• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.734-738
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• 2008

The physicochemical and in vitro physiological properties of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) pulp and peel were investigated. The pulp was composed of 11.4% SDF and 24.3% insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), while the peel contained 3.2% SDF and 43.3% IDE The predominant sugar in the SDF of the wax gourd pulp and peel was uronic acid, followed by galactose and rhamnose. The SDFs from the wax gourd pulp and peel gave similar elution patterns, with 4 main neutral sugar and uronic acid peaks eluted by 0.4, 0.5, 1, and 2 M ammonium acetate buffer. The pulp SDF had a much higher glucose retardation index (GRI) than the peel SDF for all measurement times. The pulp SDF showed strong growth-inhibiting activity against Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens, whereas the peel SDF produced strong growth-promoting activity against Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Lactobacillus brevis when compared to glucose.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2002

This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of function of Wax Ground for obesity and the related disease of adult people can be developed by the combination of the 17 food materials screened in this study. The experiments using Sprague-Dawley male rats show that seventeen kinds of food material inhibited the increase of body weight gain, energy intake, fat pads weight, liver triglycerides content, atherogenic index, and blood glucose concentration induced by cafeteria diet. Oral administration of wax gourd decreased most body weight gain, energy intake, fat pads weight, and blood glucose concentration. Liver triglycerides content was the lowest in the group administered mulberry stem extract and the group administered pine leaves showed the lowest atherogenic index. The combined administration of wax gourd, mulberry stem extract and pine leaves improved more the obesity and related symptoms than the individual administrations.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wax gourd on body weight, body fat, triglyceride, leptin and fat cell size in rats fed medium fat Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with experimental diet containing total dietary fat at 20% of calorie with wax gourd (WG) for 4 weeks. Forty rats were divided into 4 groups including control, 5, 10, and 15% (w/w) WG supplement The results showed that weight gain was significantly higher in 5% WG than that in control (p<0.05), but was not different among the WG supplement groups. Total fat weight was significantly decreased in both 10 and 15% WG supplement groups than that of control. The levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids in the plasma were significantly decreased, particularly in 15% WG supplement group (p<0.05). The levels of leptin was not significantly different among the experimental groups. Fat cell size was significantly decreased in WG supplement groups compared to that of control group (p<0.05). Correlation among the parameters demonstrated that weight gain correlated positively with total fat weight, the levels of leptin and triglycerides. Taken these results together, 15% WG supplement diet substantially reduces total fat weight, triglycerides and free fatty acids levels and fat cell size in the rat fed midium fat.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.137-145
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• 2013

Biological activities of wax gourd (Benincase hispida) extract and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum) were investigated in this study. Wax gourd extract reduced the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by 47.9%, of tyrosinase by 13.2%, and had an anti-oxidant activity of 23.4%. Oral administration of wax gourd extract for 72 hours improved the symptom of loose bowels for 120 patients with its highest improvement rates within 6 to 12 hours. The improvement rates were standardized by the curative state by 80%. Lactic acid bacteria preparations reduced the activity of ACE by 21.49%. Oral administration of lactic acid bacteria preparations for 72 hours improved the symptom of loose bowels for 108 patients with its highest improvement rates after 24 hours. On the basis of these results, the tablets containing both wax gourd extract and lactic acid bacteria preparations for the improvement of irritable bowel syndromes were developed. The tablets reduced the activity of ACE by 27.1% and exhibited an anti-oxidant activity of 20.3%. Treatment of the tablets at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and 250 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for 24 hours inhibited the growth of A549 human lung cancer cells by 67%, which was much higher than that of each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria. In addition, treatment of the tablets at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for 24 hours reduced the growth of HCT-116 human colon cancer cells by 70%. Oral administration of the tablets to the patients with loose bowels led to higher improvement rates and speed than each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria. Oral administration of the tablets to the patients with irritable bowel syndromes of loose bowels, constipation, or general type for 72 hours improved their symptoms by 100% with the highest improvement rates within 3 to 6 hours. Furthermore, the improvement rates and speed by the tablets was much higher than each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2003

Although various raw plant materials have been demonstrated to exert anti-obesity effects to a greater or lesser extent in both humans and animals when they are used to supplement the diet, it has not been shown extensively that they influence adipocyte cell differentiation involving lipid metabolic gene expressions. Using a well-established 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation system, we decided to look into molecular and cellular event occurring during adipocyte differentiation when raw plant materials aye included in the process, in an effort to demonstrate the potential use of a screening system to define the functions of traditionally well-known materials. To these ends, the effects of ethanol (EtOH) or EtOH/distilled water (DW) extracts of Wax Gourd were examined using cytochemical and molecular analyses to determine whether components of the extracts modulate adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-Ll preadipocytes in vitro. The cytochemical results demonstrated that EtOH or EtOH/DW extracts did not affect lipid accumulation and cell proliferation, although the degree of lipid accumulation was influenced slightly depending on the extract. EtOH extract was highly effective in apoptotic induction during differentiation of 3T3-Ll preadipocytes (p<0.05). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), Uncoupling protein (Ucp) 2, 3 and 4 also showed that while LPL expression was not influenced, Ucp2, 3 and 4 were up regulated in the EtOH extract-treated group and down regulated in the EtOH/DW extract-treated group. These changes in gene expressions suggest that the components in different fractions of Wax Gourd extracts may modulate lipid metabolism by either direct or indirect action. Taking these results together, it was concluded that molecular and cellular analyses of adipocyte differentiation involving lipid metabolic genes should facilitate understanding of cellular events occurring during adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, the experimental scheme and analytical methods used in this study should provide a screening system for the functional study of raw plant materials in obesity research.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2009

According to traditional oriental medicine, only non-coagulated native deer blood is said to be effective, and coagulated deer blood is ineffective. Thus, a drying and tablet-producing method for deer blood was developed to maintain its physiological and therapeutic activity, and so that after drying, it can be redissolved and protected from coagulation. Proteases such as trypsin, pepsin, chymotrypsin, and aminopeptidase were added to the deer blood indicating that it coagulated in an hour, as shown by the reference. Wax gourd extract, which is high in protease, was added to the blood resulting in anticoagulation for 31 hours. Also, additions of 1% EDTA, 0.38% sodium citrate, 0.16% calcium oxalate, 1.2% ethanol, and 0.006% heparin to the deer blood resulted in anticoagulation for 1 hour, 4 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour, and 31 hours, respectively. In an experiment using 0.19% sodium citrate plus 1% wax gourd extract, and 0.006% heparin plus 1% wax gourd extract, anticoagulation was maintained for up to 72 hours. However, since heparin can not be used in food, the deer blood tablet was made with the addition of 0.19% sodium citrate and 1% wax gourd extract, followed by freeze drying. The dissolution rate for the tablet manufactured in this manner was 96.7%. And the dissolution rates for spray-dried deer blood, vacuum-dried deer blood, and marketed deer blood tablets were 85%, 81%, and 25.5%, respectively. The composition of the tablet produced from the freeze-dried deer blood was 56.4% protein, 18.7% lactose, 1.2% amino acids, 1.0% glucose, 0.7% lipids, 180 mg/100 g of iron, 13 mg/100 g of potassium, 39.1 mg/100 g of calcium, 480 mg/100 g of sodium, 368 mg/100 g of chloride, each.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1117-1123
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• 2003

The effects of heat treatment on the physical and physical and physiological properties of wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) were examined. The applied heat treatments were autoclaved at $121^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr, boiled for 30 min, and microwaved at 680 W for 5 min. The water retention capacity (WRC) of the wax gourds was 9.43 g/g for the microwaved samples, 5.12 g/g for the boiled samples, 4.63 g/g for the raw samples, and 2.61 g/g for the autoclaved samples. Heat treatment caused to increase swelling by up to $4.4{\sim}7.8\;mL/g$. Calcium binding capacity of heat-treated wax gourd increased in the order of microwaved, boiled, raw, autoclaved samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SME) showed that autoclaving caused the most severe structural modifications, while microwave treatment produced the least modifications. The retarding effect on glucose and bile acid transport depended on the heat treatment. Only boiling showed the glucose retardation effect. Bile acid retardation effect increased in order of boiling (22.9%), autoclaving (17.1%), microwave treatment (14.3%), and raw wax gourd (8.6%). The cadmium retardation effect was significantly high in all samples.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.174-176
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• 1991

A electrophoretic study on seveal important enzymes was conducted with seed, leaf and stem of Benincasa hipida (Thunb) Cogn and Commelina communis L. Isozyme patterns of esterase were different from the parts and fruit of wax gourd appeared only one band. In the peroxidase isozyme, fruit of wax gourd appeared four bands, but stem of common dayflower no appeared. In the amylase isozyme, seed and fruit of 'gourd were appeared clearly one band, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2012

With the addition of ethanol to wax gourd extract and by acetic fermentation, 5.0% acidity vinegar was produced. After putting 10% extract(10% concentration) of Chrysanthemum zawadskii in this, and by dissolving shell, Chrysanthemum zawadskii-pearl vinegar was produced. When a 1% of ark shell, oyster shell, or ear shell was added to wax gourd vinegar, 95.6~98.4% of the shell dissolved, and when a 2% content of shell was added, 97.2~98.4% was dissolved. The acidity of vinegar which dissolved 1% shell was pH 3.0~3.17, and the acidity of vinegar which dissolved 2% shell was pH 1.11~ 1.20. The pH values of vinegar which dissolved 1%, and 2% shell contents were 4.54~4.55, and 4.86~4.95, respectively. When 1% shell was dissolved, the acidity was higher than that of commercial vinegar, with a high pH value and low level of free acid. This shows that when Chrysanthemum zawadskii 1% is added during acetic acid fermentation, the inhibition was 44.4%, and 22.2% respectively. In this regard, Chrysanthemum zawadskii should be added after the fermentation of acetic acid. The calcium content of 1% shell vinegar is 0.4%, and that of 2% vinegar is 0.78%. Non-heated native wax gourd shows an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition rate of 21.7%, an antioxidant activity of 5.23%, and a tyrosinase inhibition rate of 5.5%. In the case of heated-extracted wax gourd, the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition rate was 16.1%, superoxide dismutase activity was 20.5%, antioxidant activity was 23.2%, and the tyrosinase inhibition rate was 7.1%. Also, in the case of Chrysanthemum zawadskii, the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition rate was 28.8%, the xanthine oxidase inhibition rate was 28.2%, the superoxide dismutase activity was 14.5%, the antioxidant activity was 3.2%, and the tyrosinase inhibition rate was 9.2% Data also revealed that when a 10% sample of the heated-wax gourd extract was added to A549 human lung cancer epithelial cells of, the number of cancer cells declined by 80% in 72 hours, When a 10% native extract was added, the number of cells declined by, 74% in 48 hours, and when a heated-extract of Chrysanthemum zawadskii was added, 100% of the cells died after 72 hours.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2007

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on hepatic antioxidative status in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups. Fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity (determined with H$_2$O$_2$ as substrate) was increased in the groups supplemented with chloroform (CHCl$_3$) and butanol (BuOH) fractions. Glutathione peroxidase (GR) activity in the liver cytosol of H$_2$O fraction groups was significantly lower than that of STZ-control group. The H$_{2}$O fraction supplemented group has been shown the notably decrease in the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The hepatic cytosol catalase (CAT) activity was significant decreased by the supplementation with BuOH fraction. It was found from the results that the supplementation of BuOH and H$_2$O fractions of Benincasa hispida extract could be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damages from the lipid peroxidation.