• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.401-411
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• 2018

Longevity in medicine can be defined as a long life without mental or physical deficits. This can be prevented by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current conventional AD treatments only alleviate the symptoms without reversing AD progression. Recent studies demonstrated that Panax ginseng extract improves AD symptoms in patients with AD, and the two main components of ginseng might contribute to AD amelioration. Ginsenosides show various AD-related neuroprotective effects. Gintonin is a newly identified ginseng constituent that contains lysophosphatidic acids and attenuates AD-related brain neuropathies. Ginsenosides decrease amyloid ${\beta}$-protein ($A{\beta}$) formation by inhibiting ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-secretase activity or by activating the nonamyloidogenic pathway, inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity, and decrease $A{\beta}$-induced production of reactive oxygen species and neuro-inflammatory reactions. Oral administration of ginsenosides increases the expression levels of enzymes involved in acetylcholine synthesis in the brain and alleviates $A{\beta}$-induced cholinergic deficits in AD models. Similarly, gintonin inhibits $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity and activates the nonamyloidogenic pathway to reduce $A{\beta}$ formation and to increase acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase expression in the brain through lysophosphatidic acid receptors. Oral administration of gintonin attenuates brain amyloid plaque deposits, boosting hippocampal cholinergic systems and neurogenesis, thereby ameliorating learning and memory impairments. It also improves cognitive functions in patients with AD. Ginsenosides and gintonin attenuate AD-related neuropathology through multiple routes. This review focuses research demonstrating that ginseng constituents could be a candidate as an adjuvant for AD treatment. However, clinical investigations including efficacy and tolerability analyses may be necessary for the clinical acceptance of ginseng components in combination with conventional AD drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2008

Background: Cerebral blood vessels are innervated by sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), and these nerves may influence the cerebral blood flow. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block in rats that were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods: Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned to one of two groups (the ropivacaine group and a control group). In all the animals, brain injury was induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) reperfusion that followed MCA occlusion for 2 hours. The animals of the ropivacaine group received $30{\mu}l$ of 0.75% ropivacaine, and their SCG. Neurologic score was assessed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after brain injury. Brain tissue samples were then collected. The infarct ratio was measured by 2.3.5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeled (TUNEL) reactive cells and the cells showing caspase-3 activity were counted as markers of apoptosis at the caudoputamen and frontoparietal cortex. Results: The death rate, the neurologic score and the infarction ratio were significantly less in the ropivacaine group 24 hr after ischemia/reperfusion injury. The number of TUNEL positive cells in the ropivacaine group was significantly lower than those values of the control group in the frontoparietal cortex at 3 days after injury, but the caspase-3 activity was higher in the ropivacaine group than that in the control group at 1 day after injury. Conclusions: The study data indicated that a superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block may reduce the neuronal injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, but it may not prevent the delayed damage.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.199-207
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermented Laminaria japonica (FL), a type sea tangle used as a functional food ingredient, has been reported to possess cognitive improving properties that may aid in the treatment of common neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. MATERIALS/METHODS: We examined the effects of FL on scopolamine (Sco)- and ethanol (EtOH)-induced hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, using the Passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. To examine the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroprotective effects, we analyzed acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, brain tissue expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and immunohistochemical analysis, in the hippocampus of mice, compared to current drug therapy intervention. Biochemical blood analysis was carried out to determine the effects of FL on alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. 7 groups (n = 10) consisted of a control (CON), 3 Sco-induced dementia and 3 EtOH-induced dementia groups, with both dementia group types containing an untreated group (Sco and EtOH); a positive control, orally administered donepezil (Dpz) (4mg/kg) (Sco + Dpz and EtOH + Dpz); and an FL (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Sco + FL50 and EtOH + FL50), orally administered over the 4-week experimental period. RESULTS: FL50 significantly reduced EtOH-induced increase in AST and ALT levels. FL50 treatment reduced EtOH-impaired step-through latency time in the PA test, and Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia escape latency times in the MWM test. Moreover, anticholinergic effects of Sco and EtOH on the brain were reversed by FL50, through the attenuation of AChE activity and elevation of ACh concentration. FL50 elevated ERK1/2 protein expression and increased p-CREB (ser133) in hippocampus brain tissue, according to Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results suggest that FL may be considered an efficacious intervention for Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia, in terms of reversing cognitive impairment and neuroplastic dysfunction.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.1543-1552
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• 2021

백출(Atractylodes japonica)은 국화과(Compositae)에 속하는 다년생 식물로 한국에서 이뇨작용, 수렴작용, 항알러지, 신경보호, 항암, 면역증강 및 위장관 보호효과 등으로 민간요법에서 널리 사용되고 있다. 백출의 열수 및 70% 에탄올 추출물에 대한 DPPH 및 ABTS 자유라디칼 소거능으로 항산화 활성을 측정하였다. 게다가 NO 생성, iNOS와 COX-2 단백질 발현을 웨스턴 블롯으로 측정하였으며, 염증성 사이토카인의 발현을 RT-PCR 방법으로 측정함으로 항염증 효과를 측정하였다. 열수 및 70% 에탄올 추출물들의 항산화 활성은 농도-의존적인 효과를 보였지만, 추출용매에 따른 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 70% 에탄올에 의한 백출 추출물에서 매우 강한 NO 활성 억제효과를 보였다. 백출 열수 및 에탄올 추출물은 NO 생성에 관여하는 iNOS 및 COX-2 단백질의 발현을 현저히 감소시켰다. 열수 및 70% 에탄올 추출물 모두 염증성 사이토카인인 IL-6 및 IL-1b는 현저히 억제시키지만, TNF-α의 발현은 약하게 억제시키는 결과를 얻었다. 본 연구를 통하여 백출 70% 에탄올 추출물이 NO 생성을 현저히 억제하며, 염증성 사이토카인의 발현을 현저히 감소시키는 효과를 보이므로 염증성 질환 치료 및 개선에 널리 사용될 수 있으리라 생각한다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.366-375
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng contains three active components: ginsenosides, gintonin, and polysaccharides. After the separation of 1 of the 3 ingredient fractions, other fractions are usually discarded as waste. In this study, we developed a simple and effective method, called the ginpolin protocol, to separate gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF), ginseng polysaccharide fraction (GPF), and crude ginseng saponin fraction (cGSF). Methods: Dried ginseng (1 kg) was extracted using 70% ethanol (EtOH). The extract was water fractionated to obtain a water-insoluble precipitate (GEF). The upper layer after GEF separation was precipitated with 80% EtOH for GPF preparation, and the remaining upper layer was vacuum dried to obtain cGSF. Results: The yields of GEF, GPF, and cGSF were 14.8, 54.2, and 185.3 g, respectively, from 333 g EtOH extract. We quantified the active ingredients of 3 fractions: L-arginine, galacturonic acid, ginsenosides, glucuronic acid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), phosphatidic acid (PA), and polyphenols. The order of the LPA, PA, and polyphenol content was GEF > cGSF > GPF. The order of L-arginine and galacturonic acid was GPF >> GEF = cGSF. Interestingly, GEF contained a high amount of ginsenoside Rb1, whereas cGSF contained more ginsenoside Rg1. GEF and cGSF, but not GPF, induced intracellular [Ca²⁺]_i transient with antiplatelet activity. The order of antioxidant activity was GPF > GEF = cGSF. Immunological activities (related to nitric oxide production, phagocytosis, and IL-6 and TNF-α release) were, in order, GPF > GEF = cGSF. The neuroprotective ability (against reactive oxygen species) order was GEF > cGSP > GPF. Conclusion: We developed a novel ginpolin protocol to isolate 3 fractions in batches and determined that each fraction has distinct biological effects.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.32.1-32.15
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• 2020

Influenza virus is the major cause of seasonal and pandemic flu. Currently, oseltamivir, a potent and selective inhibitor of neuraminidase of influenza A and B viruses, is the drug of choice for treating patients with influenza virus infection. However, recent emergence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses has limited its efficacy. Morin hydrate (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid isolated from Morus alba L. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects partly by the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, its effects on influenza virus have not been studied. We evaluated the antiviral activity of morin hydrate against influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (A/PR/8; H1N1) and oseltamivir-resistant A/PR/8 influenza viruses in vitro. To determine its mode of action, we carried out time course experiments, and time of addition, hemolysis inhibition, and hemagglutination assays. The effects of the co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir were assessed using the murine model of A/PR/8 infection. We found that morin hydrate reduced hemagglutination by A/PR/8 in vitro. It alleviated the symptoms of A/PR/8-infection, and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as TNF-α and CCL2, in infected mice. Co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir phosphate reduced the virus titers and attenuated pulmonary inflammation. Our results suggest that morin hydrate exhibits antiviral activity by inhibiting the entry of the virus.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.517-527
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• 2018

본 연구에서는 다래 순 아세트산에틸 분획물(ethyl acetate fraction from Actiniadin arguta sprout; EFAS)의 in vitro 산화방지활성 및 고포도당으로 인한 산화적 스트레스로부터의 뇌신경세포 보호 효과를 검증하였다. EFAS은 상대적으로 우수한 총 폴리페놀(246.25 mg GAE/g) 및 총 플라보노이드(571.59 mg RE/g) 함량을 나타내었으며, 이로 인한 ABTS 라디칼 제거 활성($IC_{50}=252.00{\mu}g/mL$) 및 MDA 생성 억제 활성($IC_{50}=42.70{\mu}g/mL$)을 보여주었다. EFAS의 in vitro 항당뇨 활성은 알파글루코사이드 가수분해효소와 최종당화산물 생성 억제 활성을 통해 측정하였으며 각각 99.18과 $85.19{\mu}g/mL$의 $IC_{50}$ 값을 나타냈고, 뇌신경 전달물질인 아세틸콜린의 세포 내 유지 효과를 아세틸콜린 분해효소 억제 활성을 통해 측정하였을 때 $164.20{\mu}g/mL$의 $IC_{50}$ 값을 나타냈다. 또한 인간 유래 MC-IXC 뇌신경세포에 과산화수소와 고포도당을 처리하여 산화적 스트레스를 유발시켜 뇌신경세포 사멸에 대해 우수한 보호효과를 보여주었다. 마지막으로 HPLC를 통하여, EFAS의 주요 생리활성 물질을 분석한 결과는 루틴으로 유추되었으며, 그 함량은 $123.76{\mu}g/mL$ of dried weight로 분석되었다. 이상의 결과로부터 다래 순 분획물(EFAS)이 알파글루코사이드 가수분해효소 및 최종당화산물 생성 억제를 통해 식후 혈당의 급격한 상승을 예방할 수 있는 항당뇨 소재로의 가능성뿐만 아니라, 고포도당에서 유래되는 산화적 스트레스로부터 뇌신경세포 보호 및 뇌신경전달물질 체계 개선을 통한 당뇨성 퇴행성뇌질환 등의 합병증을 예방할 수 있는 고부가가치 식품 소재로의 활용 가능성을 확인하였다.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.284-288
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 고포도당 조건에서 로젤의 산화방지 효과와 산화 손상에 대한 신경세포 보호효과를 검증하였다. 총 페놀 함량은 아세트산에틸 분획물(71.41 mg GAE/g)이 다른 분획물보다 높았으며, 이에 따라 아세트산에틸 분획물로 in vitro 산화방지 실험을 진행한 결과 상대적으로 우수한 ABTS 라디칼 소거활성과 지방질과산화물 생성 억제효과를 나타내었다. 신경세포에 고포도당으로 유발시킨 산화 스트레스에 대한 로젤 아세트산에틸 분획물은 산화 스트레스의 생성을 억제하고 신경세포 생존율을 향상 시켰다. 더불어 신경전달물질인 아세틸콜린 분해하는 아세틸콜린 에스터레이스의 억제효과를 보였으며, 마지막으로 HPLC 분석 결과 로젤 아세트산에틸 분획물에 존재하는 주요 페놀화합물은 클로로겐산인 것으로 판단되었다. 결국 클로로겐산을 함유하는 로젤 아세트산에틸 분획물은 우수한 산화방지 효과와 신경세포 보호효과 그리고 아세틸콜린 에스터레이스 억제 효과를 유도한 것으로 추정되며, 이를 통해 고포도당 상태에서 발생하는 당뇨성 퇴행성 신경질환과 같은 질병을 예방할 수 있는 고부가가치 소재로서의 활용가치가 있다고 판단된다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.33-38
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• 2007

Zinc is an endogenous transition metal that can be synaptically released during neuronal activity. However, zinc may contribute to the neuropathology associated with a variety of conditions. Carnosine expressed in glial cells can modulate the effects of zinc on neuronal excitability as a zinc chelator. We hypothesize that carnosine may protect against neurotoxicity of zinc in cortical neuronal cells. The cortical neuronal cells from newborn rats were prepared and exposed to zinc chloride and/or carnosine at various concentrations. Zinc at the doses of 0 to $500{\mu}M$ decreased neuronal cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, at the concentrations of 100 and $200{\mu}M$, it significantly decreased cell viability in an exposed time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Treatment with carnosine at the concentrations of 20 and $200{\mu}M$ significantly increased neuronal cell proliferation by approximately 14% and 20%, respectively, compared to the control (p < 0.05). At the concentrations of 100 and $200{\mu}M$ zinc, $20{\mu}M$ carnosine significantly increased the viability of neuronal cells by 18.3% and 12.1 %, and $200{\mu}M$ carnosine also increased it by 33.5% and 28.6%, respectively, compared to the normal control group (p < 0.01). These results suggest that carnosine at a physiologically relevant level may protect against zinc-mediated toxicity in neuronal cells as an endogenous neuroprotective agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.156-164
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• 2015

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive memory loss and neuronal cell death. Although numerous previous studies have been focused on disease progression or reverse pathological symptoms, therapeutic strategies for AD are limited. Alternatively, the identification of traditional herbal medicines or their active compounds has received much attention. The aims of the present study were to characterize the ameliorating effects of spinosin, a C-glucosylflavone isolated from Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa, on memory impairment or the pathological changes induced through amyloid-${\beta}_{1-42}$ oligomer ($A{\beta}O$) in mice. Memory impairment was induced by intracerebroventricular injection of $A{\beta}O$ ($50{\mu}M$) and spinosin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was administered for 7 days. In the behavioral tasks, the subchronic administration of spinosin (20 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated $A{\beta}O$-induced cognitive impairment in the passive avoidance task or the Y-maze task. To identify the effects of spinosin on the pathological changes induced through $A{\beta}O$, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were performed. Spinosin treatment also reduced the number of activated microglia and astrocytes observed after $A{\beta}O$ injection. In addition, spinosin rescued the $A{\beta}O$-induced decrease in choline acetyltransferase expression levels. These results suggest that spinosin ameliorated memory impairment induced through $A{\beta}O$, and these effects were regulated, in part, through neuroprotective activity via the anti-inflammatory effects of spinosin. Therefore, spinosin might be a useful agent against the amyloid ${\beta}$ protein-induced cognitive dysfunction observed in AD patients.