IBF-R Regulates IRE1α Post-Translational Modifications and ER Stress in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity is a global health issue linked to the heightened risk of several chronic diseases. Rhus verniciflua (RV) is a traditional food supplement used for a range of pharmacological effects such as antitumor, antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory effects, hepatitis, and arthritis. Despite the traditional medicinal values, scientific evidence for its application in obesity is inadequate and unclear. Thus, this investigation was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of IBF-R, an RV extract, using a high-fat diet (HFD) model. The study has six groups: chow diet group; chow diet with 80 mg/kg IBF-R; HFD group; IBF-R group with 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg. IBF-R supplementation significantly regulated the weight gain than the HFD fed mice. Further, IBF-R supplementation lowered the expressions of adipogenic transcription factors such as SREBP-1c, C/EBPα, FAS, and PPAR-γ in white adipose tissue (WAT) of diet-induced obese mice. In addition, IBF-R supplementation reduced the lipogenic gene expression while enhancing genes was related to fatty acid oxidation. Obesity is linked to redox-based post-translational modifications (PTMs) of IRE1α such as S-nitrosylation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and chronic metabolic inflammation. The administration of IBF-R inhibits these PTMs. Notably, IBF-R administration significantly enhanced the expression of AMPK and sirtuin 1 in WAT of HFD-fed mice. Together, these findings reveal the IRE1α S-nitrosylation-inflammation axis as a novel mechanism behind the positive implications of IBF-R on obesity. In addition, it lays a firm foundation for the development of Rhus verniciflua extract as a functional ingredient in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of fermented Rhus verniciflua stokes extract on liver function parameters in healthy Korean adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Background Fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract (FRVE) reported an anti-hepatic lipidemic property mediated by the upregulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in cell and animal models. However, it remains unclear whether there is an effect of FRVE on liver disease-related parameters and serum lipid levels in humans. We investigated the effects of FRVE intake for 12 weeks on liver disease-related parameters and serum lipid profiles in Korean adults. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted among 79 subjects. An aqueous extract of fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes that was filtered and fermented was prepared. For 12 weeks, the test group (n = 39) consumed two capsules of FRVE (main components: fustin 129 mg and fisetin 59 mg) once daily. The control group (n = 40) consumed two placebo pills (main component: lactose 627.0 mg) once daily. A 1:1 randomization of control and test was performed using computer-generated randomization. Both before and after FRVE intake, anthropometric parameters, liver function-related parameters, and clinical laboratory parameters were measured. The effects between the test and control groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test, and the difference between baseline and follow-up values was compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test and paired t-test. Results There was no significant difference when comparing the change values of liver disease-related parameters and serum lipid profiles in between groups. Conclusions In our study, we did not confirm the significance in liver function parameters and serum lipid profiles. Trial registration The study protocol was registered in the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index.jsp) under number KCT0005687. Registered on 2 December 2020

A Study on Acne Improvement Effect of Fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes and Orostachys japonicus A. Berger Complex Extract Cosmetics

In this study, a clinical trial was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of cosmetics containing Fermented <i>Rhus verniciflua</i> Stokes · <i>Orostachys japonicus</i> A. Berger Complex Extract (FRO) on acne skin improvement. The result is as follows: After 6 weeks of using FRO cosmetics, it was confirmed that acne comedones, papules, and pustules were significantly reduced. In addition, as a result of analyzing the change in acne status with the KAGS grade, the experimental group improved from M = 2.07 before the experiment to M = 1 after 6 weeks. In addition, the results of acne improvement satisfaction were statistically significant at the 2nd week (p<.01), 4th week (p<.04), and 6th week (p<.01) between the experimental group and the control group. In addition, as a result of analyzing the acne improvement effect of experts, it was statistically significant at the 2nd week (p<.001), 4^th week (p<.001), and 6th week (p<.001) between the experimental group and the control group. Therefore, It was confirmed that Fermented <i>Rhus verniciflua</i> Stokes · <i>Orostachys japonicus</i> A. Berger complex extract (FRO) can be useful as a functional cosmetic because it has the effect of improving acne skin.

A Study on Acne Improvement Effect of Fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes and Orostachys japonicus A. Berger Complex Extract Cosmetics

In this study, a clinical trial was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of cosmetics containing Fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes · Orostachys japonicus A. Berger Complex Extract (FRO) on acne skin improvement. The result is as follows: After 6 weeks of using FRO cosmetics, it was confirmed that acne comedones, papules, and pustules were significantly reduced. In addition, as a result of analyzing the change in acne status with the KAGS grade, the experimental group improved from M = 2.07 before the experiment to M = 1 after 6 weeks. In addition, the results of acne improvement satisfaction were statistically significant at the 2nd week (p<.01), 4th week (p<.04), and 6th week (p<.01) between the experimental group and the control group. In addition, as a result of analyzing the acne improvement effect of experts, it was statistically significant at the 2nd week (p<.001), 4th week (p<.001), and 6th week (p<.001) between the experimental group and the control group. Therefore, It was confirmed that Fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes · Orostachys japonicus A. Berger complex extract (FRO) can be useful as a functional cosmetic because it has the effect of improving acne skin.

Genotoxicity of Water Extract from Bark-Removed Rhus verniciflua Stokes

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been traditionally used as an herbal remedy to support the digestive functions in traditional Korean medicine. Additionally, the pharmacological effects of RVS, including antioxidative, antimicrobial and anticancer activities, have been well-reported. The genotoxicity of RVS, however, is elusive; thus, we evaluated the genotoxicity of RVS without bark (RVX) for safe application as a resource of functional food or a medical drug. To evaluate the genotoxicity of RVX, we used a bacterial reverse mutation test, chromosomal aberration test and comet assay, according to the “Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development” (OECD) guidelines. Briefly, for the reverse mutation test, samples (5000, 1667, 556, 185, 62 and 0 μg/plate of RVX or the positive control) were treated with a precultured strain (TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 or WP2µvrA) with or without the S9 mix, in which RVX partially induced a reverse mutation in four bacterial strains. From the chromosomal aberration test and comet assay, the RVX samples (556, 185, 62, 20 and 0 μg/mL of RVX or the positive control) were treated in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO-K1 cells) in the conditions of the S9 mix absent or S9 mix present and in Chang liver cells and C2C12 myoblasts, respectively. No chromosomal aberrations in CHO-K1 or DNA damage in Chang liver cells and C2C12 myoblasts was observed. In conclusion, our results suggest the non-genotoxicity of RVX, which would be helpful as a reference for the safe application of bark-removed Rhus verniciflua Stokes as functional raw materials in the food, cosmetics or pharmaceutical fields.