• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the in vivo and in vitro inhibitory effect of a traditional herbal complex (HC) extract prepared from a mixture of four oriental herbs (Dioscorea Rhizoma, Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc, Bombycis corpus, Fermented Glycine soja) that have been widely used for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus on hyperglycemia. The water extract of HC showed potent inhibitory effect on $\alpha$-glucosidase with $IC_{50}$ value of 1.24 mg/mL. Additionally, the ethanol extract of HC was also found to exhibit significant inhibitory effect against protein tyrosine phosphatase $1{\beta}$ ($PTP1{\beta}$), which is known as a major regulator of both insulin and leptin signaling. In the $PTP1{\beta}$ inhibitory assay, the most active n-hexane fraction obtained from the ethanol extract of HC, was identified as a mixture of fatty acid derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In high-fat diet-low dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat, the water extract of HC improved the oral glucose intolerance as compared with rosiglitazone. HC also caused a marked decrease of body weight and fasting blood glucose and a significant improvement on glucose tolerance in metabolic syndrome mice model. These findings support that this traditional HC may be useful in the control of blood glucose in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of Cudrania tricuspidata leaf extract in the order of leaf development on the shoot (L0, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5). The leaves at the apex of a Cudrania tricuspidata shoot were classified as L0; the next leaves of the apex were classified as L1, L2, L3, and L4 from highest to lowest; and the lowest leaf was classified as L5. A series of 70% ethyl alcohol leaf extracts were screened for the inhibitory effects of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We found that the apical leaf extract of Cudrania tricuspidata (CTL0) was the most effective. Next, a study was conducted on the inhibitory action mechanism of CTL0. Treatment with CTL0 significantly suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by the decrease in lipid droplet content observed with Oil Red O staining. Treatment with 12.5 ㎍/ml, 25 ㎍/ml, and 50 ㎍/ml of CTL0 significantly reduced the lipid droplet content. Glucose and cellular triglyceride concentrations were reduced in the 3T3-L1 cells on the CTL0-treated medium compared to the differentiation medium (DM control, DMEM + insulin + dexamethasone + rosiglitazone). Compared with DM, CTL0 significantly inhibited the expression of key pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), LPL, A-FABP, and Glut4. These findings show that CTL0 extract has potent anti-obesity effects.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.341-344
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• 2007

Obesity is a major obstacle for human health, which induces various diseases such as cardiac injury and type 2 diabetes. Ginsenosides, active components of ginseng extract, exert various physiological effects. However, There are still no evidence for their anti obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rd on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Our data show that ginsenoside Rd (80 uM) was effective in adipocyte differentiation inhibition. These inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on adipocyte differentiation were accompanied by PPAR gamma inhibition in rosiglitazone-treated cells. We also tested whether AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation was involved in the effects of these ginsenosides. AMPK is a master target for obesity, ginsenoside Rd significantly activated AMPK. Taken together, these results suggest that the anti obesity effects of ginsenoside Rd involve the AMPK signaling pathway and PPAR-gamma inhibition.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2010

Periodontal disease is a major oral disorder and comprises a group of infections that lead to inflammation of the gingiva and the destruction of periodontal tissues. $PPAR{\gamma}$ plays an important role in the regulation of several metabolic pathways and has recently been implicated in inflammatory response pathways. However, its effects on periodontal inflammation have yet to be clarified. In our current study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of $PPAR{\gamma}$ on periodontal disease. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed high levels of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and -9 (MMP-9). Moreover, these cells also showed upregulated activities for extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygnase-2. However, cells treated with Ad/$PPAR{\gamma}$ and rosiglitazone in same culture system showed reduced ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MMP-2, -9 and COX-2. Finally, the anti-inflammatory effects of $PPAR{\gamma}$ appear to be mediated via the suppression of the ERK1/2 pathway and consequent inhibition of NF-kB translocation. Our present findings thus suggest that $PPAR{\gamma}$ indeed has a pivotal role in gingival inflammation and may be a putative molecular target for future therapeutic strategies to control chronic periodontal disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2012

To evaluate the anti-obesity effect of Agrimonia pilosa L., this study investigated that ethyl acetate extract from A. pilosa L. (EAAP) suppresses lipid accumulation and inhibits expression of adipogenic marker genes, such as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR${\gamma}$), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP${\alpha}$), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We demonstrated that EAAP inhibited adipocyte differentiation and expression of PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, EAAP reduced the PPAR${\gamma}$ transcriptional activity stimulated by rosiglitazone in HEK 293T cells and decreased the expression of GLUT4 and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that EAAP inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by blocking of PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.334-339
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• 2007

We evaluated the potential of 20 herbal medications (HMs), commonly used in Korea, to inhibit the catalytic activities of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. The abilities of 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ of aqueous extracts of 20 HMs to inhibit phenacetin O-deethylation (CYP1A2), coumarin 6-hydroxylation (CYP2A6), bupropion hydroxylation (CYP2B6), rosiglitazone hydroxylation (CYP2C8), tolbutamide 4-methylhydroxylation (CYP2C9), S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation (CYP2E1), and midazolam 1'-hydroxylation (CYP3A) were tested using human liver microsomes. The HMs Woohwangcheongsimwon suspension and Hwanglyeonhaedok-Tang strongly inhibited CYP2B6 and CYP2D6 isoform activity, respectively. These results suggest that some of the HMs used in Korea have potential to inhibit CYP isoforms in vitro. Although the plasma concentrations of the active constituents of the HMs were not determined, some herbs could cause clinically significant interactions because the usual doses of those individual herbs are several grams of freeze-dried extracts.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.46-58
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• 2007

제2형 당뇨병은 대사성 질환으로 간, 근육 그리고 지방 조직 세포에서 인슐린 작용의 장애로 나타나는 인슐린 저항성으로 혈당의 이용이 감소하여 혈당이 높아짐에도 불구하고 췌장의 베타세포에서 인슐린 분비가 충분하지 못할 때 유발된다. 서구에서는 비만 등으로 인해 인슐린 저항성이 증가하면 인슐린 분비가 높은 고인슐린혈증을 나타내어 당뇨병으로의 진전은 늦다. 하지만 우리나라를 비롯한 아시아의 사람들은 인슐린 저항성이 증가할 때 인슐린 분비가 충분치 못해 혈청 인슐린 농도가 정상인과 비슷하거나 더 낮은 상태에서 당뇨병으로 진전된다. 이러한 차이는 우리나라를 비롯한 아시아 사람들에게서 제2형 당뇨병의 발생이 급격하게 증가할 것이라는 보고되었다. 결국 당뇨병은 간, 근육 및 지방조직에서의 인슐린 작용의 장애와 췌장의 베타세포에서 인슐린 분비의 부족의 복합적인 장애에 의해서 나타나고 이것은 공통적으로 각 조직에서의 인슐린/insulin growth factor (IGF)-1 신호전달의 장애와 관련이 있다. 베타세포에서의 인슐린분비 자체는 인슐린/IGF-1 신호전달과 관계가 없지만 간접적으로 관련이 있다. 인슐린 분비능은 베타세포의 증식과 생존에 의한 베타세포의 양과 밀접한 관련이 있는데 인슐린/IGF-1 신호전달은 베타세포의 증식과 생존을 조절한다. 그러므로 혈당 조절에 관여하는 기능성 식품은 인슐린 작용을 향상시키는 인슐린 민감성 특성을 가지거나, 혈당이 높아질 때 인슐린 분비를 촉진시키는 insulinotropic 작용을 하는 성질을 가지고 있어야 하겠다. 전자의 대표적인 약은 1999년에 미국 FDA에서 승인 받은 peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR)-{\gamma}$ agonist 인 thiazolidinedione 계통의 약물인 troglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone 등이 있고, 후자는 2007년에 승인 받은 Exenatide는 glucagon like peptide (GLP)-1 agonist이다. 이 두 가지 약은 모두 자연계에 존재하는 동식물에서 유래된 것으로 식품에도 많이 다양한 종류의 인슐린 민감성 물질이나 insulinotropic 작용을 하는 물질이 함유되어 있을 것이다. 이러한 기능 이외에 혈당조절 약이나 식품으로 사용되는 것은 탄수화물의 소화를 방해하는 것으로 탄수화물 소화효소인 a-amylase 또는 maltase의 활성을 억제하여 식후 혈당의 급격한 상승을 방지하는 것이 있다. 우리나라 사람들은 탄수화물의 섭취가 너무 많아서 실제로 이러한 식품이나 약의 효능이 높지 않을 것이다. 혈당을 조절하는 기능성 식품은 이 세 가지 효능 중 일부를 가지고 있는 것이 될 수 있다. 이러한 기능을 스크리닝하기 위해서 3가지 단계를 거쳐야 한다. 먼저 시험관에서 또는 세포 실험을 통해서 앞서 언급한 3가지 기능을 가지고 있는 지 여부를 각각 조사한다. 이중에서 효과가 있는 것은 당뇨 동물 모델을 사용하여 in vivo에서 혈당 강하기능과 혈당 강하기전을 조사하는 실험을 한다. 효과가 있는 식품이 우리가 전통적으로 식품으로 섭취해 왔다면 독성 검사를 거쳐야 할 필요가 없지만 한약재이거나 특수 식품의 경우에는 in vivo 실험 전에 GLP 기관에서 반드시 독성 실험을 거쳐 독성 유무를 확인할 필요가 있다. 동물 실험에서 효과적인 것은 인체 실험을 거쳐 혈당 조절 기능성 식품으로 식약청에서 허가를 받을 수 있겠다. 결론적으로 식품에는 항당뇨 특성을 가진 물질들이 함유되어 있는 것들이 상당히 많다. 혈당 조절기능이 있는 기능성 식품으로 개발할 때 고려해야 할 것은 1) 그 양이 혈당 강하 기능성 식품으로 지정받을 수 있을 정도로 충분히 함유되어 있느냐, 2) 혈당을 강하시키는 기전이 단순히 당의 배설을 촉진시켜서 혈당을 저하시키는 것이 아니라, 인슐린 작용을 촉진시키거나, 포도당 자극에 의한 인슐린 분비를 촉진시키거나 탄수화물의 소화 흡수를 억제시킴으로 혈당을 강하시키는 지 등을 파악하는 것이다. 이러한 조건을 만족시키는 식품은 지속적으로 섭취할 때 당뇨병을 예방하거나 진전을 지연시킬 수 있는 혈당조절기능이 있는 기능성 식품으로 개발 가능성이 있겠다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.512-522
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• 2023

Cancer with unlimited cell growth is a leading cause of death globally. Various cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, can be applied alone or in combination depending on the cancer type and stage. New treatments with fewer side effects than previous cancer treatments are continually under development and in demand. Undifferentiated stem cells with unlimited cell growth are gradually changed via cellular differentiation to arrest cell growth. In this study, we reviewed the possibility of treating cancer by using cellular differentiation into the adipocytes in cancer cells. In previous in vitro studies, oral antidiabetic drugs of the thiazolidinedione (TDZ) class, such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, were induced into the adipocytes in various cancer cell lines via increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR γ) expression and glucose uptake, which is the key regulator of adipogenesis and the energy metabolism pathway. The differentiated adipogenic cancer cells treated with TDZ inhibited cell growth and had a less cellulotoxic effect. This adipogenic differentiation treatment suggests a possible chemotherapy option in cancer cells with high and abnormal glucose metabolism levels. However, the effects of the in vivo adipogenic differentiation treatment need to be thoroughly investigated in different types of stem and normal cells with other side effects.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.114-120
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• 2006

Anti-diabetic effects of extracts and fractions of Sasa borealis (SB), white lotus roots (LR) and leaves (LL), and their mixture were determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Min6 cells by investigating insulin-sensitizing activity and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, respectively. SB, LR, LL, and mixture of SB, LR, and LL (3 : 2 : 3) were extracted using 70% ethanol, and m mixture extract was fractionated by XAD-4 column chromatography with serial mixture solvents of methanol and water. Fractional extractions were utilized for anti-diabetic effect assay. SB and LR extracts increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, but not as much as mixture of SB, LR, and LL. Significant insulin-sensitizing activities of 20 and 80% methanol fractions of SB, LR, and LL mixture extract were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving 0.5 or $5\;{\mu}g/mL$ each fraction with 0.2 nM insulin to attain glucose uptake level similar to that attained by 10 nM insulin alone. Similar to pioglitazone, peroxisome proliferators-activated $receptor-{\gamma}\;(PPAR-{\gamma})$ agonist, 20 and 80% methanol fractions increased adipocytes by stimulating differentiation from fibroblasts and triglyceride synthesis. LL extract and 20, 60, and 80% methanol fractions of the mixture suppressed ${\alpha}-amylase$ activity, but did not modulate insulin secretion capacity of Min6 cells in both low and high glucose media. These data suggest 20 and 80% methanol tractions contain potential insulin sensitizers with functions similar to that of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ agonist. Crude extract of SB, LR, and LL mixture possibly improves glucose utilization by enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and inhibiting carbohydrate digestion without affecting insulin secretion in vivo.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.570-579
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• 2019

Diabetes is one of the serious chronic metabolic diseases caused by Westernized eating habits, and the goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose at a normal level and prevent diabetic complications. This study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of a mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) extract (MWE) on hyperglycemia in an animal model with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into three groups: diabetic control, rosiglitazone, and MWE. The mice supplemented with MWE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin when compared with the diabetic control mice. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with MWE than in diabetic control mice. MWE supplementation significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and Akt, and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in insulin signaling pathway of skeletal muscles. Eventually, MWE increased the expression of the plasma membrane glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) via PI3K/Akt activation. These findings demonstrate that the increase in plasma membrane GLUT4 expression by MWE promoted the uptake of blood glucose into cells and relieved hyperglycemia in skeletal muscles of diabetic C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice. Therefore, mealworms are expected to prove useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetes, and further studies are needed to improve type 2 diabetes in the future.