• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-136
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the anti-amnesic effects of AR, Aucklandiae Radix, ground powder on scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment in mice (C57BL/6) through its favorable acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression, and antioxidant effect. Methods: Six groups, a total of 20 intact or 100 Sco treated mice, were selected based on their body weights and were used in this study. Half of the mice in each group were used for the passive avoidance task test and the measurements of hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity and ChAT mRNA expression. The remaining half of the mice in each group were used for the Morris water maze test and cerebral antioxidant defense system measurement. Results: Marked decreases in step-through latency times in the passive avoidance task test and increases in escape latency times in the Morris water maze test were observed with decreases in the hippocampus ACh content and ChAT mRNA expression, and increases in the hippocampal AChE activities, as a result of Sco intraperitoneal treatment, in the present study. In addition, destruction of the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense systems was observed in Sco control mice as compared with intact vehicle control mice. However, 28 days of continuous oral pre-treatment with AR ground powder at doses of 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg markedly and dose-dependently inhibited the Sco treatment-related amnesia. Conclusions: The results prove that oral administration of AR ground powder reduces Sco-induced memory impairment. This is because it can preserve ACh, related to ChAT mRNA expression, cause AChE inhibition, and activate the cerebral antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.121-134
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this in vivo study is to observe anti-amnesic effects of Yeongkyekamjotanggayonggolmoryo (YGYM), a novel mixed herbal prescription, Ossis Mastodi and Ostreae Testa added Yeongkyekamjo-tang, on scopolamine induced amnesia in C57BL/6 mice through acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression, and antioxidant effects. Methods: Six groups, total 20 intact or 100 Sco treated mice were used in this study after one week of acclimatization period. Half the animals were used for passive avoidance task tests and hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity, and ChAT mRNA expression were measured. The other half was subjected to an underwater maze test and then the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system was measured. Results: In the passive avoidance experiment, there was significant decrease in residence time in the bright room and in the underwater maze test, escape latency to escape from the esophagus significantly increased compared with the normal control group. At the final sacrifice, ACh content and ChAT mRNA expression decreased, AChE activity increased, and cerebral cortical MDA increased GSH content, SOD and CAT activity in Sco control mice, as compared to intact vehicle control mice. However, these Sco treatment-related memory loss through AChE activation destroyed the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system, and was inhibited dose-dependently by 28 days consecutive oral pretreatments of YGYM extracts 500, 250, 125 mg/kg. Conclusions: In the above results, YGYM extract that oral administration of YGYM extracts alleviates the antioxidant defense system, through preservation of ACh mediated by upregulation of ChAT mRNA expression, and increase of AChE inhibition and brain antioxidant defense systems.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.207-221
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to observe the anti-amnesic effects of Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJHT), on the scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment in C57BL/6 mice through its favorable acetylcholine (ACh). Also, to observe acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expressions, and antioxidant effect. Methods: Six groups, with a total of 20 normal and 100 Sco treated mice were selected based on their body weights after 1 week of acclimatization, were used in this study as follows. Half of the mice in each group were used for passive avoidance task tests and hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity and ChAT mRNA expression measurement, and the remaining half in each group used for Morris water maze test and measurement of cerebral antioxidant defense system. Results: Amnesia due to AChE activations and destroyed cerebral cortex antioxidant defense systems were markedly and dose-dependently inhibited after 28 days of continuous oral pre-treatment with YMJHT 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The overall effects of YMJHT 400 mg/kg were similar to those of tacrine 10 mg/kg. Conclusions: Based on the results, it was established that oral administration of YMJHT favorably alleviates Sco-induced memory impairment, through preservation of ACh, mediated by up-regulation of ChAT mRNA expressions and related AChE inhibition and augmentation of cerebral antioxidant defense system, at least in a condition of this experiment. The overall effects of YMJHT 400 mg/kg were similar to those of tacrine 10 mg/kg.

• 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 Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.319-336
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• 2015

Objectives: The object of this study was to evaluate the cognition and motor function recovery effects of Sungshim-san (SSS), a traditional Korean cardio-protective polyherbal formula in the severe rat stroke, permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model. Methods: The experimental animals were divided into 6 groups. SSS aqueous extracts (yield=16.82%; 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg) were administered orally by using Sonde, once daily, for 28 continuous days from 24 hrs post-pMCAO. Donepezil 10 mg/kg, a representative drug for dementia, was used as a reference drug. The body weight changes, infarct/defect sizes, sensorimotor function and cognitive motor behavior were serially monitored. Limb placing and body-swing test for sensorimotor functions were conducted at 1 day before operation (base line), and 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-pMCAO; and water maze test for the cognitive motor behavior was conducted at 14 and 28 days post-pMCAO, respectively. Results: Focal cerebral cortex infarct and defects due to pMCAO resulted in marked decreases of body weight, disorders of sensorimotor functions and cognitive motor behaviors. However, the pMCAO-related ischemic damages were markedly and dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with SSS 400 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Donepezil markedly decreased the body weight and gains, as compared with pMCAO control rats; however, SSS 400 and 200 mg/kg favorably ameliorated the pMCAO-induced decreases in body weight and gains. SSS 100 mg/kg treated rats did not show any favorable effects on the pMCAO-related ischemic damages, as compared with pMCAO control rats. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated that oral administration of SSS 400 and 200 mg/kg accelerated cognition and motor function recovery in the rat pMCAO model. The treatment effect was potentially mediated by neuroprotection via the known augmentation of cerebral antioxidant defense system of SSS itself or its individual herbal components. Especially, the overall effects of SSS 200 mg/kg were similar to those of donepezil 10 mg/kg, but less toxic.