• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2007

Ginseng powerfully tonifies the original Qi. Ginseng used for insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness from deficient Qi and blood and mental disorientation. In order to investigate whether Ginseng cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairments, we examined the effect of Ginseng on ischemia-induced cell death in the hippocampus, and on the impaired learning and memory in the Morris water maze and passive avoidance in rats. Ginseng when administered to rat at a dose of 200 mg/kg i.p. water extracts to 0 minutes and 90 minutes after 4-VO, significantly neuroprotective effects by 86.4% in the hippocampus of treated rats. For behavior test, rats were administered Ginseng (200mg/kg p.o.) daily for two weeks, followed by their training to the tasks. Treatment with Ginseng produced a marked improvement in escape latency to find the platform in the Morris water maze. Ginseng reduced the ischemia-induced learning disability in the passive avoidance. Consistent with behavioral data, treatments with Ginseng reduced jschemia-induced cell death in the hippocampal CA1 area. Oxidative stress is a causal factor in the neuropathogenesis of ischemic-reperfusion injury. Oxidative stress was examined in a rat model of global brain ischemia. The effects of Ginseng on lipid peroxidation (inhibition of the production of malondialdehyde, MDA) in different regions of the rat brain were studied. Ferrous sulfate and ascorbic acid (FeAs) were used to induce lipid peroxidation. The antiperoxidative effect showed 48-72% protection from tissue damage as compared with untreated animals. These results showed that Ginseng have a protective effect against ischemia-induced neuronal loss and learning and memory damage.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.126-132
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the anti-amnesic effect of fermented Ganoderma lucidum water extracts (GW) on scopolamine- induced memory impairment in rats. GW were fermented by the lactic acid bacterium Bifidobacterium bifidum (FGWB), followed by Lactobacillus sakei LI033 (FGWBL). To induce amnesia, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats 30 min before the behavioral tests. Step-through latencies of rats treated with primary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWB) and secondary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWBL) were significantly longer than those of rats treated with GW (300 mg/kg) in the retention trial of the multiple trial passive avoidance test. In the Morris water maze task, FGWBL significantly shortened escape latencies in training trials. Furthermore, swimming times within the target zone during the probe trial with FGWBL were significantly higher than the GW and FGWB treatments. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activities were lower in the brains of scopolamine-treated rats treated with FGWBL. These results suggest that FGWBL could be useful to enhance learning memory and cognitive function via cholinergic dysfunction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2014

Cognitive impairment is a result of dementia of diverse causes, such as cholinergic dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. It has biological activities including protective effects against amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) toxicity, via regulation of calcium homeostasis, in rat hippocampal cells. To extend previous reports, we investigated the effects of water extracts of H. cordata herb (HCW) on tauopathies, also involving calcium influx. We then confirmed the effects of HCW in improving memory impairment and neuronal damage in mice with Ab-induced neurotoxicity. We also investigated the effects of HCW against scopolamine-induced cholinergic dysfunction in mice. In primary neuronal cells, HCW inhibited the phosphorylation of tau by regulating p25/p35 expression in $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity. In mice with $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity, HCW improved cognitive impairment, as assessed with behavioral tasks, such as novel object recognition, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tasks. HCW also inhibited the degeneration of neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in Ab-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, HCW, which had an $IC_{50}$ value of $79.7{\mu}g/ml$ for acetylcholinesterase inhibition, ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment significantly in Y-maze and passive avoidance tasks. These results indicate that HCW improved cognitive impairment, due to cholinergic dysfunction, with inhibitory effects against tauopathies and cholinergic antagonists, suggesting that HCW may be an interesting candidate to investigate for the treatment of AD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 2009

(S)-Carbamic acid 2-[4-(4-fluoro-benzoyl)-piperidin-1-yl]-1-phenyl-ethyl ester hydrochloride (YKP1447) is a novel "atypical" antipsychotic drug which selectively binds to serotonin (5-$HT_{2A}$, Ki=0.61 nM, 5-$HT_{2C}$, Ki=20.7 nM) and dopamine ($D_2$, Ki=45.9 nM, $D_3$, Ki=42.1 nM) receptors with over $10\sim100$-fold selectivity over the various receptors which exist in the brain. In the behavioral studies using mice, YKP1447 antagonized the apomorphine-induced cage climbing ($ED_{50}$=0.93 mg/kg) and DOI-induced head twitch ($ED_{50}$=0.18 mg/kg) behavior. In the dextroamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and conditioned avoidance response (CAR) paradigm in rats, YKP1447 inhibited the hyperactivity induced by amphetamine ($ED_{50}$=0.54 mg/kg) and the avoidance response ($ED_{50}$=0.48 mg/kg); however, unlike other antipsychotic drugs, catalepsy was observed only at much higher dose ($ED_{50}$=68.6 mg/kg). Based on the CAR and catalepsy results, the therapeutic index (TI) value for YKP1447 is over 100 (i.p.). These results indicate that YKP1447 has an atypical profile and less undesirable side effects than currently available drugs.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.217-223
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychostimulant of the methylxanthine class. Among adolescents, high-dose of caffeine consumption has increased rapidly over the last few decades due to the introduction of energy drinks. However, little is known about the time-dependent effect of high doses of caffeine consumption in adolescents. The present study aims to examine the short- and long-term influence of high-dose caffeine on behavior of adolescence. Methods: The animals were divided into three groups: a "vehicle" group, which was injected with 1 ml of phosphate-buffered saline for 14 days; a "Day 1" group, which was injected with caffeine (30 mg/kg), 2 h before the behavioral tests; and a "Day 14" group, which was infused with caffeine for 14 days. An open-field test, a Y-maze test, and a passive avoidance test were conducted to assess the rats'activity levels, anxiety, and cognitive function. Results: High-dose caffeine had similar effects in short-and long-term treatment groups. It increased the level of locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior, as evidenced by the increase in the number of movements and incidences of rearing and grooming in the caffeine-treated groups. No significant differences were observed between the groups in the Y-maze test. However, in the passive avoidance test, the escape latency in the caffeine-treated group was decreased significantly, indicating impaired memory acquisition. Conclusion: These results indicate that high-dose caffeine in adolescents may increase locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior and impair learning and memory, irrespective of the duration of administration. The findings will be valuable for both evidence-based education and clinical practice.

• (The) Korean Journal of Advertising
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.7-34
• /
• 2017

The debate surrounding advertising effectiveness is not to be overstated as a major source of advertising research. However, there is still a lack of discussion on the model for measuring the effects of government and public service advertising. This study focuses on this point and develops an index model that can evaluate government advertising. For this purpose, we conducted a survey of 800 respondents in 7 major cities. Based on the creativity evaluation factors (originality, clarity, and appropriateness) of government advertising and the evaluation factors (interest, avoidance, and relevance) of policy contents, a causal model that affects the cognition, attitude, and behavioral responses of the audience was set up. As a result of analysis, originality, clarity, interest, and relevance except for appropriateness and avoidance were meaningful variables for creating government advertising effect such as policy understanding, audience attitude, word of mouth intention of policy. In addition, policy understanding and audience attitude were the main mediating variable influencing the word of mouth intention of policy. Based on research results, this paper discussed the direction for creating effective government and public service advertising in the future.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the memory enhancing properties of extract of Hoelen Cum Radix (HCR) and its possible mechanism in mice of normal condition. Methods : We evaluated the effects of HCR on cognitive function and memory enhancement in normal mice. Male ICR mice were orally administrated with HCR 100 mg/kg for 7 days and equal volume of saline was administrated to the control group in the same condition. We conducted two behavioral tests which measure the spatial working memory (Y-maze test) and cognitive fear memory (passive avoidance test). We also investigated whether HCR affects the hippocampal neurogenesis in the brain. To assess the effects of HCR on neural progenitor cell differentiation and neurite outgrowth in the early stage of hippocampal neurogenesis, we performed doublecortin (DCX), a direct neurogenesis marker, immunohistochemical analysis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the mouse hippocampus. Results : HCR significantly enhanced memory and cognitive function as determined by the Y-maze test (p<0.05) and passive avoidance test (p<0.001). Moreover, HCR increased DCX positive cells (p<0.01) and neurite length (p<0.01) compared to the control group. These results indicated that HCR stimulates differentiation of neural progenitor cells and promotes neurite outgrowth in hippocampal DG of the mice. Conclusion : We concluded that HCR shows memory enhancing effects through the stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis as a consequence of accelerated neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in the DG of the hippocampus after HCR treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.100-107
• /
• 2013

This study examined the effect of fermented ginseng (FG) on memory impairment and ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) reduction in models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vitro and in vivo. FG extract was prepared by steaming and fermenting ginseng. In vitro assessment measured soluble $A{\beta}42$ levels in HeLa cells, which stably express the Swedish mutant form of amyloid precursor protein. After 8 h incubation with the FG extract, the level of soluble $A{\beta}42$ was reduced. For behavioral assessments, the passive avoidance test was used for the scopolamine-injected ICR mouse model, and the Morris water maze was used for a transgenic (TG) mouse model, which exhibits impaired memory function and increased $A{\beta}42$ level in the brain. FG extract was treated for 2 wk or 4 mo on ICR and TG mice, respectively. FG extract treatment resulted in a significant recovery of memory function in both animal models. Brain soluble $A{\beta}42$ levels measured from the cerebral cortex of TG mice were significantly reduced by the FG extract treatment. These findings suggest that FG extract can protect the brain from increased levels of $A{\beta}42$ protein, which results in enhanced behavioral memory function, thus, suggesting that FG extract may be an effective preventive or treatment for AD.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 2007

Objective : The present study was carried out in order to assess the effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) on victims of school violence, as assessed by the CAPS-CA. Methods : The subjects were 14 children who had experienced school violence and were subsequently diagnosed with PTSD and partial PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA). Seven children agreed to participate in CBGT, and they received 10 sessions of therapy. After CBGT, both the CBGT and non-CBGT groups were assessed using the CAPS-CA and School Adaptation Test. Results : The study results showed significant decreases in avoidance (p=0.010) and hyperarousal in the CBGT group (p=0.009) following the completion of CBGT. The analysis of school adaptation showed that there was a significant improvement in peer relationships after CBGT in the CBGT group (p=0.045). Conclusion : CBGT is effective in improving PTSD symptoms in children who experience school violence and subsequently suffer from PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2014

Objective : Social Phobia is associated with extensive disability and reduced quality of life. The concept of 'social self' is a representation of the self-reflected in the eyes of others, and is recruited during self-face recognition, which is closely related to self-esteem. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship of face recognition for self and others using measures of social anxiety and self-esteem in patients with social phobia. Methods : Twenty-seven patients with social phobia and twenty-three normal controls were evaluated with scales of self-esteem, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms. All participants completed the self-face recognition task. Nine self-faces, nine other faces and eighty-one morphed faces were presented randomly for each trial. The participants were instructed to make a decision as to whether the stimuli were self-face or not. The responses and reaction times were recorded during the task. Results : There were no group differences of the morphing composition at the recognition start point as self-face. In patients with social phobia, the mean reaction time at the start point of recognizing as a self-face was 1,037.6 ms, which was significantly longer than that of normal controls (911.3 ms, p<0.05). Patients with social phobia showed a significant negative correlation between the mean reaction time and the severity of depression when the stimuli were recognized as a self-face (r=-0.421, p<0.05). Conclusion : A difficulty in attention rather than avoidance may be an important factor of face recognition in patients with social phobia. When considering self-face recognition in such patients, many factors, such as anxiety, depression, working memory and theory of mind, need to be considered.