The Effects of Body Fat Reduction through the Metabolic Control of Steam-Processed Ginger Extract in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing globally due to behavioral and environmental changes. There are many therapeutic agents available for the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, but the data on their efficacy and safety are lacking. Through a pilot study by our group, Zingiber officinale rhizomes used as a spice and functional food were selected as an anti-obesity candidate. In this study, steam-processed ginger extract (GGE) was used and we compared its efficacy at alleviating metabolic syndrome-related symptoms with that of conventional ginger extract (GE). Compared with GE, GGE (25-100 µg/mL) had an increased antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro. GGE was better at suppressing the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and promoting glucose utilization in C2C12 cells than GE. In 16-week high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice, GGE (100 and 200 mg/kg) improved biochemical profiles, including lipid status and liver function, to a greater extent than GE (200 mg/kg). The supplementation of HFD-fed mice with GGE (200 mg/kg) resulted in the downregulation of SREBP-1c and FAS gene expression in the liver. Collectively, our results indicate that GGE is a promising therapeutic for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Effects of fermented Sorghum bicolor L. Moench extract on inflammation and thickness in a vascular cell and atherosclerotic mice model.

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of coronary heart disease. As a result of the development of atherosclerotic lesions, the walls of blood vessels become thicker and inhibit blood circulation. Atherosclerosis is caused by a high-fat diet and vascular injury. Chronic arterial inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In particular, secretion of the pro-atherogenic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α induces expression of endothelial adhesion molecules including P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), which mediate attachment of circulating monocytes and lymphocytes. In this study, we examined the anti-atherosclerotic effect of sorghum, which is known to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. A 50% ethanol extract of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench fermented with Aspergillus oryzae NK (fSBE) was used for experiments. In vitro expression of endothelial adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and pro-inflammatory factor cyclooxygenase-2 was significantly decreased and that of the anti-atherogenic factor heme oxygenase-1 significantly increased by fSBE (P < 0.05). At the in vivo level, we examined fat droplets of liver tissue, and aortic thickness via histological analysis, and determined the blood lipid profile through chemical analysis. fSBE at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly improved blood and vascular health (P < 0.05). Taken together, these results demonstrate that fSBE has potential as a therapeutic anti-atherosclerotic agent.

Antihyperglycemic and Antilipidemic Effects of the Ethanol Extract Mixture of Ligularia fischeri and Momordica charantia in Type II Diabetes-Mimicking Mice.

The extract of the Momordica charantia fruit (MCE) is recognized as an alternative treatment for diabetes. The extract of Ligularia fischeri leaves (LFE) is traditionally used as a folk medicine for treating inflammatory diseases in Korea as well. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of MCE combined with LFE on antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic potentials. Based on the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect and promotion of adipocyte differentiation in the 3T3-L1 cell line, the MLM was prepared with MCE:LFE (8:2 weight:weight). MLM showed the synergistic effects in the promotion of the glucose uptake rate, suppression of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) mRNA expression, upregulation of an insulin receptor substrate and glucose transporter type-4 expression, and an increase in insulin-associated signaling in C2C12 cells. In addition, the efficacy of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonism and glucose uptake rate by MLM supplementation was significantly enhanced in vitro. Then, the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of MCE, LFE, and MLM at the dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day (n = 6 per each group) were determined in streptozotocin (STZ)-insulted mice fed an atherogenic diet (ATH) for 4 weeks. In addition, MLM (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, n = 5 per each group) was supplemented in ATH-fed db/db mice for 10 weeks. Compared with MCE or LFE alone, MLM supplementation led to a more significant reduction of glucose levels in both STZ/ATH and db/db/ATH mice as well as lowered lipid profiles in STZ/ATH mice. In addition, the stimulation of islet of Langerhans regeneration was more pronounced by MLM supplementation in both mice models. In conclusion, antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects were strengthened by the combined extracts of L. fischeri and M. charantia (MLM) in diabetes-mimicking mice.

The suppressive effect of the three-herb extract mixture on vascular and liver inflammation in atherogenic diet with high fructose-fed mice.

CONTEXT: Cynanchum wilfordii (Maximowicz) Hemsley (Apocynaceae), Arctium lappa L. var. rubescens Frivald (Asteraceae) and Dioscorea opposite Thunb (Dioscoreaceae) root extracts have been widely used as an alternative for intervening obesity. OBJECTIVES: The synergistic effect of three-herb mixture of C. wilfordii, A. lappa and D. opposita was determined on aortic and liver inflammatory responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CWE, ALE and DOE were prepared from the root of C. wilfordii, A. lappa and D. opposite by 70% ethanol extraction, respectively. CADE was prepared using a powder mixture of 2 CWE:1 ALE:1 DOE. C57BL/6 mice were fed an atherogenic diet combined with 10% fructose (ATHFR) in the presence of 200 mg/kg/day CWE, ALE, DOE or CADE for 8 weeks (each group, n = 6). Biochemical profiles, protein expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on the aorta and liver were determined. RESULTS: CADE could significantly suppress the protein expression of VCAM-1 in both the aorta and liver (80% reduction) compared to ATHFR-fed mice. Impairment of liver function was significantly ameliorated by CADE supplement, as determined by GOT (60% reduction) and GPT (51% reduction) levels. CONCLUSIONS: CADE should be considered when developing medications to suppress the vascular and liver inflammatory responses for individuals who are either non-responsive or resistant to lipid-lowering drugs.