Black ginseng is produced by a repeated steaming process. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of black ginseng ethanol extract (BG-EE) in high fat (HF) diet-fed mice. Two groups were fed either a normal control (NC) diet or a HF diet (45% kcal fat). The other three groups were given a HF diet supplemented with 1% BG-EE, 3% BG-EE, and 5% BG-EE for 12 wk. The anti-obesity effects of the BG-EE supplement on body weight, the development of fat mass, and lipid mechanisms were assessed in obese mice. HF-induced hyperlipidemia, fat accumulation in the liver, and white adipose tissues were reduced after BG-EE supplementation. Total fecal weight and the amount of fecal fat excretion also were increased after BG-EE supplementation. These results suggest that BG-EE may be useful to ameliorate HF-induced obesity through the strong inhibition of fat digestion.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key regulators of the skin photoaging process that is set in motion by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. This skin damage results from UV-induced generation of reactive oxygen species, which are associated with upregulation of MMPs and decreased collagen synthesis. We investigated the effects of xanthorrhizol, isolated from Curcuma xanthorrhiza, on the expression of MMP-1 and type-I procollagen in UV-irradiated human skin fibroblasts. Fibroblasts cultured in the presence or absence of purified xanthorrhizol or C. xanthorrhiza extract were irradiated with UV (20 mJ/cm(2)), and MMP-1 and type-I procollagen levels were measured using Western blot analysis. Xanthorrhizol (0.001-0.1 microM) and C. xanthorrhiza extract (0.01-0.5 microg/mL) induced a significant, dose-dependent decrease in the expression of MMP-1 protein, and increased the expression of type-1 procollagen. At a concentration of 0.1 microM, xanthorrhizol nearly completely abrogated MMP-1 expression. The MMP-1-suppressing and type-1 procollagen-inducing effects of xanthorrhizol treatment were greater than those of epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG), which is known to be a natural anti-aging agent. These results suggest that xanthorrhizol is a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of skin aging.

). Panduratin A isolated from K. pandurata ROXB. was dissolved in 100% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diluted to the final concentrations (0-50 mg/ml) using 10% (v/v) DMSO. Periodontitis is initiated by accumulation of microbial plaque and activation of gingival inflammation through overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), leading to tissue destruction. Natural MMP inhibitors may be developed as therapeutic agents against periodontitis. In this study, panduratin A, a natural bioactive compound isolated from Kaempferia pandurata ROXB., was used to test its in vitro inhibitory activity against MMP-9 secretion from Porphyromonas gingivalis supernatant-induced human oral epidermoid carcinoma KB cells. Gelatin zymography, Western blot and RT-PCR analyses were performed to evaluate MMP-9 expression. The gelatin zymograms revealed that the main gelatinase secreted by P. gingivalis supernatant-induced KB cells migrated at 92 kDa, representing MMP-9. MMP-9 protein and mRNA levels were significantly decreased after panduratin A treatment (pϽ0.05). In contrast, panduratin A had no effect on tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA. Panduratin A also suppressed urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) mRNA expression. These results suggest that panduratin A could potentially prevent periodontal inflammation by decreasing the levels of MMP-9 protein and mRNA.

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