• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.145-156
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review experimental studies of Parkinson's Disease in Korean medical journals, which have been published since 1990. Methods: Experimental studies related to Parkinson's disease published in Korean medical journals, registered with Korea research foundation, were searched. Articles were grouped into journal of publication, subject, and publication year. Experimental study subjects and models were analysed. Results and Conclusions: Twenty-two articles about experimental studies of Parkinson's Disease in Korean medical journals were included in our review. There were 13 articles in which herbs were used for treatment, 4 articles in which bee venom was used for treatment, 4 articles in which acupuncture was used for treatment, and 1 article in which pharmacopuncture was used for treatment. Most of the studies used experimental models of MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease and MTT assay was used to analyse cell toxicity and cell viability. Pole test, rotarod test, Morris water maze test, and forced swimming test were commonly used to analyse MPTP-induced behavioral deficits in animals. Analysis on experimental studies of Parkinson's disease was categorized into the subjects of dopaminergic cell protective effect, cell-apoptosis protectiveness, anti-inflammatory effect, and anti-oxidative effect.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.92-102
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• 2015

This work aimed to study whether rice bran extract fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (LW) promotes functional recovery and reduces cognitive impairment after ischemic brain injury. Ischemic brain injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Four groups were studied, namely the (1) sham, (2) vehicle, (3) donepezil, and (4) LW groups. Animals were injected with LW once a day for 7 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. LW group showed significantly improved neurological function as compared to the vehicle group, as well as enhanced learning and memory in the Morris water maze. The LW group showed the greatest functional recovery. Moreover, the LW group showed an enhanced more survival cells anti-apoptotic effect in the cortex and neural cell densities in the hippocampal DG and CA1. In addition, this group showed enhanced expression of neurotrophic factors, antioxidant genes, and the acetylcholine receptor gene, as well as synaptophysin (SYP), Fox-3 (NeuN), doublecortin (DCX), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) proteins. Our findings indicate that LW treatment showed the largest effects in functional recovery and cognitive improvement after ischemic brain injury through stimulation of the acetylcholine receptor, antioxidant genes, neurotrophic factors, and expression of NeuN, SYP, DCX, and ChAT.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.79-115
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• 2002

This research investigates the effect of the Crataegus pinnatifida BGE. var. major N.E. BR(CPVM) on Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the effects of the DYHT extract on (1) $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, amyloid precursor proteins(APP), acetylcholinesterase(AChE), and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) mRNA of PC-12 cells treated with CTI05; (2) the AChE activity and the APP production of PC-12 cell treated with CT105; (3) the behavior; and (4) expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, reactive oxygen species(ROS), nitrite oxide(NO); and (5) the infarction area of the hippocampus, and brain tissue injury in Alzheimer's diseased mice induced with CT105 were investigated. The results are as follow. 1. The CPVM extract suppressed the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, APP, AChE, and GFAP mRNA in PC-12 cells treated with CT105. 2. The CPVM extract suppressed the AChE activity and the production of APP significantly in PC-12 cells treated with CT105. 3. The CPVM extract group showed a significant inhibitory effect on the memory deficit for the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by CT105 in the Morris water maze experiment. 4. The CPVM extract suppressed the over-expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, ROS and NO in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by CT105. 5. The CPVM extract reduced the infarction area of hippocampus, and controlled the injury of brain tissue in the mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by CT105. These results suggest that the CPVM extract may be effective for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.130-138
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• 2005

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Phellodendron amurense(PLDA) on the Alzheimer's disease. The effects of PLDA extract on $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, amyloid precursor proteins(APP), acetylcholinesterase(AChE), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) mRNA of PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$ plus $rIL-1{\beta}$ and AChE activity of PC-12 cell lysate treated by $A{\beta}$ plus $rIL-1{\beta}$ and behavior of memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine and mice glucose, uric acid, AChE activity of memory deficit rats induced by scopolamine were investigated, respectively. PLDA extract suppressed $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, APP, AChE, GFAP mRNA in PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$ plus $rIL-1{\beta}$ ; AChE activity in cell lysate of PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$ plus $rIL-1{\beta}$. PLDA extract increased glucose, decreased uric acid and AChE significantly in the serum of the memory deficit rats induced by scopolamine. PLDA extract group showed significantly inhibitory effect on the memory deficit of mice induced by scopolamine in the experiment of Morris water maze. According to the above results, it is suggested that PLDA extract might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2007

Objective : This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Thalictrum foetidum(TFD) on the Alzheimer's disease. Method : The effects of TFD on amyloid precursor proteins(APP), acetylcholinesterase(AChE), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) mRNA of PC-12 cell treated by amyloid ${\beta}$ $protein(A{\beta})$ and $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA of THP-l cell treated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), AChE activity of PC-12 cell lysate treated by $A{\beta}$ and behavior of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine, and glucose, AChE in serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine were investigated, respectively. Results : The results were summarized as follows ; 1. TFD suppressed APP, AChE, GFAP mRNA in PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$. 2. TFD suppressed $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA in THP-l cell treated by LPS 3.. TFD suppressed AChE activity in cell lysate of PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$. 4. TFD increased glucose and decreased AChE significantly in the serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine. 5. TFD group showed significantly inhibitory effect on the scopolamine-induced impairment of learning and memory in the experiment of Morris water maze. Conclusion : According to the above results, it is suggested that TFD might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2015

${\beta}$-asarone (BAS) is an active component of Acori graminei rhizoma, a traditional medicine used clinically in treating dementia and chronic stress in Korea. However, the cognitive effects of BAS and its mechanism of action have remained elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine whether BAS improved spatial cognitive impairment induced in rats following chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration. CORT administration (40 mg/kg, i.p., 21 days) resulted in cognitive impairment in the avoidance conditioning test (AAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test that was reversed by BAS (200 mg/kg, i.p). Additionally, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis, the administration of BAS significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) proteins and mRNAs in the hippocampus. Also, BAS administration significantly restored the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNAs in the hippocampus. Thus, BAS may be an effective therapeutic for learning and memory disturbances, and its neuroprotective effect was mediated, in part, by normalizing the CORT response, resulting in regulation of BDNF and CREB functions and anti-apoptosis in rats.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.348-358
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• 2009

Diffuse axonal injury(DAI) is a common form of traumatic brain injury and thought to be a major contributor to cognitive dysfunction. Physical activity has been shown to beneficial effects on physical health and influences in hippocampus which is an important location for memory and learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of motor training on motor performance and axonal regeneration in hippocampus through the immunoreactivity of GAP-43 after diffuse axonal injury in the rats. The experimental groups were applied motor training(beam-walking, rotarod, and Morris water maze) but control groups were not. The time performing the motor tasks and GAP-43 immunohistochemistry were used for the result of axonal recovery. There were meaningful differences between experimental groups and control groups on motor performance and GAP-43 immunohistochemistry. The control groups showed increasing tendency with the lapse of time, but experimental groups showed higher. Therefore, Motor training after DAI improve motor outcomes which are associated with dynamically altered immunoreactivity of GAP-43 in axonal injury regions, particularly hippocampus, and that is related with axonal regeneration.

• 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.16 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2012

We examine whether Phellodendron amurense (PA) and its major alkaloid compound, berberine (BER), improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine in rats. Effects of PA and BER on the acetylcholinergic system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses for 14 days of PA (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and BER (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). Daily administration of PA and BER improved memory impairment as measured by the passive avoidance test and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze test. Administration of PA and BER significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and restored brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cAMP-response element-binding protein mRNA expression in the hippocampus. PA and BER also decreased significantly the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in the hippocampus. These results demonstrated that PA and BER had significant neuroprotective effects against neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that PA and BER may be useful as therapeutic agents for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activity and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2014

We investigated the effect low salt (2 or 4% salt) concentrations jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus on the learning and memory impairments in scopolamine-induced (2 mg/kg, i.p.) dementia rats. Rats treated with oral BF-7 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) as a positive control and Todarodes pacificus jeotgal had significantly reduced scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the passive avoidance test. The Morris water maze test or treatment with 2% salt jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the formation of long- and short-term memory. The acetylcholine content and acetylcholinesterase acitivity paralleled the results of the behavior experiment. There were no significant differences in the brain acetylcholine contents of the experimental groups, while the brain acetylcholine content of the group treated with 2% salt Todarodes pacificus jeotgal was higher than that of the control group. The inhibitory effect of 2% salt jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus on the acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain was lower than that of the control group. These trends were similar to those of the gamma-aminobutyric acid content. We suggest that Todarodes pacificus jeotgal enhances learning memory and cognitive function by regulating cholinergic enzymes.