• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2010

The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes (T2D), develops hyperglycemic obesity with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance after the age of 25 weeks, similar to patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study, we determined whether there are differences in the pattern of gene expression related to glucose and lipid metabolism between OLETF rats and their control counterparts, Long-Evans Tokushima (LETO) rats. The experiment was done using 35-week-old OLETF and LETO rats. At week 35 male OLETF rats showed overt T2D and increases in blood glucose, plasma insulin, plasma triglycerides (TG) and plasma total cholesterol (TC). Livers of diabetic OLETF and LETO rats also showed differences in expression of mRNA for glucose and lipid metabolism related genes. Among glucose metabolism related genes, GAPDH mRNA was significantly higher and FBPase and G6Pase mRNA were significantly lower in OLETF rats. For lipid metabolism related genes, HMGCR, SCD1 and HL mRNA were substantially higher in OLETF rats. These results indicate that gluconeogenesis in OLETF rats is lower and glycolysis is higher, which means that glucose metabolism might be compensated for by a lowering of the blood glucose level. However, lipid synthesis is increased in OLETF rats so diabetes may be aggravated. These differences between OLETF and LETO rats suggest mechanisms that could be targeted during the development of therapeutic agents for diabetes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.170-187
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• 2011

Background : Obesity, the syndrome caused by a high fat diet, is a disease. At the same time, obesity causes diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. Recently, its prevalence rate is increasing. Yagwan-cheunghyeoltang (YCT) used in this experiment is the prescription of Yagwanmoon added to Cheunghyeol-tang which is reported to be very effective in weight loss controlling and serum cholesterol. It is also reported that Yagwanmoon has significant antioxidant effects and YCT has a significant effect on blood glucose control. Objectives : This study was conducted to experimentally evaluate the effects of YCT on obesity in rats induced by high fat diet. Methods : The experiment was conducted with 4-week-old male rat s divided into 5 groups. They were a normal diet group, a high fat diet group, a positive drug control group, a 1% YCT group, and a YCT 3% group, and were tested for eight weeks. After four weeks of inducing obesity by a high fat diet, rats were allowed to lose weight by following the normal diet group, approximately 30% compared with 10 rats in each group were determined as still obese. Changes in body weight and organ weight and serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose-density, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, antioxidant activity were checked. Results : In the experimental groups, we observed weight loss and visceral fat reduction, improvement of liver function, reduction of serum glucose, activation of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, reduction of concentrations of leptin and it showed a significant effect on antioxidants and lipid peroxidation. Conclusions : YCT has significant effects on the regulation of hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation associated with obesity and has significant effects on, antioxidants and lipid peroxidation, too. Additional clinical studies are needed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a global health problem of significant importance which increases mortality. In place of anti-obesity drugs, natural products are being developed as alternative therapeutic materials. In this study, we investigated the effect of Brassica juncea L. leaf extract (BLE) on fat deposition and lipid profiles in high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFC)-induced obese rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group) according to diet: normal diet group (ND), high-fat/high-cholesterol diet group (HFC), HFC with 3% BLE diet group (HFC-A1), and HFC with 5% BLE diet group (HFC-A2). Each group was fed for 6 weeks. Rat body and adipose tissue weights, serum biochemical parameters, and tissue lipid contents were determined. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The HFC-A2 group showed significantly lower body weight gain and food efficiency ratio than the HFC group. BLE supplementation caused mesenteric, epididymal, and total adipose tissue weights to decrease. The serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased in rats fed BLE. These results were related to lower glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acetyl-coA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase mRNA expression, and to higher expression of the cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase and low density lipoprotein-receptor, as well as increased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$. Histological analysis of the liver revealed decreased lipid droplets in HFC rats treated with BLE. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of HFC with 3% or 5% BLE inhibited body fat accumulation, improved lipid profiles, and modulated lipogenesis- and cholesterol metabolism-related gene and protein expression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2017

Objective: The goal of this preclinical study was to compare the dyslipidemic effect of pravastatin with that of herbal medicine in rats. Methods: In total, 40 rats were divided into 4 groups: Normal (10 rats), Control (10 rats), Statin alone (10 rats), and the MO-PM-S group (10 rats), which was given the powder of the cortex of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils., the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, and pravastatin. The Control group, the Statin alone group, and the MO-PM-S group were all given a high-fat (45%) diet that made them obese. After 2 weeks of drug administration, the dyslipidemic effect of pravastatin was compared with that of herbal medicine in rats by analyzing the lipid profiles, measuring the body weights, and taking biopsies (liver, aorta). Results: The herbal medicine and the statin complex group got a much lower TG level and a slightly higher HDL-cholesterol level than the other groups. However, it got a higher total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level than the other groups. In biopsies, 30% of the Statin alone group and 10% of the MO-PM-S group showed mild histopathologic findings in the liver. Conclusion: The cortex of the Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. and the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb have dyslipidemic effects from the perspective of a TG level and HDL-cholesterol. However, the herbal mixture has a raising effect on both the LDL-cholesterol and the total cholesterol levels. Therefore, we cannot conclude that the herbal mixture helps to prevent dyslipidemia. In liver biopsies, the group administered with both the herbal mixture and the statin showed less histopathologic findings than the group administered with statin alone. This means that the herbal mixture helps to prevent fatty degeneration of the liver.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.74-80
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• 2001

Objectives : Ma-huang is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, derived from Ephedra sinica Stapf and other Ephedra species, used to treat asthma, nose and lung congestion, and fever with anhidrosis. It contains 0.5-2.5% by weight of total alkaloids, of which ephedrine accounts for 30 to 90%. Recently, Ma-huang has been used as a source of ephedrine in many dietary supplements formulated for the treatment of obesity, since ephedrine has been found to be effective in inducing weight loss in the obese. In this study the effects of the methanol extract of Ma-huang on the adipocyte of epididymal and brown fat pads in rats fed a high fat diet for six weeks were studied. Methods : Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing an average 94g (4 weeks old) were fed either a regular diet (RE) or a high fat diet (HF), and the HF group was subdivided into a Ma-huang methanol extract (30mg/100g body weight) group (HF+MH). The weight of epididymal fat pad and brown adipose tissue were measured. The cell size and cell number per unit area of epididymal fat pad were investigated. Results : The yield weight of methanol extract of Ma-huang was 3.63mg per l00g of Ma-huang. The body weight gain of the HF group was similar with that of the HF+ MH but higher than that of the RE. The weights of the epididymal fat pads and brown adipose tissue of the RE group were lower than those of HF and HF+MH groups. The cell sizes and numbers per unit area of epididymal fat pads of the RE and HF+MH groups were larger than those of HF group. The cell numbers per unit area size of epididymal fat pads were the smallest in the RE group. Conclusions : It could be concluded that the Ma-huang extract has no effect on the epididymal fat pads in rats fed a high fat diet and the clinical application of Ma-huang for the treatment of obesity should be re-considered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1670-1674
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• 2001

To understand molecular mechanisms that regulate deposition and release of intramuscular fat, a fasting-induced clone was identified by differential screening from cDNA library of adipose tissues of Korean cattle. The clone had a total length of 1,319 nucleotides coding for 334 amino acids. It was identified as one encoding L-lactate dehydrogenase H chain (LDH-B). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of bovine LDH-B with those of pig, human, rat, and mouse showed 98%, 98%, 97%, and 96% identity, respectively. Food deprivation for 48 h increased mRNA levels of LDH-B gene in adipose tissues of Korean cattle compared to fed- and 6 h refed- tissues. The expression of obese mRNA was examined for individual adipose tissue from several fat depots. Fasting induced expression of LDH-B gene in subcutaneous adipose tissues, but it did not affect expression levels in abdominal, perirenal and intramuscular tissues. Results demonstrate that induction of LDH-B gene during fasting may represent a metabolic shift from anaerobic state to aerobic predominance in fasted adipose tissues and that its responses to fasting are different among several adipose tissues.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.796-804
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• 2004

We found previously that dietary high fat caused obesity, and levan supplementation to the regular diet reduced adiposity and serum lipids. In the present study, we examined the effects of levan [high-molecular-mass $\beta$-(2,6)-linked fructose polymer] supplement on the development of obesity and lipid metabolism in rats fed with high-fat diet. Thus, to determine whether the dietary levan may have the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects, 4-wk-old Sprague Dawley male rats were fed with high-fat diet for 6 wk to induce obesity, and subsequently fed with 0, 1, 5, or 10% levan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 4 wk. For the comparison, a normal control group was fed with AIN-76A diet. Supplementation with levan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced body weight gain, white fat (i.e., epididymal, visceral, and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and the development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia in a dose-dependent manner. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced by levan supplementation. Serum total cholesterol level was reduced, whereas the HDL cholesterol level was increased by dietary levan. The expression of uncoupling protein (UCP) was increased by dietary high fat, and was further induced by levan supplementation. The mRNA level of UCP1, 2, and 3 in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and UCP3 in skeletal muscle was upregulated in rats fed with dietary levan. In conclusion, upregulated UCP mRNA expression may contribute to suppression of development of obesity through increased energy expenditure. The present results suggest that levan supplementation to the diet is beneficial in suppressing diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.349-355
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of galectin-3, one of beta-galactoside-binding proteins, in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE) model of Lewis rats or non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Western blot analysis showed that galectin-3 was weakly expressed in the spinal cords of complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA) immunized control rats. In EAE, however, galectin-3 expression was significantly increased at the peak stage(days 14 post-immunization), while it was decreased slightly at the recovery stage(day 21 post-immunization). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that galectin-3 was detected in some macrophages in demyelinating lesions of NOD mice, while galectin-3 was immunoreacted in some inflammatory cells in the perivascular cuffing in rat EAE lesions. Collectively, it is postulated that the expression of galectin-3 is significantly increased in response to neuroimmunological stimulation in the central nervous system, whereas it is weak in normal rats and mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.657-662
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• 2016

Cladosiphon okamuranus is edible brown algae cultured commercially and extensively on the Okinawa coast in Japan. We examined the effects of Cladosiphon okamuranus on the lipid metabolism in high-fat-diet rats. Seven-week-old female SD rats were divided into five groups and fed high-fat diets for 42 days. In addition, Cladosiphon okamuranus was administered orally for 42 days at 95 mg/kg of the body weight of the rats. The effects of lipid metabolism were evaluated by the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) levels in sera. The levels of TC, TG, LDL, GPT, and GOT were reduced in the Cladosiphon okamuranus treated group compared with the high-fat diet group. However, the levels of HDL in the Cladosiphon okamuranus treated groups were higher than in the high-fat diet groups. These results demonstrated that Cladosiphon okamuranus had positive effects on lipid metabolism, suggesting Cladosiphon okamuranus could be used as an ingredient in useful, functional products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.632-637
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• 1999

The purposes of this study is to investigate the effect of Rhus chinensis gall extract on liver function, plasma lipid composition and antioxidant system in the obese rats with high fat diet for seven weeks. Thirty two male rats of Sprague Dawely strain were divided into four groups. they are normal group (basal diet), control group(high fat diet), III group(high fat diet with Rhus chinensis gall extract 25mg/kg body weight per day) and IV group(high fat diet with Rhus chinensis gall extract 250mg/kg body weight per day). Rats in III group and IV group were administered with Rhus chinensis gall extract accordingly. Weight gains showed a tendency to decrease in rat with Rhus chinensis gall extract group but showed no differences among treatment groups. Food intake and Food efficiency ratio were not significantly different among treatment groups. Plasma total cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease in Rhus chinensis gall extract group. HDL cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease in 25mg/kg of Rhus chinensis gall extract group. However, in the 250mg/kg of Rhus chinensis gall extract group, these values showed no significant difference compared to the control group (p<0.05). GPT activities showed no significant difference among treatment groups. GOT activities showed a tendency to decrease in the groups of Rhus chinensis gall extract groups. Lipid peroxide level was significantly higher in control group than those of normal group. In Rhus chinensis gall extract groups, lipid peroxide level showed a tendency to decrease, but glutathione peroxidase activity was progressively increased. Results of our research in this paper show that Rhus chinensis gall extract might improve liver function, antioxidant system and plasma lipid composition in rats with high fat diet.