• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.179-196
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• 2019

We investigated the effect of high density lipoprotein from egg yolk (EYHDL) on serum, hepatic and fecal lipid and fatty acids (FAs) levels and on gene expression involved in FAs metabolism. Male KM mice were fed either normal diet (ND; n=20), high fat diet (HFD; n=20), or high fat diet containing EYHDL (EYHDL; 0.6 mg/g, every day by oral gavage, n=20) for 100 days. At the end of the experiment, the effects of treatments on biochemical parameters, FAs profiles and involved gene expression were analyzed. Our results revealed that EYHDL markedly suppressed the body weight gain, accumulation of abdominal fat tissues, serum concentrations of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol accumulation, while increased serum concentration of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). EYHDL intake also increased total cholesterol (TC) excretions compared with HFD group. Moreover, it alleviated the severity of fatty liver and improved glucose and insulin tolerance compared with HFD. More importantly, EYHDL partially normalized FAs profiles in serum, liver and fecaces and neutralized the HFD-induced upregulation of SREBP-1c, Acaca, Fasn, GPAT and Scd1. In conclusion, our findings indicate that EYHDL may have the potential to improve metabolic disturbances that occur in HFD mice and can be considered as an appropriate dietary recommendation for the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2013

Recent studies have shown that Rosa canina L. and tiliroside, the principal constituent of its seeds, exhibit anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities via enhancement of fatty acid oxidation in the liver and skeletal muscle. However, the effects of rosehip, the fruit of this plant, extract (RHE), or tiliroside on lipid accumulation in adipocytes have not been analyzed. We investigated the effects of RHE and tiliroside on lipid accumulation and protein expression of key transcription factors in both in vitro and in vivo models. RHE and tiliroside inhibited lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. We also analyzed the inhibitory effect of RHE on white adipose tissue (WAT) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice model. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed HFD or HFD supplemented with 1% RHE (HFDRH) for 8 weeks. The HFDRH-fed group gained less body weight and had less visceral fat than the HFD-fed group. Liver weight was significantly lower in the HFDRH-fed group and total hepatic lipid and triglyceride (TG) content was also reduced. A significant reduction in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR${\gamma}$) was observed in epididymal fat in the HFDRH-fed group, in comparison with controls, through Western blotting. These results suggest that downregulation of PPAR${\gamma}$ expression is involved, at least in part, in the suppressive effect of RHE on lipid accumulation in WAT.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.193-207
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate anti-obesity effects of DF in a ob/ob mouse model. Methods : Fifteen-week-old ob/ob mice were divided into four groups: a normal lean group given a standard diet, an ob/ob control group given a standard diet, and DF(1) and DF(2) groups given a standard diet with DF(1) (300 mg/kg), and DF(2) (600 mg/kg), respectively. After 10 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, blood lipid markers, fat weight and histology were examined. Results : Body weight gain and fat mass were significantly decreased in DF(1) and DF(2) groups compared with control. The extent of decreases was eminent in DF(2) group. Feeding efficiency ratio were significantly decreased in DF(2) group compared with control. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain and fat mass, circulating concentrations of LDL, total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and insulin were decreased in DF(2) group compared with control. The size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by DF(2) compared with control. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, hepatic lipid accumulation and liver weights were reduced in DF compared with control. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that DF not only decrease feeding efficiency ratio, and blood anti-obesity biomarkers, but also reduce fat mass, contributing to the improvement of obesity. DF also inhibits hepatic lipid accumulation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2017

It was demonstrated that Gangjihwan (DF), which is the herbal composition composed of Ephedra intermedia, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, and Rheum palmatum, inhibits obesity and hepatic steatosis in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of DF on visceral obesity, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and the mechanism of actions involved in this process using in vivo and in vitro approaches. DF was extracted with water (DF-FW), 30% grain alcohol (DF-GA30), and 70% grain alcohol (DF-GA70). Administration of DF to HFD-fed control mice decreased visceral tissue mass and visceral adipocyte size without adverse effects. Visceral fat mass was decreased by DF-GA30 and DF-GA70, and visceral adipocyte size by all three DF extracts compared with obese control mice. Histological analysis revealed that three kinds of DF extracts reduced toluidine blue-stained mast cells and collagen accumulation in the liver, the extents of which were most eminent in DF-GA70-treated mice. DF-GA70 decreased the mRNA levels of the inflammation ($TNF{\alpha}$ and VCAM-1), fibrosis (${\alpha}-SMA$), and apoptosis (caspase 3) genes, but increasing the anti-apoptosis gene (Bcl-2) mRNA levels in the liver of obese control mice. Consistent with the in vivo data, GA-70 also altered the expression of inflammation genes ($TNF{\alpha}$ and MCP-1) in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that DF not only inhibits visceral obesity, but also ameliorates visceral obesity-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and that this process may be mediated by regulating the hepatic expression of inflammatory and fibrogenic genes.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.833-837
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• 2006

To determine whether alcohol-treated rat liver cells can be protected by a static magnetic field (SMF), we analyzed the blood chemistry and histology of hepatic tissue removed from alcohol-exposed rats that had been exposed to a static magnetic field. The rats were exposed to a 0.3 tesla (3,000 gauss) magnetic field (MF) for 24 hr daily for 5 weeks with appropriate controls. Glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity and the triglyceride levels in animals exposed to the north (N) or south (S) pole of the MF decreased significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) compared with negative control animals with alcohol exposure. A histological examination of hepatic tissue revealed a moderate to severe accumulation of fat vacuoles of various sizes in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes of animals in the negative control group throughout the study; whereas in groups exposed to the MF poles, fewer fat vacuoles were seen compared with the negative control group. Electron microscopic observations showed that exposure to the N or S pole protected organelles, including the nucleus, from damage during exposure to this toxic agent, as indicated by the fact that the nucleus and the mithochondria virtually retained their shape throughout this study. These results suggest that exposure to a SMF could be an excellent way of protecting against alcohol-induced damage to the rat liver cell.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic fat accumulation, while nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD characterized by hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and liver injury, resulting in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the evidence that ginseng and its major bioactive components, ginsenosides, have potent anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrogenic effects, the pharmacological effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on NAFLD and NASH is noteworthy. Furthermore, numerous studies have successfully demonstrated the protective effect of ginseng on these diseases, as well as the underlying mechanisms in animal disease models and cells, such as hepatocytes and macrophages. This review discusses recent studies that explore the pharmacological roles of ginseng and ginsenosides in NAFLD and NASH and highlights their potential as agents to prevent and treat NAFLD, NASH, and liver diseases caused by hepatic steatosis and inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 1994

Effect of pine pollen and defatted pine pollen on lipid accumulation and metabolism in serum and liver were investigated with rats fed high fat-supplemented diets for 6 weeks. Concentrations of total lipid and total cholesterol in serum significantly decreased in the experimental groups (treated with pine pollen and defatted pine pollen) compared with the control group. Concentration of triglyceride in serum was remarkably lower than that of control group. This was similar to that of normal group. Concentration of glucose in serum was significantly lower in the experimental group. It was observed from photographs of hepatic tissue in rats that pine pollen inhibits the lipid accumulation induced by high fat diets.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.365-374
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Gamisaenggan-tang on high fat diet induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups. The Normal group was fed a solid diet containing 10% fat. The Gamisaenggan-tang (GS) group was fed a solid diet containing 10% fat and Gamisaenggan-tang (90mg/100g body weight). The Control group was fed a solid diet containing 60% fat. The HFD-Gamisaenggan-tang (HFD-GS) group was fed a solid diet containing 60% fat and Gamisaenggan-tang (90mg/100g body weight). Six weeks later, rats body weight, liver weight, serum ALT, GGT, ALP levels were measured. Histological findings (Oil red O staining), hepatic triglyceride, TNF-${\alpha}$, and TGF-${\beta}$ levels in the liver tissue were studied. Results: Average body weight of the HFD-GS group was significantly less than that of the Control group. There were no significant liver weight differences among each group. The GGT levels of the HFD-GS group were significantly less than those of the Control group. However, there were no significant differences in the ALT or ALP levels among the groups. TNF-${\alpha}$ protein production assessed by western blot analysis was reduced by Gamisaenggan-tang. Greater fat accumulation was observed in the liver tissue of the Control group than in the HFD-GS group, which means the Gamisaenggan-tang has an inhibitory effect on the accumulation of fat in the liver. Conclusion : The results suggest that Gamisaenggan-tang can be potential candidate for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in clinics.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.561-571
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) is capable of regulating lipid and glucose metabolism through its action on adipocytes. However, the beneficial role of GRb1-induced up-regulation of adiponectin in liver steatosis remains unelucidated. Thus, we tested whether GRb1 ameliorates liver steatosis and insulin resistance by promoting the expression of adiponectin. Methods: 3T3-L1 adipocytes and hepatocytes were used to investigate GRb1's action on adiponectin expression and triglyceride (TG) accumulation. Wild type (WT) mice and adiponectin knockout (KO) mice fed high fat diet were treated with GRb1 for 2 weeks. Hepatic fat accumulation and function as well as insulin sensitivity was measured. The activation of AMPK was also detected in the liver and hepatocytes. Results: GRb1 reversed the reduction of adiponectin secretion in adipocytes. The conditioned medium (CM) from adipocytes treated with GRb1 reduced TG accumulation in hepatocytes, which was partly attenuated by the adiponectin antibody. In the KO mice, the GRb1-induced significant decrease of TG content, ALT and AST was blocked by the deletion of adiponectin. The elevations of GRb1-induced insulin sensitivity indicated by OGTT, ITT and HOMA-IR were also weakened in the KO mice. The CM treatment significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK in hepatocytes, but not GRb1 treatment. Likewise, the phosphorylation of AMPK in liver of the WT mice was increased by GRb1, but not in the KO mice. Conclusions: The up-regulation of adiponectin by GRb1 contributes to the amelioration of liver steatosis and insulin resistance, which further elucidates a new mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of GRb1 on obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.459-466
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• 2019

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, or gliptins, are a class of oral hypoglycemic drugs that have been widely used as a second-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. Gliptins, which were introduced for clinical use a decade ago, have been shown to be beneficial against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in animals and humans. Cenicriviroc (CVC), a dual antagonist of C-C chemokine receptor type 2 and 5, is currently under investigation against NASH and fibrosis. It was previously discovered that evogliptin (EVO) reduces hepatic steatosis in diet-induced obese animals but the effectiveness of EVO on NASH remains unexplored. Here, we compared the effectiveness of EVO and CVC against NASH and fibrosis in mice fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHF). Biochemical and histological analyses showed that mice fed a HFHF for 20 weeks developed severe hepatic steatosis and inflammation with mild fibrosis. Administration of EVO (0.2% wt/wt) for the last 8 weeks of HFHF feeding significantly reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis as well as restored insulin sensitivity, as evidenced by lowered plasma insulin levels and the improvement in insulin tolerance test curves. Treatment of mice with CVC (0.1% wt/wt) inhibited hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis with similar efficacy to that of EVO, without affecting hepatic steatosis. CVC treatment also reduced plasma insulin concentrations, despite no improvement in insulin tolerance. In conclusion, EVO administration efficiently ameliorated the development of NASH and fibrosis in HFHF-fed mice, corroborating its therapeutic potential.