Seok-Kyu Park

Anti-visceral obesity and antioxidant effects of powdered sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaf tea in diet-induced obese mice

The potential health benefits of tea have long been studied. This study examined the role of powdered sea buckthorn leaf tea (SLT) in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. The mice were fed two different doses of SLT (1% and 5%, wt/wt) for six weeks. SLT suppressed body weight gain in a dose-dependent manner and significantly reduced visceral fat, plasma levels of leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol and ALT activity compared with the high-fat-fed control mice. SLT also decreased hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations and lipid accumulation, whereas elevated fecal lipid excretion. High-fat feeding resulted in simultaneously decreasing hepatic FAS and G6PD activities and increasing PAP, β-oxidation and CPT activities. However, SLT supplementation during high-fat feeding led to a significant decrease in PAP, β-oxidation and CPT activities with a simultaneous increase in G6PD activity. The hepatic CYP2E1 activity and hepatic and erythrocyte lipid peroxides were significantly lowered with SLT supplements. Hepatic and erythrocyte SOD and CAT activities were also increased with SLT supplements in a dose-dependent manner, whereas GSH-Px activity was increased in erythrocytes only. These results indicate that SLT has potential anti-visceral obesity and antioxidant effects mediated by the regulation of lipid and antioxidant metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Production of novel vinegar having antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities from Salicornia herbacea L.

BACKGROUND Salicornia herbacea L. is a halophyte that grows in salt marshes and contains significant amounts of salts and minerals. Because it is known as a folk medication to treat diseases, various processed products such as powder, globular type of powder, laver and extract have been developed. However, it is difficult to process as a drink because of its high salinity. In the present study, glasswort vinegar (GV) containing high amounts of organic acids and minerals was developed via two-step fermentation with unpolished rice substrates and investigated its antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities. RESULTS GV showed various free radical scavenging effects, reducing power, oxidized-LDL inhibition and superoxide dismutase-like activities. Compared with the control group (orally administered 7 g kg(-1) distilled water), the GV supplementation group showed increased running endurance and had higher glycogen accumulation in liver and muscles of rats exhausted by exercise. Furthermore, the GV-administered group demonstrated significantly elevated lactate and ATP metabolism, promoting enzyme activities such as muscle creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas serum fatigue biomarkers such as ammonia, lactate and inorganic acid were markedly decreased. CONCLUSION These results indicate that GV can be used as a functional food for the development of a dietary beverage to alleviate fatigue.

Establishment of Preparation Method of Dua-Chungkukjang

To increase the functional properties of black soybean, we prepared the Chungkukjang with black bean at after its germination according to the time course. The black soybean was soaked for 3 hr and dried three times with 2 hr interval. The germination ratio reached 50% for 12 hr germination and 80% for 24 hr, respectively. The optimum temperature of the germination was . The general composition of the germinated black soybean were not different from the control black soybean. During germination and growth, protease activity decreased slightly, whereas glucoamylase activity increased. On the other hand, content of isoflavone was increased to two times when the germinated leaf was 20 mm length. Absolute amount of the isoflavone was about 260 /g. When we estimated the sensory test of the Dua-chungkukjang, the color and mucoid formation was not different from traditional chungkukjang but bad flavor was decreased compared to traditional chungkukjang. And the same result was detected in the Dua-chungkukjang soup.

Scopoletin Supplementation Ameliorates Steatosis and Inflammation in Diabetic Mice

Scopoletin is a bioactive component in many edible plants and fruits. This study investigated the effects of scopoletin on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in a high‐fat diet fed type 1 diabetic mice by comparison with metformin. Scopoletin (0.01%, w/w) or metformin (0.5%, w/w) was provided with a high‐fat diet to streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice for 11 weeks. Both scopoletin and metformin lowered blood glucose and HbA1c, serum ALT, TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels, glucose intolerance, and hepatic lipid accumulation compared with the diabetic control group. Scopoletin or metformin down‐regulated hepatic gene expression of triglyceride (Pparg, Plpp2, and Dgat2) and cholesterol (Hmgcr) synthesis as well as inflammation (Tlr4, Myd88, Nfkb1, Tnfa, and Il6), while it up‐regulated Cyp7a1 gene. Hepatic PPARγ and DGAT2 protein levels were also down‐regulated in scopoletin or metformin group compared with the control group. Scopoletin or metformin also inhibited hepatic fatty acid synthase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities. These results suggest that scopoletin protects against diabetes‐induced steatosis and inflammation by inhibiting lipid biosynthesis and TLR4‐MyD88 pathways. Copyright

Physico-chemical Characteristics of Dua-Chungkukjang

Unlike the traditional preparation method for Chungkukjang, we prepared Dua-Chungkukjang with soybean fermented at after the soaking, germination and steaming process, and we studied the physico-chemical characteristics of Dua-Chungkukjang. Reducing sugar content in both traditional Chungkukjang and Dua-Chungkukjang increased sharply after 10 hr of fermentation, but it decreased slightly after that. Total nitrogen content in both traditional Chungkukjang and Dua-Chungkukjang increased slowly as fermentation took place. Total nitrogen content reached 3,500 mg% and 3,700 mg%, and soluble nitrogen compound reached 750 mg% and 1,800 mg% after 40 hr of fermentation, respectively. -Glucosidase activity increased continuously as fermentation took place, and it reached 193, 223, 235 and 248 units in Dua-Chungkukjang while it reached 125, 178, 205 and 214 units in traditional Chungkukjang after 10 hr, 20 hr, 30 hr and 40 hr of fermentation. This means that -Glucosidase activity in Dua-Chungkukjang was times higher than that in the control treatment, traditional Chungkukjang. Total isoflavone content was /g and /g for 10 hr of fermentation, and /g and /g for 40 hr in traditional Chungkukjang and Dua-Chungkukjang, respectively. Isoflavone content of Dua-Chungkukjang was 2-3.5 times higher than that of traditional Chungkukjang. Anthocyanin content also increased continuously as fermentation took place, and it reached 5.0 mg/g and 6.9 mg/g in traditional Chungkukjang and Dua-Chungkukjang after 40 hr of fermentation, respectively.

Anti-Obesity Property of Lichen Thamnolia vermicularis Extract in 3T3-L1 Cells and Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Thamnolia vermicularis (TV) is an edible lichen that is prevalent in the alpine zone of East Asia. This study evaluated the feasibility of using TV acetone extracts as a functional food based on experiments using cell line and obese mice. The cellular triglyceride levels and Oil red O staining of 3T3-L1 cells indicated that TV extracts (5 and 10 μg/mL) dose-dependently suppressed adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation compared with the control. The TV extract (0.4%, w/w) in a high-fat diet (HFD) was supplemented to C57BL/6N mice for 12 weeks, and TV extract supplement significantly reduced visceral fat mass and body weight compared with HFD feeding alone. The TV extract also induced significant decreases in serum and hepatic lipids, whereas it increased the serum high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio and fecal lipids levels. Moreover, the TV extract led to significantly lower homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the TV extract may have anti-obesity effects, including lipid-lowering, and it is a natural resource with the potential for use in obesity management.