• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.163-171
• /
• 2019

Common features of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) include progressive dysfunctions and neuronal injuries leading to deterioration in normal brain functions. At present, ginseng is one of the most frequently used natural products. Its use has a long history as a cure for various diseases because its extracts and active compounds exhibit several pharmacological properties against several disorders. However, the pathophysiology of NDDs is not fully clear, but researchers have found that various ion channels and specific signaling pathways might have contributed to the disease pathogenesis. Apart from the different pharmacological potentials, ginseng and its active compounds modulate various ion channels and specific molecular signaling pathways related to the nervous system. Here, we discuss the signal modulating potential of ginseng and its active compounds mainly focusing on those relevant to NDDs.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.24-34
• /
• 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) at high concentrations induce oxidative stress, an imbalanced redox state that is a prevalent cause of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extract on oxidative stress-induced impairment of cognitive function in models of neurodegenerative diseases. CF was extracted with subcritical water and several solvents and H₂O₂ (0.25 mM) or aluminum chloride (AlCl₃; 25 µM) as an inducer of ROS was treated in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. All statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett's test using GraphPad Prism. H₂O₂ and AlCl₃ were found to significantly induce ROS production in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. In addition, they strongly affected intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. However, treatment of H₂O₂-induced PC12 cells or AlCl₃-induced zebrafish larvae with CF subcritical water extract at 90℃ and CF water extract effectively regulated excessive ROS production, intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, β-amyloid, tau, AChE, BDNF, and TrkB. Our study suggested that CF extracts can be a potential source of nutraceuticals that can improve the impairment of cognitive function and synaptic plasticity by regulating ROS generation in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2007

Although there are some questions about the venues of adult neurogenesis, it is undoubtedly accepted that new neurons are born in adult brains. Adult neurogenesis is regulated by a wide array of factors. Insults harmful to brain, such as neurodegenerative diseases, seizure, ischemia and exposure to drugs of abuse, are intricately related to adult neurogenesis. Whereas neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by death or functional loss of specific neurons, recent studies report that they can be accompanied by neurogenesis. In addition, alcohol and drugs of abuse which have been reputed to cause irreversible damage to brain can also generate newly born cells in adult brain. As yet, however, we have little knowledge of the functional significance and roles of adult neurogenesis under pathological settings, not to mention under physiological settings. Accordingly, in this review we briefly summarize the results of studies which focus on adult neurogenesis in insulted brain, instead of trying to draw hurried conclusion regarding the relationship between adult neurogenesis and brain insults.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2007

Millions of individuals worldwide are currently afflicted with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis which are caused by the death of specific types of specialized cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Recently, Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) are able to replace these dead cells with new functional cells, thereby providing a cure for devastating neural diseases. The clinical use of neural stem cells (NSCs) for the treatment of neurological diseases requires overcoming the scarcity of the initial in vivo NSC population. Thus, we developed a novel 3-dimentional cellular automata model for optimum production of neural stem cells and their derivatives in large scale to treat neurodegenerative disorder patients.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.981-995
• /
• 2022

Cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, and is known to be caused by the structural and functional loss of neurons. Many natural agents that can improve cognitive function have been developed and assessed for efficacy using various cognitive deficit animal models. As the gut environment is known to be closely connected to brain function, probiotics are attracting attention as an effective treatment target that can prevent and mitigate cognitive deficits as a result of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the objective of this review is to provide useful information about the types and characteristics of cognitive deficit animal models, which can be used to evaluate the anti-cognitive effects of probiotics. In addition, this work reviewed recent studies describing the effects and treatment conditions of probiotics on cognitive deficit animal models. Collectively, this review shows the potential of probiotics as edible natural agents that can mitigate cognitive impairment. It also provides useful information for the design of probiotic treatments for cognitive deficit patients in future clinical studies.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.239-253
• /
• 2010

Coenzyme $Q_{10}$ ($CoQ_{10}$, or ubiquinone) is an electron carrier of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (electron transport chain) with antioxidant properties. In view of the involvement of $CoQ_{10}$ in oxidative phosphorylation and cellular antioxidant protection a deficiency in this quinone would be expected to contribute to disease pathophysiology by causing a failure in energy metabolism and antioxidant status. Indeed, a deficit in $CoQ_{10}$ status has been determined in a number of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders. Primary disorders of $CoQ_{10}$ biosynthesis are potentially treatable conditions and therefore a high degree of clinical awareness about this condition is essential. A secondary loss of $CoQ_{10}$ status following HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statins) treatment has been implicated in the pathophysiology of the myotoxicity associated with this pharmacotherapy. $CoQ_{10}$ and its analogue, idebenone, have been widely used in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. These compounds could potentially play a role in the treatment of mitochondrial disorders, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Friedreich's ataxia, and other conditions which have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. This article reviews the physiological roles of $CoQ_{10}$, as well as the rationale and the role in clinical practice of $CoQ_{10}$ supplementation in different neurological diseases, from primary $CoQ_{10}$ deficiency to neurodegenerative disorders. These will help in future for treatment of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.171-174
• /
• 2007

Neuronal death is a common characteristic hallmark of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there have been no effective drugs to successfully prevent neuronal death in those diseases, whereas oriental medicinal plants have to possess valuable therapeutic potentials to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, in an attempt to provide neuroprotective agents from natural plants, 80% methanol extracts of a wide range of medicinal plants, which are native to Jeju Island in Korea, were prepared and their protective effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death were examined. Among those tested, extracts from Smilax china and Saururus chinesis significantly decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death. The extracts attenuated hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$)-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Further, plant extracts restored $H_2O_2$-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione, a major endogenous antioxidant. The data suggest that Jeju native medicinal plants could potentially be used as therapeutic agents for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.648-653
• /
• 2009

p62 is a key component of protein aggregates found in brains of neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis. p62 was induced in SH-SY5Y, a neuroblastoma cell line, by hydroxydoparnine or $C_2-ceramide$ known to be related to neurodegenerative diseases. The over-expression of p62 showed the neuroprotective effect against the ceramide induced cell death. In addition, p62 became insoluble and cleaved forms as time proceeded after the ceramide treatment, suggesting the mechanism by which p62 is associated with aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.227-244
• /
• 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Recent studies have clearly demonstrated that miRNAs play critical roles in several biologic processes, including cell cycle, differentiation, cell development, cell growth, and apoptosis and that miRNAs are highly expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells and a wide range of miRNAs are involved in the regulation of immunity and in the prevention of autoimmunity. It has been increasingly reported that miRNAs are associated with various human diseases like autoimmune disease, skin disease, neurological disease and psychiatric disease. Recently, the identification of miRNAs in skin has added a new dimension in the regulatory network and attracted significant interest in this novel layer of gene regulation. Although miRNA research in the field of dermatology is still relatively new, miRNAs have been the subject of much dermatological interest in skin morphogenesis and in regulating angiogenesis. In addition, miRNAs are moving rapidly center stage as key regulators of neuronal development and function in addition to important contributions to neurodegenerative disorder. Moreover, there is now compelling evidence that dysregulation of miRNA networks is implicated in the development and onset of human neruodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, Down syndrome, depression and schizophrenia. In this review, I briefly summarize the current studies about the roles of miRNAs in various autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, psychoneurological disorders and mental stress.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.247-258
• /
• 2023

Objective: To localize the neuroanatomical substrate of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and to investigate the neuroanatomical locational relationship between RBD and α-synucleinopathy neurodegenerative diseases. Materials and Methods: Using a systematic PubMed search, we identified 19 patients with lesions in different brain regions that caused RBD. First, lesion network mapping was applied to confirm whether the lesion locations causing RBD corresponded to a common brain network. Second, the literature-based RBD lesion network map was validated using neuroimaging findings and locations of brain pathologies at post-mortem in patients with idiopathic RBD (iRBD) who were identified by independent systematic literature search using PubMed. Finally, we assessed the locational relationship between the sites of pathological alterations at the preclinical stage in α-synucleinopathy neurodegenerative diseases and the brain network for RBD. Results: The lesion network mapping showed lesions causing RBD to be localized to a common brain network defined by connectivity to the pons (including the locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, central superior nucleus, and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray), regardless of the lesion location. The positive regions in the pons were replicated by the neuroimaging findings in an independent group of patients with iRBD and it coincided with the reported pathological alterations at post-mortem in patients with iRBD. Furthermore, all brain pathological sites at preclinical stages (Braak stages 1-2) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and at brainstem Lewy body disease in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) were involved in the brain network identified for RBD. Conclusion: The brain network defined by connectivity to positive pons regions might be the regulatory network loop inducing RBD in humans. In addition, our results suggested that the underlying cause of high phenoconversion rate from iRBD to neurodegenerative α-synucleinopathy might be pathological changes in the preclinical stage of α-synucleinopathy located at the regulatory network loop of RBD.