• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2004

The deficiency of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine(ACh) is responsible for the initiation of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, there is a simple evidence that oxidative stress significantly increases in persons with Parkinson's disease compared to age-matched healthy persons. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the neurodegeneration inhibitory effect of soybean(Glycine Max) and Yak-Kong(Rhynchosia Nolubilis) by measuring the degree of inhibiting Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catabolizing the ACh and the free radical scavenger effect in vitro. AChE was measured by the minor modified Ellman assay. Free radical scavenging activity was measured using l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). First, the MeOH extracts of Soybean and Yak-Kong showed the AChE inhibiting activity of 62.0$\pm$2.43％ and 65.0$\pm$3.29％ at the 5 mg/$m\ell$ concentration. The 50％ inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$/) of AChE was 1.96 and 1.31 mg/$m\ell$ in the MeOH extracts of soybean and Yak-Kong. Second, the MeOH extracts of soybean and Yak-Kong showed the free radical scavenger activity of 23.1$\pm$4.26％ and 80.7$\pm$4.61％ at the 5 mg/$m\ell$. IC50 of free radical scavenger activity in Soybean and Yak-Kong was 13.00 and 1.41 mg/$m\ell$ in MeOH extracts and was 5.95 and 2.74 mg/$m\ell$ in hot-water extracts, respectively. In this study, the extracts of Soybean and Yak-Kong showed powerful effects in the AChE inhibition and free radical scavenging. The extracts of Soybean and Yak-Kong were expected to prevent the many neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1988

The effect of maternal low protein diets during gestation and lactation on growth and development of young rats was investigated. Pregnant and/or lactating rats were fed the diet containing 20% or 11.7%casein. DNA, RNA and total protein were determined in liver, muscle and brain of 21-day-old young rats and lipid contents and acetylcholinesterase activity in brain. Body and organ weight of young rats were measured. DNA, RNA and protein contents of liver, muscle and brain of young rats were less in maternal low protein group than that of control group. Total lipid and cholesterol contents in brain were less(p<0.01) in low protein group than that of control group than that of control group. And also brain acety;cholnesterase activity of low protein group was significantly (p<0.01) lower than those of control group, but their each organ weight ratios in relation to body weight was higher than that of control group. It could be suggested that the maternal low protein during gestation and lactation has influenced on cell number, cell size, protein content, brain lipid content and acetyl-cholinesterase activity of the offsprings.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2016

Chlorine dioxide has been used as a disinfectant against microbial pathogens. Recently, its insecticidal activity has been known against stored insect pests by oxidative stress. However, any molecular target of the oxidative stress induced by chlorine dioxide has been not known in insects. This study assessed an enzyme activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as a molecular target of chlorine dioxide in the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella. AChE activities were varied among developmental stages of P. interpunctella. Injection of chlorine dioxide with lethality-causing doses significantly increased AChE activity of the fifth instar larvae of P. interpunctella. Exposure of the larvae to chlorine dioxide fumigant also significantly increased AChE activity. The fifth instar larvae of P. interpunctella exhibited a negative phototaxis. However, chlorine dioxide treatment significantly interrupted the innate behavior. These results suggest that AChE is one of molecular targets of oxidative stress due to chlorine dioxide in P. interpunctella.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1041-1049
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• 2013

The root of Polygala radix has been widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal stuff that improves memory. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Polygala radix hot water extracts (PRHWE) on cognitive function related to the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) derived from neural cells (PC12) in addition to antioxidant activity was examined both in a cell-free system and live cells. First, in the study on cell viability using an MTT assay, PRHWE did not exhibit any cell toxicity at 0.1% (w/v) or below. It also was observed that PRHWE increased the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, PRHWE had a protective effect on DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the AchE activity decreased with increasing concentrations. In addition, PRHWE increased the expression level of SOD-1 and NOS-2 in PC12 cells. Moreover, the transcriptional activities of p53 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were reduced in the presence of PRHWE in an experiment using a reporter gene assay. Therefore, these results prove that PRHE has antioxidative and protective effects on neuronal cells, suggesting that it may have great potential as a therapeutic agent for human health.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1073-1078
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• 2005

A presenilin 2 mutation is believed to be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, transgenic mice with a presenilin 2 mutation have been reported to have learning and memory impairments. In this study, exposing PC12 cells expressing mutant presenilin 2 to $50{\mu}M\;A{\beta}_{25-35},\;30mM$ L-glutamate and $50{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ caused a significant increase in acetylcholine esterase activity. An in vivo study revealed high levels of this enzyme activity in the mutant presenilin 2 transgenic brains compared with the wild type presenilin 2 transgenic and non-transgenic samples. These results suggest that a mutant presenilin 2-induced neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease might be involved in the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity. These findings might help in the development of an appropriate therapeutic intervention targeting mutant presenilin 2-induced Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2017

Objectives: Boswellic acid (BA), a compound isolated from the gum-resin of Boswellia carterii, is a pentacyclic terpenoid that is active against many inflammatory diseases, including cancer, arthritis, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and memory impairment, but the mechanism is poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of boswellic acid on spatial learning and memory impairment induced by trimethyltin (TMT) in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Normal group, TMT-administrated rats (8.0 mg/kg, Intraperitoneally, i.p.) and TMT + BA (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg, i.p.)-administrated rats. BA was used daily for 21 days. To evaluate the cognitive improving of BA, we performed the Morris water maze test. Moreover, to investigate the neuroprotective effect of BA, we determined the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a marker of lipid peroxidation, and the glutathione (GSH) content in the cerebral cortex. Results: Treatment with TMT impaired learning and memory, and treatment with BA at a dose of 160 mg/kg produced a significant improvement in learning and memory abilities in the water maze tasks. Consistent with behavioral data, the activity of AChE was significantly increased in the TMT-injected rats compared to the control group (P < 0.01) whereas all groups treated with BA presented a more significant inhibitory effect against AChE than the TMT-injected animals. In addition, TMT reduced the GSH content and increased the MDA level in the cerebral cortex as compared to the control group) P < 0.01). On the other hand, treatment with BA at 160 mg/kg slightly increased the GSH content and reduced the MDA level in comparison to the TMT-administered group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The above results suggest that the effect of BA in improving the cognitive function may be mediated through its antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabis Fructus on exercise capacity and cognitive function in chronic hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia rat model. Methods Vascular dementia rat models were induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group; control group; CF I group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 100 mg/kg); CF II group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 300 mg/kg). In order to study the effects of oral administration of Cannabis Fructus on vascular dementia rat models, corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test were taken and Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level were measured. Also histological findings of the liver, kidney, brain and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus were observed. Results CF I and CF II showed significant improvement in corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test, Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus. CF I showed more significant effect than CF II in these tests. However in histological observations of the liver and kidney both CF I and CF II showed glomerular injury and hepatotoxicity. Conclusions These results suggest that Cannabis Fructus was helpful in improving exercise capacity and cognitive function on Chronic hypoperfusion induced Vascular Dementia rats. However Cannabis Fructus affects the liver and kidney, therefore suggest that this is an area for further study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2008

In the present study, we assessed the effects of white ginseng and red ginseng extract on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. The cognition-enhancing effect of ginseng extracts was investigated using the Morris water maze and Y-maze test. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor. Tacrine was used a positive control. Ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.), tacrine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reduced the escape latency during training in the Morris water maze (p<0.05). At the probe trial session, scopolamine significantly increased the escape latency on day 5 in comparison with control (p<0.01). The effect of ginseng extracts on spontaneous alternation in Y-maze was similar to that of scopolamine treated group. In addition, numbers of arm entries were similar in all experimental groups. Moreover, red ginseng extract significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the cortex and serum (p<0.05). Brain ACh contents of ginseng extract treated groups increased more than that of scopolamine group, which did not show statistically significant. These results suggest that ginseng extract may be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2009

This study was conducted to develop a new method for enhancing ginsenoside $Rg_3$, which is abundant in black ginseng. The cognition-enhancing effect of black ginseng extract was investigated via the assay of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Black ginseng I was prepared through the traditional method (by steaming and drying nine times repetitions). Black ginseng II, on the other hand, was prepared by steaming the ginseng three times at $120^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after soaking it in grape juice for 24 h. The ginsenosides of white, red, and black ginseng I, and II were investigated using the HPLC method, respectively. In black ginseng II, the ginsenoside $Rg_3$ contents, which cannot be found in white ginseng, amounted to 10.91 mg/g, approximately 18 times more than that in red ginseng. In the in-vivo study, black ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the AChE activity after 24 h by a single administration in the brain. Thus, the new manufacturing method for black ginseng was found to more effective in the conversion of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ compared to the traditional method. Black ginseng may also have the effect of preventing the cognitive impairment induced by cholinergic dysfunction.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 2005

Flupyrazofos (O,O-diethyl O-1-phenyl-3-trifluoromethylpyrazo-5-yl phosphorothioate) is an organophosphorus insecticide with a pyrazole moiety which is newly developed and commercialized by SUNGBO chemical company and Korean Research Institute of Chemical Technology for effectively control against diamond back moth. This study was conducted to determine the composition and quantity of impurities in technical 1 (94.5%), technical 2 (97.6%) and purified (99.2%) flupyrazofos using GLC/MSD. Bimolecular inhibition rate constant($k_i$) with acethylcholinesterase (in vitro) and $I_{50}$ with mouse brain acetylcholinesterase (in vivo) were measured for comparing inhibitory patterns of two technicals and purified flupyrazofos. Impurities of flupyrazofos were identified as O,O,O-triethylthio-phosphoric acid (TEA), 1-phenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-5-ethoxy pyrazole(PTMEP), O,O-diethyl O-1-phenyl-3-trifluoromethylpyrazo-5-yl phosphoric acid ester(flupyrazofos oxen), O,S-diethyl O-1-phenyl-3-trifluoromethylpyrazo-5-yl phosphorothionate (S-ethyl flupyrazofos). In in vitro, technical 1 showed the fastest inhibition on AChE activity among them. And technical 1 and 2 showed 40% higher in vivo inhibition against mouse brian AChE than purified flupyrazofos did. These results could be caused by the impurities such as flupyrazofos oxen and S-methyl flupyrazofos contained in technical grades of flupyrazofos.