Effect of Kaempferia parviflora extract on knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is becoming more prevalent worldwide due to increases in the numbers of elderly and obese patients. Currently, pharmaceutical medicines used for the treatment of OA are for symptomatic therapy and therefore new therapeutic agents are needed. Kaempferia parviflora (KP) is a plant growing naturally in Southeast Asia and has various pharmacological effects including an anti-inflammatory effect, but no effect on OA has yet been reported.

Efficacy of Kaempferia parviflora in a mouse model of obesity-induced dermatopathy.

Obesity results from excessive energy intake and physical inactivity, and predisposes one to various diseases. One of these reasons is that enlargement of adipocytes raises the lipid metabolic abnormalities that affect various organs. The skin is one such organ, and it has been reported that subcutaneous adipocyte cells secrete various factors and these factors are involved in reduction of dermal collagen fibers and fragility of the skin in obesity.

Chronic oral administration of pine bark extract (flavangenol) attenuates brain and liver mRNA expressions of HSPs in heat-exposed chicks.

Exposure to a high ambient temperature (HT) can cause heat stress, which has a huge negative impact on physiological functions. Cellular heat-shock response is activated upon exposure to HT for cellular maintenance and adaptation. In addition, antioxidants are used to support physiological functions under HT in a variety of organisms.

Gallic Acid, the Active Ingredient of Terminalia bellirica, Enhances Adipocyte Differentiation and Adiponectin Secretion.

Visceral obesity induces the onset of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Adipose tissue is considered as a potential pharmacological target for treating metabolic disorders. The fruit of Terminalia bellirica is extensively used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat patients with diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

Effects of ethyl acetate extract of Kaempferia parviflora on brown adipose tissue.

We have previously reported the effects of Kaempferia parviflora (KP), including anti-obesity, preventing various metabolic diseases, and regulating differentiation of white adipose cells. In this study we used Tsumura, Suzuki, Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mice--an animal model of spontaneous obese type II diabetes--and primary brown preadipocytes to examine the effects of the ethyl acetate extract of KP (KPE) on brown adipose tissue, which is one of the energy expenditure organs. TSOD mice were fed with MF mixed with either KPE 0.

UVB Stimulates the Expression of Endothelin B Receptor in Human Melanocytes via a Sequential Activation of the p38/MSK1/CREB/MITF Pathway Which Can Be Interrupted by a French Maritime Pine Bark Extract through a Direct Inactivation of MSK1.

Melanogenesis is the physiological process by which melanin is synthesized to protect the skin from UV damage. While paracrine interactions between keratinocytes and melanocytes are crucial for regulating epidermal pigmentation, the endothelin (EDN)-endothelin B-receptor (EDNRB) interaction is one of the key linkages. In this study, we found that a single exposure of normal human melanocytes (NHMs) with UVB stimulates the expression of EDNRB and its upstream transcription factor microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) at the transcriptional and translational levels.

Effects of young barley leaf powder on gastrointestinal functions in rats and its efficacy-related physicochemical properties.

Young barley leaf is consumed as a popular green-colored drink, which is named "Aojiru" in Japan. In the present study, we examined effects of young barley leaf powder (BL) on gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) and fecal moisture and weight in comparison with wheat bran (WB) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition, an attempt was made to identify BL components responsible for these effects by using various fractions of BL.

Dietary sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaf extract attenuates hyperglycaemia by enhancing the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

'Suioh', a sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivar developed in Japan, has edible leaves and stems. The sweet potato leaves contain polyphenols such as caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives.

Insoluble fiber in young barley leaf suppresses the increment of postprandial blood glucose level by increasing the digesta viscosity.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a well-known cereal plant. Young barley leaf is consumed as a popular green-colored drink, which is named "Aojiru" in Japan.

Oral toxicological studies of pueraria flower extract: acute toxicity study in mice and subchronic toxicity study in rats.

Kudzu has been widely used as an herbal medicine in China. The root of the kudzu is also well known as an antipyretic and analgesic in treatment of the common cold, while its flower has been used to treat alcohol intoxication, alcohol abuse, and dysentery. Pueraria flower extract (PFE) is a hot water extract derived from the flower of the kudzu, Pueraria thomsonii Benth.

The isoflavone-rich fraction of the crude extract of the Puerariae flower increases oxygen consumption and BAT UCP1 expression in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Puerariae flower extract (PFE) is a crude extract of the Kudzu flower. Previous studies have shown that PFE supplementation exerts anti-obesity and anti-fatty liver effects in high-fat diet-fed mice. In this study, we aimed to identify the PFE components responsible for these effects and to determine their influence on energy expenditure and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression.

Suppressive effect on food intake of a potato extract (Potein®) involving cholecystokinin release in rats.

We have recently reported that oral gavage of a potato extract (Potein®) suppressed the food intake in rats. The satiating effect of the potato extract was compared in the present study to other protein sources, and the involvement of endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion was examined. Food consumption was measured in 18-h fasted rats after oral gavage of the potato extract or other protein sources.

The crude extract from puerariae flower exerts antiobesity and antifatty liver effects in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Kudzu, a leguminous plant, has long been used in folk medicine. In particular, its flowers are used in Japanese and Chinese folk medicine for treating hangovers. We focused on the flower of Kudzu (Puerariae thomsonii), and we previously reported the antiobesity effect of Puerariae thomsonii flower extract (PFE) in humans.

Puerariae flos alleviates metabolic diseases in Western diet-loaded, spontaneously obese type 2 diabetic model mice.

Puerariae flos extract (PFE) has been reported to have many effects, including preventing the development of hangovers, liver protective effects, and an estrogenic effect. In addition, some papers reported that PFE is effective against metabolic diseases, with hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects. However, the mechanism underlying such effects remains unclear.

Flavangenol (pine bark extract) and its major component procyanidin B1 enhance fatty acid oxidation in fat-loaded models.

Flavangenol, one of several pine bark extract products, is expected to prevent metabolic diseases with its potent antioxidant effect, its anti-obesity effect and its improvement of insulin sensitivity. In this study, targeting the liver as one of the organs that plays an important role in energy metabolism, Flavangenol was investigated for its effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), its action mechanism and its active ingredients, using in vivo and in vitro experiment systems. Flavangenol suppressed intrahepatic fat accumulation in Western diet-loaded Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mice, which develop various metabolic diseases.

Preventive effect of Terminalia bellirica on obesity and metabolic disorders in spontaneously obese type 2 diabetic model mice.

Visceral obesity induces insulin resistance and is recognized as an important risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MS). Therefore, inhibition of lipid absorption from the intestine is regarded as an effective way of preventing MS. Terminalia bellirica is extensively used in Ayurvedic medicine in India and neighboring countries, and the fruit of this plant has been reported to have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.

Direct assessment by electron spin resonance spectroscopy of the antioxidant effects of French maritime pine bark extract in the maxillofacial region of hairless mice.

Flavangenol, one of extract of French maritime pine bark, is a complex mixture of bioflavonoids with oligometric proanthocyanidins as the major constituents. These constituents, catechin and procyanidin B(1), are water-soluble derivatives of flavangenol. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant effects of flavangenol on reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion and singlet oxygen using electron spin resonance and spin trapping.

Effects of flavangenol, an extract of French maritime pine bark on collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Flavangenol (FG), an extract of French maritime pine bark (Pinus maritime) mainly contains proanthocyanidin in oligomers. It has many physiological effects, including antioxidant and anti-atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of FG on rat collagen-induced arthritis, a model of human rheumatoid arthritis.

Potato extract (Potein) suppresses food intake in rats through inhibition of luminal trypsin activity and direct stimulation of cholecystokinin secretion from enteroendocrine cells.

Dietary proteins and trypsin inhibitors are known to stimulate the secretion of the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK). A potato extract (Potein) contains 60% carbohydrate and 20% protein including trypsin inhibitory proteins. In this study, we examined whether Potein suppresses food intake in rats and whether it directly stimulates CCK secretion in enteroendocrine cells.

Preventive effect of pine bark extract (flavangenol) on metabolic disease in Western diet-loaded tsumura suzuki obese diabetes mice.

It is known that the metabolic syndrome has a multi-factorial basis involving both genetic and environmental risk factors. In this study, Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mice, a mouse model of multi-factorial, hereditary, obese type II diabetes, were given a Western diet (WTD) as an environmental factor to prepare a disease model (TSOD-WTD) and to investigate the preventive effects of Pine bark extract (Flavangenol) against obesity and various features of metabolic disease appearing in this animal model. In contrast to control Tsumura Suzuki Non-obesity (TSNO) mice, TSOD mice were obese and suffered from other metabolic complications.

Evaluation of the effect of flavangenol on serum lipid peroxide levels and development of atherosclerosis in spontaneously hyperlipidemic B6.KOR-Apoeshl mice.

Antioxidative flavonoids are used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in humans. However, the precise mechanism for the anti-atherosclerotic actions of flavonoids remains to be elucidated. In the present study, to assess the mechanism for the action of antioxidative flavonoids on atherosclerosis, we investigated the effect of flavangenol, one of the most potent antioxidants currently known, on spontaneously hyperlipidemic B6.

Inhibitory effect of astraxanthin combined with Flavangenol on oxidative stress biomarkers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In this study, the effect of dietary antioxidants, such as astaxanthin and Flavangenol, and a combination of both, in counteracting oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetes was investigated. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were divided into four groups: control, astaxanthin, Flavangenol, and combined astaxanthin and Flavangenol (mix group). Each group other than the control group was fed with an astaxanthin diet (0.

Persorption of luminal antigenic molecule and its specific antibody via apoptotic epithelial cells of intestinal villi and Peyer's patches into peripheral blood in rats.

The possibility of persorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules from mucous epithelial cells and its mechanism were investigated in rats orally pre-immunized by BSA for 14 consecutive days. In the small and large intestines, both the BSA antigen (BSA-Ag) and its specific antibody (SpAb) were absorbed by the epithelial cells at the late apoptotic stage (ApoEp), and were subsequently transcytosed by membranes of the small vesicles. The basal cytoplasms containing highly-concentrated BSA-Ag and SpAb were occasionally fragmented into small cytoplasmic droplets that were secreted into the lamina propria.