• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.151-163
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• 2008

1. Objective This study was done to identify the anti-stress effect of Hyeongbangdojeok-san (HDS), Yanggyeoksanhwa-tang(YST) in Soyangin. 2. Methods Experimental animals were composed of YST, HDS+stress groups which were administered each by 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and the Saline+stress group. On the 1st day, making the rats forced swim and on the 2nd day, applying Forced swimming test to the rats. After FST, the levels of Corticosterone in the blood were measured. For the study of learning retardation, memory ability and anxiety reaction, experimental animals were composed of YST, HDS+restraint stress groups which were administered each by 400mg/kg, no stress group and the Saline+restraint stress group. Restraint stress were applied 2 hours a day for 3 weeks. On the last day of the 3rd week, Elevated Plus Maze(EPM) was applied to the groups and Morris Water Maze(MWM) was applied to the groups for 7 days. 3. Results 1. As the results of measuring FST which reflects depression, the YST+stress group and the HDS+stress group showed significant effect in comparison with the Saline+stress group. The levels of Corticosterone in the blood were decreased only in the 400mg/kg YST+stress group. 2. As the results of measuring how long EPM which reflects anxiety reaction stayed in the open arm, there was the trend which can suppress anxiety reaction in the HDS+restraint stress group bur no statistical significance. But there was any suppression of anxiety reaction in the YST+restraint stress group. 3. According to the result of MWM, the saline+restraint stress group showed the learning retardation which means increased time arriving at goal compared to the normal group at the second and third day of measurement. On the contrary, a learning retardation was significantly decreased in the YST+restraint stress group at the third day of measurement. 4. Among the Probe trial test a memory loss occurred in the saline+restraint stress group, but memory ability was significantly increased in the YST+restraint stress group. 4. Conclusion: As the results above, Soyangin Yanggyeoksanhwa-tang has significant influence to the antidepression effect, the learning retardation, the anxiety reaction and also in the Hormone level. Hyeongbangdojeok-san has significant influence to the antidepression effect, in the Hormone level, bur not to the learning retardation and anxiety reaction. prefer to drink cold water, and who are suffering from chronic gastritis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2015

${\beta}$-asarone (BAS) is an active component of Acori graminei rhizoma, a traditional medicine used clinically in treating dementia and chronic stress in Korea. However, the cognitive effects of BAS and its mechanism of action have remained elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine whether BAS improved spatial cognitive impairment induced in rats following chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration. CORT administration (40 mg/kg, i.p., 21 days) resulted in cognitive impairment in the avoidance conditioning test (AAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test that was reversed by BAS (200 mg/kg, i.p). Additionally, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis, the administration of BAS significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) proteins and mRNAs in the hippocampus. Also, BAS administration significantly restored the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNAs in the hippocampus. Thus, BAS may be an effective therapeutic for learning and memory disturbances, and its neuroprotective effect was mediated, in part, by normalizing the CORT response, resulting in regulation of BDNF and CREB functions and anti-apoptosis in rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.874-883
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• 2011

Many studies have shown that the steamed root of Rehmannia glutinosa (SRG), which is widely used in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases in the context of Korean traditional medicine, is effective for improving cognitive and memory impairments. The purpose of this study was to examine whether SRG extracts improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine (SCO) into the brains of rats. The effects of SRG on the acetylcholinergic system and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses of SRG (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days, 1 h before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). After inducing cognitive impairment via scopolamine administration, we conducted a passive avoidance test (PAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test as behavioral assessments. Changes in cholinergic system reactivity were also examined by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the reactivity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in the hippocampus. Daily administration of SRG improved memory impairment according to the PAT, and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the MWM. The administration of SRG consistently significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and decreased interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) mRNA expression in the hippocampus. The results demonstrated that SRG had a significant neuroprotective effect against the neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that SRG may be useful for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activities and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2012

We examine whether Phellodendron amurense (PA) and its major alkaloid compound, berberine (BER), improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine in rats. Effects of PA and BER on the acetylcholinergic system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses for 14 days of PA (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and BER (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). Daily administration of PA and BER improved memory impairment as measured by the passive avoidance test and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze test. Administration of PA and BER significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and restored brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cAMP-response element-binding protein mRNA expression in the hippocampus. PA and BER also decreased significantly the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in the hippocampus. These results demonstrated that PA and BER had significant neuroprotective effects against neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that PA and BER may be useful as therapeutic agents for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activity and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2014

We investigated the effect low salt (2 or 4% salt) concentrations jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus on the learning and memory impairments in scopolamine-induced (2 mg/kg, i.p.) dementia rats. Rats treated with oral BF-7 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) as a positive control and Todarodes pacificus jeotgal had significantly reduced scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the passive avoidance test. The Morris water maze test or treatment with 2% salt jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the formation of long- and short-term memory. The acetylcholine content and acetylcholinesterase acitivity paralleled the results of the behavior experiment. There were no significant differences in the brain acetylcholine contents of the experimental groups, while the brain acetylcholine content of the group treated with 2% salt Todarodes pacificus jeotgal was higher than that of the control group. The inhibitory effect of 2% salt jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus on the acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain was lower than that of the control group. These trends were similar to those of the gamma-aminobutyric acid content. We suggest that Todarodes pacificus jeotgal enhances learning memory and cognitive function by regulating cholinergic enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2013

Alzheimer's disease (AD), most common form of dementia is characterized that memory deficit and loss of cognitive function. The Codonopsis lanceolata (C.lanceolata) was treated by high hydrostatic pressure process and fermentation. This study was evaluated cognitive enhancing effect C.lanceolata extract by high hydrostatic pressure process and fermentation and compared with common C.lanceolata extract using Morris water maze and passive avoidance test. And their neuroprotective effect on glutamate induced oxidative stress in HT22 cell was investigated by MTT assay. High hydrostatic pressure process and fermented C.lanceolata extract (HFCE) and common C.lanceolata extract (CCE) (100 and 300 mg/kg) were administered to mice. Results showed HFCE enhanced cognitive function than CCE as shown by decrease in escape latency time. HFCE increased the latency time of the passive avoidance test compared to CCE. Furthermore, HFCE showed significant neuroprotective effect against glutamate cytotoxicity in HT22 cells. These results indicate that high hydrostatic pressure process and fermented more improve spatial cognitive ability of C. laanceolata.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2010

This study compared the effects of black, white, and red ginseng extracts (WGE, RGE, BGE, 200 mg/kg, p.o.) on learning and memory deficits associated with scopolamine treatment (SCOP, 2 mg/kg, i.p.). Tacrine (THA, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a positive control. Ginseng significantly reversed SCOP-induced memory impairment in the passiveavoidance test and also reduced escape latency in training trials of the Morris water maze test. The increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity produced by SCOP was significantly inhibited by WGE and RGE (p<0.001). SCOP administration had no effect on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, but RGE and BGE significantly increased ChAT activity (p<0.05). SCOP administration increased oxidative damage in the brain. Treatment of amnesic mice with ginseng extracts decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity to control levels. These results suggest that black ginseng enhances cognitive activity by regulation of cholinergic enzymes and antioxidant systems.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2021

Accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and oxidative stress are the most common reason of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we investigated the cognitive improvement effects of butanol (BuOH) fraction from Momordica charantia in Aβ_25-35-induced AD mouse model. To develop an AD mouse model, mice were received injection of Aβ_25-35, and then orally administered BuOH fraction from M. charantia at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day during 14 days. In the T-maze and novel object recognition test, administration of BuOH fraction from M. charantia L. at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day improved spatial ability and novel object recognition by increased explorations of novel route and new object. In addition, BuOH fraction of M. charantia-administered groups improved learning and memory abilities by decreased time to reach hidden platform in Morris water maze test. Oral administration of BuOH fraction from M. charantia significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels in the brain, liver, and kidney compared with Aβ_25-35-induced control group. These results indicated that BuOH fraction of M. charantia improved Aβ_25-35-induced cognitive impairment by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, M. charantia could be useful for protection from Aβ_25-35-induced cognitive impairment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.409-414
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorating effects of deer antler extract on the learning and memory impairments induced by the administration of scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) in rats. Tacrine was used as a positive control agent for evaluating the cognition enhancing activity of deer antler extract in scopolamine-induced amnesia models. The results showed that the deer antler extract-treated group (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and the tacrine-treated group (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia based on the Morris water maze test. Although there was no statistical significance of brain ACh contents among the experimental groups, the brain ACh contents of the deer antler extract-treated group was slightly higher than that of the scopolamine-treated group. The inhibitory effect of deer antler extract on the acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain was significantly lower than that of scopolamine-treated group. The tacrine- and the deer antler-treated groups reduced the MAO-B activity compared to the scopolamine-treated group, but not significantly. These results suggest that the deer antler extract could be an effective agent for the prevention of the cognitive impairment induced by cholinergic dysfunction.

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