• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.640-650
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• 2020

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an atypical member of the FGF protein family which is highly synthesized in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. Depending on the expression tissue, FGF21 uses endo- or paracrine features to regulate several metabolic pathways including glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. Different physiologically stressful conditions such as starvation, a ketogenic diet, extreme cold, and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to induce FGF21 synthesis in various tissues to exert either adaptive or defensive mechanisms. More specifically, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha control FGF21 expression in adipose tissue and liver, respectively. In addition, the pharmacologic administration of FGF21 has been reported to decrease the body weight and improve the insulin sensitivity and lipoprotein profiles of obese mice and type 2 diabetes patients meaning that FGF21 has attracted huge interest as a therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, understanding FGF21 remains complicated due to the paradoxical condition of its tissue-dependent expression. For example, nutrient deprivation largely increases hepatic FGF21 levels whereas adipose tissue-derived FGF21 is increased under feeding condition. This review discusses the issues of interest that have arisen from existing publications, including the tissue-specific function of FGF21 and its action mechanism. We also summarize the current stage of a clinical trial using several FGF21 analogs.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.421-427
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• 2020

Morus alba, Anti-obesity, C57BL/6 Mice, Expression, Flavonoid, Gene, Mulberry Background: The seed oil of Zanthoxylum schinifolium S. et Z. (sancho) is a traditional cooking oil that has long been sold at a very high price however, depending on the method of extraction and storage, this oil becomes rancid occurs very quickly. Therefore, this study aimed to find a material that prevents rancidity and improves the storage properties of sancho oil. Methods and Results: Sancho oil was extracted using an extraction press, and acid values were compared with commercially available vegetable oils, sancho oil had a higher acid value than other vegetable oils. A very high acid value was observed in sancho oil stored for 6 months, regardless of temperature, requiring an effective storage method. The high acid value and the decrease in turbidity of sancho oil are dependent on the days of sedimentation. Treatment with sodium bicarbonate by concentration resulted in minimal changes in acid value over time. However, minor differences were detected among the treatment concentrations. Ascorbic acid was added to maximize the effect of sodium bicarbonate, and it was observed that ascorbic acid did not improve the antioxidant effect. The sodium bicarbonate and ascorbic acid mixture resulted in minimal change in acid value at temperature up to 25℃. Conclusions: Sancho oil becomes rancid very quicky and requires efficient storage techniques. Sodium bicarbonate and ascorbic acid have been proven to be useful as safe anti-racidity agents without causing harm to humans.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.634-641
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• 2012

It was reported that the novel compounds (LP9M80-H) of $Liriope$ $platyphylla$ regulate glucose transporter (Glut) biosynthesis by activating the insulin-signaling pathway in the liver and brain of ICR mice. To investigate the therapeutic effects of LP9M80-H on the pathology of diabetes and obesity, alterations of key factors related to symptoms were analyzed in the Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats treated with LP9M80-H for 2 weeks. The abdominal fat masses in the LP9M80-H-treated group were lower than the vehicle-treated group, although there was no difference in body weight between the two groups. Additionally, when compared to the vehicle-treated group, LP9M80-H treatment induced a significant decrease in glucose levels and an increase in the insulin concentration in the blood of OLETF rats. A high level of insulin protein was also detected in pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells of LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats. A significant reduction in the concentration of lipids and adiponectin was detected only in LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats. Furthermore, the expression of insulin receptor ${\beta}$ and the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) was dramatically decreased in LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats compared to the vehicle-treated group. Of the glucose transporters located downstream of the insulin-signaling pathway, glucose transporters (Glut) -2 and -3 were significantly decreased in LP9M80-H-treated OLETF rats, while the level of Glut-4 was maintained under all conditions. Therefore, these results suggest that LP9M80-H may contribute to relieving symptoms of diabetes and obesity through glucose homeostasis and regulation of lipid concentration.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.893-900
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• 2015

In this study, we evaluated the antidiabetic effect of a submerged culture of Ceriporia lacerata mycelium (CL01) on hematological indices, as well as protein and mRNA expression of the insulin-signaling pathway, in db/db mice. After CL01 was administrated for 4 weeks, blood glucose levels decreased consistently, and plasma insulin and c-peptide levels each decreased by roughly 55.8%, 40% of those in the negative control (p<0.05). With regard to HOMA-IR, an insulin resistance index, insulin resistance of the CL01-fed group improved over that of the negative control group by about 62% (p<0.05). In addition, we demonstrated that the protein expression levels of pIR, pAkt, pAMPK, and GLUT4 and the mRNA expression levels of Akt2, IRS1, and GLUT4 in the muscle cells of db/db mice increased in the CL01-fed group compared to the corresponding levels in the control group. These results demonstrate that CL01 affects glucose metabolism, upregulates protein and gene expression in the insulin-signaling pathway, and decreases blood glucose levels effectively by improving insulin sensitivity. More than 90% of those who suffer from type 2 diabetes are more likely to suffer from hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, obesity, and other comorbidities because of insulin resistance. Therefore, it is possible that CL01 intake could be used as a fundamental treatment for type 2 diabetes by lowering insulin resistance, and these results may prove be useful as basic evidence for further research into the mechanisms of a cure for type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2012

The anti-obese, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of post-fermented green tea by Monascus pilosus was tested with mice fed with high-fat diet for 7 weeks. The body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio (FER) in normal control group (NC), CHA (2% non-fermented green tea powder supplemented high-fat diet group) and mCHA (2% green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus supplemented high fat diet group) groups were significantly lower than those of high fat diet control group (HC). Epididymal fat weight in mCHA and NC were significantly lower than HC. The hepatic lipid peroxide was dramatically higher in HC than that of NC and was significantly lower in CHA and mCHA. In addition, dehydrogenase type activity of xanthine oxidoreductase in HC was lower than that of NC, but significantly higher than CHA and mCHA. In histopathological findings, hepatic fat accumulation in HC was higher than that of NC, CHA and mCHA. Antiobese, hypolipidemic and antifatty liver effect of green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus was slightly higher than that of non-fermented green tea. In conclusion, the constituents of green tea fermented by M. pilosus has been proven to not only inhibit obesity and hyperlipidemia but also decrease the hepatic fat accumulation in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.295-306
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• 2018

In the present study, we compared the effects of 50% ethanolic extracts of Chinese and Korean Wolfiporia cocos (CPE and KPE) on in vitro lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and their anticancer activities in Sarcoma 180 cells. We further compared the anticancer activities and the 50% inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}$) of CPE with KPE with cultivated for one and two years in a landfill and a facility (LPE and FPE), respectively. In addition, the single oral dose toxicities of CPE and KPE were evaluated in mice. Lipid accumulation was inhibited after 48 hours, in CPE and KPE treated 3T3-L1 cells; however, no significant difference was observed between CPE and KPE in their lipid accumulation inhibitory activities. The anticancer activity of KPE was higher than that of CPE at $300{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.05), revealing the possibility of an auxiliary biological means for origin identification. The anticancer activities of LPE and FPE were significantly stronger than that of CPE (p<0.05) but there was no difference between extracts from one- and two-year-old W. cocos, irrespective of the cultivation method. In single oral dose toxicity tests, CPE and KPE did not induce mortality during the 14-day observation. Thus, the 50% of lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of CPE and KPE were estimated to be higher than 2,000 mg/kg. Taken together, our results indicate that the anticancer assay could be an auxiliary means of identifying the origin of W. cocos. In addition, artificial cultivation could be an alternative way to reduce the import of W. cocos. Lastly, 50% ethanolic W. cocos extracts could be potential candidates for obesity and cancer managements.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.157-168
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• 2014

We investigated the anti-obesity effects of small colored potato extracts by high pressure water extraction process on body weight, plasma lipid levels in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Experimental groups were divided into basal diet only (Normal), high fat diet control (HFD), small colored potato water extracts (CP), and high-fat diet and small colored potato water high pressure extracts (HCP) groups. The levels of hematological variables were not significantly different among the four groups. Compared with the HFD group's serum total cholesterol level of $86.01{\pm}1.16mg/dL$, the levels of the CP and HCP groups were significantly lowered to $80.29{\pm}1.28$ and $77.21{\pm}4.21mg/dL$, respectively. Compared with the HFD group's LDL-cholesterol level of $18.92{\pm}2.44mg/dL$, the LDL-cholesterol levels of the CP and HCP groups were significantly lowered to $13.52{\pm}1.26$ and $12.93{\pm}1.26mg/dL$, respectively. Also, compared to the HFD group's serum triglyceride level of $82.71{\pm}3.94mg/dL$, the level of the HCP group was significantly lowered to $63.24{\pm}6.32mg/dL$. These results suggested that dietary supplementation of small colored potato extracts using high pressure water extraction does not have any adverse effects on the hematological variables, while improving the lipid content and reducing hepatic damage of the high-fat fed rats.