• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the effect of Gangjihwan(Di-fatty, DF) composed with Pakistani Ephedra Herba on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) using high fat diet-fed male mice. Method : Eight-week old C57BL/6N mice were used for all experiments. Standard chow diet-fed mice were used as normal group and high fat diet-fed NAFLD mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, atorvastatin, DF(1), DF(2) and DF(3). After 8 weeks, mice were treated with water, atorvastatin(10mg/kg) and DF(40, 80, 160mg/kg) for 8 weeks. And we investigated body weight gain, plasma lipid and glucose metabolism, histological analysis for liver on the mice. Results : Compared with controls, DF-treated mice had very significantly lower body weight gain and lower visceral adipose tissue weight, the magnitudes of which were prominent in DF(3). Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, DF-treated mice had lower blood total cholesterol and triglyceride level compared with controls. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain and blood plasma lipid level, DF-treated mice had lower liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation of DF-treated groups was significantly decreased than control group. Also Blood plasma AST, ALT and ${\gamma}$-GT concentration were not changed by DF, and these results may indicate DF do not show any toxic effects. Conclusions : These results suggest that DF effectively improves NAFLD. DF reduces liver weight and prevents lipid accumulation of hepatocyte by reducing body weight gain and modulating blood plasma lipid metabolism levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.701-707
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• 2007

This study was to investigate lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activity and DNA damage after exercise, and the protective effect of garlic against exercise-induced oxidative stress. Male Sprague-Dawley rats(4 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups of 6 rats each; control group(Con) without garlic and exercise, Ex group with exercise alone, and Ex-G group with 2% garlic and exercise. For 4 weeks, rats were given diets containing 15% corn oil and 1% cholesterol with or without garlic. The swimming was selected as a model for exercise performance. Rats swam for 40 min a day, for 5 days a week. Group Ex and Ex-G showed significant lowering in body weight gain and fat accumulation compared to control. No significant changes were observed in levels of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride among three groups, demonstrating that exercise and garlic had no effects on changes of blood lipid. This finding of blood lipid seems to be due to higher plant sterol content in corn oil. The DNA tail moment of lymphocytes showed greater tendency in Ex and Ex-G than in control, but garlic supplements failed to suppress DNA damages. Compared to control, Ex had higher plasma TBARS which was lowered to the control's level in Ex-G with 2% garlic supplementation(p<0.05). Ex-G led to a higher hepatic superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity than control and Ex(p<0.05). Activity of hepatic catalase was also increased in Ex-G, while in Ex it was significantly low(p<0.05). It seemed that TBARS levels were related to the activities of SOD and catalase, and that garlic contributed to increasing the enzyme activities and led to decrease of TBARS. These results demonstrate that lipid peroxidation and DNA damage occur as a consequences of oxidative stress after exercise, and that antioxidant defense against oxidative stress could be enhanced by garlic supplementation through the induction of antioxidant enzymes. However, further investigations should be done on the garlic effect on DNA damage.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2007

Persimmon is well-known as a Korean traditional medicine for alleviating coughs and enhancing blood circulation; it is also used for treatment of hypertension, cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. To evaluate the protective properties of persimmon leaf methanol extract (PLME) and persimmon fruit methanol extract (PFME) administration on acute ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, C57BL/6 male mice were gavaged with or without persimmon extracts for 1 week. Hepatotoxicity was then induced by gavage of 5 g/kg BW ethanol. After 12 hr of ethanol administration, blood and liver were collected and analyzed for biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. The results showed PLME and PFME treatments decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared with ethanol control. Both PLME and PFME reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, but elevated alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. Serum triglyceride (TG) and hepatic cholesterol levels were significantly decreased when treated with PLME and PFME. Liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in PLME and PFME groups compared with ethanol control. Furthermore, the administration of PLME and PFME significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH-red). In summary, PLME and PFME appeared to prevent hepatic injury by accelerating alcohol metabolism by increasing alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities, by activating the antioxidative enzyme system against oxidative stress, and by decreasing fat accumulation, which is evidenced by decreased hepatotoxic indices in serum.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2023

Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a necessary process to induce fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a kind of NAFLD that encompasses the spectrum of liver disease. It is characterized by inflammation and ballooning of hepatocytes during steatosis. We tested whether inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome could prevent the development and pathology of NASH. We identified loganin as an inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome and investigated whether in vivo administration of loganin prevented NASH symptoms using a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet model in mice. We found that loganin inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggered by ATP or nigericin, as shown by suppression of the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and caspase-1 (p10) in mouse primary macrophages. The speck formation of apoptosisassociated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) was blocked by loganin, showing that the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex was impaired by loganin. Administration of loganin reduced the clinical signs of NASH in mice fed the MCD diet, including hepatic inflammation, fat accumulation, and fibrosis. In addition, loganin reduced the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components in the liver. Our findings indicate that loganin alleviates the inflammatory symptoms associated with NASH, presumably by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In summary, these findings imply that loganin may be a novel nutritional and therapeutic treatment for NASH-related inflammation.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2022

Objectives : Brain-Liver axis is an important target of the chronic human diseases. Hepatic steatosis is one of the most famous disorders in the chronic diseases. This study investigated the moderating effect of beneficial herbs on the fat accumulation, which is mediated by the LXR alpha-SREBP-1c signaling pathway. Methods : In order to confirm the SREBP-1c inhibitory effect, we performed immonoblotting ananlysis using HepG2 cells and Huh 7 cells treated by T0901317, the ligand of LXRα. Results : Forsythiae suspensa water extract (FSE) was not cytotoxicity in cell lines. FSE inhibited SREBP-1c protein expression in HepG2 and Huh7 cells induced by T0901317. In addition, FSE increased the phosphorylation of LKB1, which is associated with LXR-related pathway in HepG2 and Huh 7 cells. Conclusions : These results showed that FSE activated LKB1 to suppress SREBP-1c, which protects the cells against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.53-68
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Sopungsungj-won(Shufengshunqjvuan) (SSEx1, SSEx2) on the metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet induced obese mice. Methods: 8 weeks old, high fat diet induced obese male mice were divided into 4 groups: C57BL/6 lean control, obese vehicle control, SSEx1, SSEx2. After mice were treated with SSExl, SSEx2 for 12 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin, insulin, glucose and lipid levels. We also observe the morphology and count for the numbers of Adipocyte and evaluate the weight of organs and it's function. Results: 1. Compared to Obese Control Group, SSEx1 gained significantly lower body weight and showed lower Feeding Efficiency Ratio. 2. Compared to Obese Control Group, SSEx1 showed lower weights of epididymal adipose tissue, troperitoneal adipose tissue, inguinal adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue. SSEx2 showed higher weights of epididymal adipose tissue, troperitoneal adipose tissue, inguinal adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue. 3. Compared to Obese Control Group, the size of adipocytes was significantly decreased by SSEx1, whereas the number of adipocites per unit was significantly increased. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased significantly by SSEx1. 4. Concerning the weights of Liver, Heart, Spleen, Kidney and Pancreas, SSEx1, SSEx2 showed little differences with those of Lean Control, Obese Control. 5. Compared to Obese Control Group, SSEX1, SSEx2 showed lower level of plasma triglyceride, but SSEx1 had significance only. SSEx1, SSEx2 showed little lower level of plasma HDL-cholesterol. LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, but had no significances. 6. Concerning the levels of plasma glucose, insulin and leptin, SSEx1 and SSEx2 showed littele changes with those of Lean Control, Obese Control. 7. The leves of Plasma AST, AST, ALT, free fatty acid, BUN, creatinine were in the physiological range at 4 groups all: Lean Control, Obese Control, SSEx1, SSEx2. Conclusions : These results showed SSEx1 can be used as therapeutic agent for Obesity and metabolic syndrome caused by long-period high fat diet.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.23-31
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidemia effect of Scutellariae Radix, Aucklandiae Radix and Bupleuri Radix(SAB). Methods : FL83B cells were mouse liver hepatocytes, and we used this cell line. FL83B cells were treated with 0.5 mM oleic acid(OA) for 24 h, SAB extract was treated. After OA treatment, intracellular triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid contents were measured with AdiopoRed™ assay and Free Fatty Acid Quantitation assay kit, respectively. Further, we evaluated several lipogenesis and metabolic markers such as sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), 3-hydroxy3-methyl-glutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT-1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and cluster of differentiation (CD36) using RT-PCR and Western-blot analysis. Results : OA markedly increased intracellular TG and free fatty acid, which plays a key role in reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, in FL83B cells. These increases were alleviated by SAB extract. The mRNA and protein expression of Fatty acid(FA) oxidation factors (CPT-1, PPARα), lipolysis factor(HSL), FA transporter(CD36), cholesterol synthesis factors (HMGCoA) and Lipodenesis (SREBP-1c, FAS, and ACC-1) were significantly increased by treatment of SAB extract in the OA-induced fatty liver cell model. Conclusions : In summary, the treat of SAB extract showed a significant reduction of the influx of fatty acids into hepatocytes, promoted the oxidation of fatty acids, and regulated fat synthesis-related factors, thereby regulating the accumulation of TG and free fatty acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1593-1600
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• 2016

This research was conducted to investigate the physiological consequences of undernourished yak. Twelve Maiwa yak ($110.3{\pm}5.85kg$) were randomly divided into two groups (baseline and starvation group). The yak of baseline group were slaughtered at day 0, while the other group of yak were kept in shed without feed but allowed free access to water, salt and free movement for 9 days. Blood samples of the starvation group were collected on day 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and the starved yak were slaughtered after the final blood sample collection. The liver and muscle glycogen of the starvation group decreased (p<0.01), and the lipid content also decreased while the content of moisture and ash increased (p<0.05) both in Longissimus dorsi and liver compared with the baseline group. The plasma insulin and glucose of the starved yak decreased at first and then kept stable but at a relatively lower level during the following days (p<0.01). On the contrary, the non-esterified fatty acids was increased (p<0.01). Beyond our expectation, the ketone bodies of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid decreased with prolonged starvation (p<0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expression of lipogenetic enzyme fatty acid synthase and lipoprotein lipase in subcutaneous adipose tissue of starved yak were down-regulated (p<0.01), whereas the mRNA expression of lipolytic enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 and hormone sensitive lipase were up-regulated (p<0.01) after 9 days of starvation. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and pyruvate carboxylase, responsible for hepatic gluconeogenesis were up-regulated (p<0.01). It was concluded that yak derive energy by gluconeogenesis promotion and fat storage mobilization during starvation but without ketone body accumulation in the plasma.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.438-443
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• 2006

This trial was designed to study the caponization effects on the appearance, carcass characteristics, blood constituents and lipid metabolism of Taiwan country chicken cockerels. Cockerels were caponized at 8 weeks of age. Sixteen-week-old chickens, including 10 capons, 5 slips (incomplete caponized male chickens) and 20 normal chickens of equal sexes were selected for a 10 week ad libitum feeding trial. Results showed that the testosterone concentrations in the capons and females were lower (p<0.05) than that of intact males. The comb length, height and weights were also lower (p<0.05). The weight of the slips was between that of the capons and intact males, but was heavier (p<0.05) than that of the capon. The live-weight, carcass weight and shank perimeter in the capons were higher than those of the other groups (p<0.05). Hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity analyses showed that NADP-malic dehydrogenase (MDH) activity in the capons and female chickens was higher than that in intact male chickens (p<0.05). The MDH activity in the slips was between that for the capon and intact male chickens (p>0.05). The abdominal fat weight and relative abdominal fat weight of the capons and females were heavier than that for intact males (p<0.05); the slips were between the capons and intact males. The blood lipid content results showed that the triacylglycerol and cholesterol in the capons were higher than that for intact males (p<0.05). However, the percentage of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was lower than that in intact male chickens (p<0.05). It appears that the increase in lipid accumulation in caponized male chickens is attributed mainly to an increase in MDH activity and the changes in lipid transportation in the capons.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.167-176
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• 2014

Objectives : This study investigated the improvement effects of Gangjihwan (DF) and combination of Gangjihwan and Gamisochehwan (GSH) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a high fat diet-induced obese mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old C57BL/6N mice were divided into five groups: a normal lean group given a standard diet, an obese control group given a high fat diet, and atorvastatin, DF, and DF+GSH groups given a high fat diet with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), DF (40 mg/kg), and DF+GSH (80 mg/kg), respectively. After 8 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, blood lipid markers, ALT concentrations, liver weight and histology were examined. Results : 1. Body weight gain was significantly decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control. The extent of decreases was eminent in DF+GSH group. 2. Circulating concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control. The decreases were significant in DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups. 3. Liver weights were decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control. In particular, liver weight was significantly reduced only in DF+GSH group. 4. Hepatic lipid accumulation was significantly decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control, and the magnitude of which was more effective in DF+GSH group than in DF-only group. 5. Circulating ALT concentrations were decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin compared with control, but ALS levels were significantly reduced only in DF+GSH group. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that DF decreases body weight gain, improves blood lipid metabolism, and reduces liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation, contributing to the improvement of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, these effects were more effective in DF+GSH combination group than in DF-only group.