• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.420-428
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside F2 (GF2), a minor component of Panax ginseng, has been reported to possess a wide variety of pharmacological activities. However, its effects on glucose metabolism have not yet been reported. Here, we investigated the underlying signaling pathways involved in its effects on hepatic glucose. Methods: HepG2 cells were used to establish insulin-resistant (IR) model and treated with GF2. Cell viability and glucose uptake-related genes were also examined by real-time PCR and immunoblots. Results: Cell viability assays showed that GF2 up to 50 μM did not affect normal and IR-HepG2 cell viability. GF2 reduced oxidative stress by inhibiting phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling components such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 MAPK, and reducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, GF2 activated PI3K/AKT signaling, upregulated the levels of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2) and GLUT-4 in IR-HepG2 cells, and promoted glucose absorption. At the same time, GF2 reduced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase expression as well as inhibiting gluconeogenesis. Conclusion: Overall, GF2 improved glucose metabolism disorders by reducing cellular oxidative stress in IR-HepG2 cells via MAPK signaling, participating in the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway, promoting glycogen synthesis, and inhibiting gluconeogenesis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-217
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Centella asiatica, also known as Gotu kola, is a tropical medicinal plant native to Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. It is well known to have biological activities, including wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of extracts of C. asiatica against age-related eye degeneration and to examine their physiological activities. MATERIALS/METHODS: To determine the effects of CA-HE50 (C. asiatica 50% EtOH extract) on retinal pigment cells, we assessed the cytotoxicity of CoCl₂ and oxidized-A2E in ARPE-19 cells and observed the protective effects of CA-HE50 against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal damage in C57BL/6 mice. In particular, we measured factors related to apoptosis and anti-oxidation and the protein levels of rhodopsin/opsin. We also measured glucose uptake to characterize glucose metabolism, a major factor in cell protection. RESULTS: Induction of cytotoxicity with CoCl₂ and oxidized-A2E inhibited decreases in the viability of ARPE-19 cells when CA-HE50 was administered, and promoted glucose uptake under normal conditions (P < 0.05). In addition, CA-HE50 inhibited degeneration/apoptosis of the retina in the context of MNU-induced toxicity (P < 0.05). In particular, CA-HE50 at 200 mg/kg inhibited the cleavage of pro-caspase-3 and pro-poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase and maintained the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase-1 similar to normal control levels. Rhodopsin/opsin expression was maintained at a higher level than in normal controls. CONCLUSION: A series of experiments confirmed that CA-HE50 was effective for inhibiting or preventing age-related eye damage/degeneration. Based on these results, we believe it is worthwhile to develop drugs or functional foods related to age-related eye degeneration using CA-HE50.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.900-908
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• 2018

Insulin resistance is closely associated with metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have been developed to ameliorate insulin resistance by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\gamma}$. Although TZDs are synthetic ligands for $PPAR{\gamma}$, metabolic outcomes of each TZD are different. Moreover, there are lack of head-to-head comparative studies among TZDs in the aspect of metabolic outcomes. In this study, we analyzed the effects of three TZDs, including lobeglitazone (Lobe), rosiglitazone (Rosi), and pioglitazone (Pio) on metabolic and thermogenic regulation. In adipocytes, Lobe more potently stimulated adipogenesis and insulin-dependent glucose uptake than Rosi and Pio. In the presence of pro-inflammatory stimuli, Lobe efficiently suppressed expressions of pro-inflammatory genes in macrophages and adipocytes. In obese and diabetic db/db mice, Lobe effectively promoted insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and suppressed pro-inflammatory responses in epididymal white adipose tissue (EAT), leading to improve glucose intolerance. Compared to other two TZDs, Lobe enhanced beige adipocyte formation and thermogenic gene expression in inguinal white adipose tissue (IAT) of lean mice, which would be attributable to cold-induced thermogenesis. Collectively, these comparison data suggest that Lobe could relieve insulin resistance and enhance thermogenesis at low-concentration conditions where Rosi and Pio are less effective.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.851-860
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• 1999

The effects of antimycin A(AA), dodium azide ($NaN_3$) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), which inhibit mitochondrial ATP production, on cellular functions of cultured astrocytes were studied. High concentrations of AA $(50{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml),{\;}NaN_3$ (100mM) and DNP (20mM) significantly decreased 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction, which was known to be related to mitochondrial function and then cel viability. AA ($50{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and decreased [$^3H$] glutamate uptake, suggesting severe damage of cellular function by the concentrations of the compounds. Meanwhile, low concentrations of AA $(\leq{;\}10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml),{\;}NaN_3{;\}(\leq{\;}50mM)$ and DNP ($\leq{\;}5mM$) significantly increased MTT reduction, the effect of which was specific to astrocytes. AA (5 and $10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) did not affect LDH release and [$^3H$] glutamate uptake, indicating that these compounds increased MTT reduction at the low concentrations without cellular membrane damage. However, the low concentrations of AA produced significant decrease of MTT reduction in a glucose-free medium. Low concentrations of AA (1 and $5{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) did not change ATP production of astrocytes in the medium containing 10 mM glucose, but completely inhibited in a glucose-free medium, suggesting marked increase of cytosolic ATP production by the blockade of mitochondrial ATP production with low concentrations of AA. These results suggest that astrocytes have ability to enhance neuronal function or survival under conditions of incomplete ischemia or early by enhancement of glycolysis, and that cellular reduction of MTT occurs not only mitochondrially but also extramitchondrially.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.3310-3316
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• 2011

Hematoxylin is the main component of Hematoxylon campechianum which has been utilized in the southern provinces of Korea as a folk remedy for diabetic complications. In the present study, to investigate the hypoglycemic mechanism of hematoxylin, the 2-deoxyglucose uptake and phospholipid metabolism were examined in sciatic nerves from three groups of rats : normal control, diabetic control, diabetic hematoxylin-treated group. Hematoxylin significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic control rats. On a wet weight basis, the nerves from diabetic rats showed a 20% decrease in total phospholipid from that of controls and a relative decrease in phosphatidylinositide. Hematoxylin treatment increased the incorporation rate of 2-[3H] myo-inositol into total phosphoinositids in diabetic rat. The effectiveness were more potent in higher dose hematoxylin-treated rats than lower dose hematoxylin-treated rats. These results suggest that hematoxylin increases glucose transport and lipid metabolism by partially normalizing concerned with myo-inositol metabolism in diabetic rat. Therefore we propose that hematoxylin can be a promising candidate for diabetes medication.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.99-107
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• 2019

Objective : The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Chaenomelis Fructus (CF) on the regulation of biogenesis in C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells. Methods : C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes in 2% horse serum-containing medium for 5 days, and then treated with CF extract at different concentrations for 48 hr. The expression of muscle differentiation markers, myogenin and myosin heavy chain (MHC) and mitochondrial biogenesis-regulating factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC1α), sirtuin1 (Sirt1), nuclear respiratory factor1 (NRF1) and transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM), and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were determined in C2C12 myotubes by reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. The cellular glucose levels and total ATP contents were measured by cellular glucose uptake and ATP assays, respectively. Results : Treatment with CF extract (0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 mg/㎖) significantly increased the expression of MHC protein in C2C12 myotubes compared with non-treated cells. CF extract significantly increased the expression of PGC1α and TFAM in the myotubes. Also, CF extract significantly increased glucose uptake levels and ATP contents in the myotubes. Conclusion : CF extract can stimulate C2C12 myoblasts differentiation into myotubes and increase energy production through upregulation of the expression of mitochondrial biogenetic factors in C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cell. This suggests that CF can help to improve skeletal muscle function with stimulation of the energy metabolism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.348-356
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• 2011

Liriope platyphylla is a medical herb that has long been used in Korea and China to treat cough, sputum, neurodigenerative disorders, obesity and diabetes. The aims of this study were to study the antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extract of L. platyphylla (AEtLP) through pancreatic and extrapancreatic actions. AEtLP were orally administrated to ICR mice once a day for 7 days. Of three different concentrations of AEtLP, only 10% AEtLP were low toxic to liver, based on body weight and serum biochemical analyses. However, 10% AEtLP-treated mice displayed signifi cant reduction of the glucose concentration and increased insulin concentration; no changes were noted using 5% and 15% AEtLP. Also, the increase of glucose transporter (Glut)-1 expression in liver was dependent on the concentration of AEtLP, and was regulated by the phosphorylation of Akt. The lowest expression of Glut-3 was observed in 15% AEtLP treated mice, followed by 10% AEtLP- and 5% AEtLP-treated mice. This pattern of Glut-3 expression was roughly in accord with the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-teminal kinase (JNK) in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Furthermore, a signifi cant rise of the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was detected in AEtLP-treated mice. The fi ndings suggest that AEtLP should be considered as a diabetes therapeutic candidate to induce insulin secretion from pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells and glucose uptake in liver cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.504-509
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• 1989

Fermentation condition of Streptococcus lactis IFO 12007 for nisin production was examined. The optimal glucose concentration was 60g/ι. The pH and temperature optimum were 6.5 and 31$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The maximum nisin activity in batch culture was 2000IU/$m\ell$. The fermentation quotients after 7 hours of fermentation in batch culture were; specific glucose uptake rate:0.59g/g/h , specific nisin productivity: 34924IU/g/h, product yield: 5944IU/g, growth yield:0.24, biomass:4.81g/ι. The specific growth rate was affected by pH and temperature and the activation energy for growth was 1.35kcal/mole. pH control was essential for nisin production. Fed-batch culture using 20g/$\ell$ glucose medium produced 1420IU/$m\ell$ after 14 hours. The continuous culture could be operated at below 0.38h$^{-1}$ for nisin production. The steady state nisin concentration and specific nisin productivity were 740IU/$m\ell$ and 45000IU/g/h. The growth yield and maintenance energy were 0.144 and 207mg glucose/g-cell/h.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.191-197
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• 1984

A further purified fraction (D-O-ANa) was obtained from DPG 3-2 fraction of Ginseng Radix by complete removal of saponins, nucleosides, nucleic acid bases, amino acids, and sugars. D-O-ANa - induced insulin release was investigated to compare with that of DPG 3-2 and other isolated components. Among the sub fractions of DPG 3-2, D-O-ANa exhibited the most potent release of insulin with or without high concentrations of glucose, and it particularly enhanced the second phase of glucose-induced insulin release. DGP 3-2 potentiated significantly the glucose-induced insulin release from the isolated islets of diabetic mice at increasing concentrations of extracellular calcium ions (0.16 - 2.5 mM). A definite relationship was found between calcium $(^{45}Ca)$ uptake and insulin release. Ginsenoside $(G)-Rb_1\;and\;G-Rg_1$ did not enhance the glucose-induced insulin release. The effect of ginseng saponins was blocked by glucose (16.7 mM), being distinctly different from the glucose-potentiated effect of DPG 3-2. The insulin release effect of $G-Rg_1$ was unaffected by the presence or absence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and theophylline. Adenosine also increased insulin release from isolated islets, but had no effect on perfused rat pancreas. Arginine stimulated insulin release less evidently than D-O-ANa, though arginineand adenosine-induced glucagon releases were more remarkable. In conclusion, D-O-ANa appears to be a major fraction in insulin release activity of ginseng and its mode of action may be related to $Ca^{2+}$ ion uptake. This physiological mechanism was distinct from that of the abnormal release induced by ginseng saponins.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2021

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of Caulerpa okamurae ethanol extract (COE) on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity as one of the drug targets for treatment of type2 diabetes. COE significantly inhibited protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) enzyme activities in vitro assay. Also, COE significantly enhanced the glucose uptake and the expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and glucose transporter4 (GLUT4) proteins in 3T3-L1 adipocytes or zebrafish larvae compared with control. In dexamethasone-induced resistance model of L6 myotubes, the protein expression of insulin signaling and glucose uptake was effectively increased by the treatment of COE. In contrast, the elevated phosphorylation of IRS-1 Ser307 was normally suppressed by treatment of COE. However, COE had no effect on insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. Thus, our results suggest that COE improves the glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity through the regulation of insulin signaling and GLUT4 protein in insulin's target cells and zebrafish larvae.