• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.743-752
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• 1999

The purpose of the paper is to explore the current knowledge on the nutritional evaluation, cholesterol-lowering effect and antitumor activity of kimchi and its ingredients(Korean cabbage, garlic, red pepper powder, ginger and onion). Kimchi contains high contents of nutrients such as vitamins(ascorbic acid, $\beta$-carotene and vitamin B complex), minerals(calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorous), essential amino acids and dietary fiber. Kimch also contains high levels of lactic acid bacteria, allicin, capsaicin, organic acid, phenol compounds, flavonoid and sulfur compounds. The dietary fiber and lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi are effective in improving intestinal microflora of human. Isoluble dietary fiber shows anticancer activity, but soluble dietary fiber shows hypocholesterolemic effect. Lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi acts as a hypocholesterolemic or anticancer agent. A major ingredient of kimchi is mainly cruciferous and allium family vegetables, which were also reported to prevent cancer and atherosclerosis. It is suggested that kimchi is important not only as one of the traditional fermented Korean food but also as therapeutic agent for carcinogenesis and hypercholesterolemic state.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2007

The production of mevinolin, a potent hypocholesterolemic drug, and the bioconversion of isoflavones were investigated in soybeans fermented with Monascus pilosus KFRI-1140. The highest yields of 2.94 mg mevinolins and 1.13 mg isoflavone aglycones per g dry weight of soybean were obtained after 20 days of fermentation. Mevinolin was present in the fermentation substrate predominantly in the hydroxycarboxylate form (open lactone, 94.8$\sim$96.7%), which is currently being used as an hypocholesterolemic agent. The significant (p<0.01) bioconversion (96.6%) of the glucoside isoflavones (daidzin, glycitin, genistin) present in the soybean to the bioactive aglycones (daidzein, glycitein, genistein), with a 15.8-fold increase of aglycones was observed. The results suggest that Monascus-fermented soybean has potential as a novel medicinal food or multifunctional food supplement.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.647-649
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• 2006

Mevinolin, a fungal metabolite, is a potent inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-methyl-3-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-controlling enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. In this investigation, the optimum factors for mevinolin production by Monascus pilosus IFO 480 in soymeal fermentation were studied. The highest yield of mevinolin, 2.82 mg mevinolin per g dry weight, without citrinin (a toxic fungal secondary metabolite) was obtained after 21 days of fermentation at $30^{\circ}C$ at 65% moisture content, particle size 0.6-0.9 mm, and initial substrate pH of 6.0. Mevinolin was present in the fermentation substrate predominantly in the hydroxycarboxylate form (open lactone, 92.1-97.3%), which is currently being used as a hypocholesterolemic agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.191-195
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• 2010

There is an increasing interest in curcumin (Curcuma longa L.) as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) protective agent via decreased blood total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) level. The aim of this study was to investigate further the potential mechanism in the hypocholesterolemic effect of curcumin by measuring cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), a rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of bile acid from cholesterol, at the mRNA level. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 45% high fat diet or same diet supplemented with curcumin (0.1% wt/wt) for 8 weeks. The curcumin diet significantly decreased serum triglyceride (TG) by 27%, total cholesterol (TC) by 33.8%, and LDL-cholesterol by 56%, respectively as compared to control group. The curcumin-supplemented diet also significantly lowered the atherogenic index (AI) by 48% as compared to control group. Hepatic TG level was significantly reduced by 41% in rats fed with curcumin-supplemented diet in comparison with control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the curcumin diet significantly increased fecal TG and TC. The curcumin diet up-regulated hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA level by 2.16-fold, compared to control group p (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that the increases in the CYP7A1 gene expression may partially account for the hypocholesterolemic effect of curcumin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.256-261
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• 2006

Soybeans were fermented with Monascus sp. to select strain with highest mevinolin production through solidstate fermentation. Monascus pilosus IFO 480 showed highest yield of 2.2 mg mevinolin per g dry weight without citrinin, toxic fungal secondary metabolite, as byproduct. Nutrient broth used for soybean fermentation with Monascus sp. was composed of 3.4 rice powder, 1.1 peptone, 2.6 glycine, 12.9 glucose, initial pH 6.0 (%, w/v). Mevinolin was present in fermentation substrate largely as hydroxy carboxylate form (open lactone, 91.8-96.8%), which is used as hypocholesterolemic agent. Production of mevinolin continued up to 50 days fermentation time at $30^{\circ}C$.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2011

Botryosphaeran, a water-soluble exopolysaccharide of the ${\beta}-(1{\rightarrow}3;1{\rightarrow}6)$-D-glucan type that has been isolated from the culture medium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 grown in submerged fermentation using glucose as the sole carbon source, was previously demonstrated to be non-genotoxic in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and exhibited strong anticlastogenic activity. In the present study, the effects of botryosphaeran were investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as well as in high-fat diet-fed hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. The plasma glucose level was reduced by 52% in the diabetic group of rats after administration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg body weight of the rats (b.w.)/day by gavage over 15 days. A reduction in the median ration intake was accompanied by an increase in the median body weight gain, as well as the efficiency of food conversion. These results demonstrate that botryosphaeran has protective effects by reducing the symptoms of cachexia in Diabetes mellitus. Botryosphaeran administered by gavage at a concentration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg b.w./day over 15 days also reduced the plasma levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol by 18% and 27%, respectively, in hyperlipidemic rats. Based on these findings, we conclude that botryosphaeran possesses hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties in conditions of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, respectively, and may be used as an oral anti-diabetic agent.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 1998

To search for the anti-diabetic principle from the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus, seven kinds of chemical constituents including hederagenin glycosides and phenolic glycosides wre isolated. The anti-diabetic evaluation of these isoltes in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats exhibited that kalopanaxsaponin A has a potent anti-diabetic activity in contrast to a mild activity of hederagenin. In addition, significant hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic activities of kalopanaxsaponin A and hederagenin were observed. The structure-activity relationship of kalopanaxsaponin A was also investigated in the present work.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2010

Chlorella has been reported to have certain beneficial physiological effects, including hypocholesterolemic, antihypertensive, antioxidative, and anti-tumor activities in animal and human studies. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory activities of an 80% methanol extract(CE-Met), hexane fraction (CE-Hex), and ethyl acetate fraction (CE-EA) of Chlorella ellipsoidea in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage. Treatment with various concentrations of the C. ellipsoidea extract resulted m a significant, dose-dependent reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production by LPS-induced macrophages. The C. ellipsoidea extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production accompanied by an attenuation of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ formation in macrophages. These results suggest potent inhibit이y effects on the production of inflammatory mediators by a C. ellipsoidea extract. Thus, C. ellipsoidea extract may be a potent anti-inflammatory agent for troubled skin.