Effects of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Extract on Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cells and Lipid Accumulation in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Flavonoids and phenolic acid are two of the rich polyphenols found in cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). The effects of cinnamon extract on the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells and prohibitory lipid accumulation in male mice fed a high-fat diet were examined. Upon treating 3T3-L1 cells with cinnamon for 3 days, the cinnamon inhibited lipid accumulation and increased gene expression levels, such as those of adiponectin and leptin. In in vivo experiments, mice were randomized into four groups after a one-week acclimation period, as follows: normal diet, normal diet + 1% cinnamon extract, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet + 1% cinnamon extract. After 14 weeks of supplementation, we found that cinnamon extract increased the expression of lipolysis-related proteins, such as AMPK, p-ACC, and CPT-1, and reduced the expression of lipid-synthesis-related proteins, such as SREBP-1c and FAS, in liver tissue. Our results show that cinnamon extract may exhibit anti-obesity effects via the inhibition of lipid synthesis and adipogenesis and the induction of lipolysis in both 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells and mice fed a high-fat diet. Accordingly, cinnamon extract may have potential anti-obesity effects.

Ameliorative effects of Kyung-Ok-Ko and its mixture with Pueraria lobata Ohwi on postmenopausal osteoporosis by promoting phytoestrogenic activity in rats.

Introduction: Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK) is a popular traditional medicine used as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy for treating postmenopausal symptoms in Asia. Pueraria lobata Ohwi (P. lobata) is rich in isoflavones and has been traditionally used in combination with other herbs to produce synergistic and pharmaceutical effects via a multi-target approach for disease treatment. We aimed to investigate the phytoestrogenic effects of KOK extract against postmenopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and confirm its efficacy by mixing KOK and P. lobata extracts. Methods: OVX rats were daily oral administrated with KOK and KOK + P. lobata mixture extracts (300-400 mg/kg) and their body weight and tail temperature were monitored for 12 weeks. The biochemical parameters, estradiol levels, and bone turnover markers were measured in the serum samples. Moreover, the estrogen receptor, ER-α and ER-ß expression in the uterus and the uterus morphology were evaluated. AMPK, ATG1/ULK1, and mTOR protein expression in the liver were assessed. Results: The 12-week treatment with KOK and KOK + P. lobata mixture extracts did not cause liver damage or hormonal changes in the OVX rats. The treatments reduced the high lipid accumulation-related body weight gain and the tail temperature increase that was induced by ovariectomy. Further, it exhibited protective effects against hyperlipidemia and osteoporosis. No significant difference was observed in uterine weight compared to the OVX-treated group, while endometrial thickness reduction inhibition was observed due to ovariectomy. Bone mineral density (BMD) and serum osteocalcin levels, which decreased in OVX rats, increased with both treatments. Western blotting analysis showed that ER-α and ER-ß were not expressed in the treated rats, whereas these proteins were expressed in Sham-operated rats. No significant differences in the phosphorylation of AMPK were observed; however, the ATG1/ULK1 and mTOR protein phosphorylation levels were upregulated and downregulated in the treated rats compared to those of OVX rats, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first in vivo study observing the efficacy and synergistic effects of the mixture of KOK and P. lobata. Our results suggest the potential of KOK and KOK + P. lobata mixture as an alternative therapy for alleviating menopausal symptoms.

Cacao powder supplementation attenuates oxidative stress, cholinergic impairment, and apoptosis in D-galactose-induced aging rat brain.

Aging, a critical risk factor of several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, affects an ever-growing number of people. Cacao supplementation has been suggested to improve age-related neuronal deficits. Therefore, this study investigated the protective effects of raw cacao powder on oxidative stress-induced aging. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: Control (C), D-galactose-induced aging (G), D-galactose injection with 10% (LC), and 16% (HC) cacao powder mixed diet. D-galactose (300 mg/3 mL/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into all but the control group for 12 weeks. Cacao supplemented diets were provided for 8 weeks. The levels of serum Malondialdehyde (MDA), Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), brain and liver MDA, the indicators of the D-galactose induced oxidative stress were significantly decreased in LC and HC but increased in G. The Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of brain showed that the cholinergic impairment was significantly lower in LC, and HC than G. Furthermore, the expression levels of catalase (CAT), phospho-Akt/Akt, and procaspase-3 were significantly increased in LC and HC. In conclusion, cacao consumption attenuated the effects of oxidative stress, cholinergic impairment and apoptosis, indicating its potential in future clinical studies.

Education, Role, and Prospects of Advanced Practice Nurses in Hospice and Palliative Care in South Korea.

Hospice palliative care refers to holistic care provided by an interdisciplinary team aimed at improving the quality of life of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases and their families. Among interdisciplinary team members, hospice advanced practice nurses (APNs) trained as master's-level advanced nursing professionals are leaders who play an important role in providing patient-centered care and improving the quality of services. The Medical Service Act revised in 2018 requires the scope of practice of APNs in each field to be specified in the Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Accordingly, discussions on the role and scope of practice of hospice APNs are actively underway. In this review, the curriculum of hospice APNs, their work responsibilities and roles, and their current status are reviewed, and the future direction of the hospice APN system is also discussed.

Effects of Decursin and Angelica gigas Nakai Root Extract on Hair Growth in Mouse Dorsal Skin via Regulating Inflammatory Cytokines.

This current study investigates the facilitative effects and mechanisms of decursin, a major component of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN), and AGN root extract on hair growth in mice. We perform high-performance liquid chromatography on AGN extract to show it contains 7.3% decursin. Hairs in mouse dorsal skin are shaved distilled in water, 0.15% decursin, and 2% AGN root extract (0.15% decursin in the diluted extract) and topically applied twice a day for 17 days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining are done to examine the morphological changes in the hair follicles. To compare the effects of decursin and AGN extract on inflammatory cytokines in the dorsal skin, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1ß as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and IL-4 and IL-13 as anti-inflammatory cytokines are conducted. The results show that the application of decursin and AGN extract confer effects on hair growth. Hair growth is significantly facilitated from seven days after the treatments compared to that in the control group, and completely grown hair was found 17 days after the treatments. The protein levels and immunoreactivity of TNF-α and IL-1ß in this case are significantly decreased, whereas the IL-4 and IL-13 levels and immunoreactivity are significantly increased compared to those in the control group. Additionally, high-mobility group box 1, an inflammatory mediator, is elevated by the topical application of decursin and AGN extract. Taken together, the treatment of mouse dorsal skin with AGE root extract containing decursin promotes hair growth by regulating pro- and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines. We, therefore, suggest that AGN root extract as well as decursin can be utilized as materials for developing hair growth-facilitating treatments.

Pilot plant study on nitrogen and phosphorus removal in marine wastewater by marine sediment with sequencing batch reactor.

Effective biological treatment of marine wastewater is not well-known. Accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus from land-based effluent is a crucial cause of red-tide in marine systems. The purpose of the study is to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in marine wastewater with a pilot plant-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system by using marine sediment as eco-friendly and effective biological materials, and elucidate which bacterial strains in sludge from marine sediment influence the performance of SBR. By applying eco-friendly high efficiency marine sludge (eco-HEMS), the treatment performance was 15 m3 d-1 of treatment amount in 4.5 m3 of the reactor with the average removal efficiency of 89.3% for total nitrogen and 94.9% for total phosphorus at the optimal operation condition in summer. Moreover, the average removal efficiency was 84.0% for total nitrogen and 88.3% for total phosphorus in winter although biological treatment efficiency in winter is generally lower due to bacterial lower activity. These results were revealed by the DNA barcoding analysis of 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing of samples from the sludge in winter. The comparative analysis of the bacterial community composition in sludge at the high efficiency of the system showed the predominant genera Psychromonas (significantly increased to 45.6% relative abundance), Vibrio (13.3%), Gaetbulibacter (5.7%), and Psychroserpens (4.3%) in the 4 week adaptation after adding marine sediment, suggesting that those predominant bacteria influenced the treatment performance in winter.

Menopause-Associated Lipid Metabolic Disorders and Foods Beneficial for Postmenopausal Women.

Menopause is clinically diagnosed as a condition when a woman has not menstruated for one year. During the menopausal transition period, there is an emergence of various lipid metabolic disorders due to hormonal changes, such as decreased levels of estrogens and increased levels of circulating androgens; these may lead to the development of metabolic syndromes including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism affects the body fat mass, fat-free mass, fatty acid metabolism, and various aspects of energy metabolism, such as basal metabolic ratio, adiposity, and obesity. Moreover, menopause is also associated with alterations in the levels of various lipids circulating in the blood, such as lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and triacylglycerol (TG). Alterations in lipid metabolism and excessive adipose tissue play a key role in the synthesis of excess fatty acids, adipocytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species, which cause lipid peroxidation and result in the development of insulin resistance, abdominal adiposity, and dyslipidemia. This review discusses dietary recommendations and beneficial compounds, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, phytochemicals-and their food sources-to aid the management of abnormal lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Chemical Composition of a Novel Distillate from Fermented Mixture of Nine Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Its UVB-Protective Efficacy in Mouse Dorsal Skin via Attenuating Collagen Disruption and Inflammation.

Since ancient times, various herbs have been used in Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan, for wound healing and antiaging of the skin. In this study, we manufactured and chemically analyzed a novel distillate obtained from a fermented mixture of nine anti-inflammatory herbs (Angelica gigas, Lonicera japonica, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., D. opposita Thunb., Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Hordeum vulgare var. hexastichon Aschers., Xanthium strumarium L., Cnidium officinale, and Houttuynia cordata Thunb.). The fermentation of natural plants possesses beneficial effects in living systems. These activities are attributed to the chemical conversion of the parent plants to functional constituents which show more potent biological activities. In our current study, the distillate has been manufactured after fermenting the nine oriental medical plants with Lactobacillus fermentum, followed by distilling. We analyzed the chemical ingredients involved in the distillate and evaluated the effects of topical application of the distillate on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. Topical application of the distillate significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the dorsal skin against photodamage induced by UVB radiation. Additionally, our current results showed that topical application of the distillate alleviated collagen disruption and reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 ß expressions) in the dorsal skin against UVB radiation. Taken together, our current findings suggest that the distillate has a potential to be used as a material to develop a photoprotective adjuvant.

Additive effect of walnut and chokeberry on regulation of antioxidant enzyme gene expression and attenuation of lipid peroxidation in d-galactose-induced aging-mouse model.

Studies have highlighted the association between the cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species and aging. The reducing sugar d-galactose causes aging-related changes and oxidative stress. Lipids are the first target of free radicals, and lipid peroxidation is related to aging. Walnut (Juglans regia Chandler) kernel contains antioxidant phenolic compounds, and chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is one of the richest sources of polyphenols, including anthocyanins, among other fruits. Polyphenols from chokeberry exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the additive antioxidative effect of walnut and chokeberry mixture was evaluated by oxidative stress index in d-galactose-induced aging model. Thirty-five Balb/c mice (8 weeks old) were divided into following five groups (n = 7 in each group): normal control (C), d-galactose control (D), d-galactose with chokeberry diet (CH), d-galactose with walnut diet (W), and d-galactose with walnut and chokeberry mixture diet (WCH). In all treatment diets groups, the levels of serum, hepatic, and kidney malonaldehyde were significantly lower than D group and the levels were approaching to control level. Moreover, the kidney malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in WCH group compared with the control group. This study also confirmed the activities of antioxidant enzymes in liver, as the levels of superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in CH group compared to in W or CH groups. The results of this study supported the additive effect of walnut and chokeberry on increment of antioxidant enzyme gene expression in liver and consequently the attenuation of lipid peroxidation in serum, liver, and kidney in d-galactose-induced aging-mouse model. Further studies are needed to investigate the detailed mechanism underlying the additive antioxidative effects in various tissues.

Characteristics of crude oil-degrading bacteria Gordonia iterans isolated from marine coastal in Taean sediment.

Crude oil is a major pollutant of marine and coastal ecosystems, and it causes environmental problems more seriously. It is believed ultimate and complete degradation is accomplished mainly by microorganisms. In this study, we aim to search out for bacterial strains with high ability in degrading crude oil. From sediments contaminated by the petroleum spilled in 2007, an accident in Taean, South Korea, we isolated thirty-one bacterial strains in total with potential application in crude oil contamination remediation. In terms of removal percentage after 7 days, one of the strains, Co17, showed the highest removal efficiency with 84.2% of crude oil in Bushnell-Haas media. The Co17 strain even exhibited outstanding ability removing crude oil at a high salt concentration. Through the whole genome sequencing annotation results, many genes related with n-alkane degradation in the genome of Gordonia sp. Co17, revealed alkane-1-monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase. Specially, for confirmation of gene-level, alkB gene encoding alkane hydroxylase (alkane-1-monooxygenase) was found in the strain Co17. The expression of alkB upregulated 125-fold after 18 hr accompany with the removal of n-alkanes of 48.9%. We therefore propose the strain Gordonia iterans Co17, isolated from crude oil-contaminated marine sediment, could be used to offer a new strategy for bioremediation with high efficiency.

The association between spiritual well-being and burnout in intensive care unit nurses: A descriptive study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the spiritual well-being and burnout of intensive care unit nurses and examine the relationship between these factors. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants were 318 intensive care unit recruited from three university hospitals in South Korea. The survey questionnaire included demographic information, work-related characteristics and end-of-life care experience, along with the Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Burnout Questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA with Scheffé test and a multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The burnout level among intensive care unit nurses was 3.15 out of 5. A higher level of burnout was significantly associated with younger age, lower education level, single marital status, having no religion, less work experience and previous end-of-life care experience. Higher levels of spiritual well-being were associated with lower levels of burnout, even after controlling for the general characteristics in the regression model. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses experience a high level of burnout in general. Increased spiritual well-being might reduce burnout among intensive care unit nurses. Younger and less experienced nurses should receive more attention as a vulnerable group with lower spirituality and greater burnout in intensive care unit settings.

Time and Intervention Effects of Daily Almond Intake on the Changes of Lipid Profile and Body Composition Among Free-Living Healthy Adults.

Favorable health benefits of almond have been shown in several previous studies. However, repeated measures, randomized, controlled trials to investigate the changes due to almond intake based on the time effects have not yet been reported. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of daily almond intake on changes in body composition and lipid profiles for 20 weeks with four measurements among healthy adults. Participants in the almond group showed favorable changes on blood lipid profiles, including levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL-C) after consuming 56 g of almond per day for 20 weeks compared with those at baseline. At week 20, subjects in the almond group showed significantly decreased TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, TG, body fat mass, and waist-hip ratio compared with those of the control group who consumed isocaloric control food. The mixed model also confirmed that there were significant time effects in several bioimpedance indicators (i.e., total body protein, fat-free mass, etc.) and all of the lipid profile parameters in the almond group. These results confirm the effects of lipid-lowering and modifying body composition of almond consumption. In addition, our results suggest that the measuring time points would be critical to capture the effects of dietary intervention.

Providing Palliative Care Education: Showcasing Efforts of Asian Nurses.

Most of the world's population lives in Asia. Prevention and detection of cancer, as well as ensuring equitable access to cancer care for all Asians remains a major public health issue and requires governmental involvement and dedicated resources. Palliative care, a medical and nursing specialty, promotes holistic attention to suffering and provides compassionate and interdisciplinary care to the most vulnerable in all societies-those with serious illness. It is nurses who provide the majority of care for patients with cancer, as no other healthcare professional spends more time at the bedside or out in the community assessing and managing these patients and their families. The purpose of this article is to showcase nursing leaders throughout Asia who are receiving palliative care education, educating their colleagues in this care, improving clinical practice, participating in the development of healthcare policies, and advocating for this care.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Soybean Embryo by Enhancing Adiponectin-Mediated AMP-Activated Protein Kinase α Pathway in High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by >5% deposition of triglycerides in hepatocytes, is often referred as a major risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of whole soybean embryos containing bioactive substances such as isoflavones and soyasaponins. For this study, mice were randomly allocated into four groups that were fed different diets for 10 weeks: normal diets and high-fat and high-cholesterol diets (HD), and HD with 10% or 20% soybean embryo powder (10SE-HD and 20SE-HD). Hepatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity of the experimental groups increased during the period of the study (P < .05). Hepatic mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor α, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, and Caspase 3 were decreased when soybean embryos were increased in the mice's diets. Both of the soybean embryo-treated groups showed significantly decreased serum and liver triglyceride and total cholesterol. Adiponectin, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and apolipoprotein B mRNA expressions were decreased in the mice that were fed soybean embryos. We suggest that the regular supplementation of soybean embryos might be a useful treatment for preventing NAFLD and associated complications through upregulation of adiponectin-mediated AMPKα pathway parameters, which are implicated in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid metabolism activities.

Hawthorn Fruit Extract Elevates Expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and Improves Lipid Profiles in Ovariectomized Rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) extract on the lipid profiles and antioxidant properties in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. After ovariectomy, the rats were randomly divided into four groups: the non-OVX control (Sham), the OVX-control (OVX), the OVX + 100 mg/kg b.w. of hawthorn extract (OL), and the OVX + 200 mg/kg b.w. of hawthorn extract (OH). The final body weights of the OVX group were significantly increased, but the increment was significantly decreased in hawthorn groups (p < 0.05). The serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in the OVX group, whereas the hawthorn groups showed a significant decrease in these levels (p < 0.05). The hepatic triglyceride (TG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly reduced in the hawthorn groups compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly decreased in the OVX group, whereas the hawthorn groups exhibited a significant increase in expression (p < 0.05). The protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, and GPx were lower in the OVX group than the Sham group (p < 0.05). The oral administration of hawthorn extract reversed the suppression of protein levels. These results suggest that hawthorn extract could have protective effects in OVX rats by improving lipid profiles, decreasing oxidative stress, and improving the antioxidant defense system.

Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Opuntia ficus indica as a Tissue- and Estrogen Receptor Subtype-Selective Modulator.

Phytoestrogens are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with potential for use in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve peri/postmenopausal symptoms. This study was aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the SERM properties of the extract of Korean-grown Opuntia ficus-indica (KOFI). The KOFI extract induced estrogen response element (ERE)-driven transcription in breast and endometrial cancer cell lines and the expression of endogenous estrogen-responsive genes in breast cancer cells. The flavonoid content of different KOFI preparations affected ERE-luciferase activities, implying that the flavonoid composition likely mediated the estrogenic activities in cells. Oral administration of KOFI decreased the weight gain and levels of both serum glucose and triglyceride in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Finally, KOFI had an inhibitory effect on the 17ß-estradiol-induced proliferation of the endometrial epithelium in OVX rats. Our data demonstrate that KOFI exhibited SERM activity with no uterotrophic side effects. Therefore, KOFI alone or in combination with other botanical supplements, vitamins, or minerals may be an effective and safe alternative active ingredient to HRTs, for the management of postmenopausal symptoms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chokeberry attenuates the expression of genes related to de novo lipogenesis in the hepatocytes of mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by steatosis, is a major public health concern. Previous studies have shown that chokeberry has anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and antidiabetic effects. In this study, we hypothesized that chokeberry powder can attenuate the expression of genes related to de novo lipogenesis and the triglyceride levels in the hepatocytes of mice with high-fat diet-induced NAFLD. After coadministering chokeberry powder for 8weeks (0.5% and 1% powder) with a high-fat diet, mice that consumed chokeberry powder diets, regardless of the dose, had significantly lower liver triglyceride levels than control mice that were fed a high-fat diet (P=.0145 and P<.0012, respectively). Compared with mice that were fed a high-fat diet, mice that were given 1% chokeberry powder exhibited significantly decreased mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (P=.009) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (P=.0032) in the liver. Compared with mice in the control group, fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression significantly increased in the mice that were fed a high-fat diet, but both chokeberry powder-treated groups had significantly decreased FAS expression (P=.0157 and P<.0001, respectively). The size of the fat droplets was decreased in the livers of the chokeberry-supplemented groups. In summary, the administration of chokeberry powder may help attenuate high-fat diet-induced NAFLD by regulating the expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and FAS and by decreasing the size of the fat droplets in the liver.

Olive Leaf Extract Elevates Hepatic PPAR α mRNA Expression and Improves Serum Lipid Profiles in Ovariectomized Rats.

We hypothesized that olive leaf extract might alleviate dyslipidemia resulting from estrogen deficiency. Serum lipid profile and mRNA expression of the related genes in the liver and adipose tissue were analyzed after providing olive leaf extract (200 or 400 mg/kg body weight; n=7 for each group) to ovariectomized rats for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks' administration, the rats in the olive leaf extract-administered groups showed significantly lower levels of serum triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol compared with the rats in the control group, whereas the administration of olive leaf extract did not significantly change the elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In addition, administration of high dose of olive leaf extract significantly decreased the liver triglyceride and increased serum estradiol levels. mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR α) and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) were not affected by ovariectomy, however, administration of olive leaf extract significantly increased both PPAR α and ACO mRNA expression. Expression of adiponectin mRNA in adipose tissue was significantly decreased in the ovariectomized control group. Rats administered low-dose olive leaf extract showed significantly elevated adiponectin mRNA expression compared with rats in the ovariectomized control group. Even though dose-dependent effects were not observed in most of the measurements, these results suggest that genes involved in lipid metabolism may be regulated by olive leaf extract administration in ovariectomized rats.

Gintonin, a novel ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid receptor ligand, stimulates neurotransmitter release.

Gintonin is a novel ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. Gintonin elicits an intracellular calcium concentration [Ca(2+)]i transient via activation of LPA receptors and regulates calcium-dependent ion channels and receptors. [Ca(2+)]i elevation by neurotransmitters or depolarization is usually coupled to neurotransmitter release in neuronal cells. Little is known about whether gintonin-mediated [Ca(2+)]i transients are also coupled to neurotransmitter release. The PC12 cell line is derived from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla and is widely used as a model for catecholamine release. In the present study, we examined the effects of gintonin on dopamine release in PC12 cells. Application of gintonin to PC12 cells induced [Ca(2+)]i transients in concentration-dependent and reversible manners. However, ginsenoside Rg3, another active ingredient of ginseng, induced a lagged and irreversible [Ca(2+)]i increase. The induction of gintonin-mediated [Ca(2+)]i transients was attenuated or blocked by the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist Ki16425, a phospholipase C inhibitor, an inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor antagonist, and an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator. Repeated treatment with gintonin induced homologous desensitization of [Ca(2+)]i transients. Gintonin treatment in PC12 cells increased the release of dopamine in a concentration-dependent manner. Intraperitoneal administration of gintonin to mice also increased serum dopamine concentrations. The present study shows that gintonin-mediated [Ca(2+)]i transients are coupled to dopamine release via LPA receptor activation. Finally, gintonin-mediated [Ca(2+)]i transients and dopamine release via LPA receptor activation might explain one mechanism of gintonin-mediated inter-neuronal modulation in the nervous system.