• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.548-555
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• 1999

Long-term effects of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) on memory and oxidative stress of senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) were investigated. Senescence-resistant (R1) and prone (P8) strains of SAM were fed GL diets, premixed with low (20 mg/kg/day, T1) or high (200 mg/kg/day, T2) levels of GL powder for 9 months starting from young (3 months of age) or for 5 months starting from old (7 months of age). After the final feeding at 12 months of age, all animals were subjected to passive avoidance test for the evaluation of memory function. In addition, the changes in hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione were analyzed. SAMP8 fed GL diets from old age (7 months) exhibited the improvement of memory, although GL rather inhibited the memory function of both SAMR1 and SAMP8 mice fed diets from young (3 months of age). Hepatic TBARS contents were decreased in SAMP8 fed high GL diet for 9 months and in SAMR1 fed low GL diet for 5 months. Hepatic glutathione content was also remarkably increased in SAMR1 following both feeding periods, and less extent in SAMP8 fed diet for 5 months of age. Taken together, it is proposed that GL extracts may play an anti-aging role through antioxidant action, and thereby may improve the senescence-related memory dysfunction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2013

This study was aimed at investigating the possible effects of phytoceramide (Pcer) on learning and memory and their underlying mechanisms. Phytoceramide was orally administered to ICR mice for 7 days. Memory performances were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. The expressions of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured with immunoblot. The incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in hippocampal regions was investigated by using immunohistochemical methods. Treatment of Pcer enhanced cognitive performances in the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the phosphorylated CREB and BDNF were significantly increased on hippocampus in the Pcer-treated mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the number of immunopositive cells to BrdU was significantly increased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus regions after Pcer-treatment for 7 days. These results suggest that Pcer contribute to enhancing memory and BDNF expression and it could be secondary to the elevation of neurogenesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.27-35
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the fraction of Taraxacum officinale and T.coreanum on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods : The cognition-enhancing effect of Taraxacum officinale and T.coreanum was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Results : The results showed that the Aug harvested T.offiicinale extract-treated group (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and the tacrine-treated group (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia based on the Passive avoidance Y-maze test and Watermaze test. And these results are same manner in DPPH radical scavenger effect and Acetylcholineseterase inhibition effect. Conclusions : These results suggest that Taraxacum officinale extract maybe a useful cognitive impairment treatment, and its beneficial effects are depending on the collecting time and origin plants. As a result, Taraxacum officinale harvested in August improve memory most.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.289-299
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• 1998

In this present study, we investigated the effects of red ginseng extract and its active constituents - Rbl , Re, Rgl on cycloheximide (CXM)-induced amnesia in the passive avoidance task in rats. Red ginseng water extract at 0.05-0.5 g/kg could improve CXM-induced amnesia in rats, Furthermore, the recovery effect of Rbl at 10 mghg administered 30 min before training trial from CXM-induced amnesia was better than those of Rbl administered other time before or after training trial. Rbl at 0.001-0.1 mghg could significantly improve CXM-induced amnesia and at 1 mghg completely augmented, but at 10 mghg its improving effect slightly weakened. Rgl and Re at 0.3-10 mghg could significantly improve CXM-induced amnesia and Rgl at 10 mg/kg completely avgmented. On the other hand, Rbl at 10 mghg could prolong the step through latencies in the training trial. These results suggest the beneficial effect of red ginseng extract on CXM-induced amnesia in rats could mainly due to the contribution of its active constituents - Rbl, Re, Rgl. The improving effect of Rbl on CXM-induced amnesia was best among the three active constituents. But the reduction in the improving effect of Rbl at 10 mg/kg might be due to the decrease in motor activity and attention to the passive avoidance task.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.442-449
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• 2017

Adenophora triphylla var. japonica extract has been reported to have estrogenic activity and beneficial effects in postmenopausal women requiring estrogen replacement therapy. This study investigated the effects of A. triphylla extract on cognitive function in ovariectomized mice. Water extracts from A. triphylla were administrated to ovariectomized mice fed a high fat diet for 6 weeks. The step through latency time in the passive avoidance test was shortened in ovariectomized mice as compared with sham-operated mice. However, administration of A. triphylla extracts had a tendency to prolong the latency time in ovariectomized mice. Moreover, A. triphylla supplementation caused a significant decrease in mean escape latency in the water maze test. These results indicate that A. triphylla could be used to improve estrogen deficiency-related learning and memory impairments in postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2010

Black sesame (Sesami semen nigrum) has been used to treat dizziness, earnoise, constipation in the traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we assessed memory enhancing properties of 70% ethanolic extract of black sesame (EBS70) and its ameliorating activities on learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Drug-induced amnesia was made by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Single EBS70 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks (P<0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task (P<0.05). In addition, EBS70 increased BDNF expression in hippocampus 4 h after its administration (P<0.05). These results suggest that EBS70 enhances learning and memory in normal state and attenuates amnesic state caused by cholinergic dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2017

Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahl. (Compositae) has been used as an anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer agent in the clinic. Although its antidepressant effect has been reported, however, its cognitive function is not investigated until yet. In the present study, we investigated whether the water extract of T. platycarpum (WETP) could improve cognitive function in cholinergic blockade-induced amnesia mouse model using the passive avoidance or Y-maze task. WETP (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment both in the passive avoidance test and the Y-maze test. In addition, WETP significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity measured by an ex vivo study using the mouse whole brain. These results suggest that WETP alleviates the cognitive dysfunction caused by the cholinergic blockade, in part, via AChE inhibition, and that it may be a useful for treating cognitive dysfunction.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.185-199
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• 2011

In the present study, we assessed the effect of the PPA (Polygala japonica Houtt., Polygala tenuifolia WILLD. and Acorus gramineus SOLAND. mixed preparation), a traditional herbal prescription, on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. The cognition-enhancing effect of PPA was investigated using a passive avoidance test, Y-maze test and the Morris water maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). A single PPA (400 and 800 (mg/kg)) administration significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance test (P<0.05). On the Y-maze test, PPA (400 and 800 (mg/kg)) also significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice (P<0.05). PPA also improved escape latencies in training trials and increased swimming times and distances within the target zone of the Morris water maze (P<0.05). These results suggest that PPA attenuates amnesic state induced by scopolamine and that these Effect are mediated by enhancing the cholinergic dysfunction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.270-276
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the water extract of Albizziae Cortex (AC) on the learning and memory impairments. AC was administered to normal mouse and scopolamine-injected amnesia mouse model. Passive avoidance test, Y-maze test, and Morris water maze test were conducted to confirm the cognitive-enhancing activities of AC. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and acetylcholine (Ach) content were measured after oral administration of AC. On the passive avoidance test, AC (200 mg/kg) significantly increased latency time and recovered scopolamine-impaired learning and memory in mice. In addition, AC (200 mg/kg) reduced Exploration time in target quadrant and reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the Y-maze test. Moreover, AC (200 mg/kg) increased exploration time in target quadrant and improved scopolamine-reduced escape latencies in the Morris water maze test. These effects were presented by regulatory effects of AC on AChE activity and Ach content. Taken together, AC increases cognitive-enhancing activities and ameliorates scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment. AC might be a potential agent for prevention and treatment of amnesia and dementia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the Ethanolic extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum and its permented production the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods : The cognition-enhancing effect of Platycodon grandiflorum and its permented production were investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Results : The results showed that the Permented Platycodon grandiflorum extract-treated group (100 mg/kg, p.o.) and the tacrine-treated group (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia based on the Passive avoidance Y-maze test and Water maze test. And these results are same manner in DPPH radical scavenger effect and Acetylcholineseterase inhibition effect. Conclusions : These results suggest that 80% Ethanol extract of fermented P.grandiflorum showed significant anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and these activities were parallel to treatment duration and dependent of the learning models.