The purpose of this study is to find out a food material having anti-obesity effect and suggest the effect of the material to people who are interested in anti-obesity. For this study, Auricularia (wood ear) has been used. It is world widely spread mushroom, especially in east north Asia countries. It is also called as wood ear in western countries because of its shape. The most considerable fact is that Auricularia is being used for popular food materials for cooking because of its good taste. Totally 11 strains of Auricularia were offered by Doctor Kim, Kil-ja in Jeollanam do Agricultural Research & Extension Services. There were 8 strains of Auricula-polytricha, and 3 strains of Auricula-judae. Each Auricularia strains were extracted with 50% Ethanol for 12 hours in 40°C and then 11 strains were prepared for in vitro study. In vitro study focused on the inhibition effect on adipocyte differentiation of Auricularia spp. 3T3-L1 (preadipocyte cell) was used for identifying the inhibition effect on adipocyte differentiation. Before that, MTT assay was used for measurement of cell viability. The result is essential for fixing the treat concentration of the extracts. After adipocyte differentiation, cells were stained with Oil Red O solution to dye differentiated adipocyte cells. Spectrophotometer was used to quantify the adipocyte cells. There are few adipocyte differentiation markers. From the markers, this study selected four markers (PPAR γ, FABP4(ap2), CD36, C/EBPα) and used them to measure mRNA expression using real-time PCR and Western blot experiment. As a result, this study found out that all the extract of strains has inhibition effects on adipocyte differentiation, especially the adipocyte differentiation control probability of Auricula-polytricha strain 21001 was 24.6%. Auricula-judae strain 21002 (19.3%), Auricula-polytricha strain 249 (14.0%) followed. The result concerning the inhibition effect was identified through Western blot experiment as well. As a further study, in vivo study is on progressing. 56 ICR mice (6w, male) are being used for the animal study. It consists of 8 groups. One is control, another is positive control, the other groups are Auricula-polytricha strain 21001 treatment group. Different concentration of powder or extract of Auricularia is treated in each treatment group. We are anticipating that the result of this further study will be correspond to that of in vitro study.

제니스테인(genistein)이 폐경으로 유도된 비만을 조절하는지를 알아보기 위해 폐경기 여성의 동물 모델인 난소절제 암컷 쥐에서 항비만 효과에 대한 제니스테인의 영향을 연구하였다. 7주령의 C57BL/6J 암컷 쥐를 무작위로 3그룹으로 나누어 8주 동안 고지방식 사료 또는 제니스테인이 첨가된 고지방식 사료를 섭취시 킨 후 비만의 결정요소들을 측정하였다. 난소절제 쥐는 난소가 절제되지 않은 쥐에 비해 몸무게와 지방조직무 게가 증가되었다. 그러나 제니스테인의 처리는 난소절제 쥐의 몸무게, 지방조직무게 및 지방세포 크기를 감소 시켰다. 난소절제 쥐에 비해 제니스테인이 처리된 난소절제 쥐는 혈청 속의 중성지방과 총 콜레스테롤이 유의 적으로 낮아졌다. 또한 난소절제 쥐에서 간조직의 지질성분 축적도 제니스테인에 의해 감소되었다. 이러한 결과는 제니스테인이 난소절제로 유도된 지방과다, 지방세포비대 및 지질이상을 효과적으로 개선시킬 수 있 다는 것을 시사하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 폐경기 여성의 비만과 고지혈증을 포함한 신진대사 장애의 개선 에 공헌할 것이다.

Metabolic syndrome, including obesity, glucose intolerance and elevated blood pressure, is related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have reported the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects of purple corn extract. We investigated the efficacy of purple corn extract (PC) against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and glucose intolerance, and examined the underlying mechanisms by analyzing expression of proteins and genes involved in glucose regulation and macrophage infiltration. C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal chow diet (ND), or HFD treated with distilled water (DW, control) or PC, for 10 weeks. Although body weights were similar in the HFD-fed groups, we observed a decrease in the liver and epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) weights, and enhanced glucose tolerance test (GTT) results in the PC group, as compared with DW group. Liver showed increased Akt phosphorylation in the PC-treated mice; however, no changes were observed in the EAT, for all groups. In PC-treated mice, decreased macrophage infiltration was seen in the EAT, with a reduced expression of macrophage marker genes. Finally, proinflammatory cytokine gene expressions were decreased by PC in the EAT, and a modest trend for downregulation was observed in the liver. Hence, we conclude that PC may decrease glucose intolerance by increasing the phosphorylation of Akt and reducing the macrophage infiltration into the EAT.

Celastrol은 미역줄나무의 뿌리에서 얻은 추출물로 오래전부터 관절염 및 자가면역 같은 염증반응 질병들을 치료하기 위하여 쓰여져 왔다. 이외에도 많은 연구들에서 celastrol이 신경보호, 항산화 및 알츠하이머 치료에 사용될 수 있으며 특히, 암 치료에 효과적이라고 밝혀 졌다(Table 1). 따라서 많은 연구자들이 생리학적, 생화학적 및 면역학적 관점에서 celastrol의 항암효과를 규명하고자 노력을 기울이고 있으며, 다양한 관점에서 신호전달체계를 조절한다는 사실을 밝혀냈다(Fig. 1). 특히, celastrol은 NF-κB 를 억제함으로서 암의 발달 및 전이를 저해함을 물론, 암의 치료에 동반되는 면역 반응을 조절 할 수 있다(Fig. 2). 또한 세포사멸과 관계된 유전자들을 활성화 시키고, 항세포사멸 유전자들을 억제시킴으로서 세포 주기를 조절한다. 유전자 조절 외에도 heat shock protein과 같은 단백질의 변조와 자가소화작용(autophagy)를 유도한다. 이처럼 celastrol의 다양한 효과는 암의 성공적 치료에 한발 더 가까워지게 만든다. 이외에도 celastrol의 항 비만 효과가 알려지면서 향후 비만 및 비만과 연계된 암 환자들이 가질 수 있는 부작용, 오남용 및 비용절감 측면에서 좋은 결과를 나타낼 것이라 예상 된다. Celastrol의 다양한 기작이 밝혀짐에도 불구 하고 직접적인 결합 부위에 대한 연구 결과는 아직 없으며, 임상적용 하기에 앞서 다양한 동물모델 in vivo 실험이 필요하다. 또한 임상치료 시도에 있어 안전성을 확보 하기 위해서는 celastrol의 단기간 및 장기간의 효과에 대한 깊은 연구가 요구된다.

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and anti-obesity activity of ethanol extracts from fermented Arctium lappa L. Arctium lappa fermented twice with Phellinus linteus (2nd FA) showed more DPPH radical scavenging activity than non-fermented Arctium lappa (NFA), and Arctium lappa fermented once (1st FA) at a concentration of 62.5 ppm. The 2nd FA showed the highest level of ABTS radical scavenging activity at concentration range of 31.5~125 ppm. The ABTS free radical scavenging activities of 1st FA and 2nd FA were similar to that of BHA, a synthetic antioxidant, at a concentration of 250 ppm. The total polyphenol content of 2nd FA was higher than those of NFA and 1st FA. The flavonoid content was significantly increased in 1st FA and 2nd FA than NFA. During adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly decreased in the order of NFA, 1st FA, and 2nd FA at all concentrations. In conclusion, the antioxidant and anti-obesity activities of A. lappa were increased depending on the degree of fermentation. It is suggested that fermented Arctium lappa, especially 2nd FA, could be used as a natural ingredient for functional foods and medicine.

The antiobesity effect of commercial kochujang and fermented wheat grains in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was studied. The experiment was consisted of 6 groups. Normal, high fat diet (HFD), HFD+raw wheat grains, HFD+first fermented wheat grains (FFWG, with Aspergillus oryzae) HFD+final fermented wheat grains (FiFWG, fermented more for 30~40 days), and HFD+ commercial kochujang. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and adipose tissue weight were markedly decreased by the commercial kochujang and the fermented wheat grains, whereas non-fermented raw wheat grains had no such effect. Lipid contents such as total lipid, total triglyceride and total cholesterol decreased in the serum and organs of liver and adipose tissues by the commercial kochujang and the fermented wheat grains as well. These results also indicated that fermented wheat grains exhibited more suppressive effects on high fat induced-obesity than raw wheat grains. Increased fermentation time and adding the red pepper powder resulted in increased the anti-obesity effect. Especially, commercial kochujang showed higher antiobestic effects than fermented wheat grains. These in vivo findings suggested that well-fermented end products of the wheat grains and red pepper powder in kochujang could be useful in the prevention of obesity.

This study was performed to investigate the anti-obesity and anti-lipidemic ability of linalool (LL) in ApoE deficient mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice were divided into four experimental groups of eight each. Mice in the control group received a basic diet and oral repeated dose of the vehicle only for 12 weeks; mice in the HFD group received a HFD and oral repeated dose of the vehicle only for 12 weeks; and the HFD&LL25 and HFD&LL50 groups received a HFD and oral repeated dose of LL 25 and 50 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks, respectively. Mice in the HFD group showed a significant increase in body weight, spleen weight, and adipose tissue weight, compared with the control group. An increase in the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol was also observed in the HFD group. Histopathological examinations showed severe liver injuries, characterized by extensive fatty changes and hepatocyte degeneration/necrosis. On the contrary, oral administration with LL resulted in significantly improved HFD-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia, indicated by a decrease in adipose tissue weight, T-CHO, TG, and histopathological lesions. The results indicate that LL suppressed HFD-induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hepatic steatosis, suggesting that LL might be a promising adjuvant therapy for treatment of these metabolic disorders related to corpulence.

Background : Obesity is a type of metabolic diseases caused by unbalanced in take and consumption of calories. 3T3-L1 is differentiated into adipocytes by various hormones and transcription factors and accumulates intracellular lipid. Therefore, it is important to inhibit the adipocyte differentiation precess for effective obesity inhibition. Aster yomena and Aster glehui are medicinal plant of Compositea family that grows widely in Korea. Aster genus plants have been used to treat snakebite wound or bruises in oriental. The aim of this study was comparison of inhibitory effect oxidation and adipocyte differentiation with Arial parts of A. yomena (AY) and A. glehni (AG). Methods and Results : AY and AG were cultivated from Pyeongchang in Korea, 2018. AY and AG were extracted by 70% ethanol (-E) and water (-W) at room temperature. AG-W has higher phenolic content (6.92 ± 0.23) and AG-E has higher flavonoid content (8.22 ± 0.19) than other extracts. AG-E has higher radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS assay (IC50 value; 104.88 ± 10.50 and 30.06 ± 0.27). In cytotoxity assay, all extracts concentrations of lower 100 ㎍/㎖ were nontoxic to the cells and can be applied for the next assay. The anti-adipogenic effect of extracts were determined in 3T3-L1 cell by Oli Red-O (ORO) staining. The lipid diplot stained with Oil red O was dissolved to determine by microplate-reader. AG-W significantly reduced the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells (70.49%) compared with other extracts (AG-E, AY-W and AY-E). Conclusion : Theses results reveal that the water extract of AG has utility as a functional food material for preventing obesity.

Background : Obesity, a global health problem and a chronic diseases, is associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and coronary heart diseases. A wide variety of natural remedies have been explored for their obesity treatment potential. To elucidate the anti-obesity effect of ginsenoside Rg5 : Rk1 (Rg5 : Rk1), a mixture of protopanaxadiol type ginsenosides isolated from Panax ginseng Meyer in a 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods and Results : In order to determinate the anti-obesity effect of Rg5 : Rk1, Oil Red O staining and triglyceride (TG) content was assessed. Furthermore, to elucidate the possible mechanism whether Rg5:Rk1 affects lipid accumulation, mRNA and protein expression analyses of adipocyte markers such as STAT3, PPARγ, CBEPα and ap2 were carried out. Rg5:Rk1 treatment showed an inhibition of lipid droplet accumulation and decrease on TG content. In addition, expression of STAT3, PPARγ, CEBPα and ap2 were decreased in dose dependent manner. Similar to these results, Rg5:Rk1 treatment reduced PPARγ and CEBPα protein expression. Conclusion : Rg5 : Rk1 treatment exhibits anti-adipogenic activity by down-regulation of the STAT3PPARγ/CEBPα pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line.

Background: An imbalance in energy intake and expenditure can cause obesity, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cancers and hyperlipidemia. Methods and Results: In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of a water extract from the young leaves of barley sprout (BS) in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (HF). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that BS markedly inhibited adipogenesis by reducing lipid droplet production in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and fatty acid synthetase, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α and fatty acid binding protein 4 in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly inhibited by BS treatment. In an in vivo test, the BSadministered group of HFD-induced mice showed less body weight gain, and lower liver and epididymal white adipose tissue weights. The BS-treated mice showed decreased serum levels of leptin and lipids compared to untreated HFD mice and the levels of adiponectin and the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio increased. These results indicate that BS inhibits body fat accumulation by reducing the mRNA expression of lipogenesis transcription factors and increasing serum adipokine concentration in in vitro and in vivo tests. Conclusions: BS reduced high fat diet-induced weight gain and had a positive effect on dyslipidemia.

Background: This study represents the first report that the anti-obesity activity of ethanol extracts of Aronia melanocarpa can be enhanced through ultrasonification at a frequency of 120 ㎑ at 60℃ (UE). Methods and Results: The amounts of cyanidin-3-O-galactose (cya-gal), a major anthocyanin in A. melanocarpa were higher by up to 402.4 ㎎/100 g, as compared with 221.4 ㎎/100 g and 322.1 ㎎/100 g, for hot water at 100℃ and 70% ethanol at 80℃ respectively. This result should cause the higher antioxidant activities of the UE than extract of hot water and ethanol in DPPH free radical scavenging. It was confirmed that the high antioxidant activity of UE could play an important role in inhibiting the production of proteins related to adipocyte differentiation, such as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Conclusions: Ultrasonification at a frequency of 120 ㎑ at 60℃ should result in better anti-obesity activity than that observed using other processes. It was also observed for the first time that the anti-obesity activity of A. melanocarpa was associated with its antioxidant activity, possibly due to the higher elution of intact cya-gal, owing to efficient low temperature ultrasonification extraction. These results could also be applied to improve other biological activities of medicinal herbs that contain many types of heat-labile bioactive substances.

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein- α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

본 연구는 대두 부산물인 순물과 침지수가 고지방 식이에 의 해 비만이 유도된 마우스의 지방 제거에 미치는 영향을 조사하 였다. 침지수가 포함된 일반 사료를 섭이한 실험군의 체중 및 간 과 부고환 지방 조직 내 지방 축적은 현저히 적은 것으로 나타났 으며, 복부 내 내장 지방과 피하지방도 크게 발달하지 않은 것으 로 나타나 침지수는 체내 축적된 지방량을 효과적으로 감소시 키는 것으로 조사되었다. 침지수 식이군의 혈중 AST와 ALT의 활성은 대조군 수준으로 유지되었으며, 콜레스테롤 함량과 중 성 지질 농도가 감소되는 것으로 나타나 침지수가 고지방 식이 로 인한 혈중 효소 활성과 지질농도를 개선하는 것으로 조사되 었다. 특히 침지수는 metabolic sensor 단백질인 AMPK와 ACC 의 인산화를 촉진시켜 체내 지방산 산화에 영향을 주는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한 침지수는 복부 내 피하지방과 내장지방의 축 적을 억제하는 것으로 확인되었다. 따라서 대두 부산물 중 침지 수는 비만이 유도된 마우스의 혈중 지질 함량을 개선할 뿐만 아 니라 체내 조직의 지방 축적을 완화시키거나 제거하는 데 효과 적일 것으로 사료된다.