Earticle

To confirm the effects of hemp seed extract on diabetes and lipid improvement, clinical subjects were divided into two groups, hemp seed oil group (n=20) and hemp seed globulus (n=20). The feeding amount is 1 mL/day in hemp see oil group and 30g/day in hemp seed globulus group, and blood glucose level, blood test, blood pressure, pulse, inbody and urine test were examined after 60 days. There were no differences between hemp seed oil and hemp seed globulus in all tests except glucose level and lipid tests. In glucose level, that of hemp seed globulus group was lower than that of hemp seed oil group. Initial glucose level is 152.6±106.4 mg/dL, 129.4±56.8 mg/dL after a month, 110.2±21.1 mg/dL after two months in hemp seed globulus group (p<0.05). Triglyceride content is 146.4±48.1 mg/dL before eating, 124.3±52.5 mg/dL after one month, and 147.2±73.2 mg/dL after two months in hemp seed oil group and 218.4±249.9 mg/dL before eating, 169.4±151.2 mg/dL after one month, and 169.8±188.0 mg/dL after two months in hemp seed globulus. These results showed lowered triglyceride but, there is no statistical significance. In conclusion, hemp seed globulus may available in diabetes because of it has a blood glucose depressing effect. And the unsaturated fatty acids in hemp seed oil seems to be affect lipid improvement in body.

Water property can be changed by various factors such as thermal energy, electromagnetic waves, and dissolved gases, which influences on human health. The specific effects of water mediated by other factors such as advanced ceramics and microwave are still vaguely known. This study examined the effect of water heated in the microwave oven on the soybean germination rate compared to the water heated on the gas range using the functional ceramic vessel (FCV) coated with ferromagnetic material at the external bottom surface. First, to investigate the differences of FCV and general ceramic vessel (control) after heating in the microwave oven, surface temperature of an empty FCV and water temperature and pH were time-dependently measured. In result, the bottom temperature of FCV was significantly higher (176.7°C after heating for 4 minutes) as compared with the control (75.7°C). The temperature and pH also showed a trend of slight increase in FCV as compared to the control. Second, using the FCV in boiling the water, a higher germination rate was shown using water boiled in microwave (96.0%) as compared to using water boiled in gas range (85.7%). Taken together, these results suggest that the FCV together with the electromagnetic wave may change the water property which may have an effect on human health.

Objective Hydrogen (H2) attenuates the development of atherosclerosis in mouse models. We aimed to examine the effects of H2 on atherosclerotic plaque stability. Methods Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR-/-) mice fed an atherogenic-diet were dosed daily with H2 and/or simvastatin. In vitro studies were carried out in oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL)-stimulated macrophage-derived foam cell model treated with or without H2. Key Results H2 or simvastatin significantly enhanced plaque stability by increasing levels of collagen and smooth muscle cells, as well as reducing macrophage and lipid levels in plaques. The decreased numbers of dendritic cells and increased numbers of regulatory T cells in plaques further supported the stabilizing effect of H2 or simvastatin. Moreover, H2 treatment decreased serum ox-LDL level and apoptosis in plaques with concomitant inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and reduction of ROS accumulation in the aorta. In vitro, like ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid, H2 inhibited ox-LDL- or tunicamycin (an ERS inducer)- induced ERS response and cell apoptosis. In addition, like ROS scavenger N-acetyl-cysteine, H2 inhibited ox-LDL- or Cu2 + (an ROS inducer)-induced reduction in cell viability and increase in cellular ROS. Also, H2 increased Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor-2, an important factor in antioxidant signaling) activation and Nrf2 siRNA abolished the protective effect of H2 on ox-LDL-induced cellular ROS production. Conclusions The inhibitory effects of H2 on the apoptosis of macrophage-derived foam cells, which take effect by suppressing the activation of ERS pathway and by activating Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, might lead to an improvement in atherosclerotic plaque stability.