Sulfuretin Prevents Obesity and Metabolic Diseases in Diet Induced Obese Mice

The global obesity epidemic and associated metabolic diseases require alternative biological targets for new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we show that a phytochemical sulfuretin suppressed adipocyte differentiation of preadipocytes and administration of sulfuretin to high fat diet-fed obese mice prevented obesity and increased insulin sensitivity. These effects were associated with a suppressed expression of inflammatory markers, induced expression of adiponectin, and increased levels of phosphorylated ERK and AKT. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of sulfuretin in adipocytes, we performed microarray analysis and identified activating transcription factor 3 (Atf3) as a sulfuretin-responsive gene. Sulfuretin elevated Atf3 mRNA and protein levels in white adipose tissue and adipocytes. Consistently, deficiency of Atf3 promoted lipid accumulation and the expression of adipocyte markers. Sulfuretin’s but not resveratrol’s anti-adipogenic effects were diminished in Atf3 deficient cells, indicating that Atf3 is an essential factor in the effects of sulfuretin. These results highlight the usefulness of sulfuretin as a new anti-obesity intervention for the prevention of obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.

Anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Rhynchosia nulubilis seeds pickled with brown rice vinegar in mice fed a high-fat diet

The abnormal content of blood lipids often results in metabolic diseases, such as hyperlipidemia and obesity. Many agents, including natural sources from traditional food, have been developed to regulate the blood lipid contents. In this study, we examined the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Rhynchosia nulubilis seeds pickled with brown rice vinegar (RNSpBRV), a Korean traditional pickled soybean food. Since RNSpBRV is made of R. nulubilis seeds (RNS) soaked in brown rice vinegar (BRV), we compared the anti-adipogenic activity between RNS, BRV and solid fraction of RNSpBRV (SF-RNSpBRV), liquid fraction of RNSpBRV (LF-RNSpBRV). For this, the inhibitory effect of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocyte was checked by adding methanol extracts of mixed RNS and BRV, LF-RNSpBRV, and SF-RNSpBRV. The addition of each methanol extract up to 1 mg/ml showed no cytotoxicity on 3T3-L1 adipocyte, and approximately 20% of the lipid droplet formation was suppressed with the methanol extract of BRL or SF-RNSpBRV. The highest suppression (42.1%) was achieved with LF-RNSpBRV. In addition, mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) supplemented with 5% RNSpBRV powder led to increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and lower blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol compared to mice fed with a HFD diet only. Interestingly, the size of the epididymis cells gradually decreased in HFD + 1% RNSpBRV- and HFD + 5% RNSpBRV-fed mice if compared those of HFD-fed mice. Taken together, these results provide evidence that RNSpBRV has a regulatory role in lipid metabolism that is related to hyperlipidemia.

Effect of Anti-inflammation and Skin Hydration of AF-343 on Macrophage Raw 264.7 Cells and NC/Nga Mice with Atopic Dermatitis / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory response on LPS and IFN-gamma induced Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells was secreted NO (nitric oxide) and PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) though expression of iNOS and COX-2. And many pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 etc.) was secreted on LPS and IFN-gamma induced Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells, too. Atopy dermatitis was inflammatory skin disease with pruritus, xeroderma and specific eczema. OBJECTIVE: We sought to effect of anti-inflammation and skin hydration of AF-343 on Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells and NC/Nga mice with Atopic Dermatitis. METHODS: The immune response of Raw 264.7 cells were induced by LPS and IFN-gamma. Then LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells was measured NO, PGE2 production after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. The related genes (iNOS, COX-2) for NO, PGE2 production were detected using Western blot in LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected, too. NC/Nga mice as Atopy dermatitis model was induced atopy dermatitis. Then NC/Nga mice with atopy dermatitis were performed oral administration of AF-343 for 1weeks. After oral administration of AF-343, TEWL was measured on skin tissues of NC/Nga mice with atopy dermatitis according to whether were performed oral administration of AF-343 or not. And pro-inflammatory cytokines and IgE was measured in serum, protein of skin tissues of NC/Nga mice. Skin tissues of NC/Nga mice were performed H&E staining, immunohistochemical staining for PCNA, Involucrin and filaggrin. RESULTS: LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells was decreased NO, PGE2 production in dose-dependent after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. The expression level of iNOS, COX-2 protein was decreased in dose-dependent, too. The related pro-inflammatory cytokines in media with LPS and IFN-gamma induced Raw 264.7 cells were decreased after treatment of different concentrations for AF-343. TEWL level of NC/Nga mice skin (back, ear) with atopy dermatitis according to whether were performed oral administration of AF-343 or not was decreased in NC/Nga mice with atopy dermatitis group was performed oral administration by AF-343. When NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis was performed oral administration by AF-343, induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and IgE expression in serum, protein of back, ear skin tissues of each NC/Nga mice group was decreased. H&E stained Skin tissues of NC/Nga mice was confirmed that thickness of epidermis, dermis were decreased in NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis was performed oral administration by AF-343 than NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis. The expression of PCNA, involucrin and filaggrin were decreased in NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis was performed oral administration by AF-343 than NC/Nga mice group with atopy dermatitis as results of immunihistochemical staining using specific antibodies such as PCNA as cell proliferation marker, involucrin and filaggrin as keratinocytes differentiation markers for skin tissues (back, ear) of NC/Nga mice. CONCLUSION: We confirmed effect of anti-inflammation and skin hydration of AF-343 on Macrophage Raw 264.7 cells and NC/Nga mice with Atopic Dermatitis. In conclusion, AF-343 is expecting as therapeutics for atopic dermatitis.

New Species of Agaricales

Clitocybe alboinfundibulliforme sp. nov. is widely distributed in Korea. Volvariella koreana sp. nov. is rarely distributed in Korea. These taxa were occasionally found together at the same place. Both of these species seem to be associated with each other. These two species are fully described and illustrated in this paper.

Taxonomic Study on Volvariella in Korea

Diversities of Korean species belonging to the genus Volvariella have been studied through forty five dried specimens collected throughout the Korean peninsula for 28 years, from 1972 to 2000, and preserved in NIAST's herbarium. We have found one unrecorded species of the genus Volvariella in Korea: V. villosavolva (Lloyd) Sing, Stirp Taylori Korean common names were designated. Ten species of the genus Volvariella including the recorded Korean species of Volvariella have been identified and the keys to the species were constructed.