• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.201-208
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• 2017

Background: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. or Vietnamese ginseng (VG) is a recently discovered ginseng species. Studies on its chemical constituents have shown that VG is remarkably rich in ginseng saponins, particularly ocotillol saponins. However, the psychopharmacological effects of VG have not been characterized. Thus, in the present study we screened the psychopharmacological activities of VG in mice. Methods: VG extract (VGE) was orally administered to mice at various dosages to evaluate its psychomotor (open-field and rota-rod tests), sedative-hypnotic (pentobarbital-induced sleeping test), anti-stress (cold swimming test), anxiolytic (elevated plus-maze test), and cognitive (Y-maze and passive-avoidance tests) effects. Results: VGE treatment increased the spontaneous locomotor activity, enhanced the endurance to stress, reduced the anxiety-like behavior, and ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. In addition, VGE treatment did not alter the motor balance and coordination of mice and did not potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleep, indicating that VGE has no sedative-hypnotic effects. The effects of VGE were comparable to those of the Korean Red Ginseng extract. Conclusion: VG, like other ginseng products, has significant and potentially useful psychopharmacological effects. This includes, but is not limited to, psychomotor stimulation, anxiolytic, antistress, and memory enhancing effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.23-36
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Hominis-Placenta (HP)on dopaminergic neurons. Methods : We examined the effect of invitro administration of HP against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium( MPP+)-induced dopaminergic cell loss in primary mesencephalic culture and also used behavioral tests and performed analysis in the striatum and the substantia nigra of mouse brain, to confirm the effect of HP on dopaminergic neurons in an invivo 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced PD mouse model. Animals were assigned to four groups: (1) Group 1(vehicle-treatedgroup), (2) Group 2(MPTPonlytreated group), (3) Group 3(MPTP+ saline-treated/$ST_{36}$ group), and (4) Group 4(MPTP+HP-treated/$ST_{36}$ group). HP at $20{\mu}L$ of 48 mg/kg dose was injected at $ST_{36}$ for 4 weeks at 2-day intervals. MPTP in saline was injected intraperitoneally each day for 5 days from the $8_{th}$ treatment of HP. We performed the pole test and rota-rod test on the first and seventh day after the last MPTP injection. To investigate the effect of HP on dopaminergic neurons, we performed analysis in the striatum and the substantia nigra of mouse brain after treatment with HP and/or MPTP. Results : Treatment with HP had no influence on cell proliferation and caused no cell toxicity in $PC_{12}$ and $HT_{22}$ cells. Our study showed that HP significantly prevented cell loss and protected neurites against MPP+ toxicity. Although the invivo treatment of HP herbal acupuncture at $ST_{36}$ showed a tendency to improve movement ability and protected dopaminergic cells and fibers in the substantia nigra and the striatum, it did not show significant changes compared with the MPTP treated group. Conclusions : These data suggest that HP could be a potential treatment strategy in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.41-46
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• 2005

Objective : A study of the histopathologic and neurobehavioral correlates of cortical impact injury produced by increasing impact velocity using the controlled cortical impact[CCI] injury model is studied. Methods : Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats [$200{\sim}250g$] were given CCI injury using a pneumatically driven piston. Effect of impact velocity on a 3mm deformation was assessed at 2.5m/sec [n=6], 3.0m/sec [n=6], 3.5m/sec [n=6], and no injury [n=6]. After postoperative 24hours the rats were evaluated using several neurobehavioral tests including the rotarod test, beam-balance performance, and postural reflex test. Contusion volume and histopathologic findings were evaluated for each of the impact velocities. Results : On the rota rod test, all the injured rats exhibited a significant difference compared to the sham-operated rats and increased velocity correlated with increased deficit [p<0.001]. Contusion volume increased with increasing impact velocity. For the 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5m/sec groups, injured volumes were $18.8{\pm}2.3mm^3$, $26.8{\pm}3.1mm^3$, and $32.5{\pm}3.5mm^3$, respectively. In addition, neuronal loss in the hippocampal sub-region increased with increasing impact velocity. In the TUNEL staining, all the injured groups exhibited definitely positive cells at pericontusional area. However, there were no significant differences in the number of positive cells among the injured groups. Conclusion : Cortical impact velocity is a critical parameter in producing cortical contusion. Severity of cortical injury is proportional to increasing impact velocity of cortical injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.165-173
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• 2005

The main aim of this study was to investigate stress related activities of ginsenosides and their action mechanism. Control group and ginsenoside supplemented groups were exposed to stress while no-stress group was not done. Animals of each group (n=$8\~10$) were orally administerd 100 mg red ginseng extract (R-G), or 10 mg ginsenosides/kg body weight once a day. Animals were given materials for 5 days without stress, and then were given supplements for 5 days with restraint and electroshock stress. Mice were given materials for 5 days for experiments on anti-fatigue effect. After loading final stress, stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals were examined and plasma corticosterone levels were measured. R-G and ginsenoside $Rb_{1}$ supplementation partially blocked the stress effects on locomotion and elevated plus-maze test in rats and mice. They also partially blocked stress induced behavioral changes such as freezing, smelling, face-washing, rearing behavior in rats. R-G and $Rb_{1}$ decrease adrenal gland size and plasma corticosterone level, which were increased by stress in rats. R-G increased enduring time on the Rota rod, cold water and horizontal wire, but $Rb_{1}$ didn't. Effects of $Rb_{1}$ on plusmaze test were inhibited by administration of flumazenil. These results suggest that $Rb_{1}$ is the main antistress principle in ginseng and it's effect is modulated by GABAnergic nervous system.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.263-273
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate effect of scalp acupuncture (SA) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) intervention on neuromotor function in photothrombotic cerebral infarction (PCI) rat model. Sixty male SD rats were used. PCI was induced on M1 cortex of right frontal lobe. SA was performed at the Qianding (GV21), Xuanli (GB6) acupoints of ipsilesional M1. Low-frequency rTMS was delivered to contralesional M1. All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A, normal (n, 15); group B, PCI without any stimulation intervention (n, 15); group C, PCI with SA (n, 15); group D, PCI with rTMS (n, 15). Rota-rod test and Ladder rung walking test (LWT) were done weekly for 8 weeks after PCI. SA or rTMS was started from post-PCI 4^th day as protocol for 8 weeks. H/E stain and IHC were done. Western blot and qRT-PCR study were performed for MAP2 and BDNF from ipsilesional M1 peri-infarction tissue. Brain MRI study was conducted to quantify the volume of cerebral infarction. As a result, left forelimb and hindlimb function significantly improved more in group C and D than control group, with expressed more BDNF and MAP2. And brain MRI showed focal infarction of right M1 after PCI, and infarction volume progressively decreased in group C and D than group B from post-PCI 5^th to 8^th week. SA or rTMS was more effective than no intervention group on neuromotor function of PCI rat model. The functional recovery was associated with stimulation intervention-related neurogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2010

Alpinia katsumadai has been widely used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine to treat a variety of conditions including emesis and gastric disorders such as gastric pain and distended abdomen. To investigate the antinociceptive potential and mechanism of A. katsumadai, ethanolic extracts of A. katsumadai were assayed on cyclooxygenase-2 and evaluated for analgesic activity based on phenylbenzoquinone (PBQ)-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia tests. A. katsumadai extracts inhibited the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme activity in a dose-dependent fashion at an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.044 ${\mu}g$/ml. A. katsumadai extract (30-300 mg/kg, orally (p.o.) administered) significantly inhibited PBQ-induced writhing. This inhibition was judged not to be a false positive because a Rota-rod test revealed no difference in muscular coordination when compared to the controls. With regard to the carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, A. katsumadai extract (30-300 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant, dose-dependent increase in the withdrawal response latencies. Naloxone did not reverse the analgesic effect of A. katsumadai extract in the carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia. Taken together, these results suggest that the antinociceptive activity of A. katsumadai is not related to the opioid receptor. A. katsumadai extract has remarkable, non-opioidreceptor-mediated analgesic effects on PBQ-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia that occur via cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.40-45
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• 2017

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures that are usually controlled with antiepileptic/anticonvulsive drugs. However, most antiepileptic drugs produce various side effects such as tolerance and sedation. Thus, there is a growing interest for alternative anticonvulsive drugs, preferably from natural or herbal sources. In this study, we evaluated the anticonvulsive effects of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG). The anticonvulsive effect of RG extract was evaluated using electroshock- and chemical-induced seizure tests in mice. To identify its probable mechanism of action, the effects of RG extract on $Cl^-$ influx was measured in vitro. We found that RG extract has anticonvulsive effects against electroshock-induced seizures, as indicated by an increased seizure threshold in mice. The RG extract also decreased the percentage of seizure responses induced by the GABAergic antagonist, pentylenetetrazole. These results suggest that the anticonvulsive effects of RG extract are mediated through a GABAergic mechanism. In support of this mechanism, our in vitro test showed that RG extract increases intracellular $Cl^-$ influx. Furthermore, RG extract did not show sedative and/or muscle relaxant effects in the open-field and rota-rod tests. Altogether, these results confirm that RG extract could be a herbal anticonvulsant and a potential alternative for clinical use.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.657-666
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• 2017

Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic drug, induces severe peripheral neuropathy. Gabapentin (GBT) is a first line agent used to treat neuropathic pain, and its effect is mediated by spinal noradrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Electro-acupuncture (EA) is used for treating various types of pain via its action through spinal opioidergic and noradrenergic receptors. Here, we investigated whether combined treatment of these two agents could exert a synergistic effect on paclitaxel-induced cold and mechanical allodynia, which were assessed by the acetone drop test and von Frey filament assay, respectively. Significant signs of allodynia were observed after four paclitaxel injections (a cumulative dose of 8 mg/kg, i.p.). GBT (3, 30, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) or EA (ST36, Zusanli) alone produced dose-dependent anti-allodynic effects. The medium and highest doses of GBT (30 and 100 mg/kg) provided a strong analgesic effect, but they induced motor dysfunction in Rota-rod tests. On the contrary, the lowest dose of GBT (3 mg/kg) did not induce motor weakness, but it provided a brief analgesic effect. The combination of the lowest dose of GBT and EA resulted in a greater and longer effect, without inducing motor dysfunction. This effect on mechanical allodynia was blocked by spinal opioidergic (naloxone, $20{\mu}g$), or noradrenergic (idazoxan, $10{\mu}g$) receptor antagonist, whereas on cold allodynia, only opioidergic receptor antagonist blocked the effect. In conclusion, the combination of the lowest dose of GBT and EA has a robust and enduring analgesic action against paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain, and it should be considered as an alternative treatment method.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.483-491
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• 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8), neutrophil collagenase, is a functional player in the progressive pathology of various inflammatory disorders. In this study, we administered an MMP-8 inhibitor (MMP-8i) in Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) G2019S transgenic mice, to determine the effects of MMP-8i on PD pathology. We observed a significant increase of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive activated microglia in the striatum of LRRK2 G2019S mice compared to normal control mice, indicating enhanced neuro-inflammatory responses. The increased number of Iba1-positive activated microglia in LRRK2 G2019S PD mice was down-regulated by systemic administration of MMP-8i. Interestingly, this LRRK2 G2019S PD mice showed significantly reduced size of cell body area of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in SN region and MMP-8i significantly recovered cellular atrophy shown in PD model indicating distinct neuro-protective effects of MMP-8i. Furthermore, MMP-8i administration markedly improved behavioral abnormalities of motor balancing coordination in rota-rod test in LRRK2 G2019S mice. These data suggest that MMP-8i attenuates the pathological symptoms of PD through anti-inflammatory processes.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.35-45
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this report was to provide the information activity and safety of Palmul-tang by analyzing domestic/international papers and theses about Palmul-tang, Methods: Domestic/international papers and theses related to Palmul-tang were reviewed and analyzed, These papers were then classified by year, experimental method and subject, Results: The following results were obtained in this study. 1. The study of Palmul-tang started from 1985 and was continuously increased. The study was mainly forcused on experimental model rather than clinical study. 2. As these studies were classified by subject, papers related to immune intensification were most abundant by 20 papers, Besides there were several papers related to cardiovascular activity, reproductive activity, anti-apoptotic activity and cerebral hemodynamics. 3. Among the papers related to immune intensification. the studies on recovery of fatigue were mostabundant by 10 papers and the studies of on immune cell and cytokine express were six. In addition to. several studies were associated with anti-cancer activity and anti-allergic activity. Recovery of fatigue was determined by measurement of fatigue markers in a living body such as lactate. CPK, pyruvate and triglyceride and assessment of exercise capability of animals such as swimming test. slopped plate test. Rota-rod test, and activity cage test after Palmul-tang treatment. 4. According to experimental data. it is supported that Palmul-tang has been used as Qi and Blood intensifier with immune intensification and recovery of fatigue. 5. The paper related to safety of Palmul-tang was only one paper which is studied on acute toxicity of Palmul-tang with experiment with ICR mouse. There was no study on evaluating safety by observing liver and kidney functions after Palmul-tang treatment Conclusion: Palmul-tang is being used in various ways associating with immune intensification. cardiovascular activity and reproductive activity. However. studies on efficacy and mechanism of Palmul-tang should be conducted at the molecular biology level and studies on safety of Palmul-tang need to be completed at the clinical level.