• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.688-699
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• 2007

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the SST hot water extract & ultra-fine Powder on Alzheimer's Disease Model Induced by ${\beta}$A. The effects of the SST hot water extract on expression of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NOS-II, COX-2 mRNA and production of IL-l${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO in BV2 microglial cell line treated by lipopolysacchaide(LPS). The effects of the SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder on (1) the behavior (2) expression of IL-1${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, MDA, (3) Glucose, AChE in serum (4) the infarction area of the hippocampus, and brain tissue injury in Alzheimer's diseased mice induced with ${\beta}$A were investigated. The SST hot water extract suppressed the expression of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-a mRNA ${\alpha}$in BV2 microglia cell line treated with LPS. The SST hot water extract suppressed the production of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO in BV2 microglial cell line treated with LPS. The SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder a significant inhibitory effect on the memory deficit was shown for the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}$A in the Morris water maze experiment, which measured stop-through latency. The SST ultra-fine powder suppressed the expression of TNF-a protein significantly in the microglial cell of mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}$A. The SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder reduced the MDA and suppressed the over-expression of CD68, CD11b in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}$A. The SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder decreased AChE significantly in the serum of the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}$A. The SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder reduced infarction area of hippocampus, and controlled the injury of brain tissue in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}$A. The SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder reduced the tau protein, GFAP, and presenilin1, 2 of hippocampus in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by ${\beta}$A. These results suggest that the SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder may be effective for the prevention and treatment of A1zheimer's disease. Investigation into the clinical use of the SST hot water extract & ultra-fine powder for Alzheimer's disease is suggested for future research.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2019

As the elderly population is increasing, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a global issue and many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate treatments for AD. As these clinical trials have been conducted and have failed, the development of new theraphies for AD with fewer adverse effects remains a challenge. In this study, we examined the effects of Theracurmin on cognitive decline using 5XFAD mice, an AD mouse model. Theracurmin is more bioavailable form of curcumin, generated with submicron colloidal dispersion. Mice were treated with Theracurmin (100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg) for 12 weeks and were subjected to the novel object recognition test and the Barnes maze test. Theracurmin-treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memories compared those of the vehicle-treated controls. In addition, the antioxidant activities of Theracurmin were investigated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. The increased MDA level and decreased SOD and GSH levels in the vehicle-treated 5XFAD mice were significantly reversed by the administration of Theracurmin. Moreover, we observed that Theracurmin administration elevated the expression levels of synaptic components, including synaptophysin and post synaptic density protein 95, and decreased the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), a marker of activated microglia. These results suggest that Theracurmin ameliorates cognitive function by increasing the expression of synaptic components and by preventing neuronal cell damage from oxidative stress or from the activation of microglia. Thus, Theracurmin would be useful for treating the cognitive dysfunctions observed in AD.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.804-812
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different types of exercise training on neurodegeneration and cognitive function in mice with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the control (CO, n = 9) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, n = 27) groups. The IGT group consumed 45% high fat diet for 4 weeks and received 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin twice in the lower abdomen to induce IGT. After the IGT induction period, the IGT group was subdivided into IGT + sedentary (IGT, n = 9), IGT + endurance exercise (IGTE, n = 9), and IGT + resistance exercise (IGTR, n = 9). The IGTE and IGTR groups performed treadmill and ladder climbing exercises 5 times per week for 8 weeks, respectively. Fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were significantly higher in IGT group than in CO, IGTE, and IGTR groups (p < 0.05). HOMA-IR was significantly higher in IGT group than CO group (p < 0.05). Hippocampal catalase (CAT) was significantly lower in IGT group than in CO group (p < 0.05), while beta-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) was significantly higher in IGT group than in CO group (p < 0.05). Hippocampal tau was significantly higher in IGT group than in CO, IGTE, and IGTR groups (p < 0.05). The Y-maze test performance for cognitive function was significantly lower in IGT group than in CO, IGTE, and IGTR groups (p <0.05). These results suggest that IGT induces neurodegeneration and negatively affects cognitive function, while regular exercise may be effective in alleviating neurodegeneration and cognitive decline regardless of exercise type.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.317-328
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• 2018

Cognitive impairment responses are important research topics in the study of degenerative brain diseases as well as in understanding of human mental activities. To compare response to scopolamine (SPL)-induced cognitive impairment, we measured altered parameters for learning and memory ability, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, cholinergic dysfunction and neuronal cell damages, in Korl:ICR stock and two commercial breeder stocks (A:ICR and B:ICR) after relevant SPL exposure. In the water maze test, Korl:ICR showed no significant difference in SPL-induced learning and memory impairment compared to the two different ICRs, although escape latency was increased after SPL exposure. Although behavioral assessment using the manual avoidance test revealed reduced latency in all ICR mice after SPL treatment as compared to Vehicle, no differences were observed between the three ICR stocks. To determine cholinergic dysfunction induction by SPL exposure, activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assessed in the three ICR stocks revealed no difference of acetylcholinesterase activity. Furthermore, low levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and high levels of inflammatory cytokines in SPL-treated group were maintained in all three ICR stocks, although some variations were observed between the SPL-treated groups. Neuronal cell damages induced by SPL showed similar response in all three ICR stocks, as assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, Nissl staining analysis and expression analyses of apoptosis-related proteins. Thus, the results of this study provide strong evidence that Korl:ICR is similar to the other two ICR. Stocks in response to learning and memory capacity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2022

Rodent model for chronic cerebral hypoperfusion caused by bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO) show clinically relevant evidences for vascular dementia and impairments of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of fermented garlic (F-Garlic) extract with NO metabolites on cognitive behaviors, synaptic plasticity, and molecular events in the hippocampus following BCAO. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided three experimental groups into: control+water; BCAO+water; BCAO+F-Garlic. Animals were treated with oral administration of F-Garlic in tap water as a drinking water after surgery for 4 weeks. On passive avoidance test and Y-maze test, BCAO+water showed a significant decrease in step-through latency and spontaneous alteration, indicating deficit of hippocampal memory formation but the treatment of F-Garlic significantly increased these cognitive behaviors. In control+water, a robust increase in the amplitude of evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials was observed by theta burst stimulation to hippocampal neural circuit indicating formation of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal CA1. BCAO+water showed a highly significant deficit in LTP induction 4 weeks after BCAO. On other hand, daily oral administration of F-Garlic extract caused the marked preservation of LTP induction. Moreover, parvalbumin was markedly reduced in the CA1, especially, in the stratum radiatum of BCAO+water. In contrast, BCAO+F-Garlic mitigate a significantly reduction of the parvalbumin. In summary, these results suggest that daily oral administration of F-Garlic extract can ameliorate cognitive memory deficit through the preservation of synaptic plasticity and interneurons integrity in the hippocampus in rodent model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.665-675
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), an active ingredient in ginseng, may be a potential agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the protective effect of Rg1 on neurodegeneration in AD and its mechanism of action are still incompletely understood. Methods: Wild type (WT) and APP/PS1 AD mice, from 6 to 9 months old, were used in the experiment. The open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM) were used to detect behavioral changes. Neuronal damage was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining. Immunofluorescence, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) were used to examine postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) expression, amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, Tau and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and NAPDH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression. Results: Rg1 treatment for 12 weeks significantly ameliorated cognitive impairments and neuronal damage and decreased the p-Tau level, amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, and Aβ generation in APP/PS1 mice. Meanwhile, Rg1 treatment significantly decreased the ROS level and NOX2 expression in the hippocampus and cortex of APP/PS1 mice. Conclusions: Rg1 alleviates cognitive impairments, neuronal damage, and reduce Aβ deposition by inhibiting NOX2 activation in APP/PS1 mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.371-385
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavone (SIF) and soy lecithin (SL) have beneficial effects on many chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Regretfully, there is little evidence to show the combined effects of these soy extractives on the impairment of cognition and abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF). This study examined the optimal combination dose of SIF + SL to provide evidence for improving CBF and protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: In vivo study, SIF50 + SL40, SIF50 + SL80 and SIF50 + SL160 groups were obtained. Morris water maze, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to detect learning and memory impairment, CBF, and damage to the cerebrovascular tissue in rat. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were detected. The anti-oxidative damage index of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the serum of an animal model was also tested. In vitro study, an immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEND.3 cells) was used to confirm the cerebrovascular endothelial cell protection of SIF + SL. In this study, 50 µM of Gen were used, while the 25, 50, or 100 µM of SL for different incubation times were selected first. The intracellular levels of 8-OHdG, SOD, GSH, and GSSG were also detected in the cells. RESULTS: In vivo study, SIF + SL could increase the target crossing times significantly and shorten the total swimming distance of rats. The CBF in the rats of the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group was enhanced. Pathological changes, such as attenuation of the endothelium in cerebral vessels were much less in the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group. The 8-OHdG was reduced in the SIF50 + SL40 group. The GSSG showed a significant decrease in all SIF + SL pretreatment groups, but the GSH showed an opposite result. SOD was upregulated by SIF + SL pretreatment. Different combinations of Genistein (Gen)+SL, the secondary proof of health benefits found in vivo study, showed they have effective anti-oxidation and less side reaction on protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cell. SIF50 + SL40 in rats experiment and Gen50 + SL25 in cell test were the optimum joint doses on alleviating cognitive impairment and regulating CBF through protecting cerebrovascular tissue by its antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: SIF+SL could significantly prevent cognitive defect induced by β-Amyloid through regulating CBF. This kind of effect might be attributed to its antioxidant activity on protecting cerebral vessels.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.458-468
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• 2023

Background: As a complication of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of cognitive dysfunction are still undefined. Recent studies demonstrated that Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has promising neuroprotective properties, but the effect and mechanism in diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) deserve further investigation. Methods: After establishing the T2DM model with a high-fat diet and STZ intraperitoneal injection, Rg1 was given for 8 weeks. The behavior alterations and neuronal lesions were judged using the open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM), as well as HE and Nissl staining. The protein or mRNA changes of NOX2, p-PLC, TRPC6, CN, NFAT1, APP, BACE1, NCSTN, and Ab1-42 were investigated by immunoblot, immunofluorescence or qPCR. Commercial kits were used to evaluate the levels of IP3, DAG, and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) in brain tissues. Results: Rg1 therapy improved memory impairment and neuronal injury, decreased ROS, IP3, and DAG levels to revert Ca²⁺ overload, downregulated the expressions of p-PLC, TRPC6, CN, and NFAT1 nuclear translocation, and alleviated Aβ deposition in T2DM mice. In addition, Rg1 therapy elevated the expression of PSD95 and SYN in T2DM mice, which in turn improved synaptic dysfunction. Conclusions: Rg1 therapy may improve neuronal injury and DACD via mediating PLC-CN-NFAT1 signal pathway to reduce Aβ generation in T2DM mice.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.333-344
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• 2024

Objective : Markers of neuroinflammation during ischemic stroke are well characterized, but additional markers of neural damage are lacking. The study identified associations of behavioral disorders after stroke with histologic neural damage and molecular biological change. Methods : Eight-week-old, 25 g male mice of the C57BL/6J strain were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to induce ischemic stroke. The control group was a healthy wild type (WT), and the experimental group were designed as a low severity MCAO1 and a high severity MCAO2 based on post-stroke neurological scoring. All groups underwent behavioral tests, realtime polymerase chain reaction, triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze statistical significance between groups. Results : In TTC staining, MCAO1 showed 29.02% and MCAO2 showed 38.94% infarct volume (p<0.0001). The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β was most highly expressed in MCAO2 (WT 0.44 vs. MCAO1 2.69 vs. MCAO2 5.02, p<0.0001). From the distance to target in the Barnes maze test, WT had a distance of 178 cm, MCAO1 had a distance of 276 cm, and MCAO2 had a distance of 1051 (p=0.0015). The latency to target was 13.3 seconds for WT, 27.9 seconds for MCAO1, and 87.9 seconds for MCAO2 (p=0.0007). Prospero homeobox 1 (Prox1) was most highly expressed in MCAO2 (p=0.0004). Doublecortin (Dcx) was most highly expressed in MCAO2 (p<0.0001). Conclusion : The study demonstrated that histological damage to neural cells and changes in brain mRNA expression were associated with behavioral impairment after ischemic stroke. Prox1 and Dcx may be biomarkers of neural damage associated with long-term cognitive decline, and increased expression at the mRNA level was consistent with neural damage and long-term cognitive dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.60-72
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify detailed factors that affect visitor satisfactions of the plants on display, environments of pedestrian road and facility of each theme garden by conducting a survey of visitors to Jade Garden. The 400 data including 100 copies per theme garden were used for statistical analysis. The statistical techniques used in the survey analysis include multi-regression analysis, t-test, and analysis of variance(ANOVA). As a result of the analysis, most of theme gardens tended to have the greatest impact on the satisfaction of the plants on display and the lowest level of facility satisfaction. According to detailed factors analysis of the satisfaction of plants on display satisfaction of plant diversity and the method of plant display were most affected in most of the theme gardens. Among them, promoting the satisfaction of plant diversity is necessary to plant various species, but in case of Ginkgo Maze Garden, a type of tree community as one tree(Ginkgo biloba), the satisfaction of plants diversity did not show a rising-up value. Therefore, it was confirmed that the appropriate degree of plants diversity depends on the theme or environment of the garden. In the case of the pedestrian-road-satisfaction, the width of the pedestrian road was the most affected, It was analyzed that whether the point of intersection can be easily available during peak season has a significant impact on the satisfaction of visitors. In the case of facility satisfaction, it was analyzed that the presence of rest and convenience facilities had the most direct influence on visitors, so the facility diversity had the greatest influence. Therefore, it is necessary to more systematically categorize and consider the influential detailed factors such as plants diversity and methods of plant display, width of pedestrian road and facilities diversity for the management and development of the arboretum.