[Effects of zingerone on fat storage in ovariectomized rats].

We reported that ginger prevented obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet in previous study. In this experiment, we examined the effects of zingerone, the major pungent component of ginger on fat storage in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. Oral administration of 170 mg/kg zingerone significantly reduced body weight and the final parametrail adipose tissue weight in ovariectomized rats.

Effects of mannooligosaccharides from coffee mannan on blood pressure in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) rats, serving as a model of hereditary hypertension, were used to examine the effect of mannooligosaccharides (MOS) on blood pressure. Dahl-S rats were induced to develop hypertension by administering them with a 1.25% salt solution ad libitum.

Reduction of fat storage in mice fed a high-fat diet long term by treatment with saponins prepared from Kochia scoparia fruit.

The fresh fruit (Japanese name, Tonburi) of Kochia scoparia has been used as a food garnish in Japanese-style dishes from ancient times, and may prevent metabolic syndromes such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity and atherosclerosis. This study was performed to clarify whether an ethanol extract of K. scoparia fruit prevented obesity induced in mice by a high-fat diet for 9 weeks.

[Isolation of pancreatic lipase activity-inhibitory component of spirulina platensis and it reduce postprandial triacylglycerolemia].

In the process of investigating the hypolipidemic effects of Spirulina platensis, we found that the aqueous extract of S. platensis may inhibit the intestinal absorption of dietary fat by inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity. The aqueous extract of S.

Effects of compounds in leaves of Salix matsudana on arachidonic acid metabolism.

Apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranuronide (1), luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranuronide (2), m-hydroxybenzyl beta-D-glucoside (3), and chrysoeriol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranuronide (4) were isolated for the first time from the leaves of Salix matsudana. Furthermore, the effects of compounds 1, 2 and 3 on arachidonic acid metabolism were studied. These compounds inhibited significantly the production of 12-hydroxy-5, 8, 10, 14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE).

Gender effects in dietary histidine-induced anorexia.

Objective: Histamine, a derivative of histidine, decreases food intake by activation of histamine neurons. The aim of the present study was to clarify gender-related differences in food intake through the histidine-histamine neuron system.

Methods: Male, female, and ovariectomized rats were fed a histidine-enriched diet or a control diet with the cafeteria method.

[Effects of Coleus forskohlii on fat storage in ovariectomized rats].

The antiobesity effects of Coleus forskohlii were investigated in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight-week-old female Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: a sham-operated group fed the control diet (MF, sham-m) ; an ovx-m group fed the control diet; a sham-operated group fed the control diet containing 50 g/kg of Coleus forskohlii extract (sham-c) ; and an ovx-c group fed the control diet containing 50 g/kg of Coleus forskohlii extract. The body weight, adipose tissues, and cell diameter were investigated in ovx rats after Coleus forskohlii extract treatment.

Anti-obese action of raspberry ketone.

Raspberry ketone (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one; RK) is a major aromatic compound of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus). The structure of RK is similar to the structures of capsaicin and synephrine, compounds known to exert anti-obese actions and alter the lipid metabolism. The present study was performed to clarify whether RK helps prevent obesity and activate lipid metabolism in rodents.

Anti-obesity effects of chikusetsusaponins isolated from Panax japonicus rhizomes.

Background: The rhizomes of Panax japonicus are used as a folk medicine for treatment of life-style related diseases such as arteriosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus as a substitute for ginseng roots in China and Japan. Obesity is closely associated with life-style-related diseases. This study was performed to clarify whether chikusetsusaponins prevent obesity induced in mice by a high-fat diet for 9 weeks.

[Antiobesity actions of Zingiber officinale Roscoe].

Zingiber officinale Roscoe has been used as a folk medicine in China. An aqueous extract of Z. officinale Roscoe inhibited the hydrolysis of triolein emulsified with phosphatidylcholine by pancreatic lipase in vitro and it reduced the elevation of rat plasma triacylglycerol levels 1 and 2 h after oral administration of a lipid emulsion containing corn oil.

Histidine supplementation suppresses food intake and fat accumulation in rats.

Objective: Histamine, a derivative of histidine, decreases food intake and body fat by activation of histamine neurons. Our objective was to clarify the effect of dietary histidine, in particular, on food intake and/or body fat accumulation in rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were assigned to one of four groups after acclimation and allowed free access to diets containing 20% casein (0% histidine), 20% casein plus 1.

[Effects of long-term administration of caffeine on fat storage in ovariectomized rats].

It is well known that obesity occurs in women with climacteric disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether caffeine prevents obesity and bone loss in ovariectomized rats (ovx). Eight-week-old female Wistar rat were assigned to 4 groups: a sham-operated group fed the control diet (CE-2); an ovx-c group fed the control diet; an ovx-caf 0.

[Effects of the flavonoid fraction from Ginkgo biloba extract on the postprandial blood glucose elevation in rats].

The present study investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract and its flavonoid fractions on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro. Ginkgo biloba extracts and their flavonoid fraction significantly inhibited alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro. Furthermore, Ginkgo biloba extracts and their flavonoid fraction reduced the elevation of rat plasma glucose level after oral administration of various saccharinity agents.

New biologically active triterpenoid saponins from Scabiosa tschiliensis.

Eleven new triterpenoid saponins, scabiosaponins A-K (1-11), and hookerosides A (12) and B (13) were isolated from the whole plants of Scabiosa tschiliensis. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of extensive NMR (DEPT, DQF-COSY, HETCOR, TOCSY, HMQC, HMQC-TOCSY, HMBC, and NOESY) and MS studies coupled with chemical degradations. The biological activity of compounds 1-10, 12, and 13 and prosapogenin 1b were examined against pancreatic lipase.

Inhibition of lipase activities by citrus pectin.

The oral administration of pectin to rats reduced and delayed the peak plasma triacylglycerol concentration. Pectin inhibited the hydrolysis of trioleoylglycerol emulsified with soybean phosphatidylcholine by pancreatic, carboxylester, and lingual lipases in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the effective concentration of pectin for lingual lipase was 100 times lower than that for pancreatic lipase.

Anti-obesity action of Salix matsudana leaves (Part 2). Isolation of anti-obesity effectors from polyphenol fractions of Salix matsudana.

Previously, it was reported that polyphenol fractions prepared from the leaves of Salix matsudana reduced the elevation of the rat plasma triacylglycerol level at 3 and 4 h after oral administration of a lipid emulsion containing corn oil, at a dose of 570 mg/kg. Moreover, body weights at 2-9 weeks and the fi nal parametrial adipose tissue weights were significantly lower in mice fed the high-fat diet with 5% polyphenol fractions of S. matsudana leaves than in those fed the high-fat diet alone.

Anti-obesity action of Salix matsudana leaves (Part 1). Anti-obesity action by polyphenols of Salix matsudana in high fat-diet treated rodent animals.

In preliminary experiments, polyphenol fractions prepared from the leaves of Salix matsudana reduced the elevation of the rat plasma triacylglycerol level at 3 and 4 h after oral administration of a lipid emulsion containing corn oil, at a dose of 570 mg/kg. The present study examined the anti-obesity action of polyphenol fractions of S. matsudana leaves by testing whether the polyphenol fractions prevented the obesity induced by feeding a high-fat diet to female mice for 9 weeks.

Hints of western medicine from Chinese medicine.

As a biochemist, I have been studying lipolytic and lipogenic pathways in fat cells since 1963. In 1966, I proposed a hormone-sensitive substrate theory in which catecholamines might not act on lipase but on substrate during their lipolytic processes. The lipolytic and lipogenic pathways are negative and positive processes in triglyceride content of fat cells.

Effect of ultrasound application on fat mobilization.

The aim of this experimental trial was to study the effect of ultrasound application on the lipolysis in adipose tissue. Rats were administered to pentobarbital (Nembutal) anesthesia and their abdomens were shaved. Rat abdomen was subjected to 24 kHz-1 MHz ultrasound for 10 min to investigate frequency and power-intensity dependency for fat mobilization.

Active-dimeric form of lipoprotein lipase increases in the adipose tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with prednisolone.

The synthesis, activity and mass of LPL in adipose tissue were studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with prednisolone (PSL) (PSL-treated group) and untreated patients with osteoarthritis (untreated group). LPL activity and mass in the extracts of acetone/ether powder of adipose tissue were 2.4 and 1.

Adequate evaluation of HSL mass and activity in rat adipose tissue in fasting and aging-related obesity.

Adipose tissue is a unique tissue because its mass is readily changed by altering nutritional conditions. Therefore the activity and content of enzyme in the adipose tissue is significantly differed according to the way of their presentation: per g tissue, per whole tissue, or per cell number. In the present study, the effects of the ways of expressing the hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) activity and content were studied in rat by decreasing or increasing adipose tissue.

Saponins from platycodi radix ameliorate high fat diet-induced obesity in mice.

We examined the effects of crude saponins isolated from Platycodi radix on the degree on fat storage induced in mice by feeding a high fat diet for 9 wk. We reported previously that feeding mice a high fat diet for a longer time caused obesity and fatty liver compared with those fed a low fat diet, nonpurified diet. Feeding a high fat diet containing 10 or 30 g/kg crude saponins prevented the body and parametrial adipose tissue weight increases and hepatic steatosis of mice fed the high fat diet alone.