• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.221-235
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to confirm the anti-amnesic effects of Bunsimgieum (BSGE) through its favorable acetylcholine (ACh) and, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expressions, and antioxidant effect on scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment in C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Six groups, a total of 20 intact or 100 Sco-induced mice were used in this study, based on their body weight. Half of each group underwent passive avoidance tests and the measurement of hippocampus AChE activity, ACh content, and ChAT mRNA expression, The remaining half of each group underwent a Morris water-maze test and antioxidant defense system measurement as well. Results: Significant reductions in the step-through latency times from the passive avoidance test and reductions in the escape latency times from the Morris water-maze test were observed with increases of hippocampal AChE activities and, reductions in ACh contents and ChAT mRNA expression in hippocampus, as a result of Sco intraperitoneal treatment, in this study. Additionally, the increases in cerebral cortical MDA levels and, reductions in GSH contents, SOD activities, and CAT activities were demonstrated in the Sco control mice compared with the intact vehicle control mice, respectively. However, 28 days of consecutive oral pre-treatment of BSGE hot water extracts of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg, respectively, markedly and dose-dependently inhibited Sco treatment-related amnesia. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the oral administration of BSGE hot water extracts reduces Sco-induced memory impairment, through preserving ACh, related to ChAT mRNA expressions, causes AChE inhibition, and enhances the cerebral antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2021

Here, we investigated the prebiotic and antioxidant effects of Actinidia arguta sprout water extract (AASWE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive deficit mice. AASWE increased viable cell count, titratable acidity, and acetic acid production in Lactobacillus reuteri strain and showed a cytoprotective effect on LPS-induced inflammation in HT-29 cells. We assessed the behavior of LPS-induced cognitive deficit mice using Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests and found that administration of AASWE significantly improved learning and memory function. The AASWE group showed antioxidant activity through downregulation of malondialdehyde levels and upregulation of superoxide dismutase levels in brain tissue. In addition, the AASWE group exhibited activation of the cholinergic system with decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue. Furthermore, AASWE effectively downregulated inflammatory mediators such as phosphorylated-JNK, phosphorylated-NF-κB, TNF-α and interleukin-6. The major bioactive compounds of AASWE were identified as quercetin-3-O-arabinopyranosyl(1→2)-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-glucopyranose, quercetin-3-O-apiosyl(1 → 2)-galactoside, rutin, and 3-caffeoylquinic acid. Based on these results, we suggest that AASWE not only increases the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, but also shows an ameliorating effect on LPS-induced cognitive impairment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.614-623
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to produce a nutrient delivery system (NDS) using sialic acid extracted from edible bird's nest (EBN), which improves brain function in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, by affinity bead technology (ABT). The inhibitory activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pyramidal cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus were analyzed to investigate the effect of a sialic acid NDS on Alzheimer's disease. Also, the effect of a sialic acid NDS on Parkinson's disease was evaluated by rota-rod test and pole test in an animal model. Among the groups treated with donepezil, EBN, and sialic acid NDS, the AChE activity was the lowest in the sialic acid NDS-treated group. The results of the hippocampus analysis of the rat model confirmed that the sialic acid NDS inhibited amyloid-beta accumulation depending upon the concentration. Also, the sialic acid NDS group showed more improvement in motor deterioration than the1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced group in both the rota-rod test and pole test. Therefore, the sialic acid NDS had an effect of protecting not only Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting AChE and amyloid-beta accumulation, but Parkinson's disease by preventing neurotoxicity induced by MPTP.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.49-63
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• 2022

Anti-cholinesterase (ChE)s are commonly prescribed as the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. They are applied to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) that bind to muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in the synaptic cleft. Seaweeds are one of the richest sources of bioactive compounds for both nutraceuticals and pharmacognosy applications. This study aimed to determine the anti-ChEs activity of Gracilaria manilaensis, one of the red seaweeds notables for its economic importance as food and raw materials for agar production. Methanol extracts (GMM) of G. manilaensis were prepared through maceration, and further purified with column chromatography into a semi-pure fraction. Ellman assay was carried out to determine the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and anti-butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities of extracts and fractions. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis was carried out to determine the inhibition kinetic of potent extract and fraction. Major compound(s) from the most potent fraction was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). GMM and fraction G (GMMG) showed significant inhibitory activity AChE with EC₅₀ of 2.6 mg/mL and 2.3 mg/mL respectively. GMM and GMMG exhibit mixed-inhibition and uncompetitive inhibition respectively against AChE. GMMG possesses neuroprotective compounds such as cynerine A, graveolinine, militarinone A, eplerenone and curumenol. These findings showed a promising insight of G. manilaensis to be served as a nutraceutical for neuronal health care in the future.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disease in industrialized countries. It is estimated that about 47 million people living with dementia and the number of cases will be tripled by 2050. However, the exact mechanism of AD is not known, and full therapy has still not been found. Various tryptophan-derived alkaloids have been reported as promising agents for the treatment of AD. In the present study, a series of tryptophan-derived alkaloids were isolated and characterized from the methanol extract of Hedera rhombea fruit. Based on the analysis of their observed and reported spectroscopic data, their structures were identified as N-[4'-hydroxy-(E)-cinnamoyl]-L-tryptophan (1), N-[3',4'-dihydroxy-(E)-cinnamoyl]-L-tryptophan (2), N-[4'-hydroxy-(E)-cinnamoyl]-L-tryptophan methyl ester (3), and N-[3',4'-dihydroxy-(E)-cinnamoyl]-L-tryptophan methyl ester (4). These compounds were screened for anti-Alzheimer activity via their inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes in vitro. As a result, compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate BChE inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 86.9 and 78.4 μM, respectively, compared to those of the positive control [berberine (IC₅₀ = 11.5 μM)]. However, all four compounds did not show significant inhibition of the AChE enzyme. This is the first time, the AChE and BChE inhibitory activities of these tryptophan-derived alkaloids were investigated and reported.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) at high concentrations induce oxidative stress, an imbalanced redox state that is a prevalent cause of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extract on oxidative stress-induced impairment of cognitive function in models of neurodegenerative diseases. CF was extracted with subcritical water and several solvents and H₂O₂ (0.25 mM) or aluminum chloride (AlCl₃; 25 µM) as an inducer of ROS was treated in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. All statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett's test using GraphPad Prism. H₂O₂ and AlCl₃ were found to significantly induce ROS production in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. In addition, they strongly affected intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. However, treatment of H₂O₂-induced PC12 cells or AlCl₃-induced zebrafish larvae with CF subcritical water extract at 90℃ and CF water extract effectively regulated excessive ROS production, intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, β-amyloid, tau, AChE, BDNF, and TrkB. Our study suggested that CF extracts can be a potential source of nutraceuticals that can improve the impairment of cognitive function and synaptic plasticity by regulating ROS generation in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

Objectives: The unsafe use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and health symptoms among chili farmers in northeast Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study included 141 chili farmers in Sakon Nakhon Province, in northeast Thailand. Data regarding health symptoms were gathered using a self-report questionnaire. A medical technician tested blood cholinesterase activity using an erythrocyte method, and an occupational medicine specialist at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand reviewed the results. Associations between personal characteristics, pesticide exposure factors, and health symptoms were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Of the 141 chili farmers studied, 66.7% experienced pesticide poisoning, as indicated by below-normal cholinesterase levels. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom associated with pesticide exposure, affecting 37.6% of participants. This was followed by nausea and vomiting (31.9%), dizziness (14.9%), and dry throat (14.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with adverse symptoms: amount of work experience, volume of pesticides used, use of chemical pesticides, use of leaking containers during spraying, direct pesticide exposure while working, contact with pesticide-soaked clothing, consumption of food and drinks in the fields, and blood cholinesterase level indicating risk. Conclusions: This study suggests potential health risks for chili farmers stemming from exposure to and contamination by pesticides used in agricultural practices. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to supply personal protective equipment and to implement educational programs aimed at improving protective behaviors among farmers.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.261-267
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• 2018

In the present study, we assessed the effecs of fruit and vegetable bark resources rich in beneficial substances on the learning ability and memory improvement. It functions to inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase in brain tissue and improve cognitive functions in a simulation model of cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine. Hence, it can promote memory and learning ability. The formulation of the fruit and vegetable bark uses the extract of fruit and vegetable peels, which has long been used without causing toxicity in a wide range of food applications. Therefore, it can be used safely without a risk of side effects, even in the case of a long-term administration for the preventive purpose. Furthermore, the present study is a very beneficial study in the environment-friendly aspect in association with recycling of resources as it is based on the novel efficacies of fruit and vegetable barks which have been conventionally disposed as a refuse of fruits due to their poor sensory qualities despite the content of beneficial substances.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.779-784
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of herbs on memory improvement by focusing on their cholinergic functions in Tg2576 mice. Seven herbs were used to obtain extracts by using alcohol and water. In screening test for cholinergic activities of the extracts, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was highly inhibited in Oenanthe javanica alcohol extract (OJAE, 18.76%) as compared with the others. The OJAE-treated Tg2576 (Tg-OJAE) groups showed the statistically significant increases of latency time in passive avoidance test. Also, it was found that the concentration of $A{\beta}1-42$ was significantly reduced in Tg-OJAE groups compared to non-treated Tg2576 groups. In the additional enzyme test, it was found that $IC_{50}$ of OJAE was $991.77{\mu}g/mL$ and OJAE acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor of AChE. Therefore, it seemed that OJAE can be used for the development of processed foods for memory improvement.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 1994

Fiber-optic biosensor for the detection of organophosphorus compounds in a contaminated water was developed, which was the component of pesticides and agricultural agent. The detection principle of designed sensor was the pH variance induced by a reaction of acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibited by organophosphorus compounds. The pH variance was detected by the optical system to measure the organophosphorus compounds. Litmus was selected as the pH-sensitive dye suitable to the enzyme reaction and a light source to be detected by the optical system. The enzyme entrapped in Ca-alginate gel was immobilized at the inner wall to maintain the high activity of enzyme and to be reused for a long period. The optical fiber was used to miniaturize and control remotely the sensor system. The He-Ne laser with 632 nm was selected as the light source to prevent light intensity fluctuation by the product. Cheap plastic optical fibers were used as the transmission part of the light and the phototransistor was used as the reception part of light based on the wavelength of He-Ne laser. The proposed fiber-optic biosensor has the linear analytical range of 0 ppm-1.5 ppm with response time of 5 minutes.