• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.125-144
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the fraction of Korean mountain ginseng folium (FKG) on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods: The memory ameliorating effect of FKG was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Y-maze test, and the Morris water maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine(1mg/kg, i.p.). Results: FKG (2 or 4mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice by the passive avoidance test and the Y-maze test(P<0.05), and also improved escape latency in the Morris water maze test at 2 or 4mg/kg(P<0.05). Although FKG has little inhibitory activity for AChE (IC50 value; 1847 ${\mu}g/ml$) in an invitro study, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(pERK) was increased by the administration of FKG inhippocampus on immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: These results suggest that FKG may be a useful cognitive impairment treatment, and its beneficial effects are mediated, in part, via activation of ERK pathway.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Radix Curcumae on the animal model of depression induced immobilization stress. Method : 1) Male rats were used for this experiment. The subject were divided into 4 groups(1. normal 2. saline solution administered during immobilization stress treatment 3. Radix Curcumae of l00mg/kg administered 4. Radix Curcumae of 400mg/kg administered). 2) Immobilization stress was treated for 1 hours on day. During 2 days of immobilization stress treatment, they were executed forced swimming test, passive avoidance test, elevated plus maze test. Corticosterone in blood were measured. Results : 1) In EPM test, stress group showed significantly increased anxiety, Radix Curcumae of 400mg/kg group showed significantly decreased anxiety. 2) In forced swimming test, Radix Curcumae of 400mg/kg group showed significantly decreased immobilization. 3) In passive avoidance test, stress group showed significantly decreased learning execution, Radix Curcumae groups showed significantly increased learning execution. 4) Stress group showed significantly increase in serum level of corticosterone, Radix Curcumae of 400mg/kg group showed significantly decreased serum level of corticosterone. Conclusion : These results suggest that Radix Curcumae is effective in the treatment of depression.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.3 s.138
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• pp.239-243
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• 2004

The ameliorating effect of the MeOH extract of the root of Platycodon grandiflorum on the ethanol-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice was investigated. The total MeOH extract was devided into two fractions, saponin rich fraction and non-saponin fraction. The mice with repeated administration of the total MeOH extract and those with saponin rich fraction both showed a markedly prolongεd latency time upon the step-through test (passive avoidance performance) performed after acute ethanol intoxication, while those with non-saponin rich fraction did not. The results suggest that the extracts from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum exert a beneficial effect on ethanol-induced memory impairment in mice and also suggest that these effects of the extracts might be ascribed to the saponin constituents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2014

Cognitive impairment is a result of dementia of diverse causes, such as cholinergic dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. It has biological activities including protective effects against amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) toxicity, via regulation of calcium homeostasis, in rat hippocampal cells. To extend previous reports, we investigated the effects of water extracts of H. cordata herb (HCW) on tauopathies, also involving calcium influx. We then confirmed the effects of HCW in improving memory impairment and neuronal damage in mice with Ab-induced neurotoxicity. We also investigated the effects of HCW against scopolamine-induced cholinergic dysfunction in mice. In primary neuronal cells, HCW inhibited the phosphorylation of tau by regulating p25/p35 expression in $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity. In mice with $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity, HCW improved cognitive impairment, as assessed with behavioral tasks, such as novel object recognition, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tasks. HCW also inhibited the degeneration of neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in Ab-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, HCW, which had an $IC_{50}$ value of $79.7{\mu}g/ml$ for acetylcholinesterase inhibition, ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment significantly in Y-maze and passive avoidance tasks. These results indicate that HCW improved cognitive impairment, due to cholinergic dysfunction, with inhibitory effects against tauopathies and cholinergic antagonists, suggesting that HCW may be an interesting candidate to investigate for the treatment of AD.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was aimed to find out the anti-stress and protective-memory effect of Quibitanggagam(QBT) on stress of rats Methods : This experimental study was conducted with elevated plus maze test, passive avoidance test, morris water maze test, and consequently density of AchE reactivity in the CA1 of hippocampus to research the learning and memory of rats affected by restraint stress, Results: Passive avoidance test revealed that time latency of retention test for QBT+Stress group significantly decreased on 2, 3rd day. Morris water maze revealed that acqusitive ability of QBT+Stress group significantly improved on 2, 3rd day and retentive ability of QBT+Stress group was significantly improved on 7th day. Elevated plus maze test revealed that latency in open arm of QBT+Stress group significantly decreased and locomotor activity(number of entered arm) of QBT+Stress group was significantly increased. The values of density of AchE stained nuclei in the CA1 of hippocampus QBT+Stress group was significantly increased compared with SAL+Stress group. Conclusion : According to the above results, it is concluded that QBT will be useful as a remedy against stress disease and improving memory.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.33-39
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• 2020

Objectives : Increasing evidence supports the biological and pharmacological activities of essential oils on the central nervous system such as pain, anxiety, attention, arousal, relaxation, sedation and learning and memory. The purpose of present work is to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of cypress essential oil (CEO) against scopolamine (SCO)-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice. Methods : A series of behavior tests such as Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and fear conditioning tests were conducted to monitor learning and memory functions. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR were also performed in the hippocampal tissue to determine the underlying mechanism of CEO. Results : SCO induced cognitive impairments as assessed by decreased step-through latency in passive avoidance test, relatively low freezing time in fear conditioning test, and increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test. Conversely, CEO inhalation significantly reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice comparable to control levels. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of memory enhancing effect of CEO we have examined the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. CEO effectively elevated the protein as well as mRNA expression of BDNF via activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CEO inhalation effectively restored the SCO-impaired cognitive functions in C56BL/6 mice. This learning and memory enhancing effect of CEO was partly mediated by up-regulation of BDNF via activation of CREB.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabis Fructus on exercise capacity and cognitive function in chronic hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia rat model. Methods Vascular dementia rat models were induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group; control group; CF I group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 100 mg/kg); CF II group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 300 mg/kg). In order to study the effects of oral administration of Cannabis Fructus on vascular dementia rat models, corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test were taken and Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level were measured. Also histological findings of the liver, kidney, brain and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus were observed. Results CF I and CF II showed significant improvement in corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test, Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus. CF I showed more significant effect than CF II in these tests. However in histological observations of the liver and kidney both CF I and CF II showed glomerular injury and hepatotoxicity. Conclusions These results suggest that Cannabis Fructus was helpful in improving exercise capacity and cognitive function on Chronic hypoperfusion induced Vascular Dementia rats. However Cannabis Fructus affects the liver and kidney, therefore suggest that this is an area for further study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2009

Previous studies suggest that even low-dose irradiation can lead to progressive cognitive decline and memory deficits, which implicates, in part, hippocampal dysfunction in both humans and experimental animals. In this study, whether red ginseng (RG) could attenuate memory impairment was investigated through a passive-avoidance and object recognition memory test, as well as the suppression of hippocampal neurogenesis, using the TUNEL assay and immunohistochemical detection with markers of neurogenesis (Ki-67 and doublecortin (DCX)) in adult mice treated with a relatively low-dose exposure to gamma radiation (0.5 or 2.0 Gy). RG was administered intraperitonially at a dosage of 50 mg/kg of body weight, at 36 and 12 h pre-irradiation and at 30 minutes post-irradiation, or orally at a dosage of 250 mg! kg of body weight/day for seven days before autopsy. In the passive-avoidance and object recognition memory test, the mice that were trained for one day after acute irradiation (2 Gy) showed significant memory deficits compared with the sham controls. The number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic nuclei in the dentate gyrus (DG) was increased 12 h after irradiation. In addition, the number of Ki-67- and DCX-positive cells was significantly decreased. RG treatment prior to irradiation attenuated the memory defect and blocked apoptotic death as well as a decrease in the Ki-67- and DCX-positive cells. RG may attenuate memory defect in a relatively low-dose exposure to radiation in adult mice, possibly by inhibiting the detrimental effect of irradiation on hippocampal neurogenesis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2014

The present study investigated the effects of Vaccinium uliginosum L. (bilberry) on the learning and memory impairments induced by amyloid-${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}P$) 1-42. ICR Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: the control ($A{\beta}40$-1A), control with 5% bilberry group ($A{\beta}40$-1B), amyloid ${\beta}$ protein 1-42 treated group ($A{\beta}1$-42A), and $A{\beta}1$-42 with 5% bilberry group ($A{\beta}1$-42B). The control was treated with amyloid ${\beta}$-protein 40-1 for placebo effect, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) group was treated with amyloid ${\beta}$-protein 1-42. Amyloid ${\beta}$-protein 1-42 was intracerebroventricular (ICV) micro injected into the hippocampus in 35% acetonitrile and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Although bilberry added groups tended to decrease the finding time of hidden platform, no statistical significance was found. On the other hand, escape latencies of $A{\beta}P$ injected mice were extended compared to that of $A{\beta}40$-1. In the Probe test, bilberry added $A{\beta}1$-42B group showed a significant (P<0.05) increase of probe crossing frequency compared to $A{\beta}1$-42A. Administration of amyloid protein ($A{\beta}1$-42) decreased working memory compared to $A{\beta}40$-1 control group. In passive avoidance test, bilberry significantly (P<0.05) increased the time of staying in the lighted area compared to AD control. The results suggest that bilberry may help to improve memory and learning capability in chemically induced Alzheimer's disease in experimental animal models.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.109-126
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• 2002

The herbal extract (YMT_02) is a modified herbal extracts from Yukmijihwangtang (YMJ) to promote memory-enhancing. The YMJ extracts has been widely used as an anti-aging herbal medicine for hundred years in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to; 1) quantitatively evaluate the memory-enhancing effect of YMT_02 by hehavior task, 2) identify candidate genes responsible for enhancing memory by cDNA microarray and 3) assess the anti-oxidant effect of YMT_02 on PC12 cell. Memory retention abilities are addressed by passive avoidance task with Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rat. Before the training session, the rats are subdivided into four groups and administrated with YMT_02, Ginkgo biloba, Soya lecithin and normal saline for 10 days. The retention test was performed. 24 hours after the training session. The retention time of the YMT_02 group was significantly (p<0.05) delayed $({\sim}100%)$, whereas Ginkgo biloba and Soya lecithin treatment delayed 20% and 10% respectively. The hippocampi of YMT_02 and control group were dissected and mRNA was further purified. After synthesizing cDNA using oligo-dT primer, the cDNA were applied and mRNA was further purified. After synthesizing cDNA using oligo-dT primer, the cDNA were applied to Incyte rat GEMTM 2 cDNA microarray. The microarray results show that prealbumin(transthyretin), phosphotidy lethanolamine N-methyltransferase, and PEP-19 are expressed abundantly in the YMT_02 treated group. Especially, PEP-19 is a neuron-specific protein, which inhibits apoptotic processes in neuronal cell. On the other hand, transcripts of RAB15, glutamate receptor subunit 2 and CDK 108 are abundant in control group. Besides, neuronal genes involved in neuronal death or neurodegeneration such as neuronal-pentraxin and spectrin are abundantly expressed in control group. Additionally, the YMT_02 shows an anti oxidative effect in the PC12 cell. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the action and mechanism behind the memory-enhancing effect of herbal extracts YMT_02, for example, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective effects.