• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.294-301
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the hepatic anti-steatosis activity of carnosic acid (CA), a phenolic compound of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves, as well as its possible mechanism of action, in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice model. Mice were fed a HFD, or a HFD supplemented with 0.01% (w/w) CA or 0.02% (w/w) CA, for a period of 12 weeks, after which changes in body weight, blood lipid profiles, and fatty acid mechanism markers were evaluated. The 0.02% (w/w) CA diet resulted in a marked decline in steatosis grade, as well as in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index values, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT) results, body weight gain, liver weight, and blood lipid levels (P < 0.05). The expression level of hepatic lipogenic genes, such as sterol regulating element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), liver-fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS), was significantly lower in mice fed 0.01% (w/w) CA and 0.02% (w/w) CA diets than that in the HFD group; on the other hand, the expression level of ${\beta}$-oxidation-related genes, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ (PPAR-${\alpha}$), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1), and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), was higher in mice fed a 0.02% (w/w) CA diet, than that in the HFD group (P < 0.05). In addition, the hepatic content of palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), and oleic acid (C18:1) was significantly lower in mice fed the 0.02% (w/w) CA diet than that in the HFD group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that orally administered CA suppressed HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and fatty liver-related metabolic disorders through decrease of de novo lipogenesis and fatty acid elongation and increase of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation in mice.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2022

Objectives : Oxidative damage has a variety of mechanism in the human organs including brain and liver. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevention against cellular damage, and the inhibitory effect on lipogenesis of the water extract of Eriobotrya japonica (EJE). Methods : The effect of EJE on cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. To investigate the mechanism of EJE's inhibition of lipogenesis, we analyzed the relevant proteins using immunoblot analysis. Results : Induction of T0901317, a LXR agonist, significantly increased SREBP-1c expression, which was blocked by the pretreatment of EJE in the dose-dependent manners. This beneficial herb also regulated the genes related with SREBP-1c such as the acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Conclusion : These results suggested that EJE might have a possibility of the treatment of chronic diseases as mediated with the inhibition of LXRα/SREBP-1c pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2016

Amomum cadamomum Linne (ACL) has long been utilized against the inhibited qi movement related diseases such as dyspepsia, acute gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea in Korean medicine. We speculated that ACL could improve the metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes through removing the phlegm-dampness and promoting the qi movement or stagnation. This study was designed to investigate effects and molecular mechanisms of ACL extract on the improvement of adipocyte dysfunction induced by TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Potential roles of ACL extract in the lipogenesis, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance, were investigated in this study. Also, we examined the adipose genes and signaling molecules related to insulin resistance and glucose uptake to elucidate its mechanism. Our data demonstrated that TNF-α significantly incresed the release of lipid droplets and the production of MCP-1 and IL-6 from adipocytes. In gene expression, TNF-α reduced the expression of aP2, PPARγ, C/EBPα, GLUT4, and IRS-1 related to lipogenesis and insulin sesitivity, while TNF-α increased the expression of MCP-1 related to inflammation. In addition, TNF-α down-regulated the PPARγ and IRS-1 protein and up-regulated the IRS-1 Ser307 phosphorylation. These alterations induced by TNF-α were prevented by the treatment of ACL extract. Thus, our results indicate that ACL extract can be used to prevent from the TNF-α-induced adipocyte dysfunction through insulin and PPARγ pathways.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.279-293
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The steamed ginger has been shown to have antioxidative effects and a protective effect against obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of steamed ginger (SGE) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: The protective effects of SGE on adipogenesis were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by measuring lipid accumulations and genes involved in adipogenesis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND, 10% fat w/w), a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat w/w), and HFD supplemented with either 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg of SGE for 12 weeks. Serum chemistry was measured, and the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was determined in the adipose tissue. Histological analysis and micro-computed tomography were performed to identify lipid accumulations in epididymal fat pads. RESULTS: In 3T3-L1 cells, SGE significantly decreased lipid accumulation, with concomitant decreases in the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. SGE significantly attenuated the increase in body, liver, and epididymal adipose tissue weights by HFD. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in SGE fed groups compared to HFD. In adipose tissue, SGE significantly decreased adipocyte size than that of HFD and altered adipogenesis-related genes. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, steamed ginger exerted anti-obesity effects by regulating genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cell and epididymal adipose tissue of DIO mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2016

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a natural, hydrophilic nontoxic bile acid, is clinically effective for treating cholestatic and chronic liver diseases. We investigated the chronic effects of UDCA on age-related lipid homeostasis and underlying molecular mechanisms. Twenty-week-old C57BL/6 male and female mice were fed a diet with or without 0.3% UDCA supplementation for 25 weeks. UDCA significantly reduced weight gain, adiposity, hepatic triglyceride, and hepatic cholesterol without incidental hepatic injury. UDCA-mediated hepatic triglyceride reduction was associated with downregulated hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and of other genes involved in lipogenesis (Chrebp, Acaca, Fasn, Scd1, and Me1) and fatty acid uptake (Ldlr, Cd36). The inflammatory cytokines Tnfa, Ccl2, and Il6 were significantly decreased in liver and/or white adipose tissues of UDCA-fed mice. These data suggest that UDCA exerts beneficial effects on age-related metabolic disorders by lowering the hepatic lipid accumulation, while concurrently reducing hepatocyte and adipocyte susceptibility to inflammatory stimuli.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.438-447
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• 2012

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect and the underlying mechanism of ethanol extract of Benincasa seeds on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) established by treating HepG2 cells with palmitate. Methods : We evaluated ethanol extract of Benincasa seeds (EEBS) for its hepatic lipid-lowering potential in fatty acid overloaded HepG2 cells. After incubation in palmitate containing media with or without EEBS, intracellular neutral lipid accumulations were quantified by Nile red staining. We also investigated the effect of EEBS on lipogenesis and ${\beta}$-oxidation. $LXR{\alpha}$-dependent SREBP-1c activation, expression of lipogenic genes, and expression of ${\beta}$-oxidation related genes were determined with or without pretreatment of EEBS. Results : EEBS significantly attenuated palmitate-induced intracellular neutral lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. EEBS suppressed fatty acid synthesis by inhibiting $LXR{\alpha}$-dependent SREBP-1c activation. EEBS also repressed SREBP-1c mediated induction of lipogenic genes, including ACC, FAS, and SCD-1. However, EEBS had no effect on ${\beta}$-oxidation related CPT-1 and $PPAR{\alpha}$ gene expression. Conclusions : Our results suggest that EEBS has an efficacy to decrease hepatic lipid accumulation, and this effect was mediated by inhibiting the $LXR{\alpha}$-SREBP-1c pathway that leads to expression of lipogenic genes and hepatic steatosis. Therefore, the Benincasa seeds may have a potential clinical application for treatment of this chronic liver disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.126-137
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• 2022

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the main chronic liver diseases. NASH is identified by lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis. Jinan Red Ginseng (JRG) and licorice have been widely used because of their anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. Hence, this study assessed JRG and licorice extract mixtures' effects on NASH progression. Methods: Palmitic acid (PA) and the western diet (WD) plus, high glucose-fructose water were used to induce in vitro and in vivo NASH. Mice were orally administered with JRG-single (JRG-S) and JRG-mixtures (JRG-M; JRG-S + licorice) at 0, 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg/day once a day during the last half-period of diet feeding. Results: JRG-S and JRG-M reduced NASH-related pathologies in WD-fed mice. JRG-S and JRG-M consistently decreased the mRNA level of genes related with inflammation, fibrosis, and lipid metabolism. The treatment of JRG-S and JRG-M also diminished the SREBP-1c protein levels and the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio. The FAS protein levels were decreased by JRG-M treatment both in vivo and in vitro but not JRG-S. Conclusion: JRG-M effectively reduced lipogenesis by modulating AMPK downstream signaling. Our findings suggest that this mixture can be used as a prophylactic or therapeutic alternative for the remedy of NASH.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.74-79
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• 2015

Objectives: Here we investigated the anti-lipogenic potential of kaurenoic acid (KA), a diterpene derived from Aralia continentalis, in a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with palmitate for 24h to induce intracellular lipid accumulation. To assess the influence of KA on steatotic HepG2 cells, various concentration of KA was co-administered. After palmitate treatment, Intracellular triglyceride content was measured. Expression level of several lipogenic genes, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) were measured using Western-blot analyses or RT-PCR. Results: Palmitate markedly increased intracellular triglyceride level and expression of related lipogenic genes in HepG2 cells, and which was relieved by co-administered KA. Conclusions: It is conceivable that that KA may have a pharmacological potential to reduce lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1144-1151
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• 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with various metabolic syndromes, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Cudrania tricuspidata is a medicinal plant distributed widely in Asia and has been used in clinical practice to treat various diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the lipid-lowering effects of C. tricuspidata fruit extract (CTE) using a cell model induced by free fatty acids (FFAs). HepG2 cells were exposed to 1mM FFAs (palmitic acid:oleic acid = 2:1) for 24 hr to simulate the conditions of NAFLD in vitro. CTE attenuated the increases of lipid accumulation, intracellular triglyceride, and cholesterol content and inhibited 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) activity in the HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Also, CTE inhibited the protein expression of lipogenesis-related genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1/-2 (SREBP-1/-2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) in FFAs-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. In addition, CTE-induced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that CTE attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting lipogenesis through the modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway on FFAs-induced lipogenesis in HepG2 cells and may potentially prevent NAFLD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1568-1575
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• 2021

Obesity and related metabolic diseases are major problems worldwide. Some probiotics are currently considered potential therapeutic strategies for obesity. We aimed to investigate the anti-obesity efficacy of Latilactobacillus sakei WIKIM31 in obese mice induced by a high fat diet. The administration of a high-fat diet with L. sakei WIKIM31 reduced body weight gain, epididymal fat mass, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the blood, and remarkably decreased the expression of lipogenesis-related genes in the epididymal adipose tissue and liver. Interestingly, intake of L. sakei WIKIM31 improved gut barrier function by increasing the gene expression of tight junction proteins and suppressing the inflammatory responses. Additionally, L. sakei WIKIM31 enhanced the production of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate and propionate, in the intestinal tract. These results showed that L. sakei WIKIM31 can be used as a potential therapeutic probiotic for obesity.