• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.11
• /
• pp.1528-1534
• /
• 2009

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity and hypoglycemic effects of Gugija (Lycium chinense Mill) extracts in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We investigated the $\alpha$-amylase and $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of extracts from Gugija. Gugija was extracted by 70% EtOH and 80% MeOH and aqueous, respectively. A single oral dose of Gugija extract inhibited the increase of blood glucose levels significantly at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min and decreased incremental response areas under the glycemic response curve. These results suggest that Gugija 70% EtOH extracts may delay carbohydrate digestion and reduce postprandial hyperglycemia. In addition, triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes decreased at higher concentrations of Gugija 70% EtOH extract. Free fatty acid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was increased at higher concentrations of Gugija 70% EtOH extract. Also, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), the key insulin signaling pathway transcription factor, was remarkably increased by the Gugija 70% EtOH extract when compared to those of control cells in protein expression levels. Therefore, Gugija can be developed as an effective anti-obesity and hypoglycemic agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.257-267
• /
• 2017

Background: Heat-processed ginseng, sun ginseng (SG), has been reported to have improved therapeutic properties compared with raw forms, such as increased antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity effects of SG through the suppression of cell differentiation and proliferation of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and the lipid accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods: To investigate the effect of SG on adipocyte differentiation, levels of stained intracellular lipid droplets were quantified by measuring the oil red O signal in the lipid extracts of cells on differentiation Day 7. To study the effect of SG on fat accumulation in C. elegans, L4 stage worms were cultured on an Escherichia coli OP50 diet supplemented with $10{\mu}g/mL$ of SG, followed by Nile red staining. To determine the effect of SG on gene expression of lipid and glucose metabolism-regulation molecules, messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of genes were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition, the phosphorylation of Akt was examined by Western blotting. Results: SG suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells stimulated by a mixture of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin (MDI), and inhibited the proliferation of adipocytes during differentiation. Treatment of C. elegans with SG showed reductions in lipid accumulation by Nile red staining, thus directly demonstrating an antiobesity effect for SG. Furthermore, SG treatment down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor subtype ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and decreased the mRNA level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c in MDI-treated adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, mRNA expression levels of lipid metabolism-regulating factors, such as amplifying mouse fatty acid-binding protein 2, leptin, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid transporter protein 1, fatty acid synthase, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, were increased, whereas that of the lipolytic enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 was decreased. Our data demonstrate that SG inversely regulated the expression of these genes in differentiated adipocytes. SG induced increases in the mRNA expression of glycolytic enzymes such as glucokinase and pyruvate kinase, and a decrease in the mRNA level of the glycogenic enzyme phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase. In addition, mRNA levels of the glucose transporters GLUT1, GLUT4, and insulin receptor substrate-1 were elevated by MDI stimulation, whereas SG dose-dependently inhibited the expression of these genes in differentiated adipocytes. SG also inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) at an early phase of MDI stimulation. Intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels were markedly decreased by MDI stimulation and recovered by SG treatment of adipocytes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SG effectively inhibits adipocyte proliferation and differentiation through the downregulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$, by suppressing Akt (Ser473) phosphorylation and enhancing NO production. These results provide strong evidence to support the development of SG for antiobesity treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.437-444
• /
• 2008

Anti-obesity effects of ginseng and herbal plant mixtures were investigated to develop natural materials for anti-obesity. After inducing obesity with high fat diet for 8 weeks in male SD rats, ginseng and herbal plant mixtures DM1 (ginseng, puer tea, opuntia) and DM2 (ginseng, puer tea) were administrated orally to rats for another 8 weeks. During administration, food efficacy ratio and body weight of rat were measured twice weekly. After administration, body weight, body fat contents, and serum lipid level were estimated for anti-obesity effect and hematological analysis blood level of ALP and ASP was checked for safety. Body weight in rats fed high fat diet was significantly increased. Body weight in obese rats induced by high fat diet was significantly decreased by DM1 and DM2 feedings. The amount of body fat (epididymal, perirenal and visceral fat, brown adipose tissue) was significantly reduced by DM1 and DM2 treatments. The amount of TG, the concentration of leptin in blood plasma, and the concentration of insulin in blood plasma were significantly diminished by DM1 and DM2. Lipid accumulation on liver was reduced in DM2. There were no side effects among all groups according to blood analysis, hematological findings, and body weight. The findings of this study suggest that DM1 and DM2 may be effective materials for anti-obesity through reducing plasma triglyceride and body fats, and also decreasing body weight without side effects.