• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 2018

Bacopa monnieri is a medicinal plant with a long history of use in Ayurveda, especially in the treatment of poor memory and cognitive deficits. In the present study, we hypothesized that Bacopa monnieri extract (BME) can improve memory via increased cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus. BME was administered to 7-week-old mice once a day for 4 weeks and a novel object recognition memory test was performed. Thereafter, the mice were euthanized followed by immunohistochemistry analysis for Ki67, doublecortin (DCX), and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and western blot analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BME-treated mice showed moderate increases in the exploration of new objects when compared with that of familiar objects, leading to a significant higher discrimination index compared with vehicle-treated mice. Ki67 and DCX immunohistochemistry showed a facilitation of cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation following the administration of BME in the dentate gyrus. In addition, administration of BME significantly elevated the BDNF protein expression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and increased CREB phosphorylation in the dentate gyrus. These data suggest that BME improves novel object recognition by increasing the cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus, and this may be closely related to elevated levels of BDNF and CREB phosphorylation in the dentate gyrus.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2002

This study was to investigate generation of the specific neuronal cell in vitro from the neural progenitors derived from human embryonic stem (hES, MB03) cells. For the neural progenitor cell formation, we produced embryoid bodies (EB: for 5 days, without mitogen) from hES cells and then neurospheres (for 7-10 days, 20 ng/㎖ of bFGF added N2 medium) from EB. And then for the differentiation into neuronal cells, neural progenitor cells were cultured in N2 medium (without bFGF) supplemented with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, 5 ng/㎖) or platelet derived growth factor-bb (pDGF-bb, 20ng/㎖) for 2 weeks. (omitted)

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2011

Objectives : Sokmyeung-tang(SMT) has been used for treatment of CVA in traditional oriental medicine, so this study was designed to evaluate the effect of SMT's protection on brain cell damage against the oxidative stress that was affected by CVA, We also investigated the effect of motor function improvement and neurotrophic factor in ischemic cerebral damaged rats. Methods : We measured cell viability after administrating SMT, chemicals(Paraquat, SNP, rotenone, and $H_2O_2$) which cause oxidative stress, and both SMT and chemicals. We carried out neurobehavioral evaluation(Rotarod test, Beam-walking test, postural reflex test) and observed BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression by injecting SMT into ischemic cerebral damaged rat. Results : Through this study, we observed the following three results. First, brain cell death caused by paraquat, rotenone, and $H_2O_2$ significantly decreased with the treatment of SMT. Second, neuronal movement function in ischemic cerebral damaged rats was significantly improved by the treatment of SMT. Third, BDNF in ischemic cerebral damaged rats increased with the treatment of SMT. Conclusions : SMT protects brain cells from damage induced by oxidative stress (Paraquat, rotenone, $H_2O_2$). SMT also improves neuronal movement function and increases BDNF in ischemic cerebral damaged rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2012

We examine whether Phellodendron amurense (PA) and its major alkaloid compound, berberine (BER), improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine in rats. Effects of PA and BER on the acetylcholinergic system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses for 14 days of PA (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and BER (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). Daily administration of PA and BER improved memory impairment as measured by the passive avoidance test and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze test. Administration of PA and BER significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and restored brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cAMP-response element-binding protein mRNA expression in the hippocampus. PA and BER also decreased significantly the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in the hippocampus. These results demonstrated that PA and BER had significant neuroprotective effects against neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that PA and BER may be useful as therapeutic agents for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activity and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2014

We investigated the anxiolytic-like activity of ${\alpha}$-asarone (AAS) from Acorus gramineus in an experimental rat model of anxiety induced by repeated administration of the exogenous stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). The putative anxiolytic effect of AAS was studied in behavioral tests of anxiety, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and the hole-board test (HBT) in rats. For 21 consecutive days, male rats received 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg AAS (i.p.) 30 min prior to a daily injection of CORT. Dysregulation of the HPA axis in response to the repeated CORT injections was confirmed by measuring serum levels of CORT and the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. Daily AAS (200 mg/kg) administration increased open-arm exploration significantly in the EPM test, and it increased the duration of head dipping activity in the HBT. It also blocked the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and decreased mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, TrkB, in the hippocampus. These results indicated that the administration of AAS prior to high-dose exogenous CORT significantly improved anxiety-like behaviors, which are associated with modification of the central noradrenergic system and with BDNF function in rats. The current finding may improve understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for changes in emotions induced by repeated administration of high doses of CORT or by elevated levels of hormones associated with chronic stress. Thus, AAS did exhibit an anxiolytic-like effects in animal models of anxiety.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2022

Objectives: Gastrodia elata (GE) has been used to treat cognition impairment, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GE water extracts (GEE) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AD model in mice. (Aβ). Methods: We classified six groups as follow; group 1: control (CON), group 2: LPS (0.5 mg/kg/day, four times), group 3: 4 mg/kg donepezil (DP), group 4: 100 mg/kg GEE+LPS, group 5: 200 mg/kg GEE+LPS, group 6: 500 mg/kg GEE+LPS. Results: We found that GEE has an effect that inhibits decrease of discrimination index in object recognition test, as well as spontaneous alteration in the Y-maze test by LPS. Treatment with LPS increased amlyloid-β (Aβ) concentration, and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cerebral cortex of mice. However, GEE significantly protected against LPS-induced Aβ and BDNF changes. Our findings also showed that the inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] mRNA and protein were up-regulated by the LPS injection. But GEE significantly suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines increase in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: This study suggests that the GEE may be an effective AD therapeutic agent, in treating neurodegenerative diseases including AD.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.165.1-165
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.91-91
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• 2019

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2004

Objective: This study was to examine the in vitro neural cell differentiation patterns of human embryonic stem (hES) cells following treatment of various neurotrophic factors [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), retinoic acid (RA), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-$\alpha$], particulary in dopaminergic neuron formation. Methods: The hES cells were induced to differentiate by bFGF and RA. Group I) In bFGF induction method, embryoid bodies (EBs, for 4 days) derived from hES were plated onto gelatin dish, selected for 8 days in ITSFn medium and expanded at the presence of bFGF (10 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14 and 21 days. Group II) For RA induction, EBs were exposed of RA ($10^{-6}M$) for 4 days and allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14 and 21 days. Group III) To examine the effects of additional neurotrophic factors, bFGF or RA induced cells were exposed to either BDNF (10 ng/ml) or TGF-$\alpha$ (10 ng/ml) during the 21 days of final differentiation. Neuron differentiation and dopamine secretion were examined by indirect immunocytochemistry and HPLC, respectively. Results: The bFGF or RA treated hES cells were resulted in similar neural cell differentiation patterns at the terminal differentiation stage, specifically, 75% neurons and 11% glial cells. Additionally, treatment of hES cells with BDNF or TGF-$\alpha$ during the terminal differentiation stage led to significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression of a dopaminergic neuron marker, compared to control (p<0.05). In contrast, no effect was observed on the rate of mature neuron (NF-200) or glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive neurons. Immunocytochemistry and HPLC analyses revealed the higher levels of TH expression (20.3%) and dopamine secretion (265.5 $\pm$ 62.8 pmol/mg) in bFGF and TGF-sequentially treated hES cells than those in $\alpha$ RA or BDNF treated hES cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that the generation of dopamine secretory neurons from in vitro differentiated hES cells can be improved by TGF-$\alpha$ addition in the bFGF induction protocol.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2015

${\beta}$-asarone (BAS) is an active component of Acori graminei rhizoma, a traditional medicine used clinically in treating dementia and chronic stress in Korea. However, the cognitive effects of BAS and its mechanism of action have remained elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine whether BAS improved spatial cognitive impairment induced in rats following chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration. CORT administration (40 mg/kg, i.p., 21 days) resulted in cognitive impairment in the avoidance conditioning test (AAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test that was reversed by BAS (200 mg/kg, i.p). Additionally, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis, the administration of BAS significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) proteins and mRNAs in the hippocampus. Also, BAS administration significantly restored the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNAs in the hippocampus. Thus, BAS may be an effective therapeutic for learning and memory disturbances, and its neuroprotective effect was mediated, in part, by normalizing the CORT response, resulting in regulation of BDNF and CREB functions and anti-apoptosis in rats.