Our previous study demonstrated that a 5% ethanol extract of unripe Rubus coreanus (5-uRCK) has hypo-cholesterolemic and anti-obesity activity. However, the molecular mechanisms of its effects are poorly characterized. We hypothesized that 5-uRCK and one of its major bioactive compounds, ellagic acid, decrease cellular and plasma cholesterol levels. Thus, we investigated the hypocholesterolemic activity and mechanism of 5-uRCK in both hepatocytes and a high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced rat model. Cholesterol in the liver and serum was significantly reduced by 5-uRCK and ellagic acid. The hepatic activities of HMG-CoA and CETP were reduced, and the hepatic activity of LCAT was increased by both 5-uRCK extract and ellagic acid, which also caused histological improvements. The MDA content in the aorta and serum was significantly decreased after oral administration of 5-uRCK or ellagic acid. Further immunoblotting analysis showed that AMPK phosphorylation in the liver was induced by 5-uRCK and ellagic acid, which activated AMPK, inhibiting the activity of HMGCR by inhibitory phosphorylation. In contrast, 5-uRCK and ellagic acid suppressed the nuclear translocation and activation of SREBP-2, which is a key transcription factor in cholesterol biosynthesis. In conclusion, our results suggest that 5-uRCK and its bioactive compound, ellagic acid, are useful alternative therapeutic agents to regulate blood cholesterol.
Maesil (the fruit of Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc.) has long been used as an alternative medicine and functional food in Korea and Japan for preventive and therapeutic purposes. We examined the laxative effect of unripe Maesil (UM) and ripe Maesil (RM) in a rat model on constipation induced by a low-fibre diet and the possible mechanisms of Maesil in the rat colon. In vivo studies were conducted on the low-fibre diet-induced constipation rat model, and isolated rat colon was used in in vitro experiments to measure the changes in spontaneous colon contraction generated by Maesil and organic acids as standard and effectual ingredients, respectively. The aqueous extract of both UM and RM applied orally (100 and 300 mg/kg) produced significant increase of faeces frequency (p < 0.05) and moisture (p < 0.001). Moreover, the number faecal pellets number was reduced (p < 0.05) in the distal colons of the Maesil-treated rats. Gastrointestinal (GI) motility, measured by charcoal meal, was activated more fully by UM than in the low-fibre diet group. Both UM and RM and its organic acids produced a dose-dependent stimulation of the spontaneous contractile amplitude (p < 0.001) and frequency (p < 0.01) of the isolated rat colon. Although both UM and RM were an effective laxative, the RM was significantly more effective than the UM in the in vivo and in vitro constipation experiments because of the changes in the composition of organic acids during the ripening of the fruit. Our results demonstrated that Maesil was effective in promoting the frequency of defaecation and contraction of the rat colon, which provided scientific basis to support the use of Maesil as potential therapeutics in treating constipation.
EOCO suppressed both AD-related neuronal cell apoptosis and AD-related dysfunction of the memory system. Thus, the results of this study support EOCO as a candidate drug for the treatment of AD.
Two novel strains belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes [formerly the Cytophaga–Flexibacter–Bacteroides (CFB) group], designated Gsoil 040T and Gsoil 052T, were isolated from the soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon province, South Korea. A polyphasic approach was used to characterize the taxonomic position of the novel strains. Both strains were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the novel isolates belong to the genus Chitinophaga but are clearly separated from the recognized species of this genus; gene sequence similarities between the novel isolates and type strains of recognized species ranged from 91.2 to 96.5 %. One exception was found; strain Gsoil 052T and the type strain of Chitinophaga filiformis had a gene sequence similarity of 99.6 % but had a DNA–DNA relatedness value of 38 %. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (major menaquinone, MK-7; major fatty acids, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1
ω5c; major hydroxy fatty acid, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and major polyamine, homospermidine) supported the affiliation of both strains Gsoil 040T and Gsoil 052T to the genus Chitinophaga. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the novel strains from the other recognized species of the genus Chitinophaga. Therefore, it is suggested that the new isolates represent two novel species, for which the names Chitinophaga ginsengisegetis sp. nov. [type strain Gsoil 040T (=KCTC 12654T=DSM 18108T)] and Chitinophaga ginsengisoli sp. nov. [type strain Gsoil 052T (=KCTC 12592T=DSM 18017T)] are proposed.
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