• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.640-646
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• 2018

Cassia obtusifolia L. is commonly used as medicinal foods to treat gastrointestinal disease in many countries. This study evaluated the anti-constipation effects of ethanolic extract of Cassia obtusifolia L. in rats with loperamide-induced constipation. Diffferent concentrations of ethanolic extract of Cassia obtusifolia L. (0, 10, 250, and 500 mg/kg) was administered to rat orally once daily for 3 weeks following loperamide treatment. Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (N=25) were randomly divided into five groups: normal control and experimental groups and injected loperamide intraperitoneally to induce constipation in the latter four experimental groups. Following the induction of loperamide-induced constipation, a marked decrease was observed in the fecal weight and water content discharged for over 1 week and intestinal transit time while an increase was observed in the number of fecal pellets remaining in the colonic lumen as compared with the normal control group. These conditions were significantly alleviated following the administration of the two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of Cassia obtusifolia L. when compared to the loperamide-treated (constipation control) group. More specifically, the number of fecal pellets in the colon was 3, 5, 4, 2.8, and 1.2 in the five groups, respectively and the corresponding GIT ratio was 70.77, 56.59, 58.67, 66.81, and 72.10%, respectively. The fecal water content, transit distance, and GIT ratio in the high-dose treatment group were significantly higher than that in the medium-dose treatment group, but a significant decrease in the number of fecal pellets in the colon. In conclusion, the Cassia obtusifolia L. extract is suggested to have beneficial effects as a therapeutic and preventive strategy to alleviate constipation and to relieve the symptoms of constipation such as pain, flatulence, distention, bloating, and unpleasant taste.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.603-615
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• 2008

Dietary fiber is an inevitable component in pig diets. In non-ruminants, it may influence many physiological processes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) such as transit time as well as nutrient digestion and absorption. Moreover, dietary fiber is also the main substrate of intestinal bacteria. The bacterial community structure is largely susceptible to changes in the fiber content of a pig's diet. Indeed, bacterial composition in the lower GIT will adapt to the supply of high levels of dietary fiber by increased growth of bacteria with cellulolytic, pectinolytic and hemicellulolytic activities such as Ruminococcus spp., Bacteroides spp. and Clostridium spp. Furthermore, there is growing evidence for growth promotion of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, by certain types of dietary fiber in the small intestine of pigs. Studies in rats have shown that both phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) play an important role in the fermentative activity and growth of the intestinal microbiota. This can be attributed to the significance of P for the bacterial cell metabolism and to the buffering functions of Ca-phosphate in intestinal digesta. Moreover, under P deficient conditions, ruminal NDF degradation as well as VFA and bacterial ATP production are reduced. Similar studies in pigs are scarce but there is some evidence that dietary fiber may influence the ileal and fecal P digestibility as well as P disappearance in the large intestine, probably due to microbial P requirement for fermentation. On the other hand, fermentation of dietary fiber may improve the availability of minerals such as P and Ca which can be subsequently absorbed and/or utilized by the microbiota of the pig's large intestine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.92-103
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• 2021

Lactobacillus casei, one of the most widely used probiotics, has been reported to alleviate multiple diseases. However, the effects of this species on intestinal diseases are strain-specific. Here, we aimed to screen L. casei strains with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-alleviating effects based on in vitro physiological characteristics. Therefore, the physiological characteristics of 29 L. casei strains were determined, including gastrointestinal transit tolerance, oligosaccharide fermentation, HT-29 cell adhesion, generation time, exopolysaccharide production, acetic acid production, and conjugated linoleic acid synthesis. The effects of five candidate strains on mice with induced colitis were also evaluated. The results showed that among all tested L. casei strains, only Lactobacillus casei M2S01 effectively relieved colitis. This strain recovered body weight, restored disease activity index score, and promoted anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. Gut microbiota sequencing showed that L. casei M2S01 restored a healthy gut microbiome composition. The western blotting showed that the alleviating effects of L. casei M2S01 on IBD were related to the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. A good gastrointestinal tolerance ability may be one of the prerequisites for the IBD-alleviating effects of L. casei. Our results verified the efficacy of L. casei in alleviating IBD and lay the foundation for the rapid screening of L. casei strain with IBD-alleviating effects.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this paper is to find out the safe dose and clinical use for administration of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shanghanlun(傷寒論). Methods : Web-databases(OASIS, NDSL, Pubmed, Google) were searched with keywords including 'Licorice', 'Pseudoaldosteronism', 'Glycyrrhizin', 'Testosterone' on 14/10/2016. The searched about 40 papers and books were reveiwed. Results : Glycyrrhizin(GL) and 3-monoglucuronyl glycyrrhetinic acid(3MGA) in Glycyrrhizae Radix are found to be the main compounds vulnerable for inducing pseudoaldosteronism. The dose range of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shanghanlun prescriptions is from 0.25 g to 12 g as a daily administration, and this dose satisfies the guidelines of WHO, European Union, ABC etc. And risk factors contributing for personal sensitivities are old age(>60), female sex, liver dysfunction, hypokalemia, prolonged gastrointestinal transit time, anorexia nervosa, decreased 11-${\ss}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 activity and hypertension. Conclusions : As a result, dose of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shanghanlun(傷寒論) is safe. However, the personal sensitivity and unexpected drug interactions are independent from doses of GL, so doctors should monitor those risk factors and symptoms of pseudoaldosteronism when administering Glycyrrhizae Radix.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2002

This study investigated the production of insoluble dietary fiber using forest waste and the dietary effect of manufactured insoluble fiber on physiological function in rat fed high cholesterol duets. Insoluble dietary fiber was prepared from the wood chips of oak (Quercus mongolica). The best condition for steam-explosion treatment for the preparation of insonuble dietary fiber was 25 kg/cm$^3$pressure for 6 minutes. In the chemical analysis of insoluble dietary fiber pretreated by 1% sodium hydroxide solution with steam-exploded wood, $\alpha$-cellulose content was 61.7% in the insoluble dietary fiber which contained 7.6% residual lignin. In order to compare insoluble dietary fiber with commercial $\alpha$-cellulose of physiological function, Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal diet and five high cholesterol diet containing 1% cholesterol. The high cholesterol diet groups were classified as fiber free diet (FF group), 5% commercial $\alpha$-cellulose diet (5C group), 10% commercial $\alpha$-cellulose (l0C group), 5% insoluble dietary fiber dict (5M group), and 10% insoluble dietary fiber (10M group). The rats were fed ad libidum for 4 weeks. Food intake, weights gain, and food efficiency ratio in high cholesterol groups were higher than those of normal group, but there were no significant differences between the experimental groups. There were not any significant differences in the weights of livers, kidneys and small intestine of insoluble dietary fiber supplemented groups, but weight of cecum in all insolube dietary fiber group were significantly higher than those of FF group. A gstrointestinal transit time was decreased by supplementation of insoluble dietary fiber. Weight and water contents of feces in the insoluble dietary fiber supplemented groups were significantly higher than those of the FF group. There were not any significant differences in the activities of the glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) between the experimental groups. In conclusion, the manufactured insoluble dietary fiber and commercial insoluble fiber have the same physiological effects. The preparation method of the insoluble dietary fiber from the oak chips suited its purpose.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2007

The present study evaluated the effect of various dosages of soybean isoflavone extract on body weight changes, glucose tolerance and liver function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. One group of normal rats (normal control) was fed an AIN-76-based experimental diet and four groups of diabetic rats were fed the same diet supplemented with four different levels of soybean isoflavone extract for seven weeks. The daily dosages of pure isoflavone for four diabetic groups were set to be 0 mg (diabetic control), 0.5 mg (ISO-I), 3.0 mg (ISO-II) and 30.0 mg (ISO-III) per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The daily consumption of isoflavone at the level of 3.0mg per kilogram of body weight resulted in the suppression of body weight loss and increased the survival rate of diabetic animals one and half times compared to that of the diabetic control group. Blood glucose levels in a fasting state and after the oral administration of glucose were significantly lower in the ISO-II group during the oral glucose tolerance test. The ISO-II group showed a tendency to elongate the gastrointestinal transit time. The activity of serum aminotransferases, indicator of liver function, was not negatively affected by any intake level of isoflavone. The present study demonstrated that the soybean isoflavone extract may be beneficial to diabetic animals by improving their glucose tolerance and suppressing weight loss without incurring hepatotoxicity at the daily dosage of 3.0 mg per kg of body weight.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2007

Mucus is an aqueous gel complex with a constitution of about 95% water, high molecular weight glycoprotein (mucin), lipid, salts etc. Mucus appears to represent a significant barrier to the absorption of some compounds. Natural mucoadhesive agent was isolated and purified from the aqueous extract of the seeds of prosopis pallida (PP). Formulated tablet with the isolated material by wet granulation method. Some natural edible substances are in consideration for candidates as mucoadhesive agents to claim more effective controlled drug delivery as an alternative to the currently used synthetic mucoadhesive polymers. Subjected the materials obtained from natural source i.e. PP and standard synthetic substance, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for evaluation of mucoadhesive property by various in vitro and in vivo methods. Through standard dissolution test and a model developed with rabbit, evaluated in vitro controlled release and bioadhesive property of theophylline formulation. Mucoadhesive agent obtained from PP showed good mucoadhesive potential in the demonstrated in vitro and in viνo models. The results suggest that the mucoadhesive agent showed controlled release properties by their application, substantially. In order to assess the gastrointestinal transit time in vivo, a radio opaque X-ray study performed in healthy rabbit testing the same controlled release formulation with and without bioadhesive polymer. Plasma levels of theophylline determined by the HPLC method and those allowed correlations to the in vitro mucoadhesive study results. Better correlation found between the results in different models. PP may acts as a better natural mucoadhesive agent in the extended drug delivery system.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.548-557
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of insoluble dietary fibers from pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) inner bark powder (PIBP) on loperamide constipation in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered PIBP in their diets at concentrations of 5% and 10% for 4 weeks. Rats were divided in to four groups, normal diet group (Cont), a normal diet and loperamide group (Lop), 5% PIBP experimental diet and loperamide group (Lop+PIBP 5%), and 10% PIBP experimental diet and loperamide group (Lop+PIBP 10%). Constipation was induced by oral administration of loperamide (2 mg/kg, twice per day) for the last three days of the experiment. Food intake, body weight, properties of feces, gastrointestinal transit time, and serum lipid profiles were measured. When compared with the normal diet and loperamide group (Lop), there were increases in fecal pellet number (p<0.05), wet weight (p<0.001), and water content (p<0.001). Positive results were derived from relevant indicators to improve constipation. In addition, the number of fecal pellets in the colon was not significant, and decreased as PIBP content increased. PIBP had a concentration-dependent effect on reduction of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and elevation of HDL-cholesterol. These results indicate that PIBP may effectively prevent constipation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.203-216
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• 2017

Purpose: This literature review was performed to assess the effect of raisins on human health. Methods: A review of Medline was conducted using the keywords: 'raisins, raisins and health, raisins and cardiovascular disease (CVD), raisins and cancer, raisins and diabetes, raisins and fiber, raisins and colon health, raisins and antioxidants, raisins and inflammation, raisins and dental caries'. The reference lists from previous review articles on raisins and human health and the California Raisin Marketing Board files were reviewed for additional studies. Results: Raisins have one of the highest polyphenolic content and antioxidant ORAC levels compared to other traditional dried fruits. Many of the polyphenols in raisins are well assimilated and bioavailable. Raisin consumption reduces low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, when compared to equal caloric carbohydrate snacks and is associated with a reduced risk of CVD. The anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive effects of raisins are mixed. Raisin consumption reduces intestinal transit time and positively affects gut microbiota. Raisins produce sustained energy during long term athletic competitions equal to traditional sports energy gels, shots and jelly beans. Raisins produce a non-cariogenic oral environment and do not fit the American Academy of Pediatrics criteria to be considered a choking hazard. Conclusions: Based on the review of literature, consumption of raisins provide numerous health benefits for promoting general wellness and in the prevention of many chronic diseases including: CVD, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) gastrointestinal diseases, and dental caries.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.5-12
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• 2004

I. Introduction : The constipation is one of the common gastrointestinal symptoms seen in the clinical practice. When people come to the clinic complaining of the constipation, it is generally one of the cases of infrequent, painful or difficult evacuation as well as the hardened feces and unsatisfactory evacuation sense. Since the constipation is heavily influenced by dietary habit as well as the social and medical environment, the diagnostic radiology is useful to establish the objective and standardized definition in consideration of those various factors before diagnosis and treatment of the constipation patient. This paper describes the study of such diagnosis. II. Main Subject : Testing of CTT (colon transit time) is key study of the colon performance. CTT is very helpful in classifying the pathologic physiological types and defining the treatment plan for the chronic constipation. The study methods include using the radipaque marker, multiple marker technique and scintigraphic measurement. The defecography is the functional radiologic examination a that provides not only the anatomical information of anorectal but also performance of the pelvic floor and rectal change during evacuation. Study of dynamic movement of the anorectal during evacuation is helpful for diagnosis and treatment planning as well as follow-up testing for the constipation patient. One of the issues essential for the case history is the thorough observation of whether the patient shows the psychic psychological symptoms such as the behavior disorder or emotional disturbance. In that case, the decision must be made whether or which type of medication is needed for such psychiatric problem. III. Conclusion : The main causes of the constipation are insufficient intake of fiber or liquid. The key objective of such tests is to check etiology of the constipation. In general, the radiological examination does not provde the colon or anorectal performance information. It is envisaged that this study will provide the information to decide the testing and treatment plans and predict the prognosis of the patient by classifying the pathologic physiological types.