• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1658-1664
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• 2014

Sprout vegetables containing various types of polyphenols and flavonoids, are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been few reports on the anti-diabetic efficacy of sprout vegetables. Here, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of sprout extract obtained from buckwheat, beet, rape, broccoli, kohlrabi, red young radish, and dachai, in high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetes mellitus mice. The mice were fed a HFD (60% calories as fat) for 8 weeks prior to intraperitoneal injection with STZ (75 mg/kg). The diabetic mice were divided into four groups: standard diet (STD, 10% calories fat), HFD, HFD with sprout extract (SPE) and HFD with metformin (MET). After 4 weeks, body weight gain was much lower in both SPE and MET groups than in HFD group. In contrast, there was no difference experiment groups regarding food intake ratio. The level of fasting blood glucose was significantly lower in the SPE and MET groups compared to the HFD group. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance in the SPE and MET groups were significantly ameliorated in comparison to the HFD group. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in the SPE and MET groups were remarkably reduced in comparison to the HFD group, and HDL cholesterol concentration was higher in the SPE and MET groups than in the HFD group. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels were between SPE and HFD groups. The serum insulin and leptin concentrations were significantly reduced in both the SPE and MET groups compared to the HFD group. Therefore, these results indicate that sprout extract could improve insulin resistance and attenuate blood glucose level in HFD/STZ-induced type II diabetes mellitus mice. We conclude that this study may provide positive insights into sprout extract as a functional food ingredient for treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.433-443
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• 2006

The effects of Allium vegetables on blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (S12) induced diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced by S1'2 injection (45 mg/kg 5.w.) into the tail vein. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $220\;{\pm}\;10\;g$ were randomly assigned to 7 groups: normal, S1'2-control and five Allium groups (Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium sativum, Allium tuberosum and Allium victorialisL Normal and S12control groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and five Allium groups were fed a modified diet containing. 10% Allium powder each for 4 weeks. Body weight, diet intake, food efficiency ratio (FER) and organ weights- were monitored. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) & alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed: Plasma lev~ls of glucose, free fatty acid, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Levels of glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride in liver were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, lung, kidney, and pancreas were assayed. The hepatic contents of chromium (Cr) , iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mu) were measured. The Allium sativum group had weight gain and suppressed a hypertrophy of the kidney significantly. The activity of ALT was significantly lowered in the diabetic groups except Allium sativum group compared to STZ-control group. The Allium sativum and Allium tuberosum groups showed the hypoglycemic effects at 4 weeks. There were no significant differences between the control and all the other diabetic groups in the plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. Most of the Allium groups except Allium fistulosum were observed significantly lowered level of MDA in the lung compared to STZ-control group. The diabetic rats fed the Allium cepa and Allium sativum have shown significantly lowered hepatic Zn contents. The results suggested that the intake of the Allium vegetables may be effective in the antihyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.405-410
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• 2007

This study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of powdered mulberry leaves (PML) and water extract of powdered mulberry leaves (WML) on high-fat fed mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups; a normal group (N), a high-fat (HF) group, a high-fat group supplemented with PML (HF-PML) and a high-fat group supplemented with WML (HF-WML). The PML or WML was added to a standard diet based on 1% dried mulberry loaves (1g PML/100g diet and 0.22g WML/100g diet) for 6 weeks. Body weight and organ weights were not different among thle groups in high-fat fed mice, whereas food intake and daily energy intake were significantly (p<0.05) lowered in the HF-PML group. In plasma and liver, the supplementation of PML and WML significantly (p<0.05) lowered cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations compared to the HF group. The HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the HF-PML and HF-WML groups than in the B:.w group. The fecal triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the HF-PML and HF-WML groups compared to the HF group. Hepatic lipid regulating enzyme activities, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid ${\beta}-oxidation$ and carnitine palmitoyl transferase were significantly lower in the HF group than in the N group. However, the activities of these hepatic lipid regulating enzymes activities were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in the HF-PML and HF-WML groups compared to the HF group. Accordingly, these results suggest that PML and WML improve plasma and hepatic lipid levels partly by increasing fecal lipid excretion and enhancing hepatic lipid regulating enzymes activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1484-1490
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• 2014

In the present study, we examined the effects of a mixture of three strains, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, 7528, and 7529 (L. plantarum mixture), on body weight and lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet. Rats were fed a high-fat diet and subjected to oral gavage with vehicle or the L. plantarum mixture ($0.6{\times}10^9$, $1.2{\times}10^9$, $2.4{\times}10^9$ colony-forming units (CFU)/day/rat, respectively) for 8 weeks. In rats fed a high-fat diet, oral administration of $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$ of the L. plantarum mixture significantly reduced body weight gain as well as weights of liver and epididymal fat. Leptin levels in sera were significantly reduced by oral administration of $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$ of the L. plantarum mixture. The L. plantarum mixture ($1.2{\times}10^9$ or $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$) also reduced the concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in sera when it administered orally. Further, the L. plantarum mixture significantly reduced the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. In addition, oral administration of $2.4{\times}10^9CFU/day$ of the L. plantarum mixture markedly reduced levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in the liver. The results of this study indicate that the L. plantarum mixture may exhibit anti-obesity and cholesterol-lowering effects, which suggest that the L. plantarum mixture has the potential to be a probiotic in the management of obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of red-yeast-rice supplementation on cholesterol-lowering and glucose control in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFT) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We conducted a doubleblind, placebo-controlled study with 3 groups; placebo, low dose group (red yeast rice 210.0mg/capsule, 2.52g/day) and high dose group (red yeast rice 420.0mg/capsule, 5.04g/day), which were randomly assigned to subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. We measured fasting serum concentrations of total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and 2 h oral glucose tolerence test (OGTT) before and after the supplementation. Both low dose and high dose groups had significant decrease in LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Additionally, total and HDL cholesterol improved significantly in high dose group compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Fasting serum glucose decreased in test groups and increased in placebo group after intervention. However, it was not significant differences. In subjects which fasting blood glucose is more than 110mg/dL, fasting glucose had a tendency to decrease in high dose group (p<0.1) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) had significant decrease in low dose group (p<0.05), while insulin and HOMA-IR had a tendency to increase in placebo group after intervention. Mean changes of glucose related parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) compared with placebo group did not show significant differences. In conclusion, subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance were significantly improved in serum lipid profile by red yeast rice supplementation without serious side effects. These are more effective in the case of a high dose. The effects of red yeast rice supplementation on glucose control were insignificant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Gastrodiae elata Blume fractions on systolic blood pressure and serum lipid profiles in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/NCrj) fed high fat diet. Twenty-four males SHR weighing approximately 160 g were randomly divided into four groups; A (low molecule, GR-1), B (polysaccharide, GR-2), C (protein, GR-3) fractions of G. elata Blume, respectively, and D (high fat diet as control). After orally tube feeding the fractions of G. elata Blume, there were no differences in final body weights among the treatment groups. Diet intake was somewhat high in the control group (D), but there were no significant differences in feed efficiency ratios. In terms of serum lipid profiles, total-cholesterol level was statistically higher in the control group (D) than in G. elata Blume fraction groups (p<0.05). Triglyceride levels of low molecule (A) and polysaccharide (B) groups were lower by 16% and 11%, respectively than that of the control group (D). HDL-cholesterol level was remarkably higher (p<0.05), whereas LDL-cholesterol level was significantly lower (by 25%) in the group B as compared to the control group (D). Atherogenic index (AI) of G. elata Blume fraction groups were significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05). Reference blood pressure (RBP) showed an average of $180\sim190mmHg$ at 8 weeks old after 3 weeks on feeding high fat diet. Compared with RBP, final blood pressure of treatment groups (35 days after feeding the fractions of G. elata Blume gractions) were decreased by 1.7% (A), 5.5% (B) and 3.6% (C), respectively, but the control group (D) contrarily showed an increase of 2.6%. Especially, final systolic blood pressure of the polysaccharide group (B) was lower by 22 mmHg than that of the control group (D). From these findings, it can be suggested that polysaccharide fraction may improve blood serum lipids and should be considered as effective in lowering of blood pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.244-249
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• 2003

To investigate the hepatic oxygen free radical metabolizing system and changes of serum cholesterol levels in rats fed a diet supplemented with Monascus pigment (MP), Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 300 g have been fed a diet supplemented with 2% or 4% MP for a month. The rats fed 2% MP supplemented diet gained less body weight than the control rats and those fed 4% W supplemented diet. Those fed 2% or 4% MP supplemented diet had no remarkable changes in liver function on basis of liver weight/body weight, serum levels of xanthine oxidase, alanine amino transferase activity In rats fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet, hepatic cytochrome P45O dependent aniline hydroxylase activity significantly (p<0.05) declined about 32%, 37% respectively and showed no significant differences between rats fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet whereas those fed 2% MP supplemented diet showed about 29% increased hepatic xanthine oxidase activity. And hepatic glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activites in rats fed 2% MP supplemented were more increased by about 17%, 28% respectively than the control rats. There were no significant differences both in between those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet. Especially rats fed 2% or 4% MP supplemented diet showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in hepatic catalase activity by 41%, 25% compared with control rats and those fed 4% MP supplemented diet showed more decrease in tendency of catalase activity than those 2% MP supplemented diet. But hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content were appeared to be similar value among three groups. On the other hand, rats fed 2% MP supplement diet showed 17% increased levels of serum HDL-choresterol and 26% decreased value of LDL-cholesterol and serum level of triglyceride. But no different value were appeared between those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet. Especially in those fed 2% and 4% MP supplemented diet, artherogenic index were significantly (p<0.05) declined by 37%, 29% respectively compared with control. In conclusion, it is likely that rats fed a diet supplemented with a proper quantity of MP may have the potential of oxygen free radical detoxication and lowering of artherogenic index.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1155-1162
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• 2013

Estrogen like activities were evaluated using ethanol and hot water extracts of gongjindan (GJD) and 3 types of brown algae by an in vitro detection system. Laminaria japonica and Undaria pinnatifida represented statistically significant (p<0.001) estrogen like activities, while GJD and Ecklonia stolonifera did not. Furthermore, activities of hot water extracts ($500{\mu}g/ml$) of Laminaria japonica and three mixture (Ecklonia stolonifera : Undaria pinnatifida : Laminaria japonica, 1: 1: 1) were stronger than that of $10^{-7}M$ $17{\beta}$-estradiol. These results suggest that Laminaria japonica contain estrogen like compounds. Based on these results, the prepared seaweed GJD were used for animal experiments about the effects on inhibition of platelet aggregation and serum lipid levels in ovariectomized rats. 9-week Old female SD-rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups as sham-operated rats, ovariectomized rats and ovariectomized rats that were treated with GJD. The rats were placed on prescribed diets for 5 weeks following ovariectomy. Total cholesterol and triglyceride contents on serum decreased in the SHAM group compared to the OVX-CON group. 5 weeks feeding of GJD resulted in significant lowering of triglyceride and a decreasing tendency of total cholesterol level. The level of HDL-cholesterol on serum increased significantly by feeding diets containing the GJD. The ability of platelet aggregation of group treated with GJD was less than that of the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of seaweed gongjindan may be used to improve menopausal syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2017

Accumulation of excess low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood can initiate and accelerate atherosclerosis. Statins mediate the transactivation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which in turn limits their cholesterol-lowering effects via LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not Allium tuberosum (AT) regulates LDLR and PCSK9. Mice were fed a low fat control diet (LD) or Western diet (WD) supplemented with AT (1%, w/w). AT significantly attenuated total and LDL cholesterol levels in mice fed WD (P<0.05). AT also significantly inhibited hepatic PCSK9 gene expression (P<0.05) while AT maintained hepatic LDLR gene expression. To further investigate AT-mediated PCSK9 regulation, HepG2 cells were treated with 10% delipidated serum (DLPS) in the presence or absence of AT. Non-toxic level of AT dose-dependently increased the LDLR protein level, and AT at $400{\mu}g/mL$ markedly inhibited PCSK9 protein expression. Similarly, AT significantly increased LDLR gene expression, whereas it significantly down-regulated PCSK9 gene expression. AT-mediated reduction of PCSK9 gene expression is likely due to decreased hepatic nuclear factor $1{\alpha}$ ($HNF1{\alpha}$) expression, but not SREBP2 in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. AT-mediated PCSK9 inhibition contributed to LDLR protein stabilization via protection against LDLR lysosomal degradation in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. Further investigation is warranted to determine the active components of AT and whether or not these components are effective in reducing hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.452-458
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• 2008

The effect of fermented soybean culture of Bacillus subtilis MORI mixed with mulberry leaves on the lowering the levels of blood glucose and cholesterol was examined using neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic (n-STZ) rats. B. subtilis MORI produces 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), an $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitor. The content of DNJ of soybean fermented culture mixed with mulberry was higher (4.1$\pm$0.0 mg/g dry base) than that (1.5$\pm$0.0 mg/g) of mulberry. The concentration of 50% inhibition (IC50) against rat intestinal $\alpha$-glucosidase of soybean fermented culture mixed with mulberry was $5.6{\pm}0.1{\mu}g$/mL and that of mulberry was $17.0{\pm}0.5{\mu}g$/mL. Experimental groups of diabetic rats were randomly assigned to normal control group (NC group), diabetic control group (DC group) and three diabetic groups fed with DNJ food product. One of the three diabetic groups was M group (60 mg DNJ food product/kg) (DNJ food product containing 30% mulberry) and the other two were MM-60 group (60 mg/kg) and MM-120 group (120 mg/kg) (DNJ-fortified food product containing 30% fermented soybean culture mixed with mulberry leaves). The glucose in serum was significantly decreased in the MM-60 and MM-120 groups fed with DNJ-fortified food product for 4 weeks, compared with DC group. Total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum were also lower in MM-60 and MM-120 groups than the DC group. These results support that the fermented soybean culture of B. subtilis MORI mixed with mulberry leaves improved the metabolism of blood glucose and lipid in the n-STZ rat model.