• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.242-249
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antiobesity effects of Euphorbia resinifera extracts and investigate the phenolic constituents and the toxicity of these extracts. Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed to detect polyphenols and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by four methods (DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase inhibition). The hypoglycemic effect was determined by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro and via a starch tolerance study in normal rats. The antiobesity effect was estimated by in vitro inhibition of lipase. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was rich in polyphenols (99 ± 0.56 mg GEA/g extract) and tannins (55.22 ± 0.17 mg RE/g extract). Moreover, this extract showed higher antioxidant activity in different tests: the DPPH assay (IC₅₀ = 53.81 ± 1.83 ㎍/mL), ABTS assay (111.4 ± 2.64 mg TE/g extract), H₂O₂ (IC₅₀ = 98.15 ± 0.68 ㎍/mL), and xanthine oxidase (IC₅₀ = 10.26 ± 0.6 ㎍/mL). With respect to hypoglycemic effect, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed IC₅₀ values of 119.7 ± 2.15 ㎍/mL and 102 ± 3.63 ㎍/mL for α-amylase and 121.4 ± 1.88 and 56.6 ± 1.12 ㎍/mL for α-glucosidase, respectively, and the extracts lowered blood glucose levels in normal starch-loaded rats. Additionally, lipase inhibition was observed with aqueous (IC₅₀ = 25.3 ± 1.53 ㎍/mL) and ethanolic (IC₅₀ = 13.7 ± 3.03 ㎍/mL) extracts. Conclusion: These findings show the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hyperlipidemic effects of E. resinifera extracts, which should be investigated further to validate their medicinal uses and their pharmaceutical applications.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.302-308
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• 2011

As a part of our ongoing program on finding biologically active components from natural source we found three known constituents from the EtOH extract of the wheat bran. The known compounds were identified as tachioside (1), pinellic acid (2) and tryptophan (3). The structure and relative stereochemistry were determined from MS, 1D and extensive 2D NMR techniques as well as by comparison of their data with the published values. All isolates were tested their inhibitory effects on the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. The effect of compounds from wheat bran on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation were measured by Oil Red O staining. These results demonstrate that tachioside (1) and pinellic acid (2) decreased lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting lipogenesis. These compounds had shown antiobesity activities.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Sibutramine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor indicated for the management of obesity in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet. The oral administration of sibutramine is followed by its dose-related side effects. In this study, sibutramine was formulated into drug in adhesive (DIA) patches in an attempt to overcome these problems. The effects of different formulation variables including pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), loading amount of drug, thickness of matrix and enhancer on the skin permeation of the drug were evaluated using excised hairless mouse skin. In the acrylic adhesive with carboxyl functional group, low release of sibutramine was observed due to the strong interaction between carboxyl group of adhesive and amine group of sibutramine. The acrylic adhesive without functional group provided good adhesion force and allowed high drug loading. Changing drug load as well as thickness of the matrix was found to alter permeation rate. $Crovol^{(R)}$ PK40 and $Crovol^{(R)}$ A40, were found to be effective enhancers for sibutramine. The optimized patch contained 20% sibutramine, and 5% $Crovol^{(R)}$ A40 as permeation enhancer, in $80\;{\mu}m$ thick Duro-$Tak^{(R)}$ 87-9301 matrix.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2013

Adipose tissue-derived chronic inflammation contributes to development of insulin resistance in obesity, leading to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Baicalin, a flavonoid, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, anti-adipogenic, and antiobesity effects. However, whether baicalin attenuates adipose tissue-derived development of insulin resistance remains still unclear. This study was to investigate effect of baicalin on the inflammatory changes involved in the development of insulin resistance in adipose tissue. RAW 264.7 cells and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were pretreated with various concentrations of baicalin in complete media for 1 h and then cultured in the presence or absence of LPS or TNF-${\alpha}$. Our results demonstrated that baicalin remarkably inhibited LPS-induced production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and NO by RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Baicalin also inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$-induced production of IL-6 and $PGE_2$ in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, while upregulated TNF-${\alpha}$-suppressed expression of adiponectin and PPAR-${\gamma}$ mRNA and IRS-1 protein. These findings suggest that baicalin may prevent the adipose tissue-derived development of insulin resistance in obesity.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2015

In this study, the potential capacity of the crude extract and its solvent fractions from S. siliquanstrum against adipocyte differentiation were evaluated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The anti-adipogenic effect of S. siliquanstrum was evidenced by the fact that its crude extract decreases the lipid accumulation of differentiating cells and the expression levels of crucial adipogenesis markers, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein $(C/EBP){\alpha}$. All solvent fractions except the water fraction showed an observable decrease in lipid accumulation and $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ expressions. In conclusion, these results suggest that S. siliquanstrum possesses obesity inhibiting components, which may possibly be used as a valuable anti-obesity agent for reducing the risk of obesity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.841-846
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• 2005

Using high-fat-fed C57BL/6 mice, therapeutic effects of oral administration of aqueous extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum and Acanthopanax senticosus on obesity were evaluated by comparing body and liver weights, feed intake, adipose tissue mass, blood lipid profile, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in liver and feces. Obesity was successfully induced in high-fat diet group. P. grandiflorum and A. senticosus were effective in reducing food intake, serum lipid levels, adipose tissue accumulation, and weight. P. grandiflorum extract reduced triglyceride and cholesterol levels in liver by excluding them in feces. A. senticosus extract increased triglyceride level in liver but decreased in feces, and decreased total cholesterol in liver and feces, indicating active ingredient of A. senticosus exert antiobesity effect through mechanism different from that of P. grandiflorum extract. These results suggest aqueous extracts of P. grandiflorum and A. senticosus have synergistic effect for prevention of hyperglyceridemia and obesity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.309-313
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• 2012

Antiobesity, hypotriglyceridemic and antihypertensive activities of isoflavone-free peptide mixture (black soybean peptide, BSP) were reported in our previous experiments. In the present study, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory (ACEi) activity was decreased in the aorta tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) treated with BSP (1% in drink water) for 4 weeks, but not in serum. BSP administration significantly decreased ACE activity by 17.5% (from $33.2{\pm}4.5$ to $27.4{\pm}1.96$ mUnit/mg, p=0.0013) in aorta tissue hydrolysate. BSP treatment also decreased significantly mean blood pressure (BP) (from $213.0{\pm}16.96$ to $184.0{\pm}6.53$ mmHg, p<0.0001) as expected. These results indicate that BSP has antihypertensive activity as well as ACEi activity.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1035-1041
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• 2017

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major catechin found in green tea. It is reported that EGCG possesses various health benefits including anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetes, and anti-obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on adipogenesis via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In order to determine the effects of EGCG on adipogenesis, preadipocyte differentiation was induced in the presence or absence of EGCG ($0{\sim}100{\mu}M$) for a period of 6 days. EGCG significantly inhibited fat accumulation and suppressed the expression of adipogenic specific proteins including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-${\gamma}$. Also, EGCG markedly increased the activation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, any pretreatment with a specific AMPK inhibitor, compound C, abolished the inhibitory effects of the EGCG on $PPAR{\gamma}$ expression. This study suggests that EGCG has anti-adipogenic effects through modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway and therefore, may be a promising antiobesity agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.444-448
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• 2008

An adventitious root formation protocol from Smilax china L. was established for in vitro production of dioscin, a steroidal saponin having various bioactivities such as anticancer, antifungal, antiviral, and antiobesity. Optimal medium for root initiation from leaf explant was MS medium containing $30\;g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of sucrose supplemented with $1.0\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ kinetin + $2.0\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA. The induction of adventitious roots from in vitro initiated root segments was most favorable to MS liquid medium with $0.1\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ kinetin + $2.0\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA. Among the 20 different adventitious roots originated from different plants, strain No. 10 was selected based on production ability of dioscin, and its stability through the successive suspension culture. The maximum growth stage of adventitious roots was noticed at 5 weeks after subculture while that of dioscin production in the adventitious root was at 7 weeks after subculture in suspension culture system. These results provide that suspension culture of adventitious roots of Smilax china L. have a potential for in vitro mass production of dioscin.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2018

The polyherbal drug Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 (GGEx18) from Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae), Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), and Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae) has traditionally been used as an antiobesity drug in Korean local clinics. This study investigates the effects of GGEx18 on pancreatic fibroinflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese C57BL/6J mice and the molecular mechanism involved in this process. After HFD-fed obese C57BL/6J mice were treated with GGEx18 (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 12 weeks, variables and determinants of obesity, pancreatic inflammation, and fibrosis were measured using histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Administration of GGEx18 at 500 mg/kg/day to obese mice decreased body weight gain, mesenteric adipose tissue mass, and adipocyte size. GGEx18 treatment not only reduced mast cells and CD68-immunoreactive cells, but also decreased collagen levels and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in the pancreas of HFD-fed mice. Concomitantly, GGEx18 decreased the expression of genes for inflammation (i.e., CD68 and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$) and fibrosis (i.e., collagen ${\alpha}1$ and transforming growth factor ${\beta}$) in the pancreas of obese mice. These results suggest that GGEx18 may inhibit visceral obesity and related pancreatic fibroinflammation in HFD-fed obese mice.