• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.779-784
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of herbs on memory improvement by focusing on their cholinergic functions in Tg2576 mice. Seven herbs were used to obtain extracts by using alcohol and water. In screening test for cholinergic activities of the extracts, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was highly inhibited in Oenanthe javanica alcohol extract (OJAE, 18.76%) as compared with the others. The OJAE-treated Tg2576 (Tg-OJAE) groups showed the statistically significant increases of latency time in passive avoidance test. Also, it was found that the concentration of $A{\beta}1-42$ was significantly reduced in Tg-OJAE groups compared to non-treated Tg2576 groups. In the additional enzyme test, it was found that $IC_{50}$ of OJAE was $991.77{\mu}g/mL$ and OJAE acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor of AChE. Therefore, it seemed that OJAE can be used for the development of processed foods for memory improvement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.112-127
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• 1987

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission function disorder characterized by fatigue and weakness of voluntary muscles. This muscular weakness is intensified by activity and stress, and improved by the use of anticholinesterase compounds. It was initially described by Erb in 1879 and later named myasthenia gravis by Jolly in 1895. Although the pathogenesis is Known to be an autoimmune related reduction in the number of available acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions, the role of thymus in myasthenia gravis is still unclear and under investigation. Thymectomy in the management of myasthenia gravis has become increasingly important since Dr. Blalock observed in 1939 that some patients with thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis improved following thymectomy. A clinical study of 102 cases of myasthenia gravis was performed at Yonsei University College of Medicine. Seoul, Korea from Jan. 1976 to Jun. 1986. In order to determine which factors are of prognostic significance, attention is focused upon pre-operative patient evaluation, problems in operative and post-operative care, and long-term follow-up observations. The results were as follows: 1. The sex distribution was 67 females and 35 males, the mean age of onset was 28.95*1.69 years, and the maximal incidence occurred between 21 and 40 years of age [56 cases: 54.9%]. 2. Clinical manifestations of ocular symptoms were seen to 70 patients [68.6%] extremities weakness in 33 [32.3%], bulbar weakness in 29 [28.4%], and dyspnea in 13 [12.7%]. 3. Study cases more than two thirds were classified as mild types [MG 1 and MG 11A] and 6 cases as grave [MG 1V] based on the modified Osserman`s classification system, 4. Thymectomy was performed in 19 cases which presented in severe myasthenia symptoms and showed no improvement with cholinergic drugs. Histologic examination of the excised thymus glands revealed no abnormalities in 4 cases, thymic hyperplasia in 5, benign thymoma in 5, and malignant thymoma in 5. 5. Immediate post-operative complications included 2 cases of pneumothorax which were treated by tube thoracostomies, there was no operative mortality. 6. The response to cholinergic drugs in 36 cases younger than 20 years old and in 27 cases older than 40 years was relatively poor, while that in 35 cases between the ages of 21 and 40 years old was good. 7. Thirty of 39 cases in groups IIB, III & IV improved markedly with medical or surgical management while only 16 of 59 cases in the mild groups [I and IIA] improved, almost all surgical cases improved in all categories. 8. There were 5 deaths. occurring between 7 months and 3 years 3 months of treatment of myasthenia gravis. The causes of death were myasthenic crisis in 2 cases, respiratory failure due to candidiasis & radiation pneumonitis in one case, cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure in two case.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2000

${\alpha}_2$-Adrenoceptor antagonists, which can enhance synaptic norepinephrine levels by blocking feedback inhibition processes, are potentially useful in the treatment of disease states such. as depression, memory impairment, impotence and sexual dysfunction. (10bS)-1,2,3,5,6,10b-Hexahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline oxalate (YSL-3S) was evaluated in several in vitro biological tests to establish its pharmacological profile of activities as an ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor antagonist. Saturation binding assay revealed that$^{3}[H]$rauwolscine bound to the $\alpha$$_2$-adrenoceptors with a Kd value of 6.3$\pm$0.5 nM and a Bmax value of 25l$\pm$39 fmol/mg protein in rat cortical synaptic membranes. Competitive binding assay showed that YSL-3S inhibited the binding of$^3[H]$rauwolscine (1 nM) in a concentration-dependent manner with a Ki value of 98.2$\pm$12.1 nM while it did not inhibit the binding of [$^3$H]cytisine (1.25 nM) to neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors. The Ki values of yohimbine, clonidine and norepinephrine for $^3[H]$rauwolscine binding were 15.8$\pm$1.0, 40.1$\pm$5.9 and 40.0$\pm$11.5 nM, respectively. In addition, the binding affinity of YSL-3S for ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors was higher than that of its antipode and the racemic mixture. The functional activity of YSL-3S at the presynaptic ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors was assessed using the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens. Clonidine inhibited field-stimulated contractions of the vas deference in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of YSL-3S or yohimbine caused a parallel, rightward the dose-response curve of clonidine in a dose-dependent manner, indicating an antagonistic action at the presynaptic ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors. The $pA_2$values of yohimbine and YSL-3S were 7.66$\pm$0.13 and 6.64$\pm$0.18, respectively. The results indicate that YSL-3S acts as a competitive antagonist at presynaptic ${\alpha}_2$ -adrenoceptors with a potency approximately ten times lower than yohimbine, but is devoid of binding affinity for neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.55-62
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• 1988

The effect of panaxadiol (PD). an active component of Korean ginseng saponins on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the rabbit adrenal gland and its mode of action were investigated. PD ($400\;{\mu}g$) increased significantly the secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rabbit adrenal gland. PD-induced secretion of CA was reduced markedly by treatment with atropine. CA secretion induced by Ach or PD was potentiated by physostigmine treatment. Chlorisondamine inhibited CA secretion of PD or Ach. Perfusion of PD ($400\;{\mu}g$) for 30 minutes enhanced the secretory activity of CA by Ach. Ouabain weakened the secretory rsponse caused by PD but enhanced the response by Ach. Adenosine treatment resulted in marked increase in CA secretion by PD or Ach. Perfusion with calcium free Krebs solution containing 5 mM EDTA for 30 minutes completely blocked the secretory effect induced by Ach and also weakened that evoked by PD. It is suggested that PD causes the secretion of CA from the rabbit adrenal gland by a calcium dependent exocytotic process. The secretory effect of PD is due to the stimulation of cholinergic muscarinic and nicotinic-receptors present in the adrenal gland partly by direct action on the chromaffin cell.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 1981

The wormwood is one of the plants which occur widely throughout the world. Though the precise data on the entire chemical composition of mugwort leaves are not available, the major principles which have been found so far include inulin, alkaloid, thujon, sesquiterpene and several vitamins. Santonin, a parasiticide, is one of the glucosides extracted from the limited species of wormwood. It has long been known in herb medicine that the plants of this family has not only strong hemostatic, analgesic and parasiticidal actions but also therapeutic effects for diarrhea, stomachache and asthma. In recent pharmaceutical botany the wormwood is introduced to have antipyretic and astringent actions also. The mugwort(Artemisia asiatica Nakai) is the most common species of wormwood that occurs in Korea. The usage of this edible leaves of mugwort is rather various. It is used not only for wormwood bath but also as forage, moxa and medicinal agents. Recently Kim et al reported from their study on the effect of mugwort on the motility of isolated intestine of rabbits that tonus and motility were markedly enhanced by mugwort but this effect of mugwort on intestinal motility was almost completely blocked by atropine suggesting that activity of mugwort was exerted through its cholinergic effect. It was the findings of Kim et al that prompted the authors to do the present experiment. The present study was undertaken to investigate effects of mugwort(Artemisia asiatica Nakai) juice on the respiration and blood pressure in cats. And also studied was the mechanism of depressor action of Artemisia asiatica Nakai Juice (AAJ). The results obtained are as follows; 1) It was observed that mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were decreased markedly by AAJ. Following administration of 0.15 ml/kg and 0.3 ml/kg AAJ into cats the maximum depressor responses observed were $77.5{\pm}2.2\;mmHg$ and $94.0{\pm}3.7\;mmHg$ respectively. 2) Depressor responses to AAJ were blocked markedly by atropine whereas the responses were not affected by propranolol and dibenamine. Therefore it is strongly inferred that depressor action of AAJ results mainly from its cholinergic effect. This inference was further substantiated by the fact that heart rate change which invariably accompanies depressor responses to AAJ was almost completely abolished by atropinization. 3) After administration of AAJ into cats frequency of respiration was markedly increased while depth of respiration decreased during first 2-3 seconds.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 1991

Parathion is widely used in agriculture, but it is highly toxic and now clear that parathion behaves like a cholinergic drug by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase. In order to know acute toxicity and the changes of cholinesterase activity according to time lapsed in Sprague-Dawley rats injected single with half dose to LD$_{50}$ of parathion, cholinesterase activities in serum, spinal cord, whole brain and median lethal dose between sex difference were investigated. The results obtained were summerized as follows ; 1. 4LD_{50}$ values of parathion given intraperitoneally to male and female rats were 10.5mg / kg(95% confidence limits, 6.6-16.8mg/ kg) and 3.3mg/ kg(95% confidence limits, 1.9-5.6mg/ kg). 2. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in serum of parathion-injected rats according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 35.4%(male) and 32.4%(female) after 1 hour in comparison to control group, but cholinesterase activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 3. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in spinal cord of parathion-injected rats according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 31.1% (male) and 36.3% (female) after 30 minutes in comparison to control group, but cholinesterase activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 4. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in whole brain of parathion -injected rats according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 32.2%(male) and 42.6%(female) after 1 hour in comparison to control group, but cholinesterase activities were completely recovered after 48 hours.s.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1992

Rats were treated with physostigmine, using 0.75 mg/kg acutely, with 0.75 mg/kg daily for 7 dats, or with 0.15 mg/kg/h continuously for 7 days. Striatal dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activities were studied. After acute treatment striatal DOPAC and HVA concentrations were significantly increased without changes in DA level 1 h, but not 24 h. And also the ratios of DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA were increased, suggesting an increased turnover of DA. however TH activities were decreased 24h, but not 1h after acute administration. After both daily and continuous treatment with physostigmine for 7 days, neither DA nor its metabolites were changed. However their ratios were decreased, suggesting a decreased turnover of DA. The TH activities were only decreased in the daily treated group, but not in the continously treated one. These results indicate that dopamine metabolisms are changed after acute and subacute administration with physostigmine. Further it suggest that the subacute stimulation of cholinergic activity may induce the dopamine metablism and activity to be decreased.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2014

In this study, we propose that diprophylline exerts bidirectional modulation (BM) on the isolated rat jejunal segment depending on its contractile state. The results supported the hypothesis. Diprophylline ($20{\mu}M$) exerted stimulatory effects on the contractility of jejunal segment in six low contractile states while inhibitory effects in six high contractile states, showing the characteristics of BM. Diprophylline-induced stimulatory effect was significantly blocked by atropine, indicating the correlation with cholinergic activation. Diprophylline-induced inhibitory effect was partially blocked by phentolamine, propranolol, and L-N-Nitro-Arginine respectively, indicating their correlation with sympathetic activation and nitric oxide-mediated relaxing mechanisms. Diprophylline-induced BM was abolished by tetrodotoxin or in a $Ca^{2+}$ free condition or pretreated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib, suggesting that diprophylline-induced BM is $Ca^{2+}$ dependent, and that it requires the presence of enteric nervous system as well as pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal. Diprophylline significantly increased the reduced MLCK expression and myosin extent in constipation-prominent rats and significantly decreased the increased MLCK expression and myosin extent in diarrhea-prominent rats, suggesting that the change of MLCK expression may also be involved in diprophylline-induced BM on rat jejunal contractility. In summary, diprophylline-exerted BM depends on the contractile states of the jejunal segments, requires the presence of $Ca^{2+}$, enteric nervous system, pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal, and MLCK-correlated myosin phosphorylation. The results suggest the potential implication of diprophylline in relieving alternative hypo/hyper intestinal motility.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 1992

The insecticide p-nitropheny diethyl thiophospate is alse known by the symbol E.605 and a legion of trade names including “parathion”. The insecticide is widely used in agriculture, but it is highly toxic and now clear that parathion behaves like a cholinergic drug by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase. In order to know acute toxicity and the changes of glucose concentrations and activity according to time lapsed in female mice given orally single with the half dose to $LD_{50}$ of parathion, glucose contents and cholinesterase activities in serum as well as cholinesterase activities in whole brain and spinal cord were investigated, otherwise median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of parathion given orally against female mice was determined. The results obtained were summerized as follows ; 1. $LD_{50}$ value of parathion given orally to female mice was 7.1mg/kg(95% confidence limits, 3.8-13.1mg/kg) 2. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in serum of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 61% after 30 minutes in comparison to control group, but activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 3. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in whole brain of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 49% after 2 hours in completely recovered after 24 hours. 4. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in spinal cord of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 57% after 2 hours in comparison to control group, but activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 5. The changes of glucose contents in serum of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed and in directly after death due to parathion poisoning were no significantly difference.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2021

Here, we investigated the prebiotic and antioxidant effects of Actinidia arguta sprout water extract (AASWE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive deficit mice. AASWE increased viable cell count, titratable acidity, and acetic acid production in Lactobacillus reuteri strain and showed a cytoprotective effect on LPS-induced inflammation in HT-29 cells. We assessed the behavior of LPS-induced cognitive deficit mice using Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests and found that administration of AASWE significantly improved learning and memory function. The AASWE group showed antioxidant activity through downregulation of malondialdehyde levels and upregulation of superoxide dismutase levels in brain tissue. In addition, the AASWE group exhibited activation of the cholinergic system with decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue. Furthermore, AASWE effectively downregulated inflammatory mediators such as phosphorylated-JNK, phosphorylated-NF-κB, TNF-α and interleukin-6. The major bioactive compounds of AASWE were identified as quercetin-3-O-arabinopyranosyl(1→2)-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-glucopyranose, quercetin-3-O-apiosyl(1 → 2)-galactoside, rutin, and 3-caffeoylquinic acid. Based on these results, we suggest that AASWE not only increases the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, but also shows an ameliorating effect on LPS-induced cognitive impairment.