• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2000

Estrogen can influence on the expression of behaviors not associated directly with reproduction, including learning and memory. Recently estrogen has received considerable attention for its effects on neuroprotection and neural circuits in brain areas associated with cognition. Although estrogen replacement therapy may be helpful to postmenopausal women, it also results in a number of harmful side effects. Ginseng also has steroidal qualities and contains several ginsenoside components which have similar backbone structure to estrogen. The objectives of this experiment were 1) to examine the effects of estrogen and 2) to investigate the effects of ginsenosides as estrogenic agent on learning and memory using the Morris water maze, a traditional experimental task for spatial memory. In the experiments designed here, ovariectomized mice were implanted subcutaneously with Sila, itic capsules containing 17${\beta}$-estradiol (100∼250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), panaxadiol (PD) and panaxatriol (PT) saponins (15∼100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) diluted with sesame oil. In the first set of experiment, the effects of estradiol on learning and memory during the Morris water maze was examined. When estradiol was delivered via Silastic capsules following training improved spatial memory performance in ovariectomized female mice. In the second set of experiment, three different PD and PT saponin concentrations were delivered via Silastic implants to ovariectomized female mice and their effects were compared with estrogenic effects. Results of three separate experiments demonstrated that estradiol, PD and PT administrated by Silastic implants for 2 weeks prior to water maze training significantly improved spatial memory performance compared to ovariectomized (OVX) mice, as indicated by lower escape latency over trial. The positive effect of estradiol suggests that estrogen can affect performance on learning and memory. In addition, the positive effect of PD and PT saponins suggest that ginsenosides have an estrogen-like effects in mediating learning and memory related behavior action.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2010

Purpose: Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of dizocilpine (MK-801) in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephlopathy, trauma and excitotoxicity, but limited data are available for those during the neonatal periods. Here we investigated whether dizocilpine can protect the developing rat brain from HI injury via anti-apoptosis. Methods: In an in vitro model, embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18-day gestation was done. The cultured cells were divided into three groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and hypoxia treated with dizocilpine (HD). The N group was prepared in 5% $CO_2$ incubators and the other groups were placed in 1% $O_2$ incubators (94% N2, 5% $CO_2$) for 16 hours. In an in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was done in 7-day-old SD rat pups. The animals were divided into six groups; hypoxia (N), hypoxia (H), hypoxia with sham-operation (HS), hypoxia with operation (HO), HO treated with vehicle (HV), and HO treated with dizocilpine (HD). Hypoxia was made by exposure to a 2 hour period of hypoxic incubator (92% N2, 8% $O_2$). Results: In the in vitvo and in vivo models, the expressions of Bcl-2 in the hypoxia groups were reduced compared to the normoxia group. whereas those in the dizocilpine-treated group were increased compared to the hypoxia group. However. the expressions of Bax and caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were revealed reversely. Conclusion: Dizocilpine has neuroprotective property over perinatal HI brain injury via anti-apoptosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.405-416
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• 2008

Background: Spinal cord ischemic injury during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgeries remains a potentially devastating outcome despite using various methods of protection. Neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel antagonists are known to provide neuroprotection in cerebral ischemic models. This study was designed to compare the neuroprotective effects of phenytoin with those of hypothermia in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia. Material and Method: Spinal cord ischemia was induced in New Zealand white rabbits by means of infrarenal aortic cross clamping for 25 minutes. Four groups of 8 animals each were studied. The control group and the hypothermia group received retrograde infusion of saline only ($22^{\circ}C$, 2 mL/min); the normothermic phenytoin group and the hypothermicphenytoin group received retrograde infusion of 100 mg of phenytoin at different rectal temperatures ($39^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$, respectively) during the ischemic period. The neurologic function was assessed at 24 and 72 hours after the operation with using the modified Tarlov criteria. The spinal cords were harvested after the final neurologic examination for histopathological examination to objectively quantify the amount of neuronal damage. Result: No major adverse effects were observed with the retrograde phenytoin infusion during the aortic ischemic period. All the control rabbits became severely paraplegic, Both the phenytoin group and the hypothermia group had a better neurological status than did the control group (p < 0.05). The typical morphological changes that are characteristic of neuronal necrosis in the gray matter of the control animals were demonstrated by means of the histopathological examination, whereas phenytoin or hypothermia prevented or attenuated these necrotic phenomena (p < 0.05). The number of motor neuron cells positive for TUNEL staining was significantly reduced, to a similar extent, in the rabbits treated with phenytoin or hypothermia. Phenytoin and hypothermia had some additive neuroprotective effect, but there was no statistical significance between the two on the neurological and histopathological analysis. Conclusion: The neurological and histopathological analysis consistently demonstrated that both phenytoin and hypothermia may afford significant spinal cord protection to a similar extent during spinal cord ischemia in rabbits, although no significant additive effects were noticed.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2011

Purpose: Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxalin-2,3-dione (CNQX) in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephlopathy, trauma and excitotoxicity, but limited data are available for those during the neonatal periods. Here we investigated whether CNQX can protect the developing rat brain from HI injury via mediation of nitric oxide synthase. Methods: In an in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was done in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat pups. The animals were divided into six groups; normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), hypoxia with sham-operation (HS), hypoxia with operation (HO), HO treated with vehicle (HV), and HO treated with CNQX at a dose of 10 mg/kg (HC). Hypoxia was made by exposure to a 2 hr period in the hypoxic chamber (92% $N_2$, 8% $O_2$). In an in vitro model, embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of SD rats at 18-day gestation was done. The cultured cells were divided into three groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and hypoxia treated with CNQX (HC). The N group was prepared in 5% $CO_2$ incubators and the other groups were placed in 1% $O_2$) incubators (94% $N_2$, 5% $CO_2$) for 16 hr. Results: In the in vitvo and in vivo models, the expressions of iNOS and eNOS were reduced in the hypoxia group when compared to the normoxia group, whereas they were increased in the CNQX-treated group compared to the hypoxia group. In contrast, the expression of nNOS was showed reversely. Conclusion: CNQX has neuroprotective property over perinatal HI brain injury via mediation of nitric oxide synthase.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.225-237
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• 2018

This study was conducted to compare nutritional analysis and neuroprotective effect of 5 cultivars of Diospyros kaki (Dungsi, Godongsi, Gojongsi, Gabjubaekmok, and Bansi). In nutritional analysis, three free sugars: sucrose, glucose, and fructose, and six fatty acids: tartaric acid, hexadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, octadecenamide, and octadecane, were detected. Potassium and phosphorus levels were the highest in inorganic component analysis, and glutamic acid and aspartic acid were the highest contents in amino acid analysis. Vitamin C was detected in all cultivars. Total phenolic content was the highest in Dungsi. Antioxidant activities such as ABTS (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities, FRAP (ferric reducing/antioxidant power), and MDA (malondialdehyde) inhibitory effect were the highest in Gabjubaekmok. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were measured to confirm the neuroprotective effect in MC-IXC cells. Gabjubaekmok showed significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neuroprotection.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.221-233
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• 2009

Purpose: Erythropoietin (EPO) has neuroprotective effects in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, trauma, and excitotoxicity. Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of EPO, but limited data are available for the neonatal periods. Here in we investigated whether recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) can protect the developing rat brain from HI injury via modulation of NMDA receptors. Methods: In an in vitro model, embryonic cortical neuronal cell cultures from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 19-days gestation were established. The cultured cells were divided into five groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and 1, 10, and 100 IU/mL rHuEPO-treated (H+E1, H+ E10, and H+E100) groups. To estimate cell viability and growth, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was done. In an in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was performed on 7-day-old SD rat pups. The animals were divided into six groups; normoxia control (NC), normoxia Sham-operated (NS), hypoxia-ischemia only (H), hypoxia-ischemia+vehicle (HV), hypoxia-ischemia+rHuEPO before a HI injury (HE-B), and hypoxia-ischemia+rHuEPO after a HI injury (HE-A). The morphologic changes following brain injuries were noted using hematoxylin and eosin (H/E) staining. Real-time PCR using primers of subunits of NMDA receptors (NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2C and NR2D) mRNA were performed. Results: Cell viability in the H group was decreased to less than 60% of that in the N group. In the H+E1 and H+E10 groups, cell viability was increased to >80% of the N group, but cell viability in the H+E100 group did not recover. The percentage of the left hemisphere area compared the to the right hemisphere area were 98.9% in the NC group, 99.1% in the NS group, 57.1% in the H group, 57.0% in the HV group, 87.6% in the HE-B group, and 91.6% in the HE-A group. Real-time PCR analysis of the expressions of subunits of NMDA receptors mRNAs in the in vitro and in vivo neonatal HI brain injuries generally revealed that the expression in the H group was decreased compared to the N group and the expressions in the rHuEPO-treated groups was increased compared to the H group. Conclusion: rHuEPO has neuroprotective property in perinatal HI brain injury via modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

Vitis amurensis Rupreche, a sort of grape, grows naturally in Asian countries. It is known for important biological effects such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis inhibition. Although its root is used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea, the root's biological activities are poorly studied. In the present study, the effects of V. amurensis root methanol extract (VARM) and its solvent fractions on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. The VARM significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the triglyceride (TG) content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. To identify active molecules, the VARM was fractionated with a series of organic solvents including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). All the fractions also showed inhibition of lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction showed the most powerful anti-obesity effect through the modulation of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosinethymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expression. Oleanolic acid was one of the main active compounds involved in the anti-obesity activity of the V. amurensis root. These results provide important new insight into the potential potent anti-adipogenic effect of the V. amurensis root and illustrate that one of the main compounds involved in this effect is oleanolic acid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1533-1543
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• 2016

The anti-stress effects of Punica granatum L. (family Lythraceae, PG) on $H_2O_2$/corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress in cells and sleep-deprived rats were investigated. The PG extract showed neuroprotective effects in SH-SY5Y cells against $H_2O_2$/CORT-induced stress. Sleep deprivation led to behavioral, hormonal, and biochemical alterations in the animal model. The effects of P. granatum on physiological, behavioral, and biochemical parameters aggravated by sleep deprivation were investigated. Sleep deprivation impaired physiological (survival, body weight, and drowsiness scores) and behavioral (rotarod, passive avoidance, hot hyperalgesia, and Y maze) parameters as well as biochemical factors (cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, testosterone, and growth factor I contents in serum). These parameters were significantly recovered by PG extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The PG extract also enhanced catalase, superoxide dismutase, and non-enzymatic antioxidative activities such as glutathione compared to sleep-deprived rats. On the basis of these results, our findings suggest that Punica granatum prevents impairment of body functions induced by sleep deprivation and related oxidative damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1552-1563
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• 2016

To examine the cognitive function of onion (Allium cepa L.) beverages (odourless and fortified), we analyzed in vitro neuronal cell protection against $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity and performed in vivo tests on amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$)-induced cognitive dysfunction. Cellular oxidative stress and cell viability were evaluated by DCF-DA assay and MTT assay. These results show that fortified beverage resulted in better neuronal cell protection than odourless beverage at lower concentration ($0{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$). Fortified beverage also showed more excellent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$: 4.20 mg/mL) than odourless beverage. The cognitive functions of odourless beverage and fortified beverage in $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity were assessed by Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests. The results show improved cognitive function in both groups treated with beverages. After in vivo tests, cholinergic activities were determined based on AChE inhibition and acetylcholine levels, and antioxidant activities were measured as SOD, oxidized glutathione (GSH)/total GSH ratio, and MDA levels in mouse brain tissue. In a Q-TOF UPLC/MS system, main compounds were analyzed as follows: odourless beverage (five types of sugars and three types of phenolics) and fortified beverages (six types of phenolics and two types of steroidal saponins).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.423-433
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• 2021

This study was performed to examine the neuroprotective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from Eucommia ulmoides oliver leaf (EFEL) on PM_2.5-induced cytotoxicity. EFEL had higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents than the other fractions. In ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, the IC₅₀ of EFEL was measured as 212.80 and 359.13 ㎍/mL, respectively. To investigate the neuroprotective effect of EFEL, MTT and DCF-DA assays were performed on HT22, MC-IXC, and BV-2 cells. EFEL effectively decreased PM_2.5-induced intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and inhibited PM_2.5-induced cell death. In the results of protein expression related to cellular cytotoxicity on microglial cells (BV-2), EFEL had an improvement effect on cell apoptosis and inflammatory pathways. Rutin and chlorogenic acid were identified as the main physiological compounds. Moreover, it was expected that EFEL, including rutin and chlorogenic acid, could be functional food substances with neuroprotective effects against PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress.