• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2014

We compared effects of fruit, leaf, and stem extracts from black raspberry on improvement of cholesterol and blood pressure in HepG2 and HUVEC cells, respectively. Cholesterol secretion was inhibited by water extracts of unripe fruit and stem, but not leaf of black raspberry in HepG2 cells. Also, water extracts of unripe fruit, leaf, and stem reduced HMG-CoA reductase activity. Furthermore, nitric oxide production and expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) protein were regulated by extracts of fruit, leaf, and stem of black raspberry in HUVEC cells. Overall, the rank order according to the improving level of cholesterol and hypertension is as follows: stem > fruit > leaf. In addition, various polyphenol compounds displayed inhibitory effects of HMG-CoA reductase activity and ACE expression. Thus, these data suggested that leaf and stem as wells as fruit of black raspberry can be used as useful food resources for reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1899-1907
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of unripe black raspberry water extract (UBR-W) and oxidation-LDL treatment on cholesterol levels. Experiments using an established human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) showed a time-dependent increase in expression of LDL receptor after UBR-W treatment. Expression of LDL receptor-related genes, such as SREBP1 and 2, increased upon UBR-W treatment. However, expression of HDL-related genes was unaffected by UBR-W. HMG-CoA reductase activity was reduced by UBR-W treatment, whereas HMG-CoA mRNA expression significantly increased. In addition, the ApoB/ApoA1 mRNA level, which is a predictor of cardiovascular risk, was reduced in a time-dependent manner by UBR-W treatment. Macrophage-like cells (RAW 264.7) showed increased expression of ox-LDL-related genes, such as CD36, scavenger receptor-A, adipophilin, and PPAR-gamma, upon ox-LDL treatment compared to untreated control cells, and quantitative lipid analysis indicated a dramatic increase in lipid accumulation. However, UBR-W treatment significantly reduced expression of ox-LDL-related genes and largely prevented lipid accumulation. The results indicate that UBR-W mediates a cholesterol-lowering effect via inhibition of cholesterol synthesis and induction of LDL uptake through SREBP.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.489-497
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• 2014

We examined the effects of unripe black raspberry water extract (UBR-W) on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in mice. C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: those administered a control diet (CTL), high-fat diet (HFD), UBR-W and simvastatin for 12 weeks. In the HFD group, LDL cholesterol were significantly higher than in the CTL group. However, the UBR-W treated group showed dose-dependent reduction of plasma LDL levels. Hepatic total lipid, TC, and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in hyperlipidemic mice. However, supplementation with either UBR-W or simvastatin effectively reduced these lipid profiles and lipid peroxidation. UBR-W increased mRNA expression of the LDL receptor, sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) compared to that observed in the HFD group. In addition, UBR-W and simvastatin showed significantly reduced oxidized LDL uptake by the scavenger receptor CD36. These results suggest that UBR-W is useful for treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.507-515
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• 2014

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is commonly found in aging men, is characterized by hyperplasia of prostatic stromal and epithelial cells beginning in the periurethral zone of the prostate. The prevalence of BPH increases in an age-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the protective effects of unripe Rubus occidentalis extracts (UROE) on BPH development using a prostate cancer cell line and testosterone-induced BPH rat model. Experiments using an established hormone-dependent prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) showed that UROE treatment significantly decreased expression of androgen-related genes, including androgen receptor (AR), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and 5-alpha reductase 2, but not 5-alpha reductase 1, which was also observed in flutamide-treated cells. Further, AR and PSA gene expression was reduced by UROE treatment under androgen-stimulated conditions using dihydrotestosterone (DHT). BPH animals displayed elevated prostate weights. However, UROE as well as finasteride treatment significantly reduced prostate weights and DHT levels compared to testosterone-induced BPH animals. Histopathological analysis also showed that UROE treatment suppressed testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia. Taken together, the results suggest that UROE may effectively inhibit the development of BPH and thus may be a useful agent in BPH treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of water extracts of unripe black raspberry (UBR) and red ginseng (RG) on cholesterol synthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase activity, and expression of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-related genes in HepG2 and Caco-2 (human hepatoma and intestinal cell lines, respectively). Our results showed that cholesterol synthesis and HMG-CoA reductase activity in HepG2 cells were inhibited by UBR and RG. Further, co-treatment with UBR and RG had a greater effect than did treatment with either UBR or RG. In Caco-2 cells, treatment with UBR and RG increased the expression of LDL-regulated genes, such as LDL receptor and SREBP-2, and also upregulated the level of HDL-associated ABCA1. Moreover, co-treatment with UBR and RG appeared to be more effective than treatment with either UBR or RG. Taken together, our results indicate that UBR and RG regulate the level of HDL-associated ABCA1 via signaling pathway, thereby preventing cholesterol synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1491-1499
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• 2014

We examined the effects of unripe black raspberry (UBR) and red ginseng (RG) extracts on cholesterol improvement in C57BL/6J mice fed a HCD (high cholesterol diet) for 12 weeks. Hepatic total lipid and total cholesterol contents were significantly induced in hyperlipidemic mice. However, supplementation with UBR, RG and simvastatin effectively reduced these lipid profiles. Further, UBR and co-treatment with UBR and RG increased expression of LDL receptor, SREBP2, and SR-B1 mRNA compared with HCD. The ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was reduced by co-treatment with UBR and RG compared to treatment with UBR. In addition, histopathologic evaluation showed that co-treatment with UBR and RG suppressed lipid accumulation as well as FAS and leptin expression in plasma. These results indicate that co-treatment with UBR and RG may be useful for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2013

The fruit of the black raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miquel) has been employed in traditional medicine, and recent studies have demonstrated its measureable biological activities. However, the root of the black raspberry has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the root and unripe fruit polyphenols of the black raspberry. Both polyphenols proved to have anti-inflammatory activity as evidenced by the decreased nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10) and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. However, root polyphenols showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than fruit polyphenols. LPS-induced mRNA and protein expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 levels were also decreased, confirming the anti-inflammatory activity. Root polyphenols showed lethal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphy-lococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and Bacillus anthracis. In contrast, the black raspberry fruit did not demonstrate these properties. These data provide the first demonstration that black raspberry root has potential anti-inflammatory and anti-superbacterial properties that can be exploited as alternatives for use in the food and cosmetic industries and/or as pharmaceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.563-572
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• 2006

The plant Rubus species (Rosaceae) mainly contains $19{\alpha}-hydroxyurane-type$ triterpenoids $(19{\alpha}-HUT)$ as bioactive components. Available functional food includes blackberry (the fruit of thornless Rubus sp.), red raspberry (R. idaeus) and black raspberry (R. occidentalis). However, the fruit of R. coreanus, which is used in Korea as a functional food, substitutes black raspberry. Rubi Fructus, which has been traditionally used as an oriental medicinal drug, designates only unripe fruit of R. coreanus but not its ripe fruit which indicates that it needs high content of $19{\alpha}-HUT$ as a crude drug. Throughout our experiment, we found that ripe fruits contain very little amount of $19{\alpha}-HUT$ when compared to unripe fruits. In addition, various and rich $19{\alpha}-HUT$ has been reported from Rubus species. The most common structure of $19{\alpha}-HUT$ of Rubus species, euscaphic acid or tormentic acid with $3{\alpha}-OH$ or $3{\beta}-OH$, respectively, can be glycosylated or oxidized to produce a number of $19{\alpha}-HUTs $as euscaphic acid and tormentic acid derivatives and even esterified to form dimeric triterpenoids. In this review, the bioactivity and biosynthetic pathway and chemical characterization of $19{\alpha}-HUTs$ found in Rubus species are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2022

This study aimed to verify the antidiabetic effects of the unripe black raspberry extract (UBRE) in obese diabetic mice. For the experiment, animal model mice were divided into six groups: normal control, diabetic control, three experimental groups (treated with 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg single dose of UBRE), and a positive control (200 mg/kg metformin). The groups treated with 300 mg/kg UBRE and metformin had significantly reduced blood glucose and triglyceride levels in the diabetic mice compared to those in the vehicle control group. In addition, histopathological evaluation showed that UBRE increased the Langerhans area, cell number, and insulin concentration in the pancreatic islets of db/db mice. Therefore, UBRE exerts significant antidiabetic effects by decreasing the blood glucose and lipid levels, suggesting that it can be consumed as a functional diet for diabetic patients.