• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.113-124
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• 2002

Objects: This research was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Bupleuri Radix against ischemic damage using PC12 cells and global ischemia in gerbils, Methods: To observe the protective effect of Bupleuri Radixon ischemic damage, viability and changes in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed after treating PC12 cells with Bupleuri Radix during ischemic damage. Gerbils were divided into three groups: a normal group, a 5-minute two-vessel occlusion (2VO) group and a Bupleun Radix administered group after 2VO. The CCAs were occluded by microclip for 5 minutes, Bupleuri Radix was administered orally for 7 days after 2VO. Histological analysis was performed on the 7th day. For histological analysis, the brain tissue was stained with 1 % of cresyl violet solution. Results: 1. Bupleuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the CA1 area of the gerbil's hippocampus 7 days after 5-minute occlusion. 2. In the hypoxia/reperfusion model using PC12 cells, the Bupleuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the dose of 0.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml,2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml{\;}and{\;} 20{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$. 3. Bupleuri Radix increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase. 4. The increased activity of superoxidedismutase (SOD) by ischemic damage might have been induced as an act of self-protection. This study suggests that Bupleuri Radix has some neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia in vivo with a widely used experimental model of cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Bupleuri Radix also has protective effect on a hypoxia/reperfusion cell culture model using PC12 cells. Conclusions: Bupleuri Radix has protective effect against ischemic brain damage during the early stages of ischemia.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2014

In traditional Korean and Chinese medicine, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for the treatment of central nervous system-related symptoms such as tremor, seizure, stroke and epilepsy. We investigated the effects of safflower could influence cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairments. Administration of safflower for 1 day (200 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) increased the survival of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons after transient global brain ischemia. And neurological functions measured as short term memory. Post-treatment with safflower for 2 times decreased the induction/reduction - induced production of neuronal cell loss from global cerebral ischemia. Safflower markedly decreased neuronal cell death and also caused a decrease in the content of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) ($55.2{\pm}9.4{\mu}mol\;mg^{-1}$) and significant improvement of activities of glutathione (GSH) ($27.2{\pm}5.0{\mu}mol\;mg^{-1}$) in hippocampus. We conclude that treatment with safflower attenuated learning and memory deficits, and neuronal cell loss induced by global cerebral ischemia. These results suggest that safflower may be a potential candidate for the treatment of vascular dementia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2002

Objective : Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to prevent and treat cerebrovascular accident, such as stroke, and many studies of acupuncture and moxibustion concerning stroke have been undertaken in humans and various animals. However, the protective effect of the electroacupuncture (EA) of Huan-do (GB30) on the transient forebrain ischemia injury has not been published. Methods : The nenroprotective effects of EA (2 ms, 10 Hz, and 1 - 2 mA) of GB30 on the transient forebrain ischemia injury were investigated by immunohistochemistry of c-Fos-like protein in Sprague-Dawley rats. Results : The transient forebrain ischemia injury resulted in increased expression of c-Fos-like protein (cFL) in the dentate gyms (DG) and CAl for 6 hrs after ischemia, and EA increased significantly expression of cFL in the CAl and DG. For 48 hrs after, there was delayed expression of cFL at the CAl and DG, representing the sign of neuronal cell death, but EA decreased the delayed expression of cFL, significantly. Conclusion : These results suggest that the nenroprotective effects of EA on transient forebrain ischemia injury may be related to excitatory regulation of cFL at the early stage and inhibitory regulation in the long term.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2002

Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to prevent and treat the cerebrovascular accident, such as a stroke, and many studies of acupuncture and moxibustion concerning to the stroke have been undertaken in the human and various animals. However, it was not published the protective effect of the electroacupuncture (EA) of Huan-do (GB30) on the transient forebrain ischemia injury. The neuroprotective effects of EA (2 ms, 10 Hz, and 1 - 2 mA) of GB30 on the transient forebrain ischemia injury was investigated by western blot of nNOS and hematoxylin and eosin stain in Sprague-Dawley rats. The transient forebrain ischemia injury resulted in increased expression of nNOS in the brain for 6 hrs after ischemia, and EA decreased significantly expression of nNOS protein in brain increased by transient forebrain ischemia injury. The survived neuronal cell stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) decreased in the hippocampus by the 7 days after ischemia comparing with the normal. Comparing with the normal, the survived neurons seriously decreased cell in the hippocampus after the injury. However, the proportion of survived neurons was increased in EA treatment. These results suggest that EA of GB30 have neuroprotective effects on transient forebrain ischemia injury.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2002

Kupunggibodan(KU), Gamisamul-tang(GA) and Whangryunhaedok-tang(WH) are clinically the most popular prescriptions as an herbal medicine in the treatment of ischemia. In order to compare and evaluate their protective effects on the ischema-induced cognitive deficits by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we examined its ability to improve ischemia-induced cell loss and impairements of learning and memory in the Morris water maze and eight-arm radial arm maze. Focal cerebral ischemia produced a marked cell loss, decrease in acetylcholinesterase(AchE) reactivity in the hippocampus, and learning and memory deficits in two behavioral tasks. Pretreatment with WH (100 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a substantial increase in acquisition in the Morris water maze. Pretreatment with KU increased the perfomance of the resention test in the Morris water maze. WH, KU and GA caused a significant improvement in choice accuracy in radial arm maze test. WH was superior to KU and GA in perfomance of the radial arm maze test. Consistent with behavioral data, staining with cresyl violet showed that pretreatments with WH, but not KU and GA significantly recovered the ischemia-induced cell loss in the hippcampal CA1 area. In addition, pretreatments with WH and KU recovered the ischemia-induced reduction of AchE reactivity in the hippocampal CA1 area. These results demonstrated that KU, GA and WH have protective effects against ischimea-induced learning and memory impairments and that the efficacy was the order of WH>KU>GA in tratment of ischemia induced memory deficits. The present studies provide an evidence of KU, GA and WH as putative treatment of vascular dementia. Supported by a fund from the Ministry of Health and Welfare(HMP-00-OO-04-0004), and the Brain Korea 21 Project from Korean Ministry of Education, Korea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2001

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of Geupoongjibo-dan Extracts on Reversible Forebrain Ischemia in Mongolian Gerbils. Methods : The change rate of water content in cerebral tissues, the numercal change of the CA1 pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus, the change of delayed neuronal death(necrosis apoptosis) through light microscopy, the reactivity change of glycoprotein in neuronal membrane and the ultrastructural change of pyramidal neuron through electron microscopy caused by dalayed neuronal death were investigated. Results : 1. The change rate of water content in the normal group showed 78.90% on the third day, and 79.12% on the seventh day after an attack of ischemia. The rate in the control group showed 82.25% and 85.13%, respectively. The rate in the sample group showed a significant decrease: 81.72% and 83.66%. 2. Light microscopy revealed that the cells, continuous and systematic forms in the pyramidal cells of hippocampus, changed into discontinuous and unsystematic forms in the normal group when compared with the control group. The cells were less damaged in the sample group. 3. The mean of the numerical change of the CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus was 104 in the normal group. The mean of the control group was decreased to 27. The mean of the sample group was 44. 4. TUNEL staining examination reveals that the whole part of the hippocampus of the normal group had negative reactivity. As far as CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus, the control group had positive reactivity. The sample group was more positive than the control group. 5. Electron microscopy reveals that the ischemic injury of the control group had both necrotic and apoptotic morphology. The sample group was less necrotic, and more apoptotic morphology than the control group. 6. Lectin histochemisrical examination reveals that the normal group had positive reactivity to PNA and SBA in interneuron, and weak positive reactivity to WGA Con A LCA in intercelluar space. The reactivity to PNA and WGA decreased in the control group. The reactivity to PNA and WGA tended to increase in the sample group. Conclusions : The data shows that the effect of Geupoongjibo-dan Extracts on Reversible Forebrain Ischemia in MG is a significant result.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1487-1494
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• 2008

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Gagamjeongji-hwan (JJH)(Jiajiandingzhi-wan) and Evoidae Fructus (EF) on learning and memory disturbance and neuronal damage induced by focal ischemia in the rat. Rats were used for testing in the following three. Morris Water Maze, Cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry, acetylcholine esterase (AchE) histochemistry. JJH+ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats pretreated with JJH) and EF+ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats pretreated with EF) significantly reduced the latency of swimming time, compared with those of ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats) in morris water maze acquisition test. JJH+ISCH group attenuated ischemia.induced learning and memory damage in morris water maze retention test. The density of ChAT neurons of the JJH+ISCH and EF+ISCH group in the hippocampal CA1 area was increased, compared to that of SAL+ISCH group (ischemia-induced rats pretreated with SAL). The density of AchE neurons of the JJH+ISCH and EF+ISCH group in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 area was increased, compared to that of SAL+ISCH group. These results suggest that Gagamjeongji-hwan (JJH) and Evodiae Fructus (EF) may have significant protective effects on ischemia-induced brain damage and memory impairments.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.83-90
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• 2012

Objectives : Modified Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (mBHT) is a polyherbal medicine of twelve herbs traditionally used in the treatment of cerebral and cardiac stroke and vascular dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect, pyramidal neuronal cell, inflammation and apoptosis of mBHT against global ischemia in rats. Methods : Global ischemia was produced by two-vessel occlusion(2-VO) in SD male rats. mBHT at dose of 500 mg/kg was orally administrated for 2 weeks or 6 weeks after global ischemia. The histopathological changes of ischemic brain were observed by staining of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl and immunohistochemisty with anti-GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) antibody as a astrocyte marker. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was determined by western blot. Results : mBHT treatment significantly inhibited the pyramidal neuronal loss in CA1 of hippocampus of global ischemic rats by 2-VO. mBHT also suppressed the activation of astrocytes in the CA1 at 6 weeks after ischemia. In addition, mBHT significantly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 on iscemic brain, and significantly attenuated the expression of apoptotic proteins, Bax and caspase-3. Conclusions : These results indicate that mBHT inhibits neuronal cell damage induced in global ischemia by 2-VO, suggesting that mBHT may be a potential candidate for the treatment of vascular dementia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate protective effect of Sophora Subprostrata against transient global ischemic damage after 5-min two vessel occlusion. Methods : Gerbils were divided into three groups: Normal group, 5-min two vessel occlusion (2VO) group, Sophora Subprostrata administrated group after 2VO. The CCAs were occluded by microclip for 5min. Sophora Subprostrata was administrated orally(12mg/ml) for 7 days after 2VO. The histological and immunohistochemistrical analysis was performed at 72 hours and 7 days after the surgery each. For histological analysis, the brain tissue was stained with 1% cresyl violet solution and Immunohistochemistry for BAX and Bcl-2 was carried out to examine effect of Sophora Subprostrata on ischemic brain tissue. Results : The results showed that (1) Sophora Subprostrata has the protective effect against ischemia in CA1 area of the gerbil hippocampus 7 days after 5-minute occlusion, (2) the treatment of Sophora Subprostrata inhibits the expression of Bax relatively after 2VO-induced ischemia. That protective effect of the Sophora Subprostrata seems to be performed by regulating the proportion of Bax and Bcl-2 protein, (3) in hypoxia/reperfusion model using PC12 cell, the Sophora Subprostrata extract has the protective effect against ischemia in the dose of $2{\mu}/m{\ell}$ and $20{\mu}/m{\ell}$.This study suggests that Sophora Subprostrata has neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia in vivo with a widely used experimental model of cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils and that Sophora Subprostrata regulates the proportion of Bax and Bcl-2 protein following ischemia. And, Sophora Subprostrata extract has protective effects also on a hypoxia/reperfusion cell culture model using PC12 cell. Conclusions : Sophora Subprostrata has protective effects against ischemic brain damage at the early stage of ischemia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.61-80
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• 2003

Objectives : Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to prevent and treat the cerebrovascular accident, such as a stroke, and many studies of acupuncture and moxibustion concerning to the stroke have been undertaken in the human and various animals. Recently, the new therapeutic tool, that is herbal acupuncture, has been developed since the 1950' and applied to various diseases including the cerebrovascular accident. The main characteristics of herbal acupuncture are a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was not well known the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of herbal acupuncture on transient forebrain ischemic injury, although it has been used frequently in clinics. Methods : In this study, effects of folium Artemisiae Argyi and moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on the $GV_{20}$, named Baek-Hue, on neuroprotection after the transient forebrain ischemia were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats. Expressions of cFos, FosB and BDNF protein in the hippocampus and cortex were observed at 2 hrs and 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia by immunohis- tochemistry and ELISA technique. Results : Expression of cFos protein was increased slightly in the hippocampus and cortex at 2 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, but FosB protein was increased highly comparing to cFos protein. However, pretreatment with folium Artemisiae Argyi or moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}$ significantly increased expression of cFos protein and significantly decreased expression of FosB protein compared to control group, respectively. These features were observed in the motor cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex as well as the hippocampus. Also, pretreatment with folium Artemisiae Argyi and moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on$GV_{20}$ significantly increased the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus and the cortex compared to control group at 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, respectively. Conclusions : These results suggest that pretreatment with folium Artemisiae Argyi or moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}$ has neuroprotective effect on transient forebrain ischemia and theherbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}$ may be related to antioxidative function.