BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESTurmeric (Curcuma longa L.) has been reported to have many biological functions including anti-obesity. Leptin, peptide hormone produced by adipocytes and its concentration is increased in proportion to the amount of the adipocytes. In the present study, we examined the effects of Korean turmeric on the regulation of adiposity and leptin levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.MATERIALS/METHODSLeptin secretion, free fatty acid and glycerol contents in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were measured after incubation of cells with turmeric for 24 hours. Rats were divided into four experimental groups: a normal diet group (N), a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group (HF), a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group supplemented with 2.5% turmeric extracts (TPA group) and a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet group supplemented with 5% turmeric extracts (TPB group). Serum samples were used for the measurement of leptin concentration.RESULTSContents of free fatty acid and glycerol showed concentration dependent increase in response to turmeric extracts. Effects of turmeric extracts on reduction of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells were examined by Oil Red O staining. Treatment with turmeric extracts resulted in increased expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase mRNA. The concentration of leptin from 3T3-L1 adipocytes was significantly decreased by turmeric. Proportional abdominal and epididymal fats weights of the turmeric 5% supplemented group, TPB has significantly decreased compared to the HF group. The serum levels of leptin in the TPA and TPB groups were significantly lower than those of the HF group.CONCLUSIONSBased on these results, we suggested that Korean turmeric may contribute to the decreasing of body fat and regulating leptin secretion.

Nonylphenol (NP), which is well known as an endocrine disrupter, has been detected widely in untreated sewage or waste water streams. Given the necessity of discovering an eco-friendly method of degrading this toxic organic compound, this study was conducted to isolate NP-degrading microorganisms from the aqueous environment. NPdegrading microbes were isolated through NP-containing enrichment culture. Finally, a microbial consortium, SW-3, capable of degrading NP with high efficiency, was selected from the mixture sample. The microbial consortium SW-3 was able to degrade over 99% of 100 ppm NP in the culture medium for 40 days at 25°C. The microbial consortium SW-3 seemed to utilize NP as a carbon source, since NP was the sole carbon source in the culture medium. In order to isolate the NP-degrading bacterium, we further conducted single colony isolation using the microbial consortium SW-3. Four strains isolated from SW-3 exhibited lower NP-degradation efficiency than that of SW-3, suggesting that NP was degraded by the co-metabolism of the microbial consortium. We suggest that the microbial consortium obtained in this study would be useful in developing an eco-friendly bioremediation technology for NP degradation.

This study investigated the phenolics (TP) and phytochemical contents and radical-scavenging activity of ethanol extracts of Dendropanax morbiferus parts (leaf, stem, and root). The contents of chlorogenic acid (CA) and rutin (RT) and radical-scavenging activity of all extracts by parts were in the order of leaf, stem and root. In the case of leaf, the TP contents were 2.15-2.52 mg/g when extracted with hot water and ethanol concentration (30-70%), and there was no difference depending on extraction solvents and times. However, 95% alcohol extracts showed the lowest content of TP (extraction time: 2-4 h). Particularly, CA and RT contents of 70% ethanolic extract for 2 h were the highest as 12.33 mg/g and 14.01 mg/g, respectively, in which DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were also highest (85% and 110%), respectively.