• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.85-105
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the neuroprotective effects and anxiolytic-like effects of Gongjin-dan and Polygala japonica, Polygala tenuifolia, Acorus gramineus mixed pills(G.J.D-P.P.A.). Methods : The neuroprotective effects of G.J.D-P.P.A. determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks and Morris water maze task, and the anxiolytic-like effects of the G.J.D-P.P.A. using an elevated plus-maze(EPM) in mice. Results : Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine(1 mg/kg, i.p.). A single G.J.D-P.P.A.(400 and 800 mg/kg) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks(P < 0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task(P < 0.05). The administration of GJD-PPA(400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms and entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with saline-treated control group(P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects in any group compared with saline-treated control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that GJD-PPA dramatically possesses the anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and promotes the anxiolytic-like activity in mice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.251-262
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• 2014

This article is for understanding dementia with the perspective of Korean Medicine through research on syndrome differentiations of dementia clinically applied and relations between modern diseases and Korean Medicine pattern types of dementia. clinical papers were searched in China Academic Journals(CAJ) of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) from 2012 to 2013. Conclusions are as follows. First, dementia was expressed in many ways such as imbecility, stupidity, fatuity, idiocy, vacuity, etc and was related with amnesia, forgetfulness, speech not in the right order, depressive psychosis(quiet insanity), manic psychosis, depression syndrome. Second, prescriptions such as QiFuYin and ZuoGuiWan from JingYueQuanShu, XiXinTang and ZhiMiTang from BianZhengLu, TongQiaoHuoXueTang, XueFuZhuYuTang and BuYangHaiWuTang from YiLinGaiCuo, HaiShaoDan from YiFangJiJie, HuangLianJieDuTang from WaiTaiMiYao were suggested for dementia. Third, syndrome differentiation pattern types of dementia are kidney deficiency and marrow decrease, qi-blood depletion, liver-kidney depletion, spleen-kidney depletion, heart-spleen deficiency as deficiency patterns and effulgent heart-liver fire, ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang, qi stagnation and blood stasis, phlegm turbidity obstructing orifice, phlegm-blood stasis obstructing orifice, intense heat toxin as excess patterns and qi deficiency with blood stasis, yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity as deficiency-excess complex patterns. Major pattern types are kidney deficiency and marrow decrease, phlegm-blood stasis obstructing orifice, qi stagnation and blood stasis, liver-kidney depletion, phlegm turbidity obstructing orifice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

Progressive memory impairment such as that associated with depression, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) can interfere with daily life. In particular, AD, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, prominently features a memory and learning impairment that is related to changes in acetylcholine and abnormal ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) deposition in the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dehydroevodiamine HCl (DHED) on cognitive improvement and the related mechanism in memory-impaired rat models, namely, a scopolamine-induced amnesia model and a $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-infused model. The cognitive effects of DHED were measured using a water maze test and a passive avoidance test in the memory-impaired rat models. The results demonstrate that DHED (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and Donepezil (1 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated the spatial memory impairment in the scopolamine-induced amnestic rats. Moreover, DHED significantly improved learning and memory in the $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-infused rat model. Furthermore, the mechanism of these behavioral effects of DHED was investigated using a cell viability assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, and intracellular calcium measurement in primary cortical neurons. DHED reduced neurotoxicity and the production of $A{\beta}$-induced ROS in primary cortical neurons. In addition, similar to the effect of MK801, DHED decreased intracellular calcium levels in primary cortical neurons. Our results suggest that DHED has strong protective effects against cognitive impairments through its antioxidant activity and inhibition of neurotoxicity and intracellular calcium. Thus, DHED may be an important therapeutic agent for memory-impaired symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 2011

Gyeongoggo is first described in the Collected Prescription by Hong Family in the Song Dynasty in China. It is composed of Radix Rehmnniae, Panax ginseng, Poria cocos, and Mel. Its main efficacy is to treat weakness of primordial essence of body and dry cough, and to invigorate qi and replenish yin principle. It is one of the most important prescriptions that people have been using for a long time. We studied the documents recorded in the medical classics and comprehended the following results. Gyeongoggo has efficacy to keep a person healthy and live long age, to treat amnesia and dizziness from brain weakness, to strengthen muscle and bone by improving function of stomach and colon, to improve a person's memory and judgement, to invigorate brain weakness, and, to treat tuberculosis and lung cancer. The longer a person take it, the better it is for one's health and meditation. When it is made, it is important to mix four components up, to boil it with an oak tree for three days and nights, and then to add water from a well to reduce heat for a full day, and to boil up again for a full day to mature fully. As gyeongoggo is acquired not only by the full heart of a manufacturer but also the sympathy of nature, it is important to choose a clean place to make and keep. When it is taken, it is proper to take it with warm water or liquors. And when it is made, we came to know that it is possible to make gyeongoggo with special efficacy by adding one to three more components.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1995

This study was done in order to investigate the etiology and pathology of dementia in the variety literature. Dementia in elderly persons(above the age of 60) mainly classfied Alzheimer disease and Cerebral vascular dementia. The results were as follows: 1. Dementia patients have abnormal mental function, who have no mental weakness but defects of memory, verbal disturbance, behavior disturbance and loss of intellectual function. 2. Dementia regard as 'me-beng(?病)', 'jeon-gwang(癲狂)', and 'heo-ro(虛勞)' in oriental medicine and the symptom is a silence with no response, mixing, a crying or a laugh, a stranger behavior and a amnesia; disturbances of speech, emotion, behavior. 3. Dementia caused by Alzheimer disease, Multi infarct dementia, Parkinson's disease, sequelae of acute CO poisoning, head injury and alcoholism(occidental medically) and the 'Dam(痰) and Damhwa(痰火), weakness of heart and spleen(心脾虛) caused by pent up anger of seven emotions(七情鬱結), the weakness of liver and kidney(肝腎不足)(oriental medically). 4. The causes of Alzheimer disease are various; a heredity factor, a morphological factor of brain tissues, a psychological factor and a biochemical factor (occidental medically) ; the 'Dam(痰) and Damhwa(痰火) caused by weakness of the internal organs and disturbance of the emotions(oriental medically). 5. Cerebral vascular dementia caused by loss of the certain cerebral neurons and oriental medically caused by obstruction of 'dam(痰)' or 'eo heul(瘀血)'. It is recommended that further study of many sided investigations, specially against a weakness of spiritual functions and a certain neurotoxin in the future.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.121-134
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this in vivo study is to observe anti-amnesic effects of Yeongkyekamjotanggayonggolmoryo (YGYM), a novel mixed herbal prescription, Ossis Mastodi and Ostreae Testa added Yeongkyekamjo-tang, on scopolamine induced amnesia in C57BL/6 mice through acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression, and antioxidant effects. Methods: Six groups, total 20 intact or 100 Sco treated mice were used in this study after one week of acclimatization period. Half the animals were used for passive avoidance task tests and hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity, and ChAT mRNA expression were measured. The other half was subjected to an underwater maze test and then the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system was measured. Results: In the passive avoidance experiment, there was significant decrease in residence time in the bright room and in the underwater maze test, escape latency to escape from the esophagus significantly increased compared with the normal control group. At the final sacrifice, ACh content and ChAT mRNA expression decreased, AChE activity increased, and cerebral cortical MDA increased GSH content, SOD and CAT activity in Sco control mice, as compared to intact vehicle control mice. However, these Sco treatment-related memory loss through AChE activation destroyed the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system, and was inhibited dose-dependently by 28 days consecutive oral pretreatments of YGYM extracts 500, 250, 125 mg/kg. Conclusions: In the above results, YGYM extract that oral administration of YGYM extracts alleviates the antioxidant defense system, through preservation of ACh mediated by upregulation of ChAT mRNA expression, and increase of AChE inhibition and brain antioxidant defense systems.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2015

This study investigated the anti-amnesic effect of fermented Ganoderma lucidum water extracts (GW) on scopolamine- induced memory impairment in rats. GW were fermented by the lactic acid bacterium Bifidobacterium bifidum (FGWB), followed by Lactobacillus sakei LI033 (FGWBL). To induce amnesia, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats 30 min before the behavioral tests. Step-through latencies of rats treated with primary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWB) and secondary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWBL) were significantly longer than those of rats treated with GW (300 mg/kg) in the retention trial of the multiple trial passive avoidance test. In the Morris water maze task, FGWBL significantly shortened escape latencies in training trials. Furthermore, swimming times within the target zone during the probe trial with FGWBL were significantly higher than the GW and FGWB treatments. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activities were lower in the brains of scopolamine-treated rats treated with FGWBL. These results suggest that FGWBL could be useful to enhance learning memory and cognitive function via cholinergic dysfunction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Panax ginseng Radix herb-acupuncture on c-fos expression in each area of the hippocampus of acutely ethanol-intoxicated rats. Methods : Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley tats were divided into untreated(normal), ethanol-treated(control), Panax ginseng Radix-treated(sample A), ethanol-and Panax gingseng Radix-treated(sample B) groups. Each group was evaluated by the changes of c-fos-positive neurons in each area of the hippocampus by using and image analyzer and microscope. Results : 1. In the CA1 area, the number of c-fos-positive neurons in the control group was diminished compared with the normal group. The number of c-fos-positive neurons in the sample B group had no marked difference from the control group. 2. In the CA2-3 area, the number of c-fos-positive neurons in the control group was diminished compared with the normal group, The number of c-fos-positive neurons in the sample B group was increased compared with the control group. 3. In the Dentate gyrus area, the number of c-fos-positive neurons in the control group was diminished compared with the normal group. The number of c-fos-positive neurons in the sample B group was increased compared with the control group. Conclusions : These results indicate that, c-fos expression in each area of the hippocampus was reduced in ethanol-intoxicated group. Treatment of Panax ginseng Radix herb-acupuncture increased this diminution. Panax ginseng Radix could be able to effect on the prevention of the amnesia and learning disability in alcoholism.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2009

Objectives : Alzheimer's disease(AD) is the most common form of dementia, which is characterized by progressive deterioration of memory and higher cortical functions that ultimately results in total degradation of intellectual and mental activities. Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) has been usually used for the treatment for the deficiency syndrome dementia and amnesia. This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) hot water extract on pathological AD model. Methods : The effects of the Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) hot water extract on cultured spinal cord cells induced by ${\beta}$-amyloid were investigated. The effects of the Nokyongdaebo-tan(Lurongdabutang) hot water extract on the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine were investigated. Results : 1. ${\beta}$-amyloid treatment on cultured spinal cord cells increased both GFAP-staining intensity of astrocytes and caspase 3 immunoreactivity on cultured cells. Then, Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) treatment reduced the labeling intensity for both GFAP and caspase 3 proteins in culture cells. 2. Scopolamine treatment into mice increased levels of GFAP-positive astrocytes and caspase 3-labeled cells of the hippocampal subfields dentate hilar region, CA3 and CA1 area. In vivo administration of Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) attenuated labeling intensity for those two proteins in the same hippocampal areas. Similar effects were observed by the treatment of galanthamine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Conclusions : This experiment shows that the Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) may play a protective role in damaged neural tissues. Since neuronal damage seen in degenerative brains such as AD are largely unknown, the current data may provide possible insight into therapeutic strategies for AD treatments. Nokyongdaebo-tang(Lurongdabutang) might be effective for the prevention and treatment of AD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.556-561
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• 2008

ChongMyeong-Tang (CMT) have been used clinically to treat patient with amnesia and dementia. In addition, CMT have been also used for examinee to improve learning ability in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gagam-ChongMeong-Tang (GCMT) on cognitive dysfunction recovery after ischemic brain injury in rats. Rats were divided into three groups; (1) normal, (2) commercial diet after ischemic brain injury (control), (3) CMT diet after ischemic brain injury (experiment). In our study, we carried out Morris water maze test for cognitive motor behavior test and immunohistochemistry study through the change BDNF in the hippocampus($7^{th},\;14^{th}\;day$). In Morris water maze test, cognitive motor function recovery was significantly increased in the experiment group as compared with control group on $7^{th}\;and\;14^{th}\;day$ day (p<0.01). In immunohistochemistric response of BDNF in the hippocampus, more immune reaction was investigated in the experiment group as compared with control group on $7^{th}\;and\;14^{th}\;day$. Especially more immune reaction was experimented $14^{th}$ day. These results imply that GCMT can play a role in facilitating recovery of cognitive function after ischemic brain injury in rats.