholesterol enriched diets were examined. The commercially available phenolic acid were purchased in the experiment. These compounds were incoporated in the diet at a level of 0.2%. These diets were fed for 21 days to male wistar strain rats with a body weight of 80 to 90g. It was found no significant change in serum cholesterol level in the phenolic acid fed rats in both cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.212-218
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• 1994

The effects of dietary buckwheat vegetables on the in vitro HMG-CoA reductase activity and lipids profiles of serum and liver in rats were evaluated . Buckwheat vegetables were cultivated in the range of 1-15cm of the plant height and dried. The content of rutin in the dried vegetables did not varied largely with the differences in the height of the vegetables. The water extract from buckwheat vegetables activited in vitro HMG-CoA reductase, activity up to 150% of control. Male rats were fed on purified diets. supplemented with0.12% cholesterol, containing dried buckwheat vegetables(BWV, 5% of diet) or rutin 90.25% of diet) . Dietary BWV and rutin, compared with basal diet tended to decrease the concentration of serum cholesterol. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol were higher slightly in the rutin -fed group than in the other groups. The concentration of serum triacylglycerol was lower markedly in the rutin -fed groups than in the control groups, and BWV group being intermediate . The concentration of liver cholesterol was lower significantly in the BWV group than in the other groups. The results show an effective cholesterol-lowering action of buckwheat vegetables in serum and liver of rats fed on cholesterolemic diets. and that the hypocholesterolemic effects of buchwheat vegetables re not likely to be due to the modulation of the cholesterol synthesis rate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary mushroom powder on blood glucose levels, seam lipid levels, glucose 6-phosphtase (G6Pase), thiobarbituric arid reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione enzymes in diabetic rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ). Four groups of rats (Sprague-Dawley male rats, 180-200 g) were fed as follows: normal rats were fed a control diet (C), diabetic rats were file a control diet (CD), normal fats were fed a mushroom powder diet (M), and diabetic rals were find mushroom powder diet (MD). Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg B.W.). The animals were fed ad libium each of the experimental diets for five weeks. Food and water intake was determined every day. Blood glucose and serum total cholesterol levels were determined every week. After five weeks, the rats were sacrificed and blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and glutathione enzymes were measured. HDL-cholesterol levels were analyzed and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were calculated by equation. There was body weight loss in the diabetic rats, but the MD group showed less body weight loss than the CD group. Blood glucose and serum total cholesterol level of the MD group were lower than those of the CD group (p < 0.05). Also, serum total cholesterol of the M group was lower than that of the C group (p < 0.05). But the serum triglyceride level of the diabetic rats (CD and MD) was higher than that of the normal rats (C and M). However, there was no significant difference between the control diet group and the mushroom diet group. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels of the C group and CD group were higher than that of the M group (p < 0.05), and the MD group was not significantly different. But the serum LDL-cholesterol levels of the M group were lower than those of the C group (p < 0.05). Activity of hepatic microsomal G6Pase significantly increased in the CD and MD, reaching levels higher than those of the C and M groups. Hepateic gutathione S-transferase (GST, glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity was not significant. But renal GST, GR and GPX activity in the MD group was lower than that of the CD group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that dietary mushroom reduces renal disorders such as oxidation and aging of tissue. In conclusion, dietary mushroom groups reduced blood glucose and cholesterol levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats and renal glutathione enzymes activity was averted in diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.477-483
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• 1999

The effects of chitin and chitosan on the contents of plasma and liver lipids and the fecal excretion of neutral and acidic steroids were investigated in rats fed with atherogenic diet. Dietary chitin did not affect plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, while chitosan diet de creased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Plasma content of triglyceride was reduced signif icantly by chitin diet but not by chitosan. Increases in fecal weight were observed in rats fed with either chitin or chitosan, and the increase was greater with chitosan than with chitin. Dietary chitosan resulted in an increase of fecal excretion of neutral steroids without any changes in the excretion of acidic sterols. Putting the results together, dietary chitosan reduces plasma cholesterol probably due to the reduction of cholesterol absorption. The decrease in plasma triglyceride level by dietary chitin requires further research to understand the mechinism.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.198-204
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bread supplemented with silkpeptide and cholesterol of on the lipid metabolism in rats. When a rats were fed bread supplemented with silkpeptide and cholesterol, their net weight tended to decrease compared with the control. Although the food intake was increased, this was not significant., but the feed efficiency ratio was substantially decreased. The total and LDL-cholesterols were decreased, but the DHL-cholesterol was increased. The HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio and level of triglyceride were substantially increased. The atherogenic index was decreased when rats are fed bread supplemented with silkpeptide and; thus, would show an improvement in the effect of high-cholesterol symptoms.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.990-996
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Forsythia viridissima Lindl. (FVL) on antioxidative defense system and lipid peroxidation of liver in rats fed high-cholesterol diet. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100 $\pm$ 10 g were randomly assigned into five experimental groups fed 0.5％ cholesterol ; HC group which was not supplemented FVL extract, 0.05％ methanol extract diet group (MSI group), 0.1％ methanol extract diet group (MS2 group), 0.025％ ethylacetate-souble fraction diet group (ES1 group) and 0.05％ ethylacetate-souble fraction diet group (ES2 group). Experimental diets were fed ad libitum to the rats for 3 weeks. The hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in the MS2 group was decreased to 20％ as compared to HC group. The activities of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were not significantly different among all the high cholesterol diet groups. The hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) activity in MS2, ES2 groups were significantly increased as compared to HC group. The hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in the MS2 group was increased to 20％ as compared to HC group. The levels of hepatic TBARS in the MS1, MS2, ES1 and ES2 groups were reduced by 13％, 21％, 13％ and 21％, respectively, as compared with HC group. The contents of lipofuscin in liver tissue was not significantly different among all the experimental groups. The results indicate that FVL extract may reduce oxidative damage by activating antioxidative defense system of liver in rats fed high-cholesterol diets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2003

The effect of liquid cultures of Cordyceps militaris (LCM) on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, serum and hepatic lipids, fecal lipids excretion, serum protein and enzyme activities, were investigated in adult female rats (30 weeks old). Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one normal and four hyperlipidemic diet groups, Hyperlipidemic diet groups (20% fat, 1% cholesterol) were divided into high fat diet (LCM free water), 10%, 20% or 30% LCM diet groups (10%, 20% or 30% LCM in water) according to the levels of LCM supplementation. After 35 days of experimental diet consumption, the body weight gains, hepatic weights, and food efficiency ratios of the rats fed hyperlipidemic diets were significantly increased compared with those of the rats fed normal diet. The concentrations of serum and hepatic triglycerides, hepatic total lipid, and atherogenic index of the rats fed 20% or 30% LCM diets were significantly lower than those of the rats fed the high fat diet. The concentration of serum HDL-cholesterol of the rats fed all LCM diets was significantly higher than those of the rats fed the high fat diet. The fecal excretion of triglyceride in the rats fed 20% or 30% LCM diets was significantly higher than those of the rats fed high fat diet. The concentrations of serum and hepatic total cholesterol, serum LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio, fecal excretion of cholesterol, and the activities of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase of the rats fed all LCM diets were similar to those of the rats fed high fat diet. No differences were noted in the weights of kidney and femur, the serum concentration of glucose, total protein and albumin, and the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and ${\gamma}$ -glutamyltranspeptidase, among the rats on all the experimental diets. These results showed that the 20% or 30% LCM diets feeding decreased the serum and hepatic triglycerides, and the atherogenic index, and increased the serum HDL-cholesterol of the adult female rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.991-998
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• 1998

The effects of indigestible dextrin on serum lipid and glucose concentrations, large intestinal functions, feces states, and gastrointestinal transit time were studied with 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Diets contained 0.5% cellulose(0.5CL control), 10% cellulose(10CL), and 10% indigestible dextrin I (10ID-I), respectively and were fed to the rats for 3 weeks. Serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were lower in rats fed the 10ID-I diet. Serum triglyceride concentration was lower in rats fed the 10CL diet. Cecal content and cecum weight significantly increased in the rats fed the 10ID- I diet. Cecal pH of the rats fed the 10ID-I diet was lower than that of the rats fed the 0.5CL diet. Changes of fecal output were not observed in case of 0.5CL and 10ID-I diets but a significant increase was observed in the case of 10CL. Gastrointestinal transit time of 10ID-I was the longest among the three diets. These results demonstrate that indigestible dextrin delivered to the cecum was not digested and increased the cecal mass. Indigestible dextrin improves colonic health of rats by inducing low pH of the cecum. (Korean J Nutrition 31(6) 991-998, 1998)