• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.485-490
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypocholesterol effects of Opuntia humifusa extract in hypercholesterolemic rats. Rats (8-week-old, male) were randomly divided into four groups (n=4) as follows: N-control, normal diet; H-control, hypercholesterolemic diet; OH-1, 2% O. humifusa extract-supplemented hypercholesterolemic diet; OH-2, 4% O. humifusa extract-supplemented hypercholesterolemic diet. After 4 weeks, we observed that hypercholesterolemia induced significant increases in serum lipids (total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol), hepatic lipids (total cholesterol and triglyceride), and hepatic function parameters (ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase) (P<0.05). Treatment with O. humifusa extract for 2 weeks normalized these indexes up to the levels of normal rats. O. humifusa extract tended to increase fecal lipid (H-control: 142.74 mg/day vs. OH-1: 214.05 mg/day; OH-2: 200.95 mg/day, P<0.05) and bile acid (H-control: 37.07 ${\mu}M/day$ vs. OH-1: 47.23 ${\mu}M/day$, OH-2: 47.93 ${\mu}M/day$, P<0.05) contents of hypercholesterolemic rats. We concluded that oral administration of O. humifusa extract effectively improved cholesterol metabolism in a hypercholesterolemic animal model induced by hypercholesterol diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.12
• /
• pp.1771-1778
• /
• 2015

The study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of 1% Rhus verniciflua vinegar (RV) supplementation in high-fat-diet (60% fat)-induced obese rats. A total of 50 4-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal chow diet or maintained on high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce obesity and were then randomized into five groups as follows: normal diet+ultra-pure water (CON), HFD+ultra-pure water (OB-DW), HFD+1% acetic acid (OBAA), HFD+1% RV (OB-RV), and HFD+0.1% caffeine (OB-CF). AA was used as a control for RV, and caffeine was used as a positive control due to its weight reducing effect. After 2 months, body weight, organ and adipose tissue weights, serum lipids, hepatic lipids, adipocyte size, and cell number per spot level were analyzed. As a result, food efficiency ratio, abdominal adipose tissue weight, serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, coronary artery index, and fecal lipid were significantly reduced in the RV treatment group. In this study, we found that dietary RV improved obesity by increasing lipid excretion and reducing lipogenesis. These results suggest that RV has potential as a functional anti-obesity food.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.513-524
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the effects of dry powders, ethanol extracts and juices of radish and onion on lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in rats. Forty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 157$\pm$6g were blocked into seven groups according to body weight and raised for four weeks with diets containing 5%(w/w) dry powders of two different vegetables consumed frequently by Korean-radish(Raphanus sativus L.) and onion(Allium cepa L.), ethanol extracts and juices from equal amount of each dry powder. All the powders, ethanol extracts and juices of radish and onion decreased total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations in plasma and liver. Above all, onion ethanol extract decreased them most remarkably. It was thought that organosulfur compounds and flavonoids extracted from onion by ethanol inhibited biosynthesis and absorption of lipid and promoted degradation of lipid. Radish powder also decreased them by increasing fecal excretions of total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol most effectively. Catalase and glutathine peroxidase(GSH-px) activities in red blood cell(RBC) were most remarkably increased by radish powder and onion powder respectively. Superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase and GSH-px activities in liver were most remarkably increased by onion ethanol extract, radish powder and onion ethanol extract respectively. Xanthine oxidase(XOD) activities in liver were most effectively decreased by ethanol extracts of radish and onion. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels in plasma and liver of experimental groups were significantly lower than those of controls. Above all, onion powder decreased them most effectively. It was thought that vitamin E and high flavonoids in onion powder inhibited lipid peroxidation, promoting liver and RBC SOD, catalase and GSH-px activities and inhibiting XOD activities effectively. Flavonoids in onion ethanol extract inhibited lipid peroxidation, promoting three antioxident enzyme activities and inhibiting XOD activities most remarkably. Also flavonoids and high vitamin C in radish powder inhibited lipid peroxidation, promoting liver and RBC catalase most remarkably and inhibiting XOD activities. In conclusion, radish and onion were effective in lowering lipid levels and inhibiting of lipid peroxidation in animal tissue. From these data, radish and onion can be recommended in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer and in delaying aging. As ethanol from onion were most effective in lowering lipid level and promoting three antioxident enzymes, and inhibited lipid peroxidation as did we should try to utilize onion skin which is discarded though reported to have abundant flavonoids. (Korean J Nutrition 34(5) : 513~524, 2001)

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.952-958
• /
• 2014

The present study investigated the anti-obesity effects of Sparassis crispa (SC) on mice fed a high-fat (HF, 45 kcal% fat) diet. Mice were fed either a normal control diet and an HF diet or an HF diet supplemented with SC (1%, 3%, and 5%) for 12 weeks. The consumption of an HF diet compared to the NC group resulted in increases in body weight, the food efficiency ratio (FER), retroperitoneal and subcutaneous fat weights, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, fecal fat, and liver lipids. However, the administration of SC significantly decreased body weight gain, food intake, FER, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and liver lipids in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, treatment with 5% SC significantly reduced the occurrence of fatty liver deposits and steatosis, which are associated with the increased adipocyte size in mice fed an HF diet. Therefore, these results suggested that dietary supplementation with SC exerts anti-obesity effects and could be used as a functional food to control obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1199-1206
• /
• 2004

This study was examined the effects of Daesenggi-Tang on intestinal mucosa and gastrointestinal transit time and plasma lipids in rats. Adult male rats were fed four weeks on diets containing no addition(basal diet group), 5% cellulose(cellulose group) and Daesenggi-Tang group(Daesenggi-Tang group). The results were as follows; 1. The gastrointestinal transit times was significantly decreased in Daesenggi-Tang administered group compare to basal diet and cellulose groups. Carmine red mixed with Daesenggi-Tang, as a marker, was administered through a gastric tube for stomach or intracecally by a chronically implanted catheter for colon transit. Small intestinal transit and large intestinal transit time were significantly decreased in Daesenggi-Tang administered group compare to basal diet. 3. The height of jejunal villi was developed in Daesenggi-Tang administered group compare to basal diet. The thickness of mucosa and muscle layer of colonic mucosa were significantly developed in Daesenggi-Tang administered group compare to basal diet group. 4. The numerical change of goblet cell in colonic mucosa was increased acid mucin stained alcian blue in Daesenggi-Tang administered group compare to basal diet and cellulose group. 6. HDL-cholesterol of plasma lipid was increased in Daesenggi-Tang administered group compare to basal diet and cellulose groups. Theses results suggests that Daesenggi-Tang may be used in prevention and treatment of constipation resulting in increase of fecal weight, decrease of gastrointestinal transit time, development of intestinal villi, intensify of stainability of acid mucin in colon.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.38 no.9
• /
• pp.689-697
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to fine out the preventive effects of chitosan and chitosan oligomer on the disorders of hepatic functions and lipid metabolism induced by 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) using adult male rats (SD) for four weeks. Rats were fed chitosan ($4\%$) or chitosan oligomer ($4\%$) diets respectively before 3weeks of TCDD treatment (50 ug/kg BW) by intraperitoneal injection and then continually supplied these diets for one week until being sacrificed. The elevation of serum total and LDL cholesterol levels induced by TCDD treatment was significantly reduced in the rats fed chitosan diets. The increment of liver triglyceride levels caused by TCDD treatment was tended to suppress in all rats fed chitosan and chitosan oligomer diets. Fecal total lipid and cholesterol excretion were high levels in the rats fed chitosan diets. The hepatic cytosolic catalase activities significantly decreased by TCDD treatment appeared recovering trend by chitosan diets. In hepatic microsomal cytochrome p-450, NADPH cytochrome p-450 reductase, ethoxycoumarin-o-deethylase (ECOD) and benzphetamin N-demethylase (BPND) chitosan than chitosan oligomer diets apparently decreased the increasing levels by TCDD treatment. In histochemical observation the fat droplets and apoptosis of hepatocytes by TCDD treatment were markedly alleviated by chitosan and chitosan oligomer diets. These results indicate that chitosan, more than chitosan oligomer can exert preventive effects on some disorders of hepatic functions and lipids accumulation by TCDD.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the supplementary effects of Suwon 464 developed by Rural Development Administration, which has over two times of dietary fiber content compared with normal rice (Ilpum), on lipid metabolism in diabetic mice. We supplied 5 kinds of experimental diets (com starch diet as a control (CO), Ilpum polished rice diet (IP), Ilpum brown rice diet (IB), polished rice diet (SP) and brown rice diet (SB) of Suwon 464) to diabetic mice for 8 weeks, after analyzing dietary fiber contents of 5 experimental diets. Diet intake, body weight, organ weights, and lipids levels of serum, liver and feces were measured. The dietary fiber contents in CO, IP, IB, SP, and SB diets were 1.0, 1.2, l.4, 1.4, and 2.0% respectively. Body weight and liver and epididymal fat pad weights were lower in SB group than the other groups though there was no significant difference in diet intake among experimental groups. The concentrations of serum triglyceride was lower in SP and SB groups than CO and IP groups. The levels of hepatic total lipid and total cholesterol were significantly lower in SP and SB groups than CO group, and the level of hepatic triglyceride was lower in IB, SP and SB groups than CO group. The levels of total lipid and triglyceride excreted in feces were higher in IB, SP and SB, and the level of total cholesterol in feces was higher in SP and SB groups than CO group. These results suggested that the high dietary fiber rice (Suwon 464) decrease the triglyceride or total cholesterol concentrations of serum and liver by increasing of fecal lipid excretion in diabetic mice. (Korean J Nutrition 37(2): 81∼87, 2004)

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the supplementary effects of soybean oil and rice gem oil compared with lard on lipid metabolism of insulin dependent diabetic mice. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were fed three kinds of experimental diets with 20% lipid from lard(L), soy bean oil(SBO) and rice gem oil(RGO) for 7 weeks, respectively. Diet intake, body weight, organs weights and lipids levels of serum, liver and feces were measured. There was no significant difference in diet intake, body and organs weights among experimental groups. But the concentrations of serum triglyceride of SBO and RGO groups, and of serum total cholesterol were lower in RGO group than in the other groups. The hepatic total lipid and total cholesterol levels of RGO group were significantly lower than those of the other groups. The contents of total lipid and total cholesterol excreted in feces of SBO and RGO groups were higher than those of L group, and the significance was shown only in RGO group. These results suggested that soy bean oil and rice germ oil can reduce serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and hepatic total lipid concentration of insulin dependent diabetic mice compared with lard as a animal fat source by increasing fecal lipid excretion of these groups. But the significant reducing effects on serum and liver lipid levels were shown only in RGO group, and we need to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of this oil by supplementary level and period.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2008

This study was performed to examine the effects of onion powder supplementation on lipid metabolism in male SD rats fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet. Experimental groups were control (C), high fat fed group (HF), high fat+onion powder intake (OP), high fat+quercetin intake (Q). The HF diet contained 1% cholesterol, 4% lard, 0.3% Na-taurocholate, and quercetin supplementation level was 0.1 g/kg diet. The OP group showed lower body weight gains compared to the control, while there was no significant difference in food efficiency ratio efficiency. When the proportion of fecal bile acids per total lipids was calculated, there was a significant decrease in the HF group compared to the control group, while the levels of the control group was same as that of the OP group. There was no significant difference between the HF and Q groups in bile acid/total lipid in feces. The amount of total cholesterol in liver increased significantly in HF group compared to the control group, while total cholesterol decreased significantly in the OP group compared to the HF group. There was a significant decrease in GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) activity in OP and Q groups compared to the HF group. In conclusion, feeding onion powder to hyperlipidemic rates appeared to control weight gain, significantly lower the level of total cholesterol in the liver, and recover GOT activity. We also demonstrated that onion powder intake was more effective than quercetin intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the beneficial effects of crude saponins from soybean cake on body weight and glucose tolerance in high-fat (37% calories from fat) diet fed C57BL/6 mice. The mice were supplemented with three doses of saponins (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, wt/wt) and 1.0% Garcinia cambogia (wt/wt), positive control for 9 weeks. The body weight, visceral fat weight and epididymal adipocyte area were significantly reduced in the saponin supplemented groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Saponins did not significantly affect food intake; however, cambogia significantly lowered food intake compared to the high-fat fed control group. The crude saponins from soybean cake supplement significantly lowered plasma leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, whereas they significantly elevated the fecal excretion of triglyceide in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Cambogia did not affect the fecal excretion of lipid in the diet-induced obese mice. Supplementation of 1.5% saponin reduced the hepatic triglyceride content compared to the high-fat group. High-fat induced glucose intolerance with the elevation of blood glucose levels compared to the normal group; however, the saponins supplement significantly improved postprandial glucose levels. After 9 weeks of being fed a high-fat diet, the mice presented with significantly increased activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation; however, saponins and cambogia normalized these activities. These results indicate that saponins from soybean cake exhibit a potential anti-obesity effect and may prevent glucose intolerance by reducing body weight and plasma lipids, increasing fecal lipid excretion and regulating hepatic lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice.