• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2003

Background: Rehmanniae radix preparata is a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries, to replenish Yin and Vital Essence through strengthen the kidney function. In Oriental Medicine the brain has physiological relationship with the Vital Essence. And central nerve system (CNS) is also refered to as 'Sea of the Vital Essence'. So if the Vital Essence is strong it will nourish the brain and memory will all be keen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 7 to 14 days treatment with Rehmanniae radix preparata (3.4 g /100 g, per os) on retention performance of rats in a passive avoidance situation. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained on a one-trial passive avoidance task using a two-way shuttle box by giving a foot shock. They were tested for retention of 6h, 24h, 72h, 168h, and 336h after training. Results: Rehmanniae radix preparata treated rats showed a increased performance in retention test as compared to saline at 6hr (P<0.05) and 24hr (P<0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that Rehmanniae radix preparata treatment can improve memory in the rat.

• 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.467-473
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the memory enhancing effect and underlying molecular mechanism of arabinoxylan (AX), a major component of dietary fiber in wheat against scopolamine (SCO)-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Diverse behavior tests including Y-maze, Morris water maze, and passive avoidance tests were performed to measure cognitive functions. SCO significantly decreased the spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test and step-through latency in passive avoidance test, whereas increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test compared with the sham control group. In contrast, oral administration of AX (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) effectively reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in SD rats. Furthermore, AX treatment up-regulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cortex and hippocampus via promoting activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Therefore, our findings suggest that AX can improve SCO-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through activation of CREB and up-regulation of BDNF levels, thereby exhibiting a cognition-enhancing potential.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.431-437
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• 2011

Recently, there are so many studies that herbal composition has the effect on enhancing the memorial ability. But there are few studies whether it has effect on enhancing attentional ability. The purpose of present study is to prove the effects of a herbal composition(ChongA 100) on enhancing not only memorial but also attentional ability. The memorial ability interfered by amyloid-${\beta}$ was evaluated with passive avoidance test Y-maze task. The attentional ability was studied with attentional set-shifting task(ASST). The 200mg/kg of ChongA100 could significantly recover the shortened latency of passive avoidance test and the interfered alternation of Y-maze task. The number of trials in ASST was significantly reduced as well. Our study suggests that it has effects on enhancing both memorial and attentional ability.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2004

Objective : The effect Saenggitang (GT), which has been used for amnesia, in Oriental Medicine, on memory and learning ability, was investigated. Methods : Hot water extracts (HWE) of SGT were used for the studies. In passive avoidance performances (step through test), active avoidance performances (lever press test), Motor activity, pentobarbital-induced sleep, 20 and 50 mg/100g of SGT-HWE ameliorated the memory retrieval deficit induced by 40% ethanol. Results : The SGT-HWE did not affect the ambulatory activity of normal mice in normal condition. 20 and 50 mg/100g of SGT-HWE enhanced contextual fear memory, but not cued fear memory in a fear conditioning task, which requires the activation of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartase) receptor. SGT-HWE did not affect the motor activity measured by the titling type ambulometer test performed immediately and 24 hr after the administration. SGT-HWE prolonged the sleeping time induced by 50 mg/kg pentobarbital in mice and decreased SMA (spontaneous motor activity) in active avoidance performances (lever press test). Conclusion : These results indicate that the SGT-HWE have an improving effect on the memory retrieval disability induced by ethanol and may act as a stimulating factor for activating the NMDA receptor. and the SGT-HWE has a tranquilizing and anti-anxiety action.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.799-806
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• 2014

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of extract from Eriobotrya japonica leaves (EJE) on cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, in rats. Scopolamine injection (1 mg/kg, i.p.) impaired performance in rats in the passive avoidance test as well as in water maze test and severely reduced cholinergic system reactivity, as indicated by reduced acetylcholine levels and increased acetylcholinesterase activity. Daily administration of EJE significantly increased step-through latency in the passive avoidance test, reduced escape latency, and increased time spent in the platform quadrant in the Morris water maze test. EJE protected against scopolamine-induced cholinergic system deficit, including reduced acetylcholine levels and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in whole brain homogenates. These results suggest that EJE provides a significant anti-amnesic effect against scopolamine-induced cholinergic system deficits and cognitive impairment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.253-264
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• 2006

Object: This research investigated effects of Jujadokseo-hwan on mice with Alzheimer's Disease induced by $amyloid-{\beta}$. According to Dongyibogam, Jujadokseo-hwan can cure amnesia. Amyloid-B is believed to induce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, postulated to play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In this way $Amyloid-{\beta}$ induces Alzheimer's Disease. Methods : In order to make an efficient prescription and cope with dementia, learning and memory functions of mice were tested on passive avoidance test and V-maze task. $NF-{\kappa}B$ were measured from protein derived from the brain. RT-PCR was done for !gene analysis. Primers were protein kinase Band $NGF-{\alpha}$. Results : 1. Jujadokseo-hwan was effective for memory capacity on passive avoidance test. but noneffective for spatial memory capacity and locomotor activity on Y -maze task. 2. The measurement of $NF-{\kappa}B$ showed upward tendancies and the result of RT-PCR showed up-regulation when given Jujadokseo-hwan by mouth. Conclusion: Results suggest that Jujadokseo-hwan is effective on mice with Alzheimer's Disease induced by $amyloid-{\beta}$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.691-698
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• 2005

Phlorotannins, the polyphonic compounds found in brown Eisenia and Ecklonia algae, have several pharmacologically beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation. In addition, our recent data show that these compounds may improve the cognitive functions of aged humans suggesting the potential ability to enhance memory in several neurodegenerative disorders. To examine the experimental hypothesis that two effective components of Ecklonia cava, dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol (PFF), have memory-enhancing abilities, both were administered orally to mice before a passive avoidance test. The repeated administration of either dieckol or PFF dose-dependently reduced the inhibition of latency by the administration of ethanol. To investigate the mode of memory-enhancing actions, the levels of major central neurotransmitters in three different regions (striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex) of the mouse brain were measured. The levels of some of the neurotransmitters were significantly changed by ethanol. Both dieckol and PFF altered the levels of some neurotransmitters modified by the ethanol treatment. It is noteworthy that both dieckol and PFF increased the level of acetylcho-line, and they exerted anticholinesterase activities. Overall, the memory-enhancing abilities of dieckol and PFF may result from, at least in part, the increment of the brain level of acetylcho-line by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.548-555
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• 1999

Long-term effects of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) on memory and oxidative stress of senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) were investigated. Senescence-resistant (R1) and prone (P8) strains of SAM were fed GL diets, premixed with low (20 mg/kg/day, T1) or high (200 mg/kg/day, T2) levels of GL powder for 9 months starting from young (3 months of age) or for 5 months starting from old (7 months of age). After the final feeding at 12 months of age, all animals were subjected to passive avoidance test for the evaluation of memory function. In addition, the changes in hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione were analyzed. SAMP8 fed GL diets from old age (7 months) exhibited the improvement of memory, although GL rather inhibited the memory function of both SAMR1 and SAMP8 mice fed diets from young (3 months of age). Hepatic TBARS contents were decreased in SAMP8 fed high GL diet for 9 months and in SAMR1 fed low GL diet for 5 months. Hepatic glutathione content was also remarkably increased in SAMR1 following both feeding periods, and less extent in SAMP8 fed diet for 5 months of age. Taken together, it is proposed that GL extracts may play an anti-aging role through antioxidant action, and thereby may improve the senescence-related memory dysfunction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2013

This study was aimed at investigating the possible effects of phytoceramide (Pcer) on learning and memory and their underlying mechanisms. Phytoceramide was orally administered to ICR mice for 7 days. Memory performances were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. The expressions of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured with immunoblot. The incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in hippocampal regions was investigated by using immunohistochemical methods. Treatment of Pcer enhanced cognitive performances in the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the phosphorylated CREB and BDNF were significantly increased on hippocampus in the Pcer-treated mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the number of immunopositive cells to BrdU was significantly increased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus regions after Pcer-treatment for 7 days. These results suggest that Pcer contribute to enhancing memory and BDNF expression and it could be secondary to the elevation of neurogenesis.