• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2008

In the present study, we assessed the effects of white ginseng and red ginseng extract on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. The cognition-enhancing effect of ginseng extracts was investigated using the Morris water maze and Y-maze test. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor. Tacrine was used a positive control. Ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.), tacrine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reduced the escape latency during training in the Morris water maze (p<0.05). At the probe trial session, scopolamine significantly increased the escape latency on day 5 in comparison with control (p<0.01). The effect of ginseng extracts on spontaneous alternation in Y-maze was similar to that of scopolamine treated group. In addition, numbers of arm entries were similar in all experimental groups. Moreover, red ginseng extract significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the cortex and serum (p<0.05). Brain ACh contents of ginseng extract treated groups increased more than that of scopolamine group, which did not show statistically significant. These results suggest that ginseng extract may be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment.

• 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.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.105-119
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• 2006

Objectives & Methods : This present study was performed to investigate the effect of Hwadamtongrak-Tang extract (HTT) on the regulation of cerebral hemodynamics in terms of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP)] in normal and cerebral ischemic rats. Also the effects of HTT on changes in local blood flow, inhibition of LD H activity in neuronal cells, and levels of cytokine production in the serum were determined in the ischemic rat model. The major findings are summarized below. Results : 1. HTT significantly increased rCBF in a dose-dependent manner, but MABP was not changed by HTT treatment. These results suggest that HTT may increase rCBF by dilating cerebral arterial diameter. 2. HTT-induced increase in rCBF was blocked by pretreatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (IDN, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) and MABP was significantly increased by ID N. 3. Pretreatment of methylene blue $(MTB,\;10\;{\mu}g/kg,\;i.p.)$, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, significantly decreased both rCBP and MABP in HTT-treated rats. 4. HTT treatment significantly increased rCBP to a stable level during the period of cerebral reperfusion. 5. HTT significantly inhibited LD H activity in neuronal cells, suggesting a neuroprotection by HTT. 6. Serum interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ levels were significantly decreased in the femoral artery 1 hr after middle cerebral arterial occlusion in HTT-treated rats. IL-10 levels in the serum were significantly increased by HTT treatment whereas transforming growth factor $(TGF)-{\beta}$ levels were similar between HTT-treated and control groups. 7. Serum interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ levels were significantly decreased in the femoral artery 1 hr after reperfusion in HTT-treated rats. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly decreased in HTT-treated rats compared with the control group, and no significant changes in $(TGF)-{\beta}$ in the serum were observed by HTT treatment. Conclusions: The present data suggest that HTT may have an anti-ischemic effect via the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and thus protect the brain from ischemic damage.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2008

Purpose: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a group of proteins that are activated when cells are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses, such as infection, inflammation, exposure to toxins, starvation, hypoxia, brain injury, or water deprivation. The activation of HSPs by environmental stress plays a key role in signal transduction, including cytoprotection, molecular chaperone, anti-apoptotic effect, and anti-aging effects. However, the precise mechanism for the action of small HSPs, such as HSP27 and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs: extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38MAPK, stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), is not completely understood, particularly in application of cell stimulators including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), angiotensin II (AngII), tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ (TNF$\alpha$), and $H_2O_2$. This study examined the relationship between stimulators-induced enzymatic activity of HSP27 and MAPKs from rat smooth and skeletal muscles. Methods: 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionizationtime-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis were used to identify HSP27 from the intact vascular smooth and skeletal muscles. Three isoforms of HSP27 were detected on silver-stained gels of the whole protein extracts from the rat aortic smooth and skeletal muscle strips. Results: The expression of PDGF, AngII, TNF$\alpha$, and $H_2O_2$-induced activation of HSP27, p38MAPK, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK was higher in the smooth muscle cells than the control. SB203580 (30${\mu}$M), a p38MAPK inhibitor, increased the level of HSP27 phosphorylation induced by stimulators in smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, the age-related and starvation-induced activation of HSP27 was higher in skeletal muscle cells (L6 myoblast cell lines) and muscle strips than the control. Conclusion: These results suggest, in part, that the activity of HSP27 and MAPKs affect stressors, such as PDGF, AngII, TNF$\alpha$, $H_2O_2$, and starvation in rat smooth and skeletal muscles. However, more systemic research will be needed into physical therapy, including thermotherapy, electrotherapy, radiotherapy and others.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.655-661
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• 2009

This study investigated the effects of different types of shouting actions on the strength of the human body. Both H-reflex and MVIC measures of the rectus femoris muscle were used to investigate effects on impact force and motor performance, in order to find optimum shouting methods. The H-reflex of the soleus muscle gave an electric stimulus to the curve of the knee that contains the tibial nerves. Surface electromyelography was used to collect muscle activity the amplitude increased 28% at action with shouting and 29% at the one immediately after short-time shouting than the one without shouting was. To assess the myoelectric activity of the rectus femoris, a surface electrode was attached to the right side of the lower extremity and to increase 10% and 1% depending upon shouting type. The findings were as follows. Shouting affected not only motor efficiency (H-reflex), but also the amplitude of MVIC, with a positive effect on increased muscle strength. Further comprehensive studies are needed to investigate the many variables of increased muscle strength for general purposes, for instance, shouting and breathing, brain waves, and so on.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1996

Dopamine transporter concentrations have been known to decrease in Parkinson's disease (PD) or increase in Tourette's disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of [I-123]N-(3-iodopropene-2-yl)-$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane (IPT) as an imaging agent for measuring changes in transporter concentrations with PD. IPT labelled with 6.69+/-0.64 mCi(247.53+/-23.68 MBq) of I-123 was intravenously injected into ten patients(age: 55+/-11) with PD, and six normal controls(NC)(age: 46+/-14) as a bolus. Dynamic SPECT scans of the brain were then performed for 5 minutes each over 120 minutes on a triple headed camera. Time activity curves were generated for the left basal ganglia(LBG), right basal ganglia(RBC), and occipital cortex(OCC). The statistical parameters included the time to peak activity, the contrast ratio of LBG and RBG to OCC at several time points, and the accumulated specific binding counts/mCi/pixel(ASBC) from 0 to 115 minutes. The uptake of IPT in the brains of PD and NC peaked within 10 minutes of injection in all subjects. The maximum target to background ratio in the basal ganglia of PD and NC occurred at 85+/-20 min and 110+/-6 min of injection, respectively. The BG/OCC ratios at 115 minutes for PD and NC were 2.15+/-0.54 and 4.26+/-0.73, respectively. The ASBC at 115 minutes for PD and NC were 152.91+/-50.09 and 289.51+/-49.00, respectively. The ratio of BG/OCC for the NC was significantly higher than the ratio for PD. SPECT data matched with clinical diagnosis for PDs. The ratio between BG and OCC and the ASBC for PD were clearly separated from NC and may be useful outcome measures for clinical diagnosis. The findings suggest that IPT may be a very useful tracer for early diagnosis of PD and study of dopamine reuptake site.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.373-379
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the anti-amnesic effect of perilla oil against trimethyltin (TMT)-induced learning and memory impairment in ICR mice. Perilla oil (2.5 mL/kg of body weight) and soybean oil (2.5 mL/kg of body weight) were administered orally to mice for 3 weeks, and at the end of the experimental period, cognitive behavior was examined by Y-maze and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Behavioral tests showed that the mice treated with perilla oil had improved cognitive function compared to that in mice administered soybean oil. Analysis of brain tissue showed that perilla oil significantly lowered acetylcholinesterase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Oxidized glutathione (GSH)-to-total GSH ratio also decreased from 10.4% to 5.3% in perilla oil-treated mice, but superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased from 11.7 to 14.2 U/mg protein. Therefore, these results suggest that the perilla oil could be a potential functional substance for improving cognitive function.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2009

This study was conducted to develop a new method for enhancing ginsenoside $Rg_3$, which is abundant in black ginseng. The cognition-enhancing effect of black ginseng extract was investigated via the assay of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Black ginseng I was prepared through the traditional method (by steaming and drying nine times repetitions). Black ginseng II, on the other hand, was prepared by steaming the ginseng three times at $120^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after soaking it in grape juice for 24 h. The ginsenosides of white, red, and black ginseng I, and II were investigated using the HPLC method, respectively. In black ginseng II, the ginsenoside $Rg_3$ contents, which cannot be found in white ginseng, amounted to 10.91 mg/g, approximately 18 times more than that in red ginseng. In the in-vivo study, black ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the AChE activity after 24 h by a single administration in the brain. Thus, the new manufacturing method for black ginseng was found to more effective in the conversion of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ compared to the traditional method. Black ginseng may also have the effect of preventing the cognitive impairment induced by cholinergic dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2006

In order to search the availability of the lectin extracted from Korean mistletoe(Viscum album coloratum) as an adjuvant for the avian vaccines, attempts were made to determine toxicity of the lectin in chicks and its immunostimulating activity on the inactivated vaccines against Newcastle disease virus(NDV). For the determination of toxicity, the lectin was injected into the thigh muscle of SPF chicks(Charles River) of 1-week-old and observed hematologically and pathologically. For the determination of immunostimulating effects, lectin-adjuvanted, inactivated NDV vaccines were injected into the thigh muscle of SPF chicks in the same age group. Sera of the chicks were examined for the hemagglutination-inhibition(HI) antibodies induced, their HI titers and reaction to the NDV antigens. The data were further compared with those from aluminum hydroxide [$Al(OH)_3$]-adjuvanted vaccines and vaccines without adjuvant, and the results are as follows. There were no significant changes observed in the values of RBC, WBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine and total proteins in the chicks administered with lectin of 1.1, 2.2 and $22.2{\mu}g/kg$ body weight, which means the lectin has no effects on blood values and functions of liver and kidney. In histopathologic observation, no lesions were observed in the brain, heart, liver, lung, spleen, kidney, thymus and bursa of Fabricius of the chicks administered with lectin of 1.1, 2.2 and $22.2{\mu}g/kg$ body weight. There were inflammatory lesions, such as congestion, hemorrhage, edema, infiltration of macrophages and coagulation necrosis observed in the thigh muscle of chicks administered with lectin of $22.2{\mu}g/kg$ body weight, whereas no changes were observed in 1.1 and $22.2{\mu}g/kg$ lectin administered chicks. In chicks immunized with lectin($4.4{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight)-adjuvanted B1, LaSota and Ulster 2C vaccines, HI titers in reciprocal values for $log_2$ were 1.8-2.2 at 1 week after vaccination, which was similar with those of 1.5-2.9 by $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccines. The HI titers by the lectin-adjuvanted vaccines reached to 3.9-5.3 at 4 weeks, whereas those by the $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccines were more high as 7.3-9.3. Meanwhile, the immunostimulating effects of the lectin were recognized while compared to the HI titers with 2.4-3.7 in chicks immunized with vaccines without adjuvants at 4 weeks after vaccination. The chicks immunized with lectin-adjuvanted vaccines were enough to resist challenges by Kyojeongwon strain, a very virulent NDV at 4 weeks after vaccination as well as chicks immunized with $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccines. The HI titers by the lectin-adjuvanted vaccines reached to high level as 8.7-10.3 as those with 8.2-9.6 by the $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccines at 6 weeks after vaccination, which may be the booster effects by the challenge virus. Antibodies specific to the HN and F antigens of NDV were observed in the sera of both chicks immunized with lectin-adjuvanted vaccines and $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccines.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.68-72
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• 1999

The cytotoxicity of 1,3-diphenylpropenone derivatives known to inhibit the farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase) was examined against various established tumor cell line, A549 (lung cancer), SKMEL-2 (uterine cancer), HCT-15 (skin cancer), SKOV-3 (brain cancer) and XF-498 (colon cancer) of the 1,3-diphenylpropenone derivatives showing farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase) inhibition activity. And the structure-activity relationship (SAR) between structure of 1,3-diphenylpropenone derivatives as substrate and cytotoxicity was investigated by Free-Wilson analysis as well as Hansch method with tumor cell lines. From the result of Free-Wilson analyses, X-substituents on the benzoyl group have a more important role than Y-substituents on the styryl group. The 2,4-dichloro substituent, 15 and 2,4-dimethyl substituent, 16 showed the highest cytotoxicity (average pI_(50)=5.0). Particulary, the cytotoxicity of X-substituents increased with electronic effect $({\sigma})$ due to weak electron withdrawing group with optimum value $({\sigma}_{opt}=0.22{\sim}0.29})$ whereas that of Y-substituent resulted from various factors such as logP, $B_1$ and R constant.