• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 1998

The effects of Hyungbangjiwhangrang on the enhancement of learning and memory of AD model rats were studied with Morris water maze and radial arm maze. Sample group was electrolytically lesioned on nbM, and then daily treated with the medicine for two months. Control group with nbM lesion, and sham group with the sham operation were treated the vehicle for same duration. The following results were observed.1. As the learning trials of Morris water maze processed repeatedly, sham group achiened 201.64${\pm}$33.13 seconds in 1st trial, 153.14${\pm}$61.80 seconds in 2nd, 106.21${\pm}$46.81 seconds in 3rd, 76.64${\pm}$48.40 seconds in 4th, and 52.29${\pm}$38.25 seconds in 5th. The control group achieved 224.08${\pm}$29.16 in 1st trial, 191.77${\pm}$67.97 seconds in 2nd, 177.77${\pm}$65.44 seconds in 3rd, 140.92${\pm}$68.27 seconds in 4th, and 126.46${\pm}$79.15 seconds in 5th. The sample group achieved 223.36${\pm}$23.33 seconds in 1st trial, 215.86${\pm}$38.93 seconds in 2nd, 190.79${\pm}$51.57 seconds in 3rd, 155.79${\pm}$62.67 seconds in 4th, and 127.93${\pm}$62.11 seconds in 5th. Therefore, these data shows that all three groups were improved in learning capacity as trials were repeated, but the shame group showed prominent improvement in learning compared with the control group(p<0.05).2. In memory retention test of Morris water maze that counts the staying time in the target area, sham group stayed for 15.36${\pm}$5.39 seconds, the control group stayed for 5.54${\pm}$5.64 seconds, and the sample group stayed for 7.43${\pm}$6.09 seconds. The analysis of the memory retention data shows that the sham group marked more significant improvement stati- stically in memory retention compared with the control group(p<0.05).3. In the learning of radial arm maze, the number and rate of animals that arrive the learning criteria amounted 12 out of 14, 85.7% in sham group, 4 out of 13, 30.8% in the control group, and 10 out of 14, 71.4% in the sample group So, the sample group shows better learning capacity significantly compared with the control group(p<0.05). With the experimental results above, Hyungbangjiwhangtang can be supposed to have the improving effects on the learning and memory of AD rats induced by eletronical injury of nbM.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.125-144
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the fraction of Korean mountain ginseng folium (FKG) on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods: The memory ameliorating effect of FKG was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Y-maze test, and the Morris water maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine(1mg/kg, i.p.). Results: FKG (2 or 4mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice by the passive avoidance test and the Y-maze test(P<0.05), and also improved escape latency in the Morris water maze test at 2 or 4mg/kg(P<0.05). Although FKG has little inhibitory activity for AChE (IC50 value; 1847 ${\mu}g/ml$) in an invitro study, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(pERK) was increased by the administration of FKG inhippocampus on immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: These results suggest that FKG may be a useful cognitive impairment treatment, and its beneficial effects are mediated, in part, via activation of ERK pathway.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was aimed to find out the anti-stress and protective-memory effect of Quibitanggagam(QBT) on stress of rats Methods : This experimental study was conducted with elevated plus maze test, passive avoidance test, morris water maze test, and consequently density of AchE reactivity in the CA1 of hippocampus to research the learning and memory of rats affected by restraint stress, Results: Passive avoidance test revealed that time latency of retention test for QBT+Stress group significantly decreased on 2, 3rd day. Morris water maze revealed that acqusitive ability of QBT+Stress group significantly improved on 2, 3rd day and retentive ability of QBT+Stress group was significantly improved on 7th day. Elevated plus maze test revealed that latency in open arm of QBT+Stress group significantly decreased and locomotor activity(number of entered arm) of QBT+Stress group was significantly increased. The values of density of AchE stained nuclei in the CA1 of hippocampus QBT+Stress group was significantly increased compared with SAL+Stress group. Conclusion : According to the above results, it is concluded that QBT will be useful as a remedy against stress disease and improving memory.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1487-1494
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• 2008

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Gagamjeongji-hwan (JJH)(Jiajiandingzhi-wan) and Evoidae Fructus (EF) on learning and memory disturbance and neuronal damage induced by focal ischemia in the rat. Rats were used for testing in the following three. Morris Water Maze, Cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry, acetylcholine esterase (AchE) histochemistry. JJH+ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats pretreated with JJH) and EF+ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats pretreated with EF) significantly reduced the latency of swimming time, compared with those of ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats) in morris water maze acquisition test. JJH+ISCH group attenuated ischemia.induced learning and memory damage in morris water maze retention test. The density of ChAT neurons of the JJH+ISCH and EF+ISCH group in the hippocampal CA1 area was increased, compared to that of SAL+ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats pretreated with SAL). The density of AchE neurons of the JJH+ISCH and EF+ISCH group in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 area was increased, compared to that of SAL+ISCH group. These results suggest that Gagamjeongji-hwan (JJH) and Evodiae Fructus (EF) may have significant protective effects on ischemia-induced brain damage and memory impairments.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2009

Forsythiaside is a polyphenolic constituent of the fruits of Forsythia suspense Vahl which are widely used as anti-inflammatory herbal raw materials in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, the authors assessed the effects of forsythiaside on learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine using a passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tests in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Forsythiaside (10 mg/kg, p.o) administration significantly prevented scopolamine-induced step-through latency reduction in the passive avoidance test and scopolamine-induced increased escape latency in the Morris water maze test (p<0.05). Moreover, in an ex-vivo study, forsythiaside treatment (10 mg/kg, p.o) significantly reduced the increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels induced by scopolamine (p<0.05). Taken together, the present study suggests that forsythiaside could be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment, and that its beneficial effects are mediated, in part, by its antioxidative properties.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the Ethanolic extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum and its permented production the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods : The cognition-enhancing effect of Platycodon grandiflorum and its permented production were investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Results : The results showed that the Permented Platycodon grandiflorum extract-treated group (100 mg/kg, p.o.) and the tacrine-treated group (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia based on the Passive avoidance Y-maze test and Water maze test. And these results are same manner in DPPH radical scavenger effect and Acetylcholineseterase inhibition effect. Conclusions : These results suggest that 80% Ethanol extract of fermented P.grandiflorum showed significant anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and these activities were parallel to treatment duration and dependent of the learning models.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1400-1405
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• 2007

The effect of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid into n-3 fatty acid deficient diet on improvement of loaming related brain function was investigated. On the second day after conception, Sprague Dawley strain dams were subjected to a diet containing either n-3 fatty acid deficient (Def) or n-3 fatty acid deficient + docosahexaenoic acid (Def+DHA). After weaning, male pups were fed on the same diet of their respective dams until adulthood. Motor activity and Morris water maze tests were measured at 10 weeks old. In motor activity test, there were no statistically significant differences in moving time and moving distance between the Def and Def+DHA diet groups. The n-3 fatty acid deficient with DHA (Def+DHA) group exhibited a shorter escape latency, swimming time and swimming distance (P<0.05) compared to the n-3 fatty acid deficient group (Def) but there was no difference in resting time and swimming speed between the experimental diet groups. In memory retention trial, the number of crossing of the platform position (region A) was significantly greater than those of other regions for the Def+DHA group. However, the Def group swam randomly without preference for the provisions platform location, indicating poorer memory retention. From those results, supplementation with DHA into the n-3 fatty acid deficient diet improved the spatial loaming ability in rats as assessed by Morris water maze test.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.917-922
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• 2009

The effect of adding docosahexaenoic acid into an n-3 fatty acid adequate diet on the improvement of learning related brain function was investigated. On the second day after conception, Sprague Dawley strain dams were subjected to a diet containing either n-3 fatty acid adequate (Adq, 3.4% linolenic acid) or n-3 fatty acid adequate+docosahexaenoic acid (Adq+DHA, 3.31%linolenic acid plus 9.65% DHA). After weaning, male pups were fed on the same diet of their respective dams until adulthood. Motor activity and Morris water maze tests were measured at 10 weeks. In the motor activity test, there were no statistically significant differences in moving time and moving distance between the Adq and Adq+DHA diet groups. The n-3 fatty acid adequate with DHA (Adq+DHA) group tended to show a shorter escape latency, swimming time and swimming distance compared to the n-3 fatty acid adequate group (Adq), but the differences were not statistically significant. There was no difference in resting time, but the Adq+DHA group showed a higher swimming speed compared to the Adq group. In memory retention trials, the numbers of crossing of the platform position (region A), in which the hidden platform was placed, were significantly greater than those of other regions for both Adq and Adq+DHA groups. Based on these results, adding DHA into the n-3 fatty acid adequate diet from gestation to adulthood tended to induce better spatial learning performance in Sprague Dawley rats as assessed by the Morris water maze test, although the difference was not significant.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.44-52
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• 2009

It is known that individual factors as cognitive, perception, emotion, and motivation may greatly influence on recovery from neurologic region. This study was to investigate the effects of environmental reinforcement through motivation to perform the tasks voluntarily on motor and cognition function in rats with focal ischemic brain injury. Focal ischemic brain injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats (15 rats, $250{\pm}50$ g) through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). And then, experiment groups were randomly divided into three groups; The control group: MCAo induction ($n_1$=5), the environmental reinforcement (ER) group: the application for ER after MCAo induction ($n_2$=5), the environmental reinforcement through motivation (ERM) group: the application for ERM after MCAo induction ($n_3$=5). The climbing test (CT) and the modified limb placing tests (MLPTs) to measure the motor function and the Morris water maze acquisition test (MWMAT) and the Morris water maze retention test (MWMRT) to measure the cognitive function were performed. For the CT, the ERM group was significantly larger than the ER group. For the MLPTs, the ERM group was significantly decreased compared to other groups. For the MWMAT, the time to find the circular platform in the ERM group significantly decreased compared to other groups. For the MWMRT, the time to dwell on the quadrant circular platform in the ERM group was significantly increased compared to other groups. These results suggested that the ERM could improve the motor and cognitive functions in the rats with focal ischemic brain injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.333-338
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• 2011

Black ginseng (BG) has been widely used as herbal treatment for improving physiological function. In order to investigate the neuroprotective action of this herbal medicine, we examined the influence of BG on the learning and memory of rats using the Morris water maze, and we studied the effects of BG on the central cholinergic system and neural nitric oxide synthesis in the hippocampus of rats with neuronal and cognitive impairment. After middle cerebral artery occlusion was applied for 2h, the rats were administered BG (100 or 400 $mgkg^{-1}$, p.o.) daily for 2 weeks, followed by training and performance of the Morris water maze test. The rats with ischemic insults showed impaired learning and memory on the tasks. Treatment with BG produced improvement in the escape latency to find the platform. Further, the BG groups showed a reduced loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d)-positive neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the ISC group. These results demonstrated that BG has a protective effect against ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairment. Our results suggest that BG might be useful for the treatment of vascular dementia.