Two types of oleogels-made of carnauba wax with canola oil or beeswax with grapeseed oil-were prepared at concentrations from 0 to 15% (w/w) of wax. Physical characterization was done and oxidative stability of the oleogels were evaluated. As the proportion of wax increased from 5 to 15%, the enthalpy of crystallization and melting increased in both oleogels. The carnauba wax-based oleogel (CWO) required greater enthalpy than the beeswax-based oleogel (BWO). Differences in L*, a*, and b* values between control oils and the oleogels significantly decreased as the concentration of wax increased in the oleogels (5-15%; <0.05). Oil-binding capacity of the BWO was higher than that of the CWO. Solid-fat content of the CWO did not change significantly from 10 to 60oC, whereas that of the BWO decreased. In general, oxidative stability of the CWO was better at 60 and 180oC heat treatment in comparison with control oils (<0.05). However, the BWO did not provide high oxidative stability than the control oils.

This study examines the antiobesity effects of fucoidan in an animal model of diet-induced obesity. Mice were fed a standard diet or high-fat diet (HFD) for 5 weeks. After that, the mice were divided into four experimental groups, with 10 mice per group, including a standard diet group, HFD group, HFD containing 1% fucoidan (HFD + FUCO 1%) group and HFD containing 2% fucoidan (HFD + FUCO 2%) group. The fucoidan supplementation group had significantly decreased body-weight gain, food efficiency ratio and relative liver and epididymal fat mass compared with the HFD group. The mice supplemented with fucoidan showed significantly reduced triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in the plasma. Liver steatosis induced by the HFD improved in the fucoidan-supplemented group. Furthermore, fucoidan affected the down-regulation expression patterns of epididymal adipose tissue genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, adipose-specific fatty acid binding protein and acetyl CoA carboxylase. Therefore, fucoidan may be considered for use in improving obesity.

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Fucoidan is a group of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides that derived from non-mammalian origin such as marine brown algae, the jelly coat from sea urchin eggs, and the sea cucumber body wall. However, potential biological activities against obesity from fucoidan were not reported in the literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate protective effect of fucoidan in 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Preadipocyte 3T3-L1 was treated with 100 and 200 microg/ml fucoidan during adipogenesis. Adipogenesis was determined through Oil Red O staining method and the expression of adipogenic genes aP2, ACC, and PPARgamma. Adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 treated with 100 and 200 microg/ml fucoidan were significantly inhibited at 32.8% and 39.7% using Oil Red O staining method, respectively (P < 0.05). Treating the 3T3-L1 cells with 100 and 200 microg/ml fucoidan significantly decreased the expression of aP2 gene by 6.2% and 27.2%, respectively, of ACC gene by 22.2% and 38.2%, respectively, and of PPARgamma gene by 44.2% and 69.4%, respectively, compared to adipocyte controls (P < 0.05). The results suggest that fucoidan could be used for inhibiting fat accumulation, which is mediated by decreasing aP2, ACC, and PPARgamma gene expression.

Melatonin in mammals, produced by the pineal gland and elsewhere, has shown antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in neuronal cells. We investigated whether melatonin would increase newly born cells (cell proliferation) in the dentate gyrus of maternally separated rats. To examine the effect of melatonin on cell proliferation of the dentate gyrus in maternally separated rats, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry was performed. Rat pups were separated from their mothers and socially isolated on postnatal day 14. Melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and BrdU (50 mg/kg, i.p.) were given to them for 7 days. The number of BrdU-positive cells was significantly increased in the dentate gyrus of maternally separated pups with melatonin administration (P < 0.001). In addition, the expression of glucocorticoid receptor was significantly decreased in the dentate gyrus compared with maternally separated pups not given melatonin (P < 0.001). This is the first report that melatonin increases cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of maternally separated rats.

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