• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1239-1248
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• 2016

Pumpkin juice (PJ), corn silk tea (CT), and adzuki bean tea (AT) have long been used for treatment of obesity in Korea. This study investigated the efficacy of PJ, CT, AT, and their mixture (PCA) on alteration of body weight and antioxidant metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. After being fed HFD for 4 weeks, SD rats were divided into six groups fed a normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD+PJ [250 mg/kg body weight (BW)], HFD+CT (250 mg/kg BW), HFD+AT (250 mg/kg BW), and HFD+PCA (PJ : CT : AT=1:1:1, 250 mg/kg BW) for another 9 weeks. HFD consumption resulted in total lipid, triglyceride, and total cholesterol accumulation in adipose tissue, which was reduced by administration of PJ, CT, AT, or PCA. The plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity value and hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased compared to the HFD group. The liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was significantly lower in the PCA group than the HFD group. HFD-induced DNA damage in hepatocytes, as measured by comet assay, decreased in the PJ, AT, and PCA-supplemented groups. The PCA group exerted a superior antigenotoxic effect compared to other treatments. PCA recovered the concentration of plasma adiponectin, which was reduced by HFD. Adipocyte surface area (%) was significantly higher in the HFD group than the ND group, significantly lower in the PJ and PCA groups than the HFD group, and not significantly different compared with the ND group. Based on the results, supplementation of PJ, CT, AT, and PCA exhibited lipid-lowering effects in adipocytes of HFD-induced obese rats. Furthermore, the PCA group exhibited superior antioxidant activity in all treated groups. This study suggests that a mixed beverage consisting of PJ, CT, and AT may be a significant source of natural antioxidants, which might be helpful in preventing obesity and progress of various oxidative stresses induced by HFD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2010

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of water extracts from Phellinus linteus on lipid composition and antioxidative system in rats fed high fat high cholesterol diet. Rats were divided into four experimental groups which are composed of normal diet group, high fat high cholesterol diet group, high fat high cholesterol diet with 50 mg/kg b.w water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented group (PA group), high fat high cholesterol diet with 100 mg/kg b.w water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented group (PB group). The serum TG and cholesterol contents of the water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups (PA and PB groups) were decreased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. The serum HDL-cholesterol contents of the water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups were increased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. The serum LDL-cholesterol and AI of the water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups were significantly decreased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. Supplementation of water extracts from Phellinus linteus groups (PA and PB groups) resulted in increased activities of superoxide dismutase. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were increased compared to the high fat high cholesterol diet group. TBARS values in liver and plasma were reduced in water extracts from Phellinus linteus supplemented groups. These result suggest that supplementation of water extracts from Phellinus linteus may have a pronounced impact on lipid composition and antioxidative system in the rats fed high fat high cholesterol diet.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.