• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.467-473
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the memory enhancing effect and underlying molecular mechanism of arabinoxylan (AX), a major component of dietary fiber in wheat against scopolamine (SCO)-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Diverse behavior tests including Y-maze, Morris water maze, and passive avoidance tests were performed to measure cognitive functions. SCO significantly decreased the spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test and step-through latency in passive avoidance test, whereas increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test compared with the sham control group. In contrast, oral administration of AX (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) effectively reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in SD rats. Furthermore, AX treatment up-regulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cortex and hippocampus via promoting activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Therefore, our findings suggest that AX can improve SCO-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through activation of CREB and up-regulation of BDNF levels, thereby exhibiting a cognition-enhancing potential.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2010

Black sesame (Sesami semen nigrum) has been used to treat dizziness, earnoise, constipation in the traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we assessed memory enhancing properties of 70% ethanolic extract of black sesame (EBS70) and its ameliorating activities on learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Drug-induced amnesia was made by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Single EBS70 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks (P<0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task (P<0.05). In addition, EBS70 increased BDNF expression in hippocampus 4 h after its administration (P<0.05). These results suggest that EBS70 enhances learning and memory in normal state and attenuates amnesic state caused by cholinergic dysfunction.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.185-199
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• 2011

In the present study, we assessed the effect of the PPA (Polygala japonica Houtt., Polygala tenuifolia WILLD. and Acorus gramineus SOLAND. mixed preparation), a traditional herbal prescription, on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. The cognition-enhancing effect of PPA was investigated using a passive avoidance test, Y-maze test and the Morris water maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). A single PPA (400 and 800 (mg/kg)) administration significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance test (P<0.05). On the Y-maze test, PPA (400 and 800 (mg/kg)) also significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice (P<0.05). PPA also improved escape latencies in training trials and increased swimming times and distances within the target zone of the Morris water maze (P<0.05). These results suggest that PPA attenuates amnesic state induced by scopolamine and that these Effect are mediated by enhancing the cholinergic dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1691-1694
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• 2010

In the present study, we assessed whether the extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata and fermented C. lanceolata posses the cognition-enhancing effect in rats with impaired learning and memory by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor. The fermented C. lanceolata extract (333, 667 mg/kg) significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance test (p<0.05). Moreover, fermented C. lanceolata extract (333 mg/kg) also improved escape latencies in training trials of Morris water maze test (p<0.05). The water extract of fermented C. lanceolata showed significant anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and these activities were parallel to treatment duration and dependent of the learning models.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Sunhyangjungkisan on the learning and memory ability in rats. For this purpose we have evoked cerebral dysfunction in rats with NOS inhibitor and then performed the Morris water maze task for each rat. We have found that Sunghyangjungkisan have some improving effedts on impaired learning and memort ability in the NOS inhibitor treated rat. In these improving effects, memory effect was more evident then learning effect. This result implies that Sunghyangjungkisan may be one of useful prescriptions for treatment of vascular dementia after cerebral ischemia.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.281-285
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• 2008

Cherry tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, which may protect against neurodegeneration and consequent memory loss. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of cherry tomatoes on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. Male ICR mice (4 weeks old) were maintained for 4 weeks on a diet containing 10 or 20% tomato powder (TP), and then administered scopolamine (1 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) 45 min before memory testing. Passive avoidance and Morris water maze testing revealed that scopolamine-induced amnesia was significantly reduced in the TP groups compared to the non TP-received (control) group. Accordingly, acetylcholinesterase activities in the serum and brain of TP groups were lower than those in the control group. These findings suggest that cherry tomatoes may be useful for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as amnesia and Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-44
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• 2003

Objective : The aim of this study was to assess protective effects of Whangryonhaedoktang on the chronic mild stress (CMS) animal model of depression. Method : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. The subjects were divided into 3 groups (CMS-drug group: Whangryonhaedoktang was administered during CMS procedure, CMS-vehicle: water was administered during CMS procedure, normal control group: without CMS procedure). After 4 weeks of CMS procedure, Morris water maze (MWM) test and open field test were executed and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was measured in ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) of rat brain. Result : 1. CMS procedure induced defects of spatial learning in early period of MWM test. 2. CMS Whangryonhaedoktang group showed shorter escape latency in comparison with CMS control group in MWM test on the first day of the test. 3. CMS Whangryonhaedoktang group and CMS control group showed no significant difference of activities and emotional behaviors in comparison with normal control group in open field test. 4. CMS Whangryonhaedoktang group showed significant inhibition effects of TH expression in VTA and LC areas in comparison with CMS control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that Whangryonhaedoktang may have inhibition effects to early period defects of spatial learning and protective antidepressant effects in CMS model rats.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.346-350
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• 1995

To assess the behavior of the various chemicals, such as ethylcholine axiridinium (AF54A), scopolamine and morphine, the chemicals were administered into eitheer rat or mice. And water maze tests were performed before and during drug administration. In AF64A-treated groups (3 nmol/each ventricle), the latencies to escape was significantly increased in both of the pretraining-and posttraining groups. In scopolamine-treatment (2mg/kg, sc) to the pretrained group, the latency to escape was significantly shortened after the acute administration of scopolamine. However in subscute treatment group with scopolamine, the latency to escape was significantly increased. In morphine-treated groups (10 mg/kg, ip), the subacute treatmment with morphine, the latency to escape was not ahcnged. The results indicate that each chemical induces the learning impariment. However the chrmical-induced learning impairment may have different characteristics upon the exposed chemical. Also the results suggest that both the motivation and the retrieval of memory might be impaired by AF64A.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.39-48
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• 2022

Objectives : In the present study, we assessed the effects of water extract of Ulmus davidiana(UED) on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine in mice through its favorable acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and antioxidant effect. Methods : The memory and cognitive enhancing effect of the UDE was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice. In addition, to examine the mechanism of UDE using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and antioxidant activity. Results : The water extract of UDE (100, and 200 mg/kg) significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance test (P < 0.05). Moreover, UDE (100, and 200 mg/kg) also improved escape latencies in training trials and increased swimming times and distances within the target zone of the Morris water maze (P < 0.05). On the Y-maze test, UDE (100, and 200 mg/kg) also significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice (P < 0.05). In an in vitro study, UDE was found to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, changes in neurotrophic factor (CREB), and antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions : The water extract of UDE dramatically possesses the anti-amnestic and cognitive-enhancing activities related to the memory processes, and these activities were parallel to treatment duration and dependent on the learning models. These results suggest that the administration of UDE enhances learning and memory, and that this effect is partially mediated by ERK-CREB-BDNF signaling and the survival of immature neurons.

• 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.