• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2017

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of the mixed herbal extract from Cinnamomum cassia Blume, Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi, Pueraria lobata Benth, and Aconitum carmichaeli Debx (CAPA) on obesity and glucose tolerance in obese mice. Methods: Animals were divided in 6 groups, normal diet, high fat diet (HFD), HFD with CAPA 100 mg/kg (CAPA 100), CAPA 300 mg/kg (CAPA 300), and metformin 200 mg/kg or lorcaserin 10 mg/kg as positive controls, and treated for 16 weeks. Body weight, food intake, fasting blood glucose, and body temperature were checked every week and then organs, blood serums were collected after treatment. The oral glucose tolerance test was also carried out after treatment. Results: Compared to HFD, CAPA extract treated mice showed significant decreases in body weight, adipose tissue weight, lipid accumulations in liver and serum lipid levels without a reduction of food intake. And fasting glucose and glucose tolerance were all improved in the CAPA treated mice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that CAPA extract can prevent diet induced obesity and glucose intolerance without a reduction of energy intake in obese mice.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2022

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaf (NL) extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obese db/db mice. NL extract among various parts (leaf, seed, and root) of N. nucifera most effectively reduced adipogenesis via inhibiting CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The addition of NL extract enhanced the protein expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) as compared to untreated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The oral administration of NL extract (100 mg/kg BW) significantly reduced food efficacy ratio, body weight, and face or total cholesterol level in obese db /db mice. Also, administration of NL extract significantly decreased adipocyte size and C/EBPα or PPARγ expression in the adipose tissues as compared with control (obese db/db mice). Therefore, our results suggest that NL extract among various parts of N. nucifera could be used as a functional food ingredient for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2007

Among oriental medicine, sulfur is known to generate heat in the human body. Since body warming reaction results in the consumption of energy source, the medicines containing sulfur could help in the weight loss of laboratory rats. This study was designed to determine the possible weight loss effects of Hangbisan, sulfur based oriental medicine, on ob/ob mice. The obese mice were fed with standard diet containing 10% (w/w) Hangbisan or 10% (w/w) cellulose during 12 weeks. Hangbisan affected the weight loss of obese mice as cellulose did during experimental periods, while also reducing the level of plasma total cholesterol. These results suggest that dietary Hangbisan improved the composition of blood profiles in obese mice, and therefore has potential as an anti-obesity ingredient in the application of oriental medicine compounds.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.358-365
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• 2018

Whole grain cereal (WGC)-rich diets provide macronutrients that are important for the regulation of energy metabolism. The current study evaluated whether WGCs had a preventive effect on sarcopenic obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. C57BL/6N mice were fed a normal diet (ND), ND+WGC, HFD, and HFD+WGC for 12 weeks. WGCs significantly reduced body weight gain, food efficiency ratio, fat mass, and adipocyte size in HFD-induced obese mice. WGCs attenuated HFD-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by decreasing liver weight and hepatic fat accumulation. In addition, WGCs increased muscle strength and muscle mass in HFD-induced obese mice as well as in ND mice. Taken together, WGCs can be employed as functional food materials for the prevention of sarcopenic obesity by inhibiting fat accumulation and increasing muscle mass.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2015

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), the major active constituent of ginseng, improves insulin sensitivity and exerts antidiabetic effects. We tested whether the insulin-sensitizing and antidiabetic effects of G-Rb1 results from a reduction in ectopic fat accumulation, mediated by inhibition of lipolysis in adipocytes. Methods: Obese and diabetic db/db mice were treated with daily doses of 20 mg/kg G-Rb1 for 14 days. Hepatic fat accumulation was evaluated by measuring liver weight and triglyceride content. Levels of blood glucose and serum insulin were used to evaluate insulin sensitivity in db/db mice. Lipolysis in adipocytes was evaluated by measuring plasma-free fatty acids and glycerol release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with G-Rb1. The expression of relevant genes was analyzed by western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: G-Rb1 increased insulin sensitivity and alleviated hepatic fat accumulation in obese diabetic db/db mice, and these effects were accompanied by reduced liver weight and hepatic triglyceride content. Furthermore, G-Rb1 lowered the levels of free fatty acids in obese mice, which may contribute to a decline in hepatic lipid accumulation. Corresponding to these results, G-Rb1 significantly suppressed lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and upregulated the perilipin expression in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and mouse epididymal fat pads. Moreover, G-Rb1 increased the level of adiponectin and reduced that of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in obese mice, and these effects were confirmed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusion: G-Rb1 may improve insulin sensitivity in obese and diabetic db/db mice by reducing hepatic fat accumulation and suppressing adipocyte lipolysis; these effects may be mediated via the upregulation of perilipin expression in adipocytes.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.219-231
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to determine the effects of the GGEx18 ethyl acetate fraction(EF) on body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, and obesity-related factors in plasma as well as histology of liver and adipose tissues using high fat diet-fed male C57BL/6N obese mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet-fed obese male mice were divided into 5 groups: C57BL/6N normal, control, EF(1), EF(2) and EF(3). After mice were treated with EF for 9 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also analysed histology of liver and adipose tissues on high fat diet-fed male C57BL/6N obese mice. Results : Compared with control, EF-treated mice had significantly lower body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio. Consistent with the effects on body weight gain, EF significantly decreased the adipose tissue weight compared with control. Consistent with the effects on feeding efficiency ratio, EF significantly decreased plasma leptin concentrations compared with control. EF reduced the size of adipocytes as well as hepatic lipid accumulation compared with control. EF seems to be safe since not only the plasma levels of ALT and AST are within the normal range, but also EF did not show any toxic effects on organs. EF(3) was most effective among EF(1), EF(2), and EF(3) at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that EF effectively reduces body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio in high fat diet-fed obese mice, leading to the modulation of obesity. In addition, EF decreases the size of adipocytes and improves plasma lipids and controls hepatic lipid accumulation, suggesting that EF may act as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Seaweeds have been reported to have various health beneficial effects. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of four types of domestic brown seaweeds in a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice were fed low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing Undaria Pinnatifida, HFD containing Laminaria Japonica (LJ), HFD containing Sargassum Fulvellum, or HFD containing Hizikia Fusiforme (HF) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: Brown seaweed supplementation did not affect long-term HFD-associated changes in body weight or adiposity, although mice fed HFD + LJ or HFD + HF gained slightly less body weight compared with those fed HFD at the beginning of feeding. Despite being obese, mice fed HFD + LJ appeared to show improved insulin sensitivity compared to mice fed HFD. Consistently, we observed significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in mice fed HFD + LJ compared with those of mice fed HFD. Although no significant differences in adipocyte size were detected among the HFD-fed groups, consumption of seaweeds decreased formation of HFD-induced crown-like structures in gonadal adipose tissue as well as plasma inflammatory cytokines. BMDM from mice fed HFDs with seaweeds showed differential regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 compared with BMDM from mice fed HFD by LPS stimulation. CONCLUSION: Although seaweed consumption did not prevent long-term HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6N mice, it reduced insulin resistance (IR) and circulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, seaweeds may ameliorate systemic inflammation and IR in obesity partially due to inhibition of inflammatory signaling in adipose tissue cells as well as bone marrow-derived immune cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1 s.65
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• pp.11-22
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• 2006

Objectives : In this study, the aim was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Bangpungtong-seoung-san on the obese gene and obese inhibitory about obese-mouse induced by high fat diet. Methods : In order to investigate the effects of Bangpuangtongseoung-san(BPTS) on the obese gene and obese inhibitory, C57BL/6 mice were induced by high fat diet. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups(normal, high fat diet with control, high fat diet with BPTS extract) and fed for 13weeks. Results : 1. The change of body weight and the final increase of body weight were decreased significantly. 2. The amount of the adipocyte in body weight was decreased significantly. 3. In primary adipocytes, ${\beta}3AR$ gene expression was increased significantly and leptin gene expression was decreased in $100{\mu}g/ml$ density significantly. 4. In primary adipocytes, the amount of TNF-${\alpha}$ was decreased in $100{\mu}g/ml$ density significantly and the amount of leptin was decreased but did not show significance. 5. In adipocytes tissue, the expression of leptin was decreased and the expression of ${\beta}3AR$ was increased. Conclusions : These results suggest that BPTS may inhibit the expression of the obese gene mad obese inhibitory about obese-mouse induced by high fat diet.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the effects of Gyeongshingangjeehwan18 (GGEx18) on obesity using ob/ob male mice. Methods : Eight-week old mice (wild-type C57BL/6J and ob/ob) were used for all experiments. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were used as lean control and obese ob/ob mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: obese control, GGEx15, GGEx16, GGEx17, and GGEx18. After mice were treated with several kinds of GGEx for 11 weeks, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, plasma lipid and glucose metabolism. Results : 1. Compared with obese controls, GGEx-treated mice had lower body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio, the magnitudes of which were prominent in GGEx16 and GGEx18. 2. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, GGEx16 and GGEx18 not only decreased plasma triglycerides levels, but also increased HDL-cholesterol concentration. 3. CT analysis revealed that visceral fat areas were decreased in all treatment groups compared with obese control mice. The decrease in visceral fat area was prominent in GGEx16 and GGEx18, although they were not statistically significant. 4. The size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by GGEx18, whereas the adipocyte number per unit area was significantly increased, suggesting that GGEx18 decreased the number of large adipocytes. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased by GGEx16 and GGEx18, and the inhibitory effect was most effective in GGEx18. 5. Plasma GOT and GPT concentrations were significantly lower following GGEx16 and GGEx18 treatment compared with obese controls. Organ weights were not changed by GGEx treatment, indicating GGEx do not show any toxic effects. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGEx may regulate obesity. Of the 4 compositions, GGEx18 seems to be most effective in improving obesity and lipid disorders.