This study was investigating the anti-obesity effects of diets with a mixture of cheese, red ginseng and fermented mature fruit of Rubus coreanus Miquel. We fed the experimental diets (SC5, SC10) supplemented with 5% or 10% cheese containing of fermented mixture, then orally administered the extract of fermented mixture (RB100, RB300) at a concentration of 100 or 300 mg/kg body weight to SD rats with high fat diet (HFD). The results were as follows: Sample cheese groups decreased visceral fat mass and adipocyte size of stomach compared to that of HFD group. Additionally, lipid droplets of liver in sample cheese groups were smaller than that in HFD group. The serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (tChol), glucose, leptin, and insulin levels in sample cheese group were lower than that in HFD group. But, the serum adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol (cHDL) levels were higher than that in HFD group. These results suggest that fermentation of red ginseng and Rubus coreanus mixed with cheese might be helpful in preventing obesity in high fat diet-fed rats.

Background: This present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects of Aucklandia lappa Decne (AL). Methods and Results: We measured cytotoxicity, nitric oxide (NO) content, mRNA expression (iNOS, IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α), protein expression (iNOS, COX-2, and IκB-α) and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. Male BALB/c mice were fed 100 ㎎/㎏ AL (Aucklandia lappa Decneon 70% ethanol extract) and 250 ㎎/㎏ AL for 4 weeks; thereafter, we observed B/T or CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulation change, and expression patterns of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes by immunohistochemical staining in mouse splenocytes and/or thymocytes. To determine the experimental concentration of AL, cell viability was measured by MTT assay and tested at 12.5 ㎍/㎖ or less. AL inhibited the levels of NO, lymphokine production (IL-1β, and TNF-α), and mRNA (iNOS, IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α) and protein (iNOS, and COX-2) expression. Additionally, the levels of IκB-α, phagocytic activity, and splenic and thymic T lymphocytes, especially TH and TC cells were significantly increased in AL administered mice. The immuno-reactive density of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was stronger in AL groups than in the normal group. AL stimulated NO, iNOS, and COX-2, and regulated IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IκB-α in macrophages treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). In addition, AL increased the phagocytic activity of macrophages and the immunity of mouse T (TH, and TC) cells. Conclusions: These results suggested that AL might show anti-inflammatory activity via the suppression of various inflammatory markers and immuno-regulatory activity.

백삼과 홍삼의 추출수율은 각각 33.56%와 48.79%로 홍 삼의 추출수율이 높았고, 산성다당체의 경우 1~4차 추출단 계까지는 홍삼군이 백삼군보다 높았으나, 5차 추출단계에 서 백삼군이 6차 추출단계에서는 홍삼군이 높게 나타났다. 백삼과 홍삼의 추출단계별 농축액의 조사포닌 함량은 백삼 (56.44 mg/g)에 비해 홍삼(53.15 mg/g)이 약 5.8 % 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 이들을 혼합한 선택적 홍삼농축액 모델 4종의 기호도 평가 결과 1, 2, 6차 추출물이 혼합된 RGB-4가 가장 높은 기호도를 나타내었고 시판 홍삼 농축액 3종에 대해 비교한 결과에서도 RGB-4가 쓴맛, 떫은맛, 인삼향 강도가 약해지 고 종합적 기호도에서 높은 평가를 받았다. 본 실험에서는 추출방법을 달리 함으로써 추출수율 및 조사포닌 함량을 감안하여 인삼 쓴맛과 향의 강도를 낮출 수 있다는 것을 확인하였다. 이 추출방법을 이용하여 쓴맛 을 저감시키고 인삼향미의 강도를 저감시킨 제품을 개발하 여 좀 더 편하고 자연스럽게 홍삼제품을 접할 수 있도록 더 많은 연구가 진행 되어야 할 것이다.