Real-time Visualization of Transcribed mRNA via Click Chemistry in a Liposomal Space.

We present a CuAAC (Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition) reaction protocol designed for the visualization of mRNA. To achieve this, we synthesized stable mRNA molecules incorporating the modified nucleoside analog, EU, a crucial element for fluorophore attachment. Leveraging this modified mRNA, we successfully executed the CuAAC reaction, wherein the pro-fluorophore, coumarin, was conjugated to EU on the mRNA through our meticulously designed CuAAC process. This innovative approach resulted in the emission of fluorescence, enabling both precise quantification and visual observation of mRNA. Furthermore, we demonstrated the feasibility of concurrent mRNA synthesis and visualization by seamlessly integrating the CuAAC reaction mix into the mRNA transcription process. Additionally, our novel methodology opens avenues for prospective real-time monitoring of mRNA transcription within artificial cells. These advancements hold significant promise for expanding our comprehension of fundamental cellular processes and finding applications across diverse biological contexts in the future.

Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of the Human Milk Oligosaccharide, 2'-Fucosyllactose, Exerted via Modulation of M2 Microglial Activation in a Mouse Model of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Cerebral ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), a human milk oligosaccharide, exerts anti-inflammatory effects and plays a protective role in arterial thrombosis; however, its role in ischemic stroke remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of 2'-FL and its potential mechanisms in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. Neurological score and behavior tests revealed that 2'-FL promoted the recovery of neurological deficits and motor function in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice, and that 2'FL led to a reduction in the size of cerebral infarct. Biochemical studies showed that administration of 2'-FL led to a reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related products in the brain of MCAO mice. 2'-FL upregulated IL-10 and downregulated TNF-α level. In addition, 2'-FL enhanced M2-type microglial polarization and upregulated CD206 expression at 7 days after MCAO. At 3 days after MCAO, 2'-FL increased IL-4 levels and activated STAT6. Our data show that 2'-FL reduced the neurological symptoms of ischemic stroke and ROS accumulation in the brain through IL-4/STAT6-dependent M2-type microglial polarization in MCAO mice. These results demonstrate that 2'-FL is a potentially effective therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke.

A Self-Regenerating Artificial Cell, that is One Step Closer to Living Cells: Challenges and Perspectives.

Controllable, self-regenerating artificial cells (SRACs) can be a vital advancement in the field of synthetic biology, which seeks to create living cells by recombining various biological molecules in the lab. This represents, more importantly, the first step on a long journey toward creating reproductive cells from rather fragmentary biochemical mimics. However, it is still a difficult task to replicate the complex processes involved in cell regeneration, such as genetic material replication and cell membrane division, in artificially created spaces. This review highlights recent advances in the field of controllable, SRACs and the strategies to achieve the goal of creating such cells. Self-regenerating cells start by replicating DNA and transferring it to a location where proteins can be synthesized. Functional but essential proteins must be synthesized for sustained energy generation and survival needs and function in the same liposomal space. Finally, self-division and repeated cycling lead to autonomous, self-regenerating cells. The pursuit of controllable, SRACs will enable authors to make bold advances in understanding life at the cellular level, ultimately providing an opportunity to use this knowledge to understand the nature of life.

2'-Fucosyllactose and 3-Fucosyllactose Alleviates Interleukin-6-Induced Barrier Dysfunction and Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis by Improving Intestinal Barrier Function and Modulating the Intestinal Microbiome.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with relapsing and remitting patterns, and it is caused by varied factors, such as the intestinal inflammation extent and duration. We examined the preventative effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) on epithelial barrier integrity and intestinal inflammation in an interleukin (IL)-6-induced cell model and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute mouse colitis model. HMOs including 2'-fucosyllactose (FL) and 3-FL and positive controls including fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and 5-acetylsalicylic acid (5-ASA) were orally administrated once per day to C57BL/6J mice with colitis induced by 5% DSS in the administered drinking water. 2'-FL and 3-FL did not affect the cell viability in Caco-2 cells. Meanwhile, these agents reversed IL-6-reduced intestinal barrier function in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, 2'-FL and 3-FL reversed the body weight loss and the remarkably short colon lengths in DSS-induced acute colitis mice. Moreover, 2'-FL and 3-FL obviously protected the decreasing expression of zonula occluden-1 and occludin in colon tissue relative to the findings in the DSS-treated control group. 2'-FL and 3-FL significantly reduced IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in serum relative to the control findings. The summary of these results shows that HMOs prevent colitis mainly by enhancing intestinal barrier function and advancing anti-inflammatory responses. Therefore, HMOs might suppress inflammatory responses and represent candidate treatments for IBD that protect intestinal integrity.

IFNγ is a Key Link between Obesity and Th1-Mediated AutoImmune Diseases.

Obesity, a characteristic of metabolic syndrome, is also associated with chronic inflammation and the development of autoimmune diseases. However, the relationship between obesity and autoimmune diseases remains to be investigated in depth. Here, we compared hepatic gene expression profiles among high-fat diet (HFD) mice using the primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) mouse model based on the chronic expression of interferon gamma (IFNγ) (ARE-Del-/- mice). The top differentially expressed genes affected by upstream transcriptional regulators IFNγ, LPS, and TNFα displayed an overlap in HFD and ARE-Del-/- mice, indicating that obesity-induced liver inflammation may be dependent on signaling via IFNγ. The top pathways altered in HFD mice were mostly involved in the innate immune responses, which overlapped with ARE-Del-/- mice. In contrast, T cell-mediated signaling pathways were exclusively altered in ARE-Del-/- mice. We further evaluated the therapeutic effect of luteolin, known as anti-inflammatory flavonoid, in HFD and ARE-Del-/- mice. Luteolin strongly suppressed the MHC I and II antigen presentation pathways, which were highly activated in both HFD and ARE-Del-/- mice. Conversely, luteolin increased metabolic processes of fatty acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation in the liver, which were suppressed in ARE-Del-/- mice. Luteolin also strongly induced PPAR signaling, which was downregulated in HFD and ARE-Del-/- mice. Using human GWAS data, we characterized the genetic interaction between significant obesity-related genes and IFNγ signaling and demonstrated that IFNγ is crucial for obesity-mediated inflammatory responses. Collectively, this study improves our mechanistic understanding of the relationship between obesity and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, it provides new methodological insights into how immune network-based analyses effectively integrate RNA-seq and microarray data.

Multi-omics: Differential expression of IFN-γ results in distinctive mechanistic features linking chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and autoimmune diseases.

Low grade, chronic inflammation is a critical risk factor for immunologic dysfunction including autoimmune diseases. However, the multiplicity of complex mechanisms and lack of relevant murine models limit our understanding of the precise role of chronic inflammation. To address these hurdles, we took advantage of multi-omics data and a unique murine model with a low but chronic expression of IFN-γ, generated by replacement of the AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3' UTR region of IFN-γ mRNA with random nucleotides. Herein, we demonstrate that low but differential expression of IFN-γ in mice by homozygous or heterozygous ARE replacement triggers distinctive gut microbial alterations, of which alteration is female-biased with autoimmune-associated microbiota. Metabolomics data indicates that gut microbiota-dependent metabolites have more robust sex-differences than microbiome profiling, particularly those involved in fatty acid oxidation and nuclear receptor signaling. More importantly, homozygous ARE-Del mice have dramatic changes in tryptophan metabolism, bile acid and long-chain lipid metabolism, which interact with gut microbiota and nuclear receptor signaling similarly with sex-dependent metabolites. Consistent with these findings, nuclear receptor signaling, encompassing molecules such as PPARs, FXR, and LXRs, was detectable as a top canonical pathway in comparison of blood and tissue-specific gene expression between female homozygous vs heterozygous ARE-Del mice. Further analysis implies that dysregulated autophagy in macrophages is critical for breaking self-tolerance and gut homeostasis, while pathways interact with nuclear receptor signaling to regulate inflammatory responses. Overall, pathway-based integration of multi-omics data provides systemic and cellular insights about how chronic inflammation driven by IFN-γ results in the development of autoimmune diseases with specific etiopathological features.

Antiobesity and vasoprotective effects of resveratrol in apoE-deficient mice.

This study was performed to investigate the hypolipidemic, antiobese, and antiatherogenic effects of resveratrol in apoE-deficient mice fed an atherogenic diet (20% fat and 1% cholesterol). These animals were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.02% lovastatin (w/w) or 0.02% resveratrol (w/w) for 12 weeks. Resveratrol and lovastatin supplementation significantly reduced either the body weight or epididymal fat weight without altering the food intake and food efficiency ratio. Resveratrol significantly decreased the plasma total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) concentrations, apoB/apoA-I ratio, hepatic cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) contents, whereas significantly it increased the plasma HDL-C concentration compared with the control and lovastatin groups. Plasma and hepatic TG and plasma apoB levels were significantly lower in both the lovastatin and resveratrol groups than in the control group without altering the plasma apoA-I concentration. Both resveratrol and lovastatin significantly decreased hepatic fatty acid and TG synthesis, whereas they increased fatty acid oxidation (ß-oxidation) except for the carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity compared with the control group. However, there was no difference in hepatic 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity among the groups, although hepatic acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity was significantly lower in the lovastatin groups than in the control group. In epididymal adipose tissue, resveratrol supplementation led to an increase in ß-oxidation and decrease in TG synthesis, compared with the control group. Tissue morphology revealed that there were dramatic decreases in hepatic lipid droplets and aortic fatty streaks by resveratrol and lovastatin supplementation. This study demonstrates that resveratrol exerts not only antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects, but also protective effects for the liver and aorta through the modulation of lipid metabolism in both the liver and white adipose tissues.

A nutrigenomic framework to identify time-resolving responses of hepatic genes in diet-induced obese mice.

Obesity and its related complications have emerged as global health problems; however, the pathophysiological mechanism of obesity is still not fully understood. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 20, and 24 weeks and the time course was systemically analyzed specifically for the hepatic transcriptome profile. Genes that were differentially expressed in the HFD-fed mice were clustered into 49 clusters and further classified into 8 different expression patterns: long-term up-regulated (pattern 1), long-term downregulated (pattern 2), early up-regulated (pattern 3), early down-regulated (pattern 4), late up-regulated (pattern 5), late down-regulated (pattern 6), early up-regulated and late down-regulated (pattern 7), and early down-regulated and late up-regulated (pattern 8) HFD-responsive genes. Within each pattern, genes related with inflammation, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism were extracted, and then, a protein-protein interaction network was generated. The pattern specific sub-network was as follows: pattern 1, cellular assembly and organization, and immunological disease, pattern 2, lipid metabolism, pattern 3, gene expression and inflammatory response, pattern 4, cell signaling, pattern 5, lipid metabolism, molecular transport, and small molecule biochemistry, pattern 6, protein synthesis and cell-to cell signaling and interaction and pattern 7, cell-to cell signaling, cellular growth and proliferation, and cell death. For pattern 8, no significant sub-networks were identified. Taken together, this suggests that genes involved in regulating gene expression and inflammatory response are up-regulated whereas genes involved in lipid metabolism and protein synthesis are down-regulated during diet-induced obesity development.

Probiotics L. plantarum and L. curvatus in combination alter hepatic lipid metabolism and suppress diet-induced obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of naturally derived probiotic strains individually or combination on a short-term diet-induced obesity model. DESIGN AND METHODS: C57BL/6J mice (n = 50) were randomly divided into five groups, then fed a high-fat high-cholesterol diet (HFCD), HFCD and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 (PL, 10(10) cfu/day), HFCD and Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 (CU, 10(10) cfu/day), HFCD and in combination with PL+CU (10(10) cfu/day), or a normal diet (ND) for 9 weeks. RESULTS: PL and CU showed distinct and shared metabolic activity against a panel of 50 carbohydrates. Fat accumulation in adipose tissue and liver was significantly reduced by probiotic strains CU or PL+CU. Probiotic strains CU or PL+CU reduced cholesterol in plasma and liver, while PL+CL had a synergistic effect on hepatic triglycerides. Probiotic strains PL+CU combination was more effective for inhibiting gene expressions of various fatty acid synthesis enzymes in the liver, concomitant with decreases in fatty acid oxidation-related enzyme activities and their gene expressions. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-strain probiotics may prove more beneficial than single-strain probiotics to combat fat accumulation and metabolic alterations in diet-induced obesity.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of powdered Brassica rapa ethanol extract on alteration of body composition and plasma lipid and adipocytokine profiles in overweight subjects.

We evaluated the effects of Brassica rapa ethanol extract (BREE) on body composition and plasma lipid profiles through a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial in overweight subjects. Fifty-eight overweight participants (age 20-50 years, body mass index23.0-24.9) were randomly assigned to two groups and served BREE (2 g/day) or placebo (starch, 2 g/day) for 10 weeks. Body compositions, nutrients intake, plasma lipids, adipocytokines, and hepatotoxicity biomarkers were assessed in all subjects at baseline and after 10 weeks of supplementation. The plasma total cholesterol (total-C) concentration was significantly increased after 10 weeks compared to the baseline in both groups. However, BREE supplementation significantly increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and significantly reduced the total-C/HDL-C ratio, free fatty acid, and adipsin levels after 10 weeks. No significant differences were observed in body compositions, fasting blood glucose, plasma adipocytokines except adipsin, and aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities between before and after trial within groups as well as between the two groups. The supplementation of BREE partially improves plasma lipid metabolism in overweight subjects without adverse effects.

Resveratrol ameliorates diabetes-related metabolic changes via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and its downstream targets in db/db mice.

SCOPE: This study investigated the effects of resveratrol (RV) on diabetes-related metabolic changes in a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes, as well as activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and downstream targets. METHODS AND RESULTS: C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were fed a normal diet with RV (0.005% and 0.02%, w/w) or rosiglitazone (RG, 0.001%, w/w) for 6 weeks. Both doses of RV significantly decreased blood glucose, plasma free fatty acid, triglyceride, apo B/apo AІ levels and increased plasma adiponectin levels. RV activated AMPK and downstream targets leading to decreased blood HbA1c levels, hepatic gluconeogenic enzyme activity, and hepatic glycogen, while plasma insulin levels, pancreatic insulin protein, and skeletal muscle GLUT4 protein were higher after RV supplementation. The high RV dose also significantly increased hepatic glycolytic gene expression and enzyme activity, along with skeletal muscle glycogen synthase protein expression, similar to RG. Furthermore, RV dose dependently decreased hepatic triglyceride content and phosphorylated I kappa B kinase (p-IKK) protein expression, while hepatic uncoupling protein (UCP) and skeletal muscle UCP expression were increased. CONCLUSION: RV potentiates improving glycemic control, glucose uptake, and dyslipidemia, as well as protecting against pancreatic ß-cell failure in a spontaneous type 2 diabetes model. Dietary RV has potential as an antidiabetic agent via activation of AMPK and its downstream targets.

Does Glycine max leaves or Garcinia Cambogia promote weight-loss or lower plasma cholesterol in overweight individuals: a randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Natural food supplements with high flavonoid content are often claimed to promote weight-loss and lower plasma cholesterol in animal studies, but human studies have been more equivocal. The aim of this study was firstly to determine the effectiveness of natural food supplements containing Glycine max leaves extract (EGML) or Garcinia cambogia extract (GCE) to promote weight-loss and lower plasma cholesterol. Secondly to examine whether these supplements have any beneficial effect on lipid, adipocytokine or antioxidant profiles. METHODS: Eighty-six overweight subjects (Male:Female = 46:40, age: 20~50 yr, BMI > 23 < 29) were randomly assigned to three groups and administered tablets containing EGML (2 g/day), GCE (2 g/day) or placebo (starch, 2 g/day) for 10 weeks. At baseline and after 10 weeks, body composition, plasma cholesterol and diet were assessed. Blood analysis was also conducted to examine plasma lipoproteins, triglycerides, adipocytokines and antioxidants. RESULTS: EGML and GCE supplementation failed to promote weight-loss or any clinically significant change in %body fat. The EGML group had lower total cholesterol after 10 weeks compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). EGML and GCE had no effect on triglycerides, non-HDL-C, adipocytokines or antioxidants when compared to placebo supplementation. However, HDL-C was higher in the EGML group (p < 0.001) after 10 weeks compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Ten weeks of EGML or GCE supplementation did not promote weight-loss or lower total cholesterol in overweight individuals consuming their habitual diet. Although, EGML did increase plasma HDL-C levels which is associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis.

Tannic acid is more effective than clofibrate for the elevation of hepatic ß-oxidation and the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase and aortic lesion formation in apo E-deficient mice.

The effects of tannic acid (TA) supplementation (0·02 %, wt/wt) were compared with the effects of clofibrate (CF) supplementation (0·02 %, wt/wt) in apo E-deficient (apo E(- / -)) mice fed a AIN-76 semi-synthetic diet (normal diet) over 20 weeks. The mice were monitored for the modulation of hepatic mRNA expression and the activities of lipid-regulating enzymes. Both TA and CF supplementation lowered hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) activity and prevented atherosclerotic lesion formation in comparison with the control group. Hepatic carnitine palmitoyl transferase and ß-oxidation activities were significantly higher in the TA and CF groups than in the control group. Both CF and TA supplementation resulted in significant decreases in hepatic HMGR mRNA levels in association with its enzyme activity. However, in contrast to CF supplementation, TA supplementation seemed to decrease the accumulation of hepatic lipids in the apo E(- / -) mice without increasing liver weight. These results suggest that the overall effect of TA is more desirable than CF for the alleviation of hepatic lipogenesis and atherogenesis in apo E(- / -) mice.

Long-term adaptation of global transcription and metabolism in the liver of high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6J mice.

SCOPE: This study investigated the global transcriptional and metabolic changes occurring at multiple time points over 24 wk in response to a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS AND RESULTS: C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD or normal diet (ND) over 24 wk. HFD-fed mice developed early clinical indicators of obesity-related co-morbidities including fatty liver, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia. Time-course microarray analysis at eight time points over 24 wk identified 332 HFD responsive genes as potential targets to counteract diet-induced obesity (DIO) and related co-morbidities. Glucose regulating enzyme activity and gene expression were altered early in the HFD-fed mice. Fatty acid (FA) and triglyceride (TG) accumulation in combination with inflammatory changes appear to be likely candidates contributing to hepatic insulin resistance. Cidea seemed to be one of representative genes related to these changes. CONCLUSION: Global transcriptional and metabolic profiling across multiple time points in liver revealed potential targets for nutritional interventions to reverse DIO. In future, new approaches targeting HFD responsive genes and hepatic metabolism could help ameliorate the deleterious effects of an HFD and DIO-related complication.

The inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 cell extract on the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 Cells.

Some probiotics and their cell components are known to modulate lipid metabolism in vitro and/or in vivo. This study was carried out to investigate possible anti-adipogenic action of a probiotic cell extract, Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 cell extract (KY1032-CE), in vitro using 3T3-L1 cells. Lipid regulation in the cell culture system was assessed by AdipoRed assay and Oil red O staining of intracellular lipids and real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis of adipogenesis-related factors. AdipoRed assay revealed that KY1032-CE treatment significantly decreased lipid accumulation in maturing 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Oil red O staining demonstrated that KY1032-CE reduced the number of lipid-containing rounded cells. KY1032-CE down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of four adipocyte-specific genes: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, fatty acid synthase, and adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein. Accordingly, these results indicate that KY1032-CE can reduce fat mass by modulating adipogenesis in maturing preadipocytes. Further studies are needed to elucidate its mode of actions in efficacy tests of KY1032-CE in vivo.

Differential effects of powdered whole soy milk and its hydrolysate on antiobesity and antihyperlipidemic response to high-fat treatment in C57BL/6N mice.

This study was performed to investigate the beneficial effects of powdered whole soy milk and its hydrolysate, compared to the processed soy milk and its hydrolysate, on the alteration of lipid metabolism and their possible effects on antiobesity in C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat and -cholesterol diet. The mice were divided into a control group (20% casein) and four test groups for 5 weeks: soy milk (SM, 20% soy milk protein), soy milk hydrolysate (SMH, 20% hydrolyzed soy milk protein), whole soy milk (WSM, 20% whole soy milk protein), and whole soy milk hydrolysate (WSMH, 20% whole soy milk hydrolysate protein). The body weight and adipose tissue weights were significantly lowered in SMH, WSM, and WSMH groups compared to the control group despite providing an isoenergetic diet. Plasma lipid concentrations and hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities were significantly lowered in all soy milk groups; however, the hepatic lipid contents and malic enzyme (ME) activity were only significantly lowered in the WSM and WSMH groups, compared to the control group. Data suggest that powdered WSM or WSMH appears to be more beneficial than SM or SMH in overall antiobesity and antihyperlipidemic properties following in the order WSMH/WSM, SMH, SM, and casein.

Differential effect of corn oil-based low trans structured fat on the plasma and hepatic lipid profile in an atherogenic mouse model: comparison to hydrogenated trans fat.

BACKGROUND: Trans fat are not desirable in many aspects on health maintenance. Low trans structured fats have been reported to be relatively more safe than trans fats. METHODS: We examined the effects of low trans structured fat from corn oil (LC), compared with high trans fat shortening, on cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in apo E deficient mice which is an atherogenic animal model. The animals were fed a high trans fat (10% fat: commercial shortening (CS)) or a low trans fat (LC) diet for 12 weeks. RESULTS: LC decreased apo B and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride concentration compared to the CS group but significantly increased plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration and fecal lipids with a simultaneous increase in HDL-cholesterol level, apo A-I, and the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol (HTR). Reduction of hepatic lipid levels by inclusion of LC intake was observed alongside modulation of hepatic enzyme activities related to cholesterol esterification, fatty acid metabolism and fecal lipids level compared to the CS group. The differential effects of LC intake on the plasma and hepatic lipid profile seemed to be partly due to the fatty acid composition of LC which contains higher MUFA, PUFA and SFA content as well as lower content of trans fatty acids compared to CS. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that LC may exert a dual effect on plasma and hepatic lipid metabolism in an atherogenic animal model. Accordingly, LC, supplemented at 10% in diet, had an anti-atherogenic effect on these apo E-/- mice, and increased fecal lipids, decreased hepatic steatosis, but elevated plasma lipids. Further studies are needed to verify the exact mode of action regarding the complex physiological changes and alteration in lipid metabolism caused by LC.

Supplementation of cheonggukjang and red ginseng cheonggukjang can improve plasma lipid profile and fasting blood glucose concentration in subjects with impaired fasting glucose.

This study was conducted to investigate the plasma lipid profile and blood glucose-lowering effects of cheonggukjang (CH) and red ginseng CH (RGCH) in 45 subjects (men:women = 27:18; mean age, 44.9 ± 3.1 years) with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Subjects were randomly divided into three groups: control (starch, 2 g/day), CH (20 g/day), and RGCH (20 g/day). Each volunteer received his or her daily doses for 8 weeks. The supplementation with CH and RGCH significantly decreased the plasma total cholesterol about 30.0 mg/mL and 37.7 mg/mL, respectively, compared to the initial value. The plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration was also significantly reduced by 29.66% and 23.42% in the CH and RGCH groups, respectively, compared to the initial value. The concentration of plasma non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (107.9 mg/mL) was significantly lowered in the RGCH group compared to the initial value (139.1 mg/mL). The level of erythrocyte thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was significantly lowered in the CH (6.5 nmol/mL) and RGCH (6.6 nmol/mL) groups compared to the initial value (7.9 nmol/mL and 8.0 nmol/mL, respectively). The ratio of apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations (2.5) was significantly reduced in the CH group compared to the initial value (3.0). The concentration of fasting blood glucose (FBG) was significantly lower in the CH- and RGCH-supplemented groups compared to the initial value. These results suggest that CH and RGCH can lower the FBG concentration and improve the plasma lipid profile in subjects with IFG.

Dose-response study of sajabalssuk ethanol extract from Artemisia princeps Pampanini on blood glucose in subjects with impaired fasting glucose or mild type 2 diabetes.

Previously we reported that an ethanol extract from Artemisia princeps Pampanini lowered blood glucose in db/db mice. Here we report a preliminary study in which the blood glucose-lowering effects of two different doses of sajabalssuk ethanol extract (SBE), containing eupatilin and jaseocidin, were examined in hyperglycemic subjects with fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of 100-150 mg/dL. Subjects were randomized into four groups: negative control (2,000 mg of lactose /day), positive control (1,140 mg of pinitol/day), low-dose SBE (2,000 mg of SBE/day), and high-dose SBE (4,000 mg of SBE/day). After 8 weeks of supplementation, FBG and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were significantly lowered in low-and high-dose SBE groups compared to the baseline values; high-dose SBE also resulted in significantly lower plasma free fatty acid levels and systolic blood pressure. This study demonstrated that supplementation of 2 g or 4 g of SBE daily can significantly reduce blood glucose in hyperglycemic subjects, although high-dose SBE seemed to be more effective than low-dose SBE for lowering plasma free fatty acid level and systolic blood pressure.