• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.498-502
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• 2015

Yukmijihwang-tang (YM) is a well-known prescription to treat kidney inflammation on Korea. However, the effects of YM on maximal exercise performance (MEP) is not-well investigated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of YM on MEP using forced swimming test (FST) model. Mice were largely divided into three group; a non-swimming group, saline treated-swimming load test group, and YM treated-swimming load group. Swimming load test groups were re-divided into swimming control group (Control), YM fed group (YM). YM was administrated orally for 2 weeks before FST. After FST, immobility time, oxygen consumption was measured by physiological test, and serum was collected for biochemical analysis. FST induced MEP identified by increased immobility, oxygen consumption, and biochemical factors. Immobility time was significantly reduced by YM treatment compared with control group. Oxygen consumption was also significantly reduced by YM treatment. The increase on lactic acid and lactate dehydrogenase after FST was inhibited by YM　treatment. In addition, consumption of energy source (free fatty acid, and triglyceride) and recovery of energy was enhanced by YM treatment after FST. In conclusion, YM inhibited the elevation of immobility time, oxygen consumption, and biochemical factors after FST. YM could be used as a beneficial agents to enhance maximal endurance exercise performance and an effective ergogenic aid in exercise training.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2007

Objective : Investigation of the anti-stress effects of Sihosogansan Methods : Passive avoidance test(PAT) was performed after applying immobilization stress in water to rats. Also, forced swimming test(FST) was performed to another rats and after FST, the degree of Tyrosine Hydroxylase(TH) expression was measured with immunohistochemical method in the regions of locus coeruleus(LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Results : In the PAT after immobilization stress in water, response latency was significantly increased in the Sihosogansan(400mg/kg) group in comparison with the control group. In the FST, immobility was significantly decreased in the Sihosogansan groups (100mg/kg, 400mg/kg), comparing with the control group. Stress-induced TH increases were suppressed in the Sihosogansan groups (100mg/kg, 400mg/kg) at the LC and the VTA region respectively. Conclusion : Sihosogansan can improve memory ability of rats, reduce behavior of depression in rats, decrease TH-immunoreactive cells at the LC and VTA region in rat, and it may be concluded that Sihosogansan has significant effect in reducing stress.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.163-173
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to investigative the effect of Gardeniae Fructus (GF)as antidepressant in the forced swimming test(FST) model rats. Methods : The expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and c-fos were measured by immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus(PVN), locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area(VTA). Results : The duration of immobility in FST was significantly decreased in the GF 100mg/kg groups (p<0.05). CRF expression was significantly decreased at PVN in the GF 100 mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group, respectively (p<0.01). c-fos expression was decreased at PVN in the GF 100 mg/kg treated group with no significance. TH expression was significantly decreased in the GF 100 mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group, at LC and VTA respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion : According to the results, it can be considered that Gardeniae Fructus has antidepressant effect by showing the reduction of immobility in FST through the reduction of CRF, TH expression.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2007

Objectives : Investigation of the anitstress effects of Lycii Radicis Cortex. Methods : Behavior was measured in PAT and FST after applying stress to rats. Also, TH expression-degree in the regions of VTA and LC was measured, respectively. Results : The memory was improved in the LH 50mg/kg treated group in the passive avoidance test(P<0.01). The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the LR 50mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated groups(P<0.0l). Stress-induced TH increases were meaningfully suppressed in the LR 100mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group(P<0.001). Conclusion : Lycii Radicis Cortes has the effect of memory improving and antidepressant.

• 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.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2009

Objectives : The investigation of the antidepressant effects of Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium (CR) Methods : we performed the forced swimming test. Also the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) was measured with immunohistochemical method at the Ventral Tegmental area (VTA), Locus coeruleus (LC). The Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) level was measured in plasma. Results: 1. The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the CR 100 mg/kg, CR 400 mg/kg groups, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). 2. TH expressions in the VTA, LC were significantly reduced in the CR 100mg/kg and CR 400mg/kg treated group, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). 3. ACTH expression in plama was significantly reduced in the CR 100 mg/kg treated group, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions : According to the above results, it can be considered that Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium has antidepressant effect through the reduction of TH expression at VTA, LC and ACTH level in plasma.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2013

Rodents exposed to a 15-min pretest swim in the forced swimming test (FST) exhibit prolonged immobility in a subsequent 5-min test swim, and antidepressant treatment before the test swim reduces immobility. At present, neuronal circuits recruited by antidepressant before the test swim remain unclear, and also less is known about whether antidepressants with different mechanisms of action could influence neural circuits differentially. To reveal the neural circuits associated with antidepressant effect in the FST, we injected desipramine or citalopram 0.5 h, 19 h, and 23 h after the pretest swim and observed changes in c-Fos expression in rats before the test swim, namely 24 h after the pretest swim. Desipramine treatment alone in the absence of pretest swim was without effect, whereas citalopram treatment alone significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, where this pattern of increase appears to be maintained after the pretest swim. Both desipramine and citalopram treatment after the pretest swim significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the ventral lateral septum and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray before the test swim. These results suggest that citalopram may affect c-Fos expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis distinctively and raise the possibility that upregulation of c-Fos in the ventral lateral septum and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray before the test swim may be one of the probable common mechanisms underlying antidepressant effect in the FST.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 2010

Objectives : In order to investigate the antidepressant effects of Forsythiae Fructus(FF), we performed the Forced Swimming Test(FST). Also the expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) were measured by immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus(PVN), ventral tegmental area(VTA) and locus coeruleus(LC). Methods : Spraque-Dawley rats were administered FF extract(100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) intragastrically three times prior to the FST. Results : The duration of immobility in the FST was significantly decreased in the FF 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.05). The expression of CRF was significantly reduced in the FF 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.001). c-Fos expression was significantly decreased at PVN in the FF 100 mg/kg group(p=0.069). TH expression at VTA was significantly increased in the FF 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.05). TH expression at LC was not significantly changed(p=0.346). Conclusion : According to the results, it can be suggested that Forsythiae Fructus has antidepressant effect via the decreased immobility through the reduction of CRF and c-Fos expression at PVN.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1053-1058
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• 2010

Glycyrrhizae radix (GR) is an herbal medicine commonly used in East Asia for treating a variety of diseases, including stomach disorders. In this study, the antidepressant-like activity of GR was investigated using the forced swimming test (FST) in rats. After the FST, the expression of c-Fos and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) was assessed by immunochemistry of brain samples from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). The results of the FST showed that a high dose (400 mg/kg) of extract was very effective in reducing immobility(P<0.01), and increased climbing. In addition, treatment with GR (400 mg/kg) significantly decreased the expression of c-Fos and CRF in the PVN, compared to controls. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrated that GR effectively reduced behavioral and physiological depression responses in an animal model of depression, suggesting that GR might be useful in the treatment of clinical depression.