• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2018

Objectives: To experimentally assess the anti-depressant effects of Gammakdaejo-tang Complex Extracts (GMDJ-Tang) in rats. Methods: Twenty Wistar Hannover (160~170 g) stressed rats were treated with different concentrations of GMDJ-Tang extracts i.e., 0, 62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. Chronic mild stress was induced by food deprivation, empty bottles, forced swimming, flickered light, tilt cages, shaking cages, high density breeding, water deprivation, and by soaking the litter cover according to fixed schedule. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Tests included serotonin and ELISA assays. Results: GMDJ-tang increased the weight of treated rats as well as levels of serotonin, BDNF and TrkB; however, the differences were not significant. In contrast, the extracts significantly decreased blood glucose in stressed rats. GMDJ-tang extracts did not significantly impact Serum AST, ALT, leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes when comparing treatment groups to control rats. Likewise, hemoglobin, hematocrit and PLT increased in treatment groups following treatment with GMDJ-tang, but this change was without significance. Conclusions: These results suggest that GMDJ-tang can alleviate chronic mild stress in rats, possibly through anti-depressant activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.508-516
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• 2007

Thymus magnus is an endemic (Ulleung Island) species in Korea. This plant is used as diaphoretics and carminatives in traditional medicine. In the literature, few scientific assays were realized on this species, such as antibiotic (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and S. typhimurium) and antifungal activities. In order to clarify whether essential oil of T. magnus have pharmacological effects, anti-inflammatory, sedative, anti-depressant, analgesic, and sleep-prolonged effects were investigated using animal models. From this study, the following conclusions were attained; 1) Essential oil of T. magnus did not show any acute toxicity on mice when orally administered at the dose of 2-3 g/kg body weight. 2) Essential oil of T. magnus possessed strong anti-inflammatory activity, similar to that of a positive control prednisolone. 3) Essential oil of T. magnus had excellent analgesic activity, comparable to that of aspirin. 4) The essential oil of T. magnus possessed strong sleep-prolonged effect on pentobarbital induced-sleep test in mice model. 5) In the hot plate test, the essential oil of T. magnus had moderate effect. 6) And the essential oil of T. magnus had no significant effects in forced-swimming test and open-field test.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.49-64
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• 2009

Objectives : The water and methanol extracts of Aconitum carmichaeli(Aconiti Tuber Preparat) were investigated for their anti-depressant effects. Methods : In this study, reserpine-induced hypothermia test, tail suspension test and hot plate test. Additionally, the brain monoamine oxidase activity was determined in vivo. Results: In the reserpine-induced hypothermia test, both extracts suppressed the fall of body temperature compared to the control group in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the inhibition on hypothermia. In the tail suspension test, the methanol extract dose-dependently reduced the duration of immobility by 28.4% at a dose of 1 g/kg compared to control group, which is more effective than the water extract. In the hot plate test, the water extract and methanol extract increased the jump latency time compared to the control group, showing the inhibition rate of 198% and 182%, respectively, at a dose of 1 g/kg. Methanol extracts potently inhibited the brain monoamine oxidase activity in an in vivo assay compared to the control group, showing 84.6% inhibition, but the water extract revealed very weak activity. Conclusions : Above results suggested that the extract of Aconitum carmichaeli can be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.245-245
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• 2005

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.781-789
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• 2000

Objective : The purpose of these research was to investigate effects of water extract of Bistortae Rhizoma(BRE) on the hemostasia, anti-inflammatory action and central nervous system. Methods : we used mice and rats administered with the extract of the above herbs. Results : BRE decreased the permeability of evans blue into peritoneal cavity and cotton pellet granuloma formation. BRE did not decrease the acetic acid induced writhing syndrome and the histamine induced mouse paw edema. BRE inhibited the pentylenetetrazole and the strychnine induced convulsion. BRE shortened the bleeding time and plasma prtrombin time. BRE did not affect on the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells. Conclusions : these results suggest that the effects of BRE are the hemostasia, anti-inflammatory action, and mild depressant activity of central nervous system.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2007

Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract and its hydrolyzed fraction. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract (SCE) and its hydrolyzed fraction (SCE-40) on depression and anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Actions of SCE and SCE-40 on serotonin, norepinephrine and GABAergic systems in the rat cerebral cortex membranes were also examined. SCE and SCE-40 significantly reduced the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension test in mice. Duration time of the open arms in the elevated plus maze test was significantly increased in the SCE and SCE-40-treated groups, compared with the saline-treated control group. SCE and its fraction SCE-40 significantly inhibited serotonin and norepinephrine transporter and GABA receptor binding, compared to the saline-treated group. In addition, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake were significantly suppressed by SCE and SCE-40. These results demonstrate that SCE and SCE-40 produce anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects through enhancing central serotonin, norepinephrine and GABAergic transmissions. These results suggest that SCE and SCE-40 as functional food might prove to be an effective antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

Objectives : For the purpose of verifying the anti-depressant effect of Paeoniae Radix Rubra(PR), the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF), c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) was evaluated after performing the Forced Swimming Test(FST). Methods : Spraque-Dawley rats were ingested PR extract(100mg/kg, 400mg/kg, p.o.) for 3 times prior to FST. And the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF), c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the locus coelureus(LC) and ventral tegmental area(VTA) was measured immunohistochemically after FST. Results : The duration of immobility was significantly decreased in PR 100mg/kg Group and PR 400mg/kg Group, in comparison with the control group (p<0.001). The expression of CRF in the PVN was significantly decreased in PR 400mg/kg Group in comparison of the control group (p<0.05). The expression of c-Fos in the PVN was rather significantly increased in PR 100mg/kg Group in comparison with the control group, while almost no change was demonstrated in PR 400mg/kg Group. The expression of TH was significantly decreased in VTA in comparison with the control group (p<0.05), but the number of expression cells in LC was slightly decreased in case of PR 100mg/kg group while it was increased in case of PR 400mg/kg Group. Conclusion : Judging from the result of the aforementioned tests, Paeoniae Radix Rubra has decreased immobility. In addition, it has also decreased the expression of CRF and the expression of TH in VTA, while the expression of c-Fos and of TH in LC has no significance. Therefore, it is believed that Paeoniae Radix Rubra has an anti-depressant effect by decreased immobility through the reduced expression of CRF and TH in VTA.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.509-513
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• 2021

Curcumin is known to possess diverse beneficial physiological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-microbial, and anti-neoplastic activities, as well as immune-modulating, metabolism-regulating, and neuroprotective effects. However, despite more than 13,000 research papers published during the last ten years regarding the health benefits of curcumin, curcumin has not been introduced in the market as a pharmaceutical agent in any country. Despite the abundance of positive findings, most investigations that tout its health benefits are based on in vitro and in vivo studies that fail to consider the protean chemical behaviors of curcumin, which is known to be a pan-assay interference compound and an invalid metabolic panacea. Therefore, human clinical trials, despite rigorous study design, have been unable to prove specific benefits. This article reviews the pleiotropic properties of curcumin so that they can be balanced against its beneficial effects and suggests potential research avenues to better understand its health benefits.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.404-414
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• 2015

Taurine is one of the most abundant free ${\beta}$-amino acids in the human body that accounts for 0.1% of the human body weight. It has a sulfonic acid group in place of the more common carboxylic acid group. Mollusks and meat are the major dietary source of taurine, and mother's milks also include high levels of this amino acid. The leukocytes, heart, muscle, retina, kidney, bone, and brain contain more taurine than other organs. Furthermore, taurine can be synthesized in the brain and liver from cysteine. There are no side effects of excessive taurine intake in humans; however, in case of taurine deficiency, retinal abnormalities, reduced plasma taurine concentration, and other abnormalities may occur. Taurine enters the cell via a cell membrane receptor. It is excreted in the urine (approximately 95%) and feces (approximately 5%). Taurine has a number of features and functions, including conjugation with bile acid, reduction of blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, promotion of neuron cell differentiation and growth, antioxidant effects, maintenance of cell membrane stability, retinal development, energy generation, depressant effects, regulation of calcium level, muscle contraction and relaxation, bone formation, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-cancer and anti-atherogenic effects, and osmotic pressure control. However, the properties, functions, and effects of taurine require further studies in future.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.109-116
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the recognition and uses of Astragalus membranaceus. The survey methodology employed was a questionnaire, which interviewed 272(37.8%) males and 448(62.2%) females from the Seoul and Kyunggido area. The main results are as follows: 40-50 years old like and eat Astragalus membranaceus more frequently than 10-30 years old. The most popular reason provided for the preference of Astragalus membranaceus was good health benefits. People indicating a dislike for Astragalus membranaceus had generally fewer previous experiences of eating this plant. The main purchasing place appears to be traditional markets and supermarkets. Astragalus membranaceus was acknowledged as having the following characteristics ‘excellent nutrition’(3.82), ‘natural food’(3.76), ‘possessing anti-cancer and anti-oxidization characteristics’(3.70) and ‘good for liver function, a depressant and good coelenteron effects’(3.62). However, it was not associated with a ‘cheap price’(3.02) and was regarded as ‘difficult for buy’(3.10). Recognition and eating experience was low for Astragalus membranaceus kimchi and rice bread, bread, sauce and Astragalus membranaceus added health drinks. However opinion of its taste was regarded highly.