• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.823-830
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan fiber on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in rats. In order to induce obesity, Sprague-Dawley weanling male rats were allowed free access to AIN-76A diet until 4 weeks of age, and fed high-fat diet (beef tallow, $40\%$ of calories as fat) for 6 weeks until 10 weeks of age. Rats were then fed with $0\%$ thigh- fat control group), $1\%$, or $5\%$ bacterial ~-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 6 weeks. For comparison, normal control group was fed with AIN-76 diet $11.7\%$ fat). Supplementation with bacterial $\beta$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced white fat (i.e., visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced, but, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by bacterial $\beta$-glucan supplementation. Serum leptin level was lower in the $\beta$-glucan groups than in the high-fat group. The expression of UCPs (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were significantly increased by $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan-containing diet. This study suggests that the anti-obesity effect of $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan is attributed to upregulation of UCPs and inefficient energy utilization.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1053-1060
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• 2010

Cordyceps militaris, an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the class Ascomycetes, has been reported to have beneficial biological activities such as hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimetastatic, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects. In this study, the crude water-soluble polysaccharide CMP, which was obtained from the fruiting body of C. militaris by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation, was fractionated by DEAE-cellulose and Sepharose CL-6B column chromatographies. This process resulted in three polysaccharide fractions, termed CMP Fr I, CMP Fr II, and CMP Fr III. Of these fractions, CMP Fr II, with an average molecular mass of 127 kDa, was able to upregulate effectively the phenotypic functions of macrophages such as NO production and cytokine expression. The chemical property of the stimulatory polysaccharide, CMP Fr II, was determined based on its monosaccharide composition, which consisted of glucose (56.4%), galactose (26.4%), and mannose (17.2%). Its structural characteristics were investigated by a combination of chemical and instrumental analyses, including methylation, reductive cleavage, acetylation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Results indicated that CMP Fr II consisted of the (1${\rightarrow}$4) or (1${\rightarrow}$2) linked glucopyranosyl or galactopyranosyl residue with a (1${\rightarrow}$2) or (1${\rightarrow}$6) linked mannopyranosyl, glucopyranosyl, or galactopyranosyl residue as a side chain. The configuration of the ${\beta}$-linkage and random coil conformation of CMP Fr II were confirmed using a Fungi-Fluor kit and Congo red reagent, respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2012

The effects of retrograded rice on body weight gain, gut functions, and hypolipidemic actions in rats were examined. When the retrograded rice was produced by repetitive heating and cooling cycles, it contained significantly higher amounts of resistant starch ($13.9{\pm}0.98%$) than is found in common rice ($9.1{\pm}1.02%$) (P < 0.05). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either common rice powder or retrograded rice powder, and mean body weight gain was significantly lower in the retrograded rice group (P < 0.05). The liver weight of the retrograded rice group ($14.5{\pm}0.5\;g$) was significantly lower than that of the common rice group ($17.1{\pm}0.3\;g$, P < 0.05). However, the weights of other organs, such as the kidney, spleen, thymus, and epididymal fat pad were not significantly affected by rice feeding. Intestinal transit time tended to be lower in rats fed retrograded rice when compared to rats fed the common rice, but the difference was not significant. The retrograded rice diet significantly increased stool output when compared to that in the common rice powder diet (P < 0.05), whereas fecal moisture content (%) was significantly higher in the retrograded rice group ($23.3{\pm}1.2$) than that in the common rice group ($19.1{\pm}1.2$) (P < 0.05). The retrograded rice group had significantly lower plasma cholesterol (P < 0.05), liver cholesterol (P < 0.05), and triacylglycerol contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05) when compared to those in the common rice group. In conclusion, retrograded rice had higher resistant starch levels compared with those of common rice powder, and it lowered body weight gain and improved lipid profiles and gut function in rats.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 1995

Hyperlipidemia is a major predisposing factor of atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular accidents. In effort to develope a hypolipidemic drug from medicinal herb, We tested three prescriptions of traditional medicine for the lipid lowering effect on diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. GyejI-Bokryung-Hwan, Ohyak-Sunki-San, and Shihoga-Yongol-Moryu-Tang were selected based on the comnon prescriptions for patients with hyperlipidemia-related diseases. Water extract from each prescriptions was made by the method used in the clinical setting, and administered intragastrically once a day, for 4 weeks. Fenofibrate and lovastatin were given by the same method as the control drugs. Blood levels of total cholesterol(TC), high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride(TG) were measured before, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after starting the drug administration. All of the traditional prescriptions did not show lipid lowering effect, while fenofibrate lower the blood cholesterol levels(TC;from 215mg/dl before to 182m41 at 4 weeks-point of drug administration, and LDL ;from 203mg/dl before to aut 161, and 163mg/dl at 3 and 4 week-point respectively). Oyak-Sunki-San increased the level of TC (from 283mg/dl to over 350mg/dl starting from the first week of drug administratin). Effects on TG variable in the cases of traditional medicines and control drug In conclusion, any of the three traditional medical prescriptions did not decrease the level of blood cholesterol.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2006

Dongchunghacho rice, produced by cultivating Dongchunghacho fungus on rice, could be an effective functional food because it offers added value to rice and thus increases rice consumption. However, the physiological effect of Dongchunghacho rice has not been reported yet although there is increasing consumers demand. Therefore, we investigated the effect of Dongchunghacho rice (unpolished rice cultivated with Cordyceps militaris) on lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats. Forty of 8 wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups after a 1 week of adaptation period and fed either a normal diet (66% polished rice diet, NC), high fat (12 g/100 g)-high cholesterol (1 g/100 g) diet with 53% polished rice (HC), or high fat-high cholesterol diets supplemented with 30% of the total rice as either unpolished rice (DR) or Dongchunghacho rice (DR). After 4 weeks, rats fed the Dongchunghacho rice diet with high fat and cholesterol had dramatically lower plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations and atherogenic indexes and higher plasma HDL cholesterol levels compared with the rats consuming polished rice or unpolished rice with high fat and cholesterol diet. Dongchunghacho rice led to less total lipid and total cholesterol accumulation in liver. However, these significant reductions in plasma or hepatic lipid profiles were not closely correlated with fecal total lipid or total cholesterol excretion. The plasma concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides were not affected by Dongchunghacho rice. This hypolipidemic effect of Dongchunghacho rice seemed to be unrelated to unpolished rice itself, because the plasma and hepatic lipid profiles of DR group were not different from that of the HC group. These results suggest that unpolished rice containing cultivated Cordyceps militaris can improve plasma and hepatic lipid profiles in rats fed with high fat-high cholesterol diet.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2005

In this study, lotus root(Nelumbo nucifera G.) which has been used in oriental medicine and folks remedy, was studied to apply to functional foods. We investigated the effects of the lotus root extracts(LTE) with hot water on the reduction of serum lipid and improvement of blood parameters in rats fed high fat diet for 5 weeks. Sprague-Dawley rats weigh $150g\pm15g$, were randomly assigned to 4 groups such as basal diet only(BDG), high fat diet without LTE(FDCG), high fat diet with $6\%$ LTE(FD6L), high fat diet with $12\%$ LTE(FD12L). The results of this study were as follows. Hematological data were not significantly different among 4 groups. Serum transferrin concentration and GOT activity were reasonable levels in FD6L and FD12L groups compared with FDCG group. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride in serum and atherogenic index were remarkably reduced in LTE supplemented groups as compared with the control group. But HDL-cholesterol contents in FD6L and FD12L groups were significantly increased compared with that in control group. These results imply that lotus root extracts could be used as a potent food resources for decrease of serum lipid concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.733-741
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• 2010

Dietary karaya saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus (R. capsulatus) are known to have hypocholesterolemic actions, as reported in our previous studies. This study examined possible synergistic hypocholesterolemic effects of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus in broilers. A total of 150 broilers were allocated into 10 treatments: control, saponin 25 mg, saponin 50 mg, saponin 75 mg, saponin 25 mg+R. capsulatus 0.2 g, saponin 25 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g, saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.2 g, saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g, saponin 75 mg+R. capsulatus 0.2 g and saponin 75 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g. Feed intake and feed efficiency were improved when karaya saponin and R. capsulatus were synergistically supplemented in the diet. Combinations of karaya saponin, especially supplementation of karaya saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g were shown to have potential hypolipidemic actions in breast and thigh muscle cholesterol and triglycerides, serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as improved high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (p<0.05). Compared to the control, almost all the treatments significantly increased serum, liver and fecal concentrations of bile acids (p<0.05). Supplementation of both karaya saponin (75 mg) and saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g reduced palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) in a similar fashion (p<0.05). The ratios of PUFA:SFA or PUFA+MUFA:SFA in the thigh and breast muscle of broilers were greater in karaya saponin and R. capsulatus supplemented groups than in the control group. Thus, our study concluded that supplementation of karaya saponin synergistically with R. capsulatus in the diet of broilers is an effective way to obtain low-cholesterol, low-triglyceride and high HDL-cholesterol enriched poultry meat with a unique fatty acid balance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.556-563
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• 2018

Objective: Spirulina has been recognized formerly as a filamentous spiral-shaped blue- green algae but more recently as a genus of photosynthetic bacteria (Arthrospira). This microorganism is considered as a rich source of essential nutrients for human and animals. The present study was conducted to determine potential application of Spirulina for heat- exposed broilers. Methods: Two hundred and fifty Cobb 500 chicks with male to female in equal ratio with average initial weight of 615.6 g at 17 days of age were divided into 5 treatments with 5 replicates of 10 chicks. Treatment groups were as follows: positive and negative controls with 0% Spirulina supplement and three Spirulina receiving groups with 5 g/kg (0.5%), 10 g/kg (1%), and 20 g/kg (2%) supplementation. Spirulina receiving groups as well as positive control were exposed to high ambient temperature at $36^{\circ}C$ for 6 h/d from 38 to 44 days of age. Biochemical variables were measured in serum samples at 35, 38, 42, and 45 days of broiler chickens age. Results: The results showed that supplementation of the diet with Spirulina decreased concentration of stress hormone and some serum lipid parameters while enhanced humoral immunity response and elevated antioxidant status whereas it didn't meaningfully affect performance characteristics. Nevertheless, feed conversion ratio was improved numerically but not statistically in broilers fed with 1% Spirulina under high ambient temperature. Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggests that alleviation of adverse impacts due to high ambient temperature at biochemical level including impaired enzymatic antioxidant system, elevated stress hormone and lipid profile can be approached in broiler chickens through supplementation of the diet with Spirulina platensis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2012

This study investigated the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects of dietary quercetin in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Four-week-old C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice (n = 18) were offered an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing quercetin at 0.04% (low quercetin, LQE) or 0.08% of the diet (high quercetin, HQE) for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Plasma glucose, insulin, adiponectin, and lipid profiles, and lipid peroxidation of the liver were determined. Plasma glucose levels were significantly lower in the LQE group than in the control group, and those in the HQE group were even further reduced compared with the LQE group. The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) showed lower values for LQE and HQE than for the control group without significant influence on insulin levels. High quercetin increased plasma adiponectin compared with the control group. Plasma triglycerides in the LQE and HQE groups were lower than those in the control group. Supplementation with high quercetin decreased plasma total cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol compared with the control group. Consumption of low and high quercetin reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver. Thus, quercetin could be effective in improving hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and antioxidant status in type 2 diabetes.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.766-771
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• 2005

We evaluated the effects of newly developed functional food containing Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD as the main material on the lipid and antioxidant metabolisms of hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty male SD rats were divided into three groups after a 1-week adaptation period and were fed with a high fat-cholesterol diet (control), or with a high fat-cholesterol diet supplemented with low or high doses ($3.1\;{\times}\;10^6\;cfu/day$ or $3.1\;{\times}\;10^8\;cfu/day$) of B. polyfermenticus SCD and other physiological active materials for 6 weeks. Both doses of B. polyfermenticus SCD significantly reduced hepatic total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing the fecal excretion rates of total lipid, total cholesterol and triglycerides. B. polyfermenticus SCD increased the total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP). The erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase activity in the B. polyfermenticus groups was significantly lower than that in the control group. Plasma TRAP levels exhibited a highly significant negative correlation with hepatic total cholesterol while a significant positive correlation was detected between fecal total cholesterol and plasma TRAP. This hypolipidemic and antioxidative effect of B. polyfermenticus SCD seemed to be unrelated to its dosage. These results suggest that functional food containing B. polyfermenticus SCD can improve oxidative stress and hepatic lipid profiles by enhancing the excretion of cholesterol and triglycerides in feces of rats fed with high fat-high cholesterol diet.