Hee-Young Ahn

Protective effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris on alcoholic hepatotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats

This study was to investigate the protective effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Alcohol-feeding rats were fed diets with Paecilomyces japonica as CPJ group, C. militaris as CCM group, cordycepin-enriched C. militaris as CCMα group at the 3% (w/w) level and silymarin at the 0.1% (w/w) level for 4 weeks. Alcohol administration resulted in a significant increase in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde in serum. However, CCMα group markedly prevented from alcohol-induced elevation of these parameters in serum. CCMα group showed the increased both hepatic activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Unlike the action of alcohol treatment on alcoholic fatty liver, CCMα group was also attenuated lipid droplet accumulation in the hepatocytes. Present study was also confirmed the beneficial roles of silymarin (hepatoprotective agent) against alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. Therefore, cordycepin-enriched C. militaris can be a promising candidate to prevent from alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity.

Biological Activity of Fermented Silkworm Powder

The comparative effects of the fibrinolytic, and tyrosinase inhibition activities and electrophoretical protein patterns with freeze-drying silkworm powder (FDSW), heating-drying silkworm powder (HDSW) and fermented silkworm powder by Bacillus subtilis or Lactobacillus hilgardii were investigated. When total protein patterns of FDSW, HDSW, both fermented SW, were analyzed by native- and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), there were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns. Major minerals of FDSW and HDSW were K, Ca, Mg, and Zn. Major compositional amino acids of FDSW and HDSW were glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and serine. Major fatty acids of FDSW and HDSW were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Fibriolytic activity was the highest in the fermented FDSW by 5% B. subtilis among the various samples. Tyrosinase inhibition activity was higher in the water and 70% methanolic extract of FDSW than in HDSW. DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in HDSW than in FDSW. In addition, DPPH radical scavenging activity was higher in FDSW or HDSW fermented by L. hilgardii than that fermented by B. subtilis, however, all samples exhibited a relatively low activity compared to the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities of fermented SW.

Biological Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Fermented Silkworm Powder by Mold

Five mold strains - Mucor racemousus, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus kawachii, and Monascus purpureus - were used for the fermentation of both freeze-dried and air-dried silkworm powders. The concentrations of proteins and minerals, electrophoretical protein patterns, fatty acid composition and the activities of fibrinolytic and antioxidation with freeze-dried silkworm (FDSW) or air-dried silkworm powders (ADSW) fermented by the five molds were investigated. The concentrations of major minerals in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were K by 72.0-76.3 and 77.1-78.9 ppm, Mg by 29.6-49.7 and 44.3-58.7 ppm, Ca by 1.9-14.9 and 9.8-21.6 ppm and Zn by 0.64-0.70 and 4.17-4.52 ppm, respectively. Major fatty acids in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. There were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns when total protein patterns of fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were analyzed by native-and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in fermented ADSW powders than that in fermented FDSW. Fibriolytic activity was only detected in the FDSW fermented by Aspergillus kawachi and Monascus purpureus. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of silkworm fermented by mold, which can be used for the development of functional foods.

Antioxidative Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Leaf and Fruit Extracts from Thuja orientalis

The contents of bioactive materials (e.g. polyphenolics compounds, flavonoids, minerals, and fatty acids) and antioxidative activities (DPPH (,`-diphenyl--picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity, peroxidation of linoleic acid and rat hepatocyte microsome, and Fe/Cu reducing power) were tested by in vitro experimental models using water, ethanol and methanol extracts of leaves (TOL) and fruits (TOF) from Thuja orientalis. Methanol extract from TOL showed the highest extraction yield (12.90%) as well as contents of polyphenolic compounds (16.02%) and flavonoids (0.25%). Major minerals were Ca, K, and Mg. Major fatty acids were palmitic and lauric acids in TOL and palmitic and decanoic acids in TOF. In oxidation of in vitro models using DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Fe/Cu reducing power, /ascorbate-induced linolenic acid peroxidation by ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods, and autooxidation of rat hepatic microsomes membrane, anti-oxidative activities were stronger in all extracts of TOL than in those of TOF in a dose-dependent manner. From these results, methanol extract of TOL was shown to have the most potent anti-oxidative properties and the highes content of antioxidative compounds such as polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids.

Improvement Effect of Cordycepin-Enriched Cordyceps militaris JLM 0636 Powder against Orotic Acid-Induced Fatty Liver in Rats

The concentration of cordycepin produced by crossbred Cordyceps militaris JLM 0636 (CMα) was 7.42 mg/g dry weight, which was 7-fold higher than that of C. militaris (CM). However, cordycepin was not detected in Paecilomyces japonica (PJ). The improvement effects of CMα, CM and PJ on orotic acid (OA)-induced fatty liver in male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6) based on five dietary categories: normal (N), OA control (C), OA plus 3% (w/w) PJ (PJ), OA plus 3% CM (CM), and OA plus 3% CMα (CMα). OA treatment induced the retardation of body weight gain and enlargement of the liver. The concentration of hepatic triglyceride was markedly increased by OA-feeding, whereas this rise was significantly reduced by simultaneous feeding of OA, PJ, CM, and CMα, and this phenomenon was more pronounced by cordycepin- enriched CMα. The contents of total lipid, triglyceride, and free fatty acid in the serum were significantly or slightly lower in the OA control group than those of the N group, but there were no significant differences among the OA treatment groups. The hepatocytes in the OA-induced fatty liver contained numerous large lipid droplets, but PJ, CM, and CMα feeding prevented the OA-induced lipid droplet accumulation in the hepatocytes. This effect was more pronounced in cordycepin-enriched CMα than in PJ or CM in OA treatment rats. Accordingly, cordycepin-enriched CMα could be an ideal candidate material as a dietary supplement in healthy functional foods to improve the effects of fatty liver.

Biological Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Fermented Acanthopanax senticosus by Mold

Three mold strains, Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae), Aspergillus kawachii (A. kawachii), and Monascus purpureus (M. purpureus), were tested for fermentation of Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus) leaf, root, stem, and fruit powders. The fermented A. senticosus materials were then tested for bioactive materials (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, mineral and fatty acid) and biological activities (DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and tyrosinase inhibition activity). The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were NFASL at 4.11% and MPASL at 2.30%, respectively. Major minerals were Ca, K, Mg and Mn. Major fatty acids in fermented A. senticosus powders were palmitic, linolenic, and stearic acids. DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in non-fermented than in fermented A. senticosus. Tyrosinase inhibition activity was stronger in fermented A. senticosus than in NFAG. The Fe/Cu reducing powers were stronger in non-fermented A. senticosus than in any of the fermented A. senticosus materials. Overall, the study provides basic data for understanding the biological activities and chemical characteristics of A. senticosus fermented by molds for the development of functional foods.

Fibrinolytic Activity and Chemical Properties of Cordycepin-Enriched Cordyceps militaris JLM 0636

The effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris JLM 0636 () and Cordyceps militaris (CM) on fibrinolytic activity was investigated. The bioactive compounds and nutritional materials such as polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, glutathione, minerals, and fatty acids were also measured. Concentrations of polyphenol compounds, flavonoids, and glutathione were higher in than that in CM. The major minerals of both materials were K, Ca, Mg, and Na. The major fatty acids of both materials were linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Fibrinolytic activity was higher in than that in CM. These results may provide the basic data to understand the fibrinolytic activity and bioactive compounds of .

Effects of Monascus-Fermented Korean Red Ginseng Powder on the Contents of Serum Lipid and Tissue Lipid Peroxidation in Alcohol Feeding Rats

The effects of Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG) on the contents of serum lipids and tissues lipid peroxidation was investigated in alcohol feeding rats (AC group). Serum contents of total lipid and free fatty acid in alcohol feeding rats were significantly increased, but these increases tended to decrease in the AMFRG group. Serum triglyceride content was also significantly decreased in the AMFRG group compared to other groups. Serum content of total-cholesterol was significantly increased in AC group compared to normal control (NC) group, whereas there was no significant difference between the AC and AMFRG groups. Content of HDL-cholesterol in serum was slightly increased in the AC group compared to the NC group, but this increase in the AC group was more significantly increased in the AMFRG group. At the same time, atherogenic index (AI) was also significantly decreased in the AMFRG group compared to the AC group. Contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver, heart, spleen and testes were significantly increased in the AC group compared to the NC group, but these increases were significantly less in the AMFRG group. Contents of liver nonheme ion was increased in the AC group and was significantly decreased in the AMFRG group, which suggested that lipid peroxidation contents are inversely correlated with liver nonheme ion content. Hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly decreased in the AC group, but this content was significantly increased in the AMFRG group and it showed the antioxidant abilities of glutathione. These results suggested that Monascus-fermented Korea red ginseng has anti-atherogenic index (AI) effects as well as antioxidative activities through reduced tissue oxidative stress in alcohol feeding rats.

Antiobesity activity of fermented Angelicae gigantis by high fat diet-induced obese rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Monascus purpureus-fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix (FAG) on body weight gain, visceral fat accumulation, biochemical markers of obesity, and the mRNA expression levels of various genes involved in adipogenesis in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced rat model of obesity. Effect of nodakenin isolated from Angelicae gigantis on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation was also investigated in vitro. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6 per group) based on five dietary categories: HFD control, HFD + 2.5% (w/w) AG, HFD + 5% AG, HFD + 2.5% FAG, and HFD + 5% FAG. Present study investigated nodakenin isolated from AG and FAG roots by measuring fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte using Oil Red O staining. FAG administration effectively lowered the body weight gain, visceral fat accumulation, and hepatic and serum lipid and leptin concentrations in obese rats. In addition, FAG administration significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of adipose tissue genes encoding adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ 2 (PPARγ2), and CCAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) as compared with HFD group. Furthermore, nodakenin reduced the fat accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. FAG ameliorates HFD-induced obesity, probably by modulating multiple genes associated with adipogenesis in the visceral fat tissue of rats. Accordingly, fermented Angelicae gigantis may be an ideal candidate for obesity relief.

Effects of Monascus-fermented Angelica gigas Nakai on the Contents of Serum Lipid and Tissue Lipid Peroxidation in Alcohol Feeding Rats

The effect of Monascus-fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (AFAG) on the contents of serum lipids and tissue lipid peroxidation was investigated in alcohol feeding rats (Alc group). The serum contents of total lipid and free fatty acid in the alcohol feeding rats were significantly increased, but these increases tended to decrease in the AFAG group. The content of serum triglyceride was also significantly decreased in the AFAG group compared to the other groups. The serum content of total-cholesterol was not significantly different between the normal group and the AFAG group. The content of HDL-cholesterol in serum was slightly increased in the AFAG group compared to the Alc group. The content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver, heart, spleen, and testis were significantly increased in the Alc group compared to the normal group, but these increases were significantly decreased in the AFAG group. The content of liver zinc was decreased in the Alc group and it was significantly increased in the AFAG group, which suggested that the lipid peroxidation contents are inversely correlated with the liver zinc content. The hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly decreased in the Alc group, but this content was significantly increased in the AFAG group, and it showed the antioxidant ability of glutathione. These activities were also compared to the standard silymarin drug treatment. Thus, the findings of the present study indicated the significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Monascus-fermented Angelica gigas Nakai against ethanol-induced toxicity.