• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2010

The Chongmyung-tang (CMT) has been used as an oriental herbal medicine for the purpose of enhanced learning and memory. Recently, since fermentation may give a positive effect on pharmacological actions of herbal medicine, many studies are focused to find fermented medicinal herbs with improved bioactivity. In the present study, memory enhancing, antioxidant and reducing power activity of CMT and fermented CMT with Aspergillus oryzae (FCMT-A) or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (FCMT-S) were determined. To evaluate the memory enhancing activities of CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S, we performed passive avoidance test using scopolamine induced amnesia model. Administration of CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S showed a significant memory enhancing effect about 72.5, 78.3, 71.8% of the normal group respectively. CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S also exhibited strong $DPPH{\bullet}$, ${\bullet}{O_2}^-$, $NO^{\codt}$, $ABTS^{{\cdot}+}$ scavenging activities and reducing ower. It was also found that fermented CMT has slightly higher scavenging activities on $DPPH{\bullet}$, $ABTS^{{\cdot}+}$ radicals compared to CMT. These results revealed that CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S had memory enhancing and radical scavenging activities. In addition, the fermentation of CMT was more or less important for elevated memory enhancing and antioxidant activities of CMT.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.637-642
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• 2004

Effects of defatted sesame and perilla methanol extracts on cognitive function and antioxidant activity of learning- and memory-impaired animal model SAMP8 mice. Animals were divided into 4 groups and fed with diets containing 0.3%(w/w) defatted sesame (S) or defatted perilla methanol extracts (P) for 12 weeks. Step through latency of SAMP8 control group was significantly higher than that of SAM R1 normal group, whereas significantly increased in S and P groups compared with SAMP8 control on passive avoidance test (p<0.001). Acetylcholinesterase activity of brain in SAMP8 increased compared with SAMR1 but no difference between SAMP8 control group and sample-treated group. Brain TBARS contents of SAMP8 control significantly increased compared with SAMR1 and were lowered significantly by supplementation of defatted sesame and perilla methanol extracts. Defatted sesame and perilla methanol extracts attenuated increased brain superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in SAMP8. These results suggest defatted sesame and perilla methanol extracts could attenuate cognitive deficits induced by aging possibly through activation of antioxidant activity of defatted sesame and perilla methanol extracts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Cognitive Science Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.244-253
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• 2005

사람에게 행동의 개인차가 있듯이 rat이나 mouse에 있어서도 행동의 차이를 발견할 수 있다. Rat의 행동성향에 따른 (1)학습 및 기억 능력의 차이, (2)기억과 해마의 관계, (3)치매유발단백질의 하나로 알려진 아밀로이드 베타($A{\beta}$ )및 수종의 항 치매 약물효과를 알아보는 것이 본 실험의 목적이다. Rat의 행동관찰을 통해 두 가지 행동패턴을 관찰할 수 있었는데, 이러한 rat의 행동 특성은 심리학자 Jung이 심리유형으로 설명하고 있는 extraversion, introversion의 행동성향과 유사할 것이라는 가정 하에 실험을 계획, 실시하였다. Rat에 water maze test를 실시하여 공간 기억의 단기, 장기 기억을 분석하였는데 그 결과 두 가지 행동 성향을 가진 rat은 서로 다른 학습 및 기억 능력의 특성을 보였다. 즉, extraversion은 단기 기억의 향상을 보인 반면에, introversion은 장기 기억의 향상을 보였다. Rat을 대상으로 water maze test 외에 Y-maze, passive avoidance test를 실시하여 공간 기억(spatial memory), 작동 기억(working memory), passive avoidance memory, 그리고 단기, 장기 기억의 관계를 종합적으로 분석해 보았다. 그 결과 두 가지 행동성향에 따라 서로 영향을 미치는 기억의 종류 및 관계에 차이가 있음을 발견할 수 있었다. 또한 두 가지 행동성향을 가진 rat에 약물을 투여했을 때, 서로 다른 약물 효과를 보였으며, $A{\beta}$ 를 주입했을 때, 기억(memory) 및 해마(hippocampus) 세포 사멸(cell death)에 서로 상반된 결과를 보여주었다. 이러한 연구 결과는 개체의 행동성향에 따라 학습 및 기억의 효과가 다를 수 있음을 보여주는 결과라 할 수 있고, 개인의 적성과 소질의 인식 및 개발의 중요성에 시사하는 바가 크다. 또한 개개인의 행동과 학습 및 기억 능력의 차이를 두뇌과학적으로 이해하여, 두뇌의 장점은 살리고 단점을 보완할 수 있는 이론적 토대를 세우는데 이러한 동물실험이 그 기초를 제공해 줄 수 있을 것이다. 또한 행동성향 및 기억의 종류에 따른 약물효과의 차이는 기억과 관련된 질병인 알츠하이머 환자에 있어 개개인에게 맞는 적절한 특징적인 치료약물이 존재할 것이라는 가능성을 제공해줄 뿐만 아니라 학습과 기억력 증진 효과를 기대해 볼 수 있을 것이라고 생각된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Background: Although ginsenosides such as Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 have shown promise as potential nutraceuticals for cognitive impairment, their use has been limited due to high production cost and low potency. In particular, the process of extracting pure Rg3 from ginseng is laborious and expensive. Methods: We described the methods in preparing ginseol k-g3, an Rg3-enriched fraction, and evaluated its effects on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Results: Ginseol k-g3 (25-200 mg/kg) significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in the passive avoidance, but not in Y-maze testing. Ginseol k-g3 (50 and 200 mg/kg) improved escape latency in training trials and increased swimming times within the target zone of the Morris water maze. The effect of ginseol k-g3 on the water maze task was more potent than that of Rg3 or Red ginseng. Acute or subchronic (6 d) treatment of ginseol k-g3 did not alter normal locomotor activity of mice in an open field. Ginseol k-g3 did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, unlike donezepil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Rg3 enrichment through the ginseol k-g3 fraction enhanced the efficacy of Rg3 in scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice as demonstrated in the Morris water maze task. Conclusion: The effects of ginseol k-g3 in ameliorating scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests indicate its specific influence on reference or long-term memory. The mechanism underlying the reversal of scopolamine-induced amnesia by ginseol k-g3 is not yet known, but is not related to anticholinesterase-like activity.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.213-226
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the effect of essential oils and ethanolic extracts of approximately 650 plant species on acetylcholine esterase (AChE) enzyme activity using Ellman's colorimetric method in 96-well microplates. The results showed that the ethanolic extracts from twig of Sophora subprostrata, twig of Phellodendron amurense, seed of Corylopsis coreana, and essential oil (EO) from Citrus paradisi, Cupressus sempervirens, Ocimum basilicum, Pinus sylvestris and Rosmarinus officinalis inhibited more than 80% of AChE activity. Among these, EO from Pinus sylvestris, C. sempervirens and C paradisi exhibited higher values of AChE inhibitory activity, which were 75, 84 and 99% at a concentration of 50 ug/ml, respectively. Finally, EO from C paradisi (grapefruit, GEO) showed the highest inhibitory activity towards AChE, which showed 91% of inhibition at a concentration of 20 ug/ml. We also examined the anti-dementia effects of GEO in mouse by passive avoidance test and Morris water maze test. The model mouse (male, ICR) of dementia (negative control) was induced by administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg body weight). The latency time of sample group administrated with GEO (100 mg/kg, p.o.) increased significantly as compared with negative control on passive avoidance test. There were significant recovery from the scopolamine-induced deficits on learning and memory in water maze test through daily administrations with GEO (100 mg/kg, p.o.). From these results, we conclude that GEO treatment might enhance the cognitive function, suggesting that the EO of C. paradis may be a potential candidate for improvement of perceptive ability and dementia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.564-569
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• 2019

Heavy drinking disrupts the nervous system by activation of GABA receptors and inhibition of glutamate receptors, thereby preventing short-term memory formation. Degradation of cognition by alcohol induces blackouts, and it can lead to alcoholic dementia if repeated. Therefore, drugs need to be developed to prevent alcohol-induced blackout. In this study, we confirmed the effect of an ethanol extract of Cassia obtusifolia seeds (COE) on alcohol-induced memory impairment. The effects of COE and ethanol on cognitive functions mice were examined using the passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. The manner in which alcohol affects long-term potentiation (LTP) in relation to the learning and memory was confirmed by electrophysiology performed on mouse hippocampal slices. We also measured N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated field excitatory synapses (fEPSPs), which have a known association with cognitive impairment caused by ethanol. Ethanol caused memory impairments in passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. COE prevented these ethanol-induced memory impairments in these tests. Ethanol also blocked LTP induction in the mouse hippocampus, and COE prevented this ethanol-induced LTP deficit. Ethanol decreased NMDA receptor-mediated fEPSPs in the mouse hippocampus, and this decrease was prevented by COE. These results suggest that COE might be useful in preventing alcohol-induced neurological dysfunctions, including blackouts.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Objectives : Gossypium arboreum (cotton) is traditionally used to treat various health disorders. However, anti-amnesic effect of G. arboreum has not been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate in-vivo the anti-amnesic effects along with in vitro antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition potential in G. arboreum seed essential oil. Methods : The essential oil of G. arboreum obtained by solid phase microextraction (SPME) techniques were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay were performed to determine the antioxidant activity at various concentrations (312.5, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000, 10000 ㎍/㎖. Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests were carried out to evaluate improved effect on scopolamine (1 mg/kg)-induced memory dysfunction at the dose level of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Donepezil (5 mg/kg) was used as a positive drug control. We performed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity assay in ex vivo. Results : Five volatile compounds were identified in G. arboreum. The assays of DPPH and ABTS revealed that G. arboreum increased antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. G. arboreum ameliorated the percent of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test, shortened step-through latency in the passive avoidance test, and increased swimming time in the target zone in the Morris water maze test. In addition, G. arboreum inhibited the AChE activity. Conclusions : Based on these findings, G. arboreum may aid in the prevention and treatment of learning and memory-deficit disorders through antioxidant and AChE inhibitory activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2007

The roots of Liriope platyphylla (Liliaceae) are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanol (70%) extract of the roots of Liriope platyphylla (ELP70) on learning and memory using behavioral and immunohistochemical methods in mice. Control animals were treated with vehicle (10% Tween 80). With sub-chronic treatments of ELP70 (p.o.) for 14 days, the latency time was significantly increased compared with that of the vehicle-treated control group (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; P<0.05). Moreover, immunopositive cells for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were significantly increased in the hippocapmpal dentate gyrus and CA1 regions after ELP70 treatments for 14 days (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05). In addition, those cells for nerve growth factor (NGF) were also increased in the hippocapmpal dentate gyrus region (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; P<0.05). These results suggest that the sub-chronic administration of ELP70 improves learning and memory, and that their beneficial effects are mediated, in part, by the enhancement of BDNF or NGF expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

Progressive memory impairment such as that associated with depression, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) can interfere with daily life. In particular, AD, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, prominently features a memory and learning impairment that is related to changes in acetylcholine and abnormal ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$) deposition in the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dehydroevodiamine HCl (DHED) on cognitive improvement and the related mechanism in memory-impaired rat models, namely, a scopolamine-induced amnesia model and a $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-infused model. The cognitive effects of DHED were measured using a water maze test and a passive avoidance test in the memory-impaired rat models. The results demonstrate that DHED (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and Donepezil (1 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated the spatial memory impairment in the scopolamine-induced amnestic rats. Moreover, DHED significantly improved learning and memory in the $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-infused rat model. Furthermore, the mechanism of these behavioral effects of DHED was investigated using a cell viability assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, and intracellular calcium measurement in primary cortical neurons. DHED reduced neurotoxicity and the production of $A{\beta}$-induced ROS in primary cortical neurons. In addition, similar to the effect of MK801, DHED decreased intracellular calcium levels in primary cortical neurons. Our results suggest that DHED has strong protective effects against cognitive impairments through its antioxidant activity and inhibition of neurotoxicity and intracellular calcium. Thus, DHED may be an important therapeutic agent for memory-impaired symptoms.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2011

In order to develop silk peptide (SP) preparations possessing cognition-enhancing effect, several candidates were screened through in vitro assays, and their effectiveness was investigated in facilitated brain aging model rats. Incubation of brain acetyl-cholinesterase with SP-PN (1-1,000 ${\mu}g/ml$) led to inhibition of the enzyme activity up to 35%, in contrast to a negligible effect of SP-NN. The expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA of neural stem cells expressing ChAT gene (F3.ChAT) was increased by 24-hour treatment with 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ SP-NN (1.35 and 2.20 folds) and SP-PN (2.40 and 1.34 folds). Four-week subcutaneous injections with D-galactose (150 mg/kg) increased activated hippocampal astrocytes to 1.7 folds (a marker of brain injury and aging), decreased acetylcholine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid by 45-50%, and thereby impaired learning and memory function in passive avoidance and water-maze performances. Oral treatment with SP preparations (50 or 300 mg/kg) for 5 weeks from 1 week prior to D-galactose injection exerted recovering activities on acetylcholine depletion and brain injury/aging as well as cognitive deficit induced by D-galactose. The results indicate that SP preparations restore cognitive functions of facilitated brain aging model rats by increasing the release of acetylcholine, in addition to neuroprotective activity.