• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2008

Objectives : Obesity is a metabolic disease resulted from various causes including nutritional disproportion, hormonal imbalance, and hypothalamic nuclei disorder. Samhwang-tang(Sanhuang-tang, SHT) is composed of 5 herbs (Ephedrae Herba, Scutellariae Radix, Typhae pollen, Acori Rhizoma and Ansu Semen) and is frequently used for obese patients. This study investigated anti-obesity effects of SHT on the rats. Methods : Obesity was induced by high fat diet (HFD), monosodium L-glutamate injection (MSG) and ovariectomy (OVX) in the Sprague-Dawley rats. Water extract of SHT was treated for 2 weeks, then changes of body weight gain and epididymal fat cell size were measured. In OVX animals, c-Fos and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressions in hypothalamic nuclei were observed with immunohistochemistry. Results : SHT treatment demonstrated significant decrease of body weight gain in obesity induced by HFD and OVX, but not in obesity induced by MSG. SHT treatment demonstrated significant decrease of fat cell size in obesity induced by HFD, but not in obesity induced by MSG. On c-Fos and NPY expressions in hypothalamic nuclei, SHT treatment resulted significant decrease of immuno-reactivity of c-Fos and NPY in obesity induced by OVX. Conclusions : These results suggest that SHT has a weight loss effect against obesity induced by nutritional disproportion of diet intake and hormonal imbalance, especially without central nervous system disorder.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.831-836
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• 2009

The aims of this investigation was to examine the anti-obesity effects of oral administration with Mulberry leaves extraction in the high-fat diet induced obesity rats. We investigated the anti-obesity effects of the extract from Mulberry leaves on the progress of high fat diet for 8 weeks. Experimental rats were divided into 5 different experimental groups including an normal group (normal dieat; n=10), control group (high fat diet; n=10), I (Mulberry leaves extraction 100 mg/kg oral administration induced obesity; n=10), II (Mulberry leaves extraction 300 mg/kg oral administration; n=10), and III (Mulberry leaves extraction 500 mg/kg oral administration; n=10). It is to analysis changes in body weight, epididymal fat weight, blood lipid profiles, and fat histological findings. Body weights were significantly increase in control group than normal groups(p<0.05). The level of total cholesterol, LDL-C and TG were significantly lower in experimental groups than control group (p<0.05). In histopathologic finding of fat-tissue around testicle experimental group I and II were more decreased than high fat diet-induced control group in fat cell size. These results suggested that the Mulberry leaves extraction oral administration made the increase of anti-obesity effect in high-fat diet induced obesity rats.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.11-27
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• 2014

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Ephedra Sinica and Fibrosum Gypsum extract on obesity by using 3T3-L1 cells and high fat diet rats. Methods In vitro, Ephedra Sinica and Fibrosum Gypsum extract (50, 100, 200, $500{\mu}g/ml$) were added in 3T3-L1 cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assasy. Adipocyte differentiation was measured by Oil Red O staining, GPDH activity and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ protein expression. In vivo, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups : Normal diet group (Normal group), taken high fat diet and no treatment group (Control group), taken high fat diet and orally administered Ephedra Sinica and Fibrosum Gypsum extract daily (Group I: 50 mg/kg, Group II: 100 mg/kg, Group III : 200 mg/kg, oral). For 6 weeks of administration, body weight and the amount of food intake were measured once a week. After administration, blood analysis (AST, ALT, T-Bilirubin, BUN, RBC, Hb, HCT), serum lipid level (triglyceride, Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL), serum leptin level, epididymal adipose tissue weight and histological finding of liver were estimated. Results In vitro, The cytotoxicity was not significant. 3T3-L1 cell's differentiation was significantly decreased in Oil Red O staining, GPDH activity and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ protein expression. In vivo, Body weight and the amount of food intake, AST, ALT, Total cholesterol, TG, LDL, serum leptin, epididymal adipose tissue weight showed significant decrease in group I, group II and group III. There were no significant difference in T-bilirubin, BUN, RBC, Hb and HCT between all groups. HDL showed significant increase in group I, group II and group III. In histological finding of liver tissue, there were decreased adiposity and cytopathic effect in group I, group II and group III. Conclusions It is suggested that Ephedra Sinica and Fibrosum Gypsum extract can be used in the treatment of obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 1974

The object of this research is aimed to determine the activity of adenyl cyclase in both skeletal muscle sarcolemma and fat cell ghost of epididymal adipose tissue isolated from rats exposed to cold for various length of time in an attempt to evaluate whether the tissue sensitivity to catecholamine is increased when rats are exposed to cold for long periods of time Methods: a)Animals: Albino rats ranging in weight from 150 to 200 gm were used throughout this study. For experimental purposes, the rats are divided into two groups: experimental animals were place4 in a cold room at $4^{\circ}C$, controls being kept at $25^{\circ}C$. At the end of 2, 4, 6, 12, and 16 weeks. exposure to cold the rats were used to measure the adenyl cyclase activity. b) Isolation of plasma membrane from skeletal muscle and adipose tissue: The Plasma membrane of skeletal muscle from hind limbs of rats are prepared by the method employed by Rosenthal et at. and fat cell ghost of epididymal adipose tissue of rats by the method employed by Rodbell. c) Adenyl cyclase assay: Adenyl cyclase activity were measured by the method employed by Marinetti et al. Briefly, plasma membrane was incubated with $3^H-ATP$, various amount of noradrenaline and other incubation mixture at $37^{\circ}C$ for 20 minutes. After stopping the enzyme reaction by immersion in boiling water, carrier 3',5'-AMP was added to the system as a marker and $100\;{\mu}1$ aliquots of incubation mixture were pipetted on $20{\time}20$ Whatman No. 3 MM filter paper for one dimensional chromatography. The cyclic AMP spots were cut off and placed in counting vials containing 10ml of Bray's scintillation cocktail. Radioactivity was determined with a Packard Tri-Carb liquid scintillation counter. The enzyme activity is expressed as nanomoles of cyclic AMP produced per mg of membrane per hour. Result: 1. Average adenyl cyclase activity in the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle before and after noradrenaline administration was significantly higher in the cold-exposed rats as compared to the control. Continuous exposure to cold Produced an increased adenyl cyclase activity before and after noradrenaline administration. Adenyl cyclase activity reached peak levels at the 6 weeks exposure to told and level of adenyl cyclase activity remained high. Noradrenaline administration to the incubation medium induced a significant increase in adenyl cyclase activity and the degree of stimulation were proportional to the hormonal concentration But the rate of inclement in adenyl cyclase activity by noradreasline was the same in both groups. 2. Adenyl cyclase activity in fat cell ghost between cold exposed and control rats showed no significant differences before and after noradreualine administration. In summary, it can be concluded that cold adaptation give rise an increased activity of adenyl cyclase in plasma membrane of skeletal muscle in rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different protein and fat levels on the growth and on immune response in rats. In experiment 1, Sprague-Dawly male rats were fed diets containing 6%, 15%, or 30% casein with 2 levels of fat(2% and 30%) at each protein level. In experiment 2 and 3, rats were devided into 8 diet groups ; 4 different sources of proteins(casein, meat protein, fish protein, and gluten) were used at 15% level of the diet with 2% or 30% of dietary fat. The results show as follows 1) The rats in 6% casein group showed lower body weight gain and organ weight than those in 15% and 30% casein groups. There was no significant difference between 15% and 30% casein groups. In experiment 2, the gluten diet group showed the lowest growth rate and epididymal fat pad weight among 4 different dietary protein groups regardless the level of dietary fat. 2) There was no significant difference in immune response according to the sources and levels of dietary protein. However, the rats fed high fat diet showed the lower plaque-forming cell response than those fed low fat diet regardless dietary protein.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.353-368
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Korean native plant diets on lipid and cadmium (Cd) metabolisms and also antioxidative enzyme activities in rats. Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 210.3$\pm$2.7g were blocked into ten groups according to body weight. Rats were raised for four weeks with diets containing 0 or 0.04%(w/w) cadmium chloride and 5%(w/w) plant powder-Ssook(Artemisia princeps var. orientalis HARA), Chamchwi(Aster scaber THUNB), Gomchwi(Lingularia fischeri TUBCZ). or Solbeerum (Portulaca oleracea LINNE). Food intake, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and weights of liver, kidney, spleen and epididymal fat were significantly lower in Cd-exposed groups, food efficiency ratio, and weights of liver, kidney, spleen and epididymal fat were significanlty lower in Cd-exposed groups. Plasma total lipid level, liver total lipid, cholesterol and triglycerde concentrations, and fecal total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride excretions were decreased by Cd administration. Total lipid and triglyceride concentration in plasma and liver were lower in Chamchwi groups together with increased fecal total lipid and triglyceride excretions. Cholesterol concentration in plasma and liver were lower in Gomchwi groups with increased fecal cholesterol excretions. Activities of red-blood-cell superoxide dismutase(SOD), and liver catalase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were decreased significantly by Cd administration. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentrations of plasma and liver were increased by Cd administration. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentration of plasma and liver were increased by Cd administration. Administration of plant diets decreased plasma and liver catalase, SOD and GSH-px activities in Cd-free diet groups and increased them in Cd-administered groups. Plasma and liver TBARS concentrations were decreased in animals fed plant diets, with Chamchwi showing the most effective antioxidative capacity. The concentration of Cd accumulated in blood and tissue decreased in Cd-exposed groups fed plant diets. Liver Cd concentration were lower in the Chamchwi and Gomchwi groups, and kidney Cd levels were lower in the Ssook and Chamchwi groups. Among them, Chamchwi was the most effective in Cd detoxification. In conclusion, Chamchwi and Gomchwi were effective in lowering tissue lipid levels, with Chamchwi having the greatest antioxidative and detoxifying effects.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.350-366
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• 1987

This research was designed to study the effect of Korean dietary lipids on the lipid metabolism and the immune function in young rats . The three different lipid sources were compared lard, perilla oil and fish oil. Three different levels of lipid in the diet, 2%, 15% and 30%,on the weight basis, were included. After four weeks feeding, the rats were sacrified and blood sample was collected to analyze for the total lipid, TG and cholesterol contents in serum. The HDL fraction in serum was seperated by the electrophoresis of lipoproteins. The immune responses were measured by the blastogenesis of spleen lymphocyte stimulated by PHA and in serum were measured. The following results were obtained. Lower body weight gain was shown in 30% lipid diet fed group on the isocaloric basis. In concerning the different dietary lipid sources, there were significantly lower boyd weight gain in fish oil than in perilla seed oil and lard group in 30% lipid groups. Deposition of body fat expressed by epididymal fat pad in serum were significantly different among perilla seed oil, lard and fish oil groups. Perilla seed oil group showed lowest level of total lipid and TG in serum regardless of dietary fat level. The feeding perilla seed oil to rats was resulted in lower serum cholesterol levels than lard in all three levels of fats tested. The HDL fraction was elevated in perilla seed oil group at the high fat level. The stimulating responses of lymphycotes by PHA did not seem to be influenced by different dietary fat sources. However, conA mitogenic responses was significantly increased in perilla seed oil group. The lower level of perilla seed oil (2%, 15%) showed slightly higher responses of ConA, indicating that lower level of perilla seed oil might have stimulatory response on the immune response. The number of antibody forming cells of spleen against SRBC was increased in 30% fat level for all the three kind of fats. However, no effect has been found in plaque forming cell response by the differences in dietary fat sources. There were no significant differences in serum IgG and IgA levels in all dietary groups.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.149-162
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of hot pepper extract and capsaicin on the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, lipolysis in rat epididymal adipocytes and histological changes in porcine adipose tissue. Methods : Inhibiton of preadipocyte differentiation and/or stimulation of lipolysis play important roles in reducing obesity. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated with adipogenic reagents by incubating for 3 days in the absence or presence of hot pepper extract or capsaicin ranging from 0.01 to $1mg/m{\ell}$. The effects of hot pepper extract and capsaicin on adipogenesis were examined by measuring GPDH activity and by Oil Red O staining. Mature adipocytes from rat epididymal fat pad was incubated with hot pepper extract or capsaicin ranging from 0.01 to $1mg/m{\ell}$ for 3 hrs. The effects of hot pepper extract and capsaicin on lipolysis were examined by measuring free glycerol released. Fat tissue from pig skin was injected with hot pepper extract or capsaicinCFP ranging from 0.1 to $10mg/m{\ell}$ to examine the effects of hot pepper extract and capsaicin on histological changes under light microscopy. Results : The following results were obtained from present study on adipogenesis of preadipocytes, lipolysis of adipocytes and histological changes in fat tissue. 1. Hot pepper extract and capsaicin inhibited adipogenic differentiation at the concentration of 0.1 and $0.01mg/m{\ell}$, respectively, indicating that capsaicin was more effective in inhibiting adipogenesis than hot pepper extract. 2. Hot pepper extract and capsaicin decreased the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GPDH) at the concentration of 0.1 and $0.01mg/m{\ell}$, respectively, indicating that capsaicin was more effective in inhibiting adipogenic differentiation than hot pepper extract. 3. Hot pepper extract and capsaicin increased glycerol release at the concentration of $0.1mg/m{\ell}$. There was no difference in lipolytic activity between hot pepper extract and capsaicin at the corresponding concentration. 4. Hot pepper extract and capsaicin caused shrinkage of fat cells, resulting in cell death at the concentration of $1.0mg/m{\ell}$, although capsaicin exerted this action over wide area than hot pepper extract. Conclusions : These results suggest that hot pepper extract and capsaicin efficiently inhibited adipogenesis, increased lipolysis of adipocytes and caused to shrink fat cells. Future studies are needed to make use of hot pepper extract pharmacopuncture for the treatment of obesity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2019

In this study, the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities of an ethanol extracts of Ulmus divididiana var. japonica (UDE) were investigated in vitro and in vivo. UDE anti-oxidant activity was evaluated with an Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectrometer, which measured 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Cell viabilities were estimated using 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia were used to study the production of nitric oxide (NO). Cells stimulated with LPS produce more NO than normal control cells. However, cells treated with the UDE decreased this production in a concentration dependent manner (100, 250, 500, $1,000{\mu}g/mL$). Also, we investigated the anti-obese activity of UDE in SD rats. The SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: 10% low fat diet (N), 45% high fat diet (H), 45% high fat diet + garcinia extracts 200 mg/kg/day (HG200), high fat diet + UDE 200 mg/kg/day (HU200), high fat diet + UDE 400 mg/kg/day (HU400). UDE was found to lower whole body and abdominal and epididymal adipose tissue weights and lowered plasma levels of triglyceride (TG), compared to those in H group. Histological analyses of the liver and fat tissues of rat treated with UDE revealed significantly decreased number of lipid droplets and decreased size of adipocytes compared to the H group. These results suggest that UDE might be used to develop potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity agents, and may be useful as ingredients for related new functional raw materials.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Objectives : Anti-obesity drugs that have been developed so far have limited efficacies and considerable adverse effects affecting tolerability and safety. Therefore, most anti-obesity durgs have been withdrawn. We tried to develop anti-obesity agent by combinations from herbs that are used in food ingredients as well as in traditional medicines. Methods : The 80% (v/v) ethanol extracts from Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescence) leaf (BL) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and their 1:1 combination (BLSB) was evaluated on high fat diet induced obese mice compared to Omega-3 as a positive control. The mice were divided into six groups (n=5), one group fed a normal diet (ND), and the others fed a high fat diets for eight weeks. Two weeks after starting feeding the diets, the high fat diet groups were orally administered vehicle and Omega-3, BL, SB, and BLSB at dosage of 200 mg/kg/day for six weeks. All groups were assayed for body weights, food efficiency ratio, blood biochemistry parameters, and organic tissue weights. Results : BLSB group showed significant reductions in body weight gain and fat weights of liver and epididymal adipose tissue compared to BL or SB alone as well as control. Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels significantly decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased. In liver tissue, macrovesicular steaotisis was remarkably improved and its fat cell size was also significantly decreased. Conclusions : These results suggested that a combination preparation of bamboo leaf and S. baicalensis has anti-obesity effect and have synergistic effect compared to bamboo leaf or S. baicalesis.