• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.441-446
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• 2013

In the present study, the anti-depressant like effect of methyl gallate (MG) isolated from the stem bark of Acer barbinerve was examined in ICR mice. Body weight (BDW) and blood glucose (BDG) levels significantly decreased in the repeated restraint stress (RRS) group (2 h/day for 14 days) compared to the no stress (NS) group. To examine the effect of MG on RS-induced BDW loss and hypoglycemia, MG (10 mg/kg) and the anti-depressant fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) were administered daily for 14 days. Orally administered MG and fluoxetine significantly attenuated the RS-induced BDW loss and hypoglycemia. Interestingly, MG administered mice showed increased BDG levels in the normal and glucose feeding condition. Chronic RS-subjected mice showed immobilized and depressed behaviors. The effect of MG on the depressed behaviors was evaluated using the tail-suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST). In both tests, RS-induced immobilized behaviors were significantly reversed in MG and fluoxetine administered groups. Taken together, MG significantly attenuated the RS-induced BDW loss, hypoglycemia, and depressed behaviors. Considering that decreased BDG levels (hypoglycemia) can cause depression, MG may exert its anti-depressant like effect by preventing hypoglycemia. Our results suggest that MG isolated from A. barbinerve can exert anti-depressant like effect, and could be used as a new and natural anti-depressant therapy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2018

Objectives: To experimentally assess the anti-depressant effects of Gammakdaejo-tang Complex Extracts (GMDJ-Tang) in rats. Methods: Twenty Wistar Hannover (160~170 g) stressed rats were treated with different concentrations of GMDJ-Tang extracts i.e., 0, 62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. Chronic mild stress was induced by food deprivation, empty bottles, forced swimming, flickered light, tilt cages, shaking cages, high density breeding, water deprivation, and by soaking the litter cover according to fixed schedule. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Tests included serotonin and ELISA assays. Results: GMDJ-tang increased the weight of treated rats as well as levels of serotonin, BDNF and TrkB; however, the differences were not significant. In contrast, the extracts significantly decreased blood glucose in stressed rats. GMDJ-tang extracts did not significantly impact Serum AST, ALT, leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes when comparing treatment groups to control rats. Likewise, hemoglobin, hematocrit and PLT increased in treatment groups following treatment with GMDJ-tang, but this change was without significance. Conclusions: These results suggest that GMDJ-tang can alleviate chronic mild stress in rats, possibly through anti-depressant activity.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.49-64
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• 2009

Objectives : The water and methanol extracts of Aconitum carmichaeli(Aconiti Tuber Preparat) were investigated for their anti-depressant effects. Methods : In this study, reserpine-induced hypothermia test, tail suspension test and hot plate test. Additionally, the brain monoamine oxidase activity was determined in vivo. Results: In the reserpine-induced hypothermia test, both extracts suppressed the fall of body temperature compared to the control group in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the inhibition on hypothermia. In the tail suspension test, the methanol extract dose-dependently reduced the duration of immobility by 28.4% at a dose of 1 g/kg compared to control group, which is more effective than the water extract. In the hot plate test, the water extract and methanol extract increased the jump latency time compared to the control group, showing the inhibition rate of 198% and 182%, respectively, at a dose of 1 g/kg. Methanol extracts potently inhibited the brain monoamine oxidase activity in an in vivo assay compared to the control group, showing 84.6% inhibition, but the water extract revealed very weak activity. Conclusions : Above results suggested that the extract of Aconitum carmichaeli can be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.191-197
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-depressant effect of Chilbokum on rats under the forced swimming test (FST) Methods : The rats were treated with the herbal extract, Chilbokum. In order to induce depression-like symptoms, the FST was conducted afterwards. The immobility time was measured during a 5-min experimental session. The alterations of the 5-HT level in the hypothalamus and hippocampus and the change of corticosterone level in the blood induced by FST were determined in the rats. Results : The results were as follows: 1. The immobility time during 5 min of FST in the drug administration group showed significant decreases compared with the control group (p<0.05). 2. The FST+Chilbokum group had significantly increased 5-HT levels of the hypothalamus and hippocampus, compared with the control group (p<0.05, respectively). 3. The FST+Chilbokum group had significantly decreased corticosterone levels, compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions : These results demonstrate that the reduced immobility time by Chilbokum may be mediated by the increase in 5-HT level in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, suggesting that Chilbokum has a potential therapeutic efficacy for human depression.

• CELLMED
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.4
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• 2017

Sogeunjung-tang (S-tang) is a traditional Korean medicine that has been used for the therapy of anxiety disorder in a variety of clinical situations. However, no study has investigated this effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of S-tang for reducing depression in animal model. The anti-depressant effect of S-tang was investigated in ICR mice by using forced swimming test (FST). After FST, we analyzed the blood biochemical parameters from blood. The immobility time was significantly decreased in the S-tang oral administration or pharmaceutical acupuncture group compared with the control group at 14 days (p < 0.05). The anti-depressant effect of S-tang was higher than that of fluoxetine (a classical anti-depressant). S-tang or fluoxetine significantly decreased the creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase level compared with the control group (p < 0.05) but not glucose, protein, and blood urea nitrogen level. Further investigation of S-tang as a potential pharmacologic agent in the management of depression related anxiety is warranted.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.508-516
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• 2007

Thymus magnus is an endemic (Ulleung Island) species in Korea. This plant is used as diaphoretics and carminatives in traditional medicine. In the literature, few scientific assays were realized on this species, such as antibiotic (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and S. typhimurium) and antifungal activities. In order to clarify whether essential oil of T. magnus have pharmacological effects, anti-inflammatory, sedative, anti-depressant, analgesic, and sleep-prolonged effects were investigated using animal models. From this study, the following conclusions were attained; 1) Essential oil of T. magnus did not show any acute toxicity on mice when orally administered at the dose of 2-3 g/kg body weight. 2) Essential oil of T. magnus possessed strong anti-inflammatory activity, similar to that of a positive control prednisolone. 3) Essential oil of T. magnus had excellent analgesic activity, comparable to that of aspirin. 4) The essential oil of T. magnus possessed strong sleep-prolonged effect on pentobarbital induced-sleep test in mice model. 5) In the hot plate test, the essential oil of T. magnus had moderate effect. 6) And the essential oil of T. magnus had no significant effects in forced-swimming test and open-field test.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.245-245
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• 2005

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.365-369
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• 2014

Cedrus deodara (Pinaceae) has been used traditionally in Ayurveda for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. 3,4-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)furan-2,5-dione (BDFD) was isolated from heart wood of Cedrus deodara and was shown to have antiepileptic and anxiolytic activity. Thus, the present study was aimed to explore its anti-depressant effect and to correlate the effect with serotonin and nor adrenaline levels of brain. Albino mice were used as experimental animal. Animals were divided in to three groups; vehicle control, imipramine (30 mg/kg i.p.), BDFD (100 mg/kg i.p.). Tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) was performed to evaluate antidepressant effect of BDFD. BDFD (100 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a significant decrease in immobility time when subjected to FST whereas immobility time was not significantly altered in TST. BDFD treatment increased serotonin and noradrenaline levels in the brain which is indicative of BDFD having possible atypical antidepressant action.

• Plant Resources
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.210-213
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• 2002

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Epimedium brevicornum Herba extract on the treatment of chromaticity and colorfastness. Epimedium brevicornum Herba has been used as a Korean medicine. It is effective in sexual excitement, depressant of blood pressure and anti-virus. It is also good as a tonic and in treating involuntary emission of semen. In the long history of Korea, dyeing has been applied for a means representing the grace of natural and inner esthetic consciousness of man. Vegetable dyes give us such great benefits, diversified color, but no pollution. And ramie fabric has distinctive features such as beautiful brilliance, elegance, and strong durability. So, it is regarded as a special product of Korea traditionally. These studies were carried out to treat with acetate iron, dichloride copper and alum with a mordant to ramie fabric. The ramie fabric was died with Epimedium brevicornum Herba extract. The results of experiment showed as follows: First, the chromophoric degree was the highest in acetate iron but not distinction in another mordants. Second, the light colorfastness was the highest in non treated and dichloride copper, but alum was the lowest. Third, the discoloration was alum and dichloride copper showed first grade in washing colorfastness. Abrasion colorfastness was not significant in this test. According the previous results, Epimedium brevicornum Herba has an efficiency in sexual excitement, depressant of blood pressure and anti-virus. So it is considered that Epimedium brevicornum Herba can be applied effectively to tonic and in treating involuntary emission of semen.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2011

To search a new anti-depressant agents against para-chloroamphetamine-induced excitation, three dimensional quantitative-structure relationships (3D-QSAR) models between structure of 3a,4-dihydro-3H-[1]-benzopyronao[4,3]isoxazoles (1-30) and thieir inhibitory activity against para-chloroamphetamine-induced excitation were performed and discussed quantitatively using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) methods. From these basis on the findings, the optimized CoMSIA-2F model ($q^2$=0.793 and $r^2$=0.952) showed the best statistical results. And also, it is found that the para-chloroamphetamine inhibitory activity from the optimized CoMSIA-2F model was dependent on steric field (35.2%) and electrostatic field (64.8%) of tricyclic isoxazoles. Particularly, it is predicted that the inhibitory activity against para-chloroamphetamine-induced excitation will be able to increase by the designed compounds from the CoMSIA-2F model.