• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.191-198
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• 2018

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Neuroinflammation plays critical role in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the effect of three licorice varieties, Glycyrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and Shinwongam (SW) on a mouse model of inflammation-induced memory and cognitive deficit. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and orally administrated G. uralensis, G. glabra, and SW extract (150 mg/kg/day). SW, a new species of licorice in Korea, was combined with G. uralensis and G. glabra. Behavioral tests, including the T-maze, novel object recognition and Morris water maze, were carried out to assess learning and memory. In addition, the expressions of inflammation-related proteins in brain tissue were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in spatial and objective recognition memory in LPS-induced cognitive impairment group, as measured by the T-maze and novel object recognition test; however, the administration of licorice ameliorated these deficits. In addition, licorice-treated groups exhibited improved learning and memory ability in the Morris water maze. Furthermore, LPS-injected mice had up-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, via activation of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$) pathways in the brain. However, these were attenuated by following administration of the three licorice varieties. Interestingly, the SW-administered group showed greater inhibition of iNOS and TLR4 when compared with the other licorice varieties. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of LPS-induced cognitively impaired mice that were administered licorice, with the greatest effect following SW treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The three licorice varieties ameliorated the inflammation-induced cognitive dysfunction by down-regulating inflammatory proteins and up-regulating BDNF. These results suggest that licorice, in particular SW, could be potential therapeutic agents against cognitive impairment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.173-193
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most representative neurodegenerative disease mainly caused by the excessive production of amyloid beta (Aβ). Several studies on the antioxidant activity and protective effects of Populus tomentiglandulosa (PT) against cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal damage have been reported. Based on this background, the present study investigated the protective effects of PT against cognitive impairment in AD. MATERIALS/METHODS: We orally administered PT (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 14 days in an Aβ_25-35-induced mouse model and conducted behavioral experiments to test cognitive ability. In addition, we evaluated the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and measured the production of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissues. RESULTS: PT treatment improved the space perceptive ability in the T-maze test, object cognitive ability in the novel object recognition test, and spatial learning/long-term memory in the Morris water-maze test. Moreover, the levels of AST and ALT were not significantly different among the groups, indicating that PT did not show liver toxicity. Furthermore, administration of PT significantly inhibited the production of lipid peroxide, NO, and ROS in the brain, liver, and kidney, suggesting that PT protected against oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that administration of PT improved Aβ_25-35-induced cognitive impairment by regulating oxidative stress. Therefore, we propose that PT could be used as a natural agent for AD improvement.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.274-281
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The accumulation of amyloid-${\beta}$ ($A{\beta}$) in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and plays a key role in cognitive dysfunction. Perilla frutescens var. japonica extract (PFE) and its major compound, rosmarinic acid (RA), have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. We investigated whether administration of PFE and RA contributes to cognitive improvement in an $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male ICR mice were intracerebroventricularly injected with aggregated $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ to induce AD. $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected mice were fed PFE (50 mg/kg/day) or RA (0.25 mg/kg/day) for 14 days and examined for learning and memory ability through the T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze test. RESULTS: Our present study demonstrated that PFE and RA administration significantly enhanced cognition function and object discrimination, which were impaired by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$, in the T-maze and object recognition tests, respectively. In addition, oral administration of PFE and RA decreased the time to reach the platform and increased the number of crossings over the removed platform when compared with the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced control group in the Morris water maze test. Furthermore, PFE and RA significantly decreased the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain, kidney, and liver. In particular, PFE markedly attenuated oxidative stress by inhibiting production of NO and MDA in the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-injected mouse brain. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PFE and its active compound RA have beneficial effects on cognitive improvement and may help prevent AD induced by $A{\beta}$.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.464-478
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic alcohol consumption causes oxidative stress in the body, which may accumulate excessively and cause a decline in memory; problem-solving, learning, and exercise abilities; and permanent damage to brain structure and function. Consequently, chronic alcohol consumption can cause alcohol-related diseases. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, the protective effects of Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz (PE) against alcohol-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment were evaluated using a mouse model. Alcohol (16%, 5 g/kg/day for 6 weeks) and PE (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days) were administered intragastrically to mice. RESULTS: PE showed a protective effect against memory deficits and cognitive dysfunction caused by alcohol consumption, confirmed through behavioral tests such as the T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze tests. Additionally, PE attenuated oxidative stress by reducing lipid oxidation, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species levels in the mice's brains, livers, and kidneys. Improvement of neurotrophic factors and downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins were confirmed in the brains of mice fed low and medium concentrations of PE. Additionally, expression of antioxidant enzyme-related proteins GPx-1 and SOD-1 was enhanced in the liver of PE-treated mice, related to their inhibitory effect on oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: This suggests that PE has both neuroregenerative and antioxidant effects. Collectively, these behavioral and histological results confirmed that PE could improve alcohol-induced cognitive deficits through brain neurotrophic and apoptosis protection and modulation of oxidative stress.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.249-258
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• 2017

To examine the effect of biflorin, a component of Syzygium aromaticum, on memory deficit, we introduced a scopolamine-induced cognitive deficit mouse model. A single administration of biflorin increased latency time in the passive avoidance task, ameliorated alternation behavior in the Y-maze, and increased exploration time in the Morris water maze task, indicating the improvement of cognitive behaviors against cholinergic dysfunction. The biflorin-induced reverse of latency in the scopolamine-treated group was attenuated by MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist. Biflorin also enhanced cognitive function in a naïve mouse model. To understand the mechanism of biflorin for memory amelioration, we performed Western blot. Biflorin increased the activation of protein kinase C-${\zeta}$ and its downstream signaling molecules in the hippocampus. These results suggest that biflorin ameliorates drug-induced memory impairment by modulation of protein kinase C-${\zeta}$ signaling in mice, implying that biflorin could function as a possible therapeutic agent for the treatment of cognitive problems.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.49-78
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Korean Medicine Therapy (KMT) for the treatment of Chemotherapy-induced Cognitive Impairment (CICI) through systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as proceeding research to further research the efficacy of KMT for CICI patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). The RCTs on the efficacy of KMT for treatment of CICI were searched by structured search strategies in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, CAJD, KISS, NDSL, KoreaMed, and OASIS. The searched RCTs were screened by inclusion and exclusion criteria. We evaluated the quality of the method in the included studies using the Jadad score and Cochran ROB tool. The efficacy outcomes were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Clinical total Effective Rate (CER) of CICI. They were analyzed using mean difference for continuous variable or Relative Risk (RR) for Dichotomous variable in the random-effect model. The RevMan 5.3 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: We included 19 RCTs, including 653 participants, in the systematic review and meta-analysis. There were favorable results for the KMT group after the intervention compared with the pharmacotherapy group, physiotherapy group, and combined treatment group. KMT group showed improvement using CER and VAS compared with exercises, but their heterogeneities were slightly significant. KMT was more effective compared to the Rehabilitation program in CER and the subgroup analysis results showed that KMT had a significant difference compared to other therapies in VAS, to Medication therapy in CER. Conclusions: KMT presented reasonable evidence on improving the Clinical total Effective Rate and Visual Analogue Scale in CICI patients. However, further evaluation in future research is required.

• 약학회지
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.442-452
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• 1993

Previous experimental and clinical investigations suggest a possible role of new nootropic drug, oxiracetam, in improving cognitive performances in patients affected by organic brain syndrome. In this study, the cognitive and behavioral effects of oxiracetam treatment in patients with clinical symptoms of organic brain syndrome were evaluated. Sixty-six patients were enrolled and assigned to either oxiracetam or placebo, according to a randomized, double-blind design between two patient-groups. Either oxiracetam or placebo was orally given bid for 8 weeks ; daily dose of oxiracetam was 1600mg. All the patients, enrolled in this study, were diagnosed as having mild to moderate cognitive dysfunction as defined by a baseline Mini Mental State ExaminationKorean version (MMSE-K) score between 14 and 25. The patients under-went, at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after, routine laboratory study (CBC, SMA12, U/A, EKG) and the following neuropsychological tests ; MMSE-K, modified Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale(MKWIS), Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric patients(NOSGER). Fifteen patients of whom were dropped out or excluded from the analysis because of poor compliance or violation of the protocol. Fiftyone patients (aged 54~78 years, male 25, female 26) were analyzed (vascular dementia, 30 ; senile dementia of Alzheimer type, 9 ; mixed type, 5 ; other cause, 7). Statistical analysis of the data demonstrated that the two groups were comparable at baseline. At the end of each study period the oxiracetam group scored significantly better on the majority of the tests evaluating cognitive function, psychometricity and the improvement rating scale of subjective symptoms than placebo group, in which worsening trends or no changes were seen on the whole. No side effects were noted during oxiracetam treatment. The present study, showing positive clinical findings after oxiracetam therapy, confirmed that this drug can be useful pharmacological treatment in organic brain syndrome.

• 재활치료과학
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.39-52
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• 2021

목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 기억력 장애를 가진 성인 환자를 대상으로 기억력 향상을 위한 작업치료 중재를 수행한 단일대상연구의 특성을 확인하고 질적 수준을 알아보는 것이다. 연구방법 : 본 연구는 2011년부터 2020년까지 기억력 향상 작업치료 중재 연구 중 단일대상연구 설계를 적용한 총 6편의 논문을 분석한 문헌연구로, 연구내용에 대한 일반적 특성 및 연구방법의 질적 수준을 분석하였다. 결과 : 분석대상의 질적 수준은 66.7%(4편)가 중간 수준이었고 33.3%(2편)는 높은 수준이었으며, 낮은 수준의 연구는 없었다. 단일대상연구 설계 유형은 모두 반전설계로 ABA가 가장 많았다. 대상자는 뇌졸중, 치매, 경도인지장애 환자였으며, 대상자 수는 1~3명이었다. 독립변수는 오차배제훈련, 어플리케이션 활용 중재, 전산화인지훈련, 시간차회상훈련이었다. 종속변수는 공통변수인 기억력과 함께 집중력, 뇌파변화, 수단적 일상생활활동 및 우울이었다. 중재시간은 30~40분, 중재회기는 6~15회기였으며, 총 연구기간은 3~8주로 다양하였다. 중재 결과 모든 연구에서 중재 후 종속변수가 향상된 것으로 보고되었다. 결론 : 기억력훈련에 대한 단일대상연구 적용 작업치료 중재 연구들은 모두 중간 이상의 질적 수준을 보여 임상에서 적용 시 근거기반자료로 의의가 있으며, 기억력 향상에 효과적인 연구들이라는 것을 확인하였다.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.517-527
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• 2022

본 연구의 목적은 치매, 경도인지장애, 허혈성 뇌졸중 환자의 인지기능, 우울과 일상생활수행능력의 변화를 비교하고 도구적 일상생활수행능력의 변화를 설명하는 요인을 확인하기 위함이다. 총 86명(치매=30명, 경도인지장애=32명, 허혈성 뇌졸중=24명)으로부터 진단 시점과 1년 뒤에 인지기능, 우울, 기본적 및 도구적 일상생활수행능력 자료를 수집하여 분석하였다. 반복측정분산분석과 다중회귀분석을 이용하였다. 집행기능(p=.037)과 도구적 일상생활수행능력(p=.023)에서 측정 시점에 따른 집단 간 교호작용이 유의한 것으로 확인되었다. 경도인지장애 집단은 진단 후 1년 동안 집행기능과 도구적 일상생활수행능력의 변화가 거의 없었으나, 시간이 지남에 따라 치매 집단에서는 감소하는 양상이 나타났고 허혈성 뇌졸중 집단에서는 향상되는 양상을 나타냈다. 또한, 집행기능이 저하될수록(p=.030), 기본적 일상생활수행능력이 저하될수록(p<.001) 도구적 일상생활수행능력도 저하되는 것으로 확인되었으며 설명력은 26.9%였다. 이러한 결과는 인지변화를 주요 증상으로 가지는 치매, 경도인지장애, 허혈성 뇌졸중 환자에서 진단 후 1년까지 질병의 초기 단계에 각기 다른 집행기능 변화 양상이 나타났으며, 이로 인해 도구적 일상생활수행능력 변화 양상이 다른 것으로 보인다. 보건의료전문가는 진단 직후부터 집행기능과 도구적 일상생활수행능력 문제를 정기적으로 평가하고 이와 관련된 기능 상태를 유지 및 증진하기 위한 중재를 제공해야 할 것이다.

• 약학회지
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.384-393
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• 2008

We examined the effect of green tea extract (GTE) and L-theanine combination on the $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-induced memory dysfunction. GTE and combination were administrated into mice for 3 weeks followed by injection of $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ to induce memory impairment. GTE and L-theanine administration significantly improved cognitive ability and reduced $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ level accompanied with the inhibition of neuronal cell death and activities of secretase. These results suggest that GTE and L-theanine combination may be a useful for preventing for the development or progression of Alzheimer's disease.