• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.270-275
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• 2010

Catecholamines are among the first molecules that displayed a kind of response to prolonged or repeated stress. It is well established that long-term stress leads to the induction of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine ${\beta}$-hydroxylase (DBH) in adrenal medulla. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ginseng on TH and DBH mRNA expression. Repeated (2 h daily, 14 days) immobilization stress resulted in a significant increase of TH and DBH mRNA levels in rat adrenal medulla. However, ginseng treatment reversed the stress-induced increase of TH and DBH mRNA expression in the immobilization-stressed rats. Nicotine as a ligand of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in adrenal medulla stimulates catecholamine secretion and activates TH and DBH gene expression. Nicotine treatment increased mRNA levels of TH and DBH by 3.3- and 3.1-fold in PC12 cells. The ginseng total saponin exhibited a significant reversal in the nicotine-induced increase of TH and DBH mRNA expression, decreasing the mRNA levels of TH and DBH by 57.2% and 48.9%, respectively in PC12 cells. In conclusion, immobilization stress induced catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes gene expression, while ginseng appeared to restore homeostasis via suppression of TH and DBH gene expression. In part, the regulatory activity in the TH and DBH gene expression of ginseng may account for the anti-stress action produced by ginseng.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.103-115
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the following 4 structural changes : Atrophy of the Cortex, Parasympathetic, and other neural cells, the existence of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the accumulation of Senile plaques. NFTs and Senile plaques is known to be the index of this disease. Senile plaques disturbs the neutro transmission and depletes of Acetylcholine. So, Recovery of Acetylcholine is the primal objective for treating Alzheimer's disease. So, Inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholine Esterase (AChE), which causes the hydrolysus of acetylcholine into choline and acetate, can be seen as a key role for treating Alzheimer's disease. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom Acupuncture (BV) could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti -inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-_{\kappa}B$. The effect of BV through behavioral tests after memory impairment induced by Scopolamine. We examined the improving effect of BV on the Scopolamine (1 mg/Kg, i.p.)-induced memorial impairment using passive avoidance response and water maze tests in the mice. BV (0.84, $1.67\;{\mu}g/ml$) reversed the Scopolamine-induced memorial impairment in dose dependent manner. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.233-233
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• 1994

인삼 성분이 학습 및 기억력 중진에 미치는 효과를 연구하기 위하여, 학습 및 기억력 저하를 유발하는 약물들에 대한 아답타겐 (상품명) 과 인삼 수 엑기스산의 효과를 관찰하였다. Ethylcholine aziridium ion(AF64A), scopolamine 및 morphine을 쥐 및 생쥐의 해마와 복강에 각 각 주입하여 학습 및 기억력 저하를 유발한 후 아답타겐을 경구 투여하여 학습 및 기억력에 미치는 효과를 수로시험을 통하여 측정하였다. 또한 인삼 수 엑기스산을 일주일 동안 복강 주사하여 각 효과를 수로시험을 통하여 측정하였다. 또한 인삼 수 엑기스산을 일주일동안 복강 주사하여 각종 신경계에 미치는 변화를 효소 활성도, 신경전달물질의 농도, 수용체 결합을 지표로 하여 살펴보았다. AF64A 투여군 중 플랫폼을 전혀 인지치 못한 군에 아답타겐을 투여시에는 투여 횟수에 따라 플랫폼을 인지하는 비율이 증가했다. 연습 후 일주일간 물을 투여한 대조군의 도달 시간에 큰 변화가 없음에 반해, 아답타겐을 투여시에는 3일 투여 후 최대 시간이 걸리고, 투여횟수가 증가할수록 점차 도달 시간이 단축되었다. 인공 뇌척수액 및 AF64A의 투여군에서 아답타겐을 5일간 투여한 경우 대조군보다 각각 3배 빠른 속도로 플랫폼을 기억하였다. 한편 scopola mine 투여시에는 아답타겐을 투여한 군이 투여하지 않은 군보다 약 3배 빨리 플랫폼에 도달하였으나 각 투여군의 매일의 도달 시간 차이에는 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 또한 4일 전에 아답타겐을 투여시에는 saline 및 merphine 투여시 약 1.4배 빨리 플랫폼을 인지하였다. 인삼 추출물을 7일 투여 했을 경우 선조체에서 도파민 합성 효소인 tyrosine hydroxylase 활성이 유의성 있게 증가했으며, 대사체인 DOPAC의 농도도 증가를 나타냈다. 그러나, 도파민, HVA및 대사율인 DOPAC/DA와 HVA/DA에는 변화를 보이지 않았다. 또한 선조체의 GABA농도는 약 66%로 낮아졌지만 AChE의 활성도는 변화가 없었다. 인삼 수 추출물을 2주일 투여시 선조체의 도파민 수용체의 특성변화는, D1 수용체의 친화력에는 변화가 없는 반면, 최대 결합 수용체 수는 약간 낮아졌고, D2 수용체의 경우 최대 결합 수용체수는 변화가 없었으나 친화력은 감소하였다. 또한 피질의 benzodiazipine수용체 결합 친화력에는 변화가 없는 반면 최대 결합 수용체 수는 약 15%의 증가를 나타내었고 연수의 benzodiazepine 및 피질의 GABA 수용체의 특성에는 에는 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 이상의 결과, AF64A, 아급성 scopolamine 및 급성 morphine꽈 투여로 학습능이 저하되고 아답타겐을 경구 투여시엔 저하된 학습능력 빛 기억력의 증가를 보였다. 또한 본 결과는 인삼성분 중에는 도파민 및 GABA신경계에 영향을 주는 성분이 있음을 제시하였다.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.87-98
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• 2001

There has been increased interest in the health effects of the Environmental Tobacco Smoke(ETS) as a confirmed human carcinogen. It has been known to be extremely difficult to make an accurate assessment of exposure to ETS since it is consisted of a variety of components and there are a number of labile chemicals. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain, to interpretate and to provide the data of quantitative exposure assessment to ETS in the field of environmental health. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the concentration of ETS using VOC in indoor office environments. The correlations and concentrations of benzene, RSP, 3-EP, nicotine that are indicators for ETS were investigate with smoking density, air change per hour(ventilation rate). Air samples were taken in smoking room(7 sites), smoking allowed office (3 sites), corridor outside smoking room(7 sites), non-smoking office (9 sites). The concentrations of benzene showed significant difference according to category of indoor office environments. The geometric mean concentration of benzene were 23.56 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥(range 4.80~192.90 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥) in smoking rooms. 6.16 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥ in smoking allowed offices, 1.32 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/㎥ in the non-smoking offices respectively. The ratios of the concentration of benzene between outdoor air and smoking room, smoking allowed office, and non-smoking indicators concentrations, SD, and SI were 0.82(benzene and nicotine). 0.76(benzene and RSP), 0.60(benzene and SD), 0.76(benzene and SI). It is proposed that benzene is a good indicator for ETS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.874-883
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• 2011

Many studies have shown that the steamed root of Rehmannia glutinosa (SRG), which is widely used in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases in the context of Korean traditional medicine, is effective for improving cognitive and memory impairments. The purpose of this study was to examine whether SRG extracts improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine (SCO) into the brains of rats. The effects of SRG on the acetylcholinergic system and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses of SRG (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days, 1 h before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). After inducing cognitive impairment via scopolamine administration, we conducted a passive avoidance test (PAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test as behavioral assessments. Changes in cholinergic system reactivity were also examined by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the reactivity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in the hippocampus. Daily administration of SRG improved memory impairment according to the PAT, and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the MWM. The administration of SRG consistently significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and decreased interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) mRNA expression in the hippocampus. The results demonstrated that SRG had a significant neuroprotective effect against the neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that SRG may be useful for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activities and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.137-142
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• 2008

Ceramide has emerged as a novel second messenger for intracellular signalling. It is produced from sphingomyelin and is involved in the control of cell differntiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. $C_2$-ceramide, short chain ceramide, plays a role in mediating contraction of cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. We examined the effect of synthesized ceramide analogues on the $C_2$-ceramide and ACh-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells isolated with collagenase. CY3523, CY3525, or CY3723 inhibited $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction, in a time dependent manne. Each analogue also inhibited the contraction in concentration dependent manners. CY 3523, CY 3525, and CY 3723 had no effect to the contraction induced by PMA. The inhibition with CY3523, CY3525 and CY3723 on the $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction was recovered by PMA. These analogues decreased the density of MAPK bands (p44/42 or p38) in the western blot. These results suggest that ceramide analogues can inhibit $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction via PKC and MAPK dependent pathway.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.314-324
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• 2000

Evaluation of nutritional status of the elderly imposes different problem from the other age groups. It is essential to use right instrument to assess food consumption. In Korea, the food frequency questionnaire has not been applied widely to elderly people. The purpose of this study is to assess the possibility of employing a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) for the Korean elderly to estimate nutrient and/or food intakes. In this study the FFQ for the elderly was developed and validated. The subjects were 144 free-living old women aged from 65 to 90. The FFQ was designed with 4 items for cereals and 86 items for other foods and with frequency of 12 intervals. Three portion sizes were given to select : 1/2 of standard amount, standard amount, and 11/2 of standard amount. ach subject was interviewed with newly developed FFQ form and same subjects were also involved to complete 3-day diet record. Nutrient intake was calculated using software program developed by our group. The nutrient intakes by the FFQ was validated by comparing the results with 3-day diet record. The FFQ estimated significantly higher mean intakes of energy, carbohydrate, protein, fats and vitamin C than did the diet reconrds(p<0.05). Pearson's correlation coefficients between two methods ranged from 0.21 for vitamin Q to 0.69 for alcohol(mean r=0.53). From 32% to 42% of the subjects were classified in the same quintile of nutrient intake by two methods, and 63% to 84% were classified in the same or adjacent quintile. On average, only 4% of the subjects were misclassified into extreme quitiles. The results indicate that the FFQ developed for the elderly in this study is useful for classifying individuals by rank and identifying groups at extremes of nutrient intakes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2013

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator of energy metabolism, is activated in response to cellular stress when intracellular levels of AMP increase. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of AMPK against scopolamine-induced memory impairment in vivo and glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. An adenovirus expressing AMPK wild type alpha subunit (WT) or a dominant negative form (DN) was injected into the hippocampus of rats using a stereotaxic apparatus. The AMPK WT-injected rats showed significant reversal of the scopolamine induced cognitive deficit as evaluated by escape latency in the Morris water maze. In addition, they showed enhanced acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-reactive neurons in the hippocampus, implying increased cholinergic activity in response to AMPK. We also studied the cellular mechanism by which AMPK protects against glutamate-induced cell death in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons. We further demonstrated that AMPK WT-infected cells increased cell viability and reduced Annexin V positive hippocampal neurons. Western blot analysis indicated that AMPK WT-infected cells reduced the expression of Bax and had no effects on Bcl-2, which resulted in a decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These data suggest that AMPK is a useful cognitive impairment treatment target, and that its beneficial effects are mediated via the protective capacity of hippocampal neurons.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2018

The leaves and stems of Dendropanax morbiferus were separated from organic solvents with methanol. The organic solvent fractions were fractionated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol according to the systematic fractionation method. Oxidation in the body induces aging, and antioxidant activity has attracted the attention of many people as a preventive component to suppress negative reactions in the body. To investigate the antioxidant activity of Dendropanax morbiferus were subjected to DPPH free radical assay. In addition, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitions were performed for Alzheimer's disease as an aging neurological disease. As a result, it was confirmed that the antioxidant effect of DPPH was generally good in the antioxidant test. The ethyl acetate fractions of Dendropanax morbiferus stems and leaves were $IC_{50}=30{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Acetyl cholinesterase inhibition experiments were carried out at a concentration of $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Dendropanax morbiferus stems fractions showed dichloromethane fraction of 57.68%, which significantly inhibited the activity of acetyl cholinesterase.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.252-257
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• 2005

Background: This study was designed to investigate the effect of exercise training on defense mechanism of chronic degenerative disease, aging, and memory impairments of senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)P8 under the hypothesis that "Senile dementia may be prevented by regular exercises". Methods: To evaluate the effects of exercise training on the defense mechanism of aging and memory impairment, SAMP8 were divided into two groups, the control group and exercise training groups. the exercise training group were performed with low $(\dot{V}O_2max\;25{\sim}33%)$, middle ($\dot{V}O_2max$ 50%) and high $(\dot{V}O_2max\;66{\sim}75%)$ intensity exercise. All SAMP8 mice were fed experimental diet ad libitum until 4, 8 months, and dead period. Results: Median lifespan in middle exercise group resulted in a significantly increased (23.5% and 18.7%, respectively), whereas these lifespan in high exercise group resulted in an unexpectedly decreased (13.5% and 12.1%, respectively) compared with control group. Body fat levels in 4 and 8 months of age were significantly decreased 43% to 51% in middle exercise group, whereas were remarkably deceased to 57% in high exercise group compared with control group. It is believed that extended median and maximum lifespan may be effected by calory restriction through the exercise training. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels were significantly increased 6.7% and 8.5% in middle and high exercise groups, and also choline acetyltransfease (ChAT) activities were significantly increased 10.3% and 11.9% in middle and high exercise groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that proper and regular exercises such as middle group ($\dot{V}O_2max$ 50%) may play an effective role in attenuating an oxygen radicals and may play an important role in improving a learning and memory impairments of senile dementia.