• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2002

Learning and memory are essential requirements for every living organism in order to cope with environmental demands, and cholinergic systems are known to be involved in learning and memory. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and Gastrodia elata (GE) as a traditional Oriental medicine have been clinically used to treat or prevent memory deficits, including Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SB and GE on learning and memory in the Morris water maze task and the central cholinergic system of the rats with excitotoxic medial septum lesions. In the water maze test, the animals were trained to find a platform at a fixed position over 6 days and then received a 60-s probe trial in which the platform was removed from the pool on the 7th day. Ibotenic lesion of the medial septum (MS) impaired their performance in the maze test (latency of acquisition test on the 3rd day, $27.6{\pm}$4.4 sec vs. $61.7{\pm}17.7$ sec; retention test, $7.9{\pm}1.3%$ vs. $5.7{\pm}1.0%$: sharn vs. ibotenic lesioned groups, respectively) and reduced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) - immunoreactivity in the MS and the hippocarnpus, which is a marker for degeneration of the central cholinergic system (number of cells, $21.1{\pm}1.1$ vs. $13.2{\pm}1.3$: sham vs. ibotenic lesioned group). Daily administrations of SB (100mg/kg, p.o.) and GE (100mg/kg, p.o.) for 21 consecutive days produced significant reversals of ibotenic acid-induced deficit in learning and memory. These treatments also reduced the loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity in the MS and the hippocarnpus induced by ibotenic acid. These results demonstrated that SB and GE ameliorated learning and memory deficits through effects on the central nervous system, partly through effect on the acetylcholine system. Our studies suggest an evidence of SB and GE as treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.556-561
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• 2008

ChongMyeong-Tang (CMT) have been used clinically to treat patient with amnesia and dementia. In addition, CMT have been also used for examinee to improve learning ability in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gagam-ChongMeong-Tang (GCMT) on cognitive dysfunction recovery after ischemic brain injury in rats. Rats were divided into three groups; (1) normal, (2) commercial diet after ischemic brain injury (control), (3) CMT diet after ischemic brain injury (experiment). In our study, we carried out Morris water maze test for cognitive motor behavior test and immunohistochemistry study through the change BDNF in the hippocampus($7^{th},\;14^{th}\;day$). In Morris water maze test, cognitive motor function recovery was significantly increased in the experiment group as compared with control group on $7^{th}\;and\;14^{th}\;day$ day (p<0.01). In immunohistochemistric response of BDNF in the hippocampus, more immune reaction was investigated in the experiment group as compared with control group on $7^{th}\;and\;14^{th}\;day$. Especially more immune reaction was experimented $14^{th}$ day. These results imply that GCMT can play a role in facilitating recovery of cognitive function after ischemic brain injury in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2004

This study was carried out to evaluate the putative anxiolytic-1ike effects of the aqueous extracts of Sanjoin-tang (SJIT) and its ingredients using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in mice. SJIT consists of five herbs, namely, Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (roasted), Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, and Hoelen. The aqueous extracts of SJIT and each herbal drug were orally administered to ICR mice, 1 hr before evaluating behavioral activity in the EPM test, respectively. Repeated treatments (for 3 days) of the aqueous extract of SJIT (400 mg/kg) significantly increased time-spend in the open arms and arms entries into the open arms in the EPM test. Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (400 mg/kg), an ingredient of SJIT, significantly increased timespent in the open arms and arm entries into the open arms (P < 0.05). However, the other ingredient of SJIT did not show any anxiolytic-like behaviors. In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen were blocked by pindolol (lO mg/kg), a $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor antagonist. These results suggest that Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (roasted) as an ingredient of SJIT plays a crucial anxiolytic role, and it acts via the serotonergic nervous system.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.61-78
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to assess the protective effects of Chengwhabosimtang on the animal model of depression, chronic mild stress(CMS). Method : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this experiment. The subjects were divided into 3 groups ( 1. CMS-drug: Chengwhabosimtang administered during CMS treatment, 2. CMS-vehicle: water administered, 3. normal ). After 4 weeks of CMS treatment, they were executed Forced swimming test(FST) and Elevated plus maze. Tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in ventral tegmental area(VTA) and c-Fos in paraventricular nucleus(PVN) were measured. Result : 1. In FST, CMS-drug group showed significantly decreased immobility behavior. 2. CMS-drug group showed no significantly lower TH level in VTA than CMS-vehicle group. 3. CMS-drug group showed significantly less c-Fos expressed cell bodies in PVN than CMS-vehicle group. 4. In Elevated plus maze, CMS-drug group showed no significantly anxiety. Conclusion : These results suggest that Chengwhabosimtang may have protective antidepressant effects in CMS model rats. And these effects could be explained by the elevated stress-copying behaviors which are related with PVN of hypothalamus and dopaminergic neurons in VTA.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2017

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in a polymerization reaction in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It has been used in many consumer products, including plastics, polyvinyl chloride, food packaging, dental sealants, and thermal receipts. However, there is little information available on the inhalation toxicity of BPA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine its inhalation toxicity and effects on the estrous cycle, spatial learning, and memory. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 10, 30, and $90mg/m^3$ BPA, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks via whole-body inhalation. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight, hematology, serum chemistry, estrous cycle parameters, performance in the Morris water maze test, and organ weights, as well as gross and histopathological findings, were compared between the control and BPA exposure groups. Statistically significant changes were observed in serum chemistry and organ weights upon exposure to BPA. However, there was no BPA-related toxic effect on the body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, organ weights, estrous cycle, performance in the Morris water maze test, or gross or histopathological lesions in any male or female rats in the BPA exposure groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for BPA in rats is above $90mg/m^3$/6 hr/day, 5 days/week upon 8-week exposure. Furthermore, BPA did not affect the estrous cycle, spatial learning, or memory in rats.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.507-517
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• 2015

The bark of Magnolia officinalis has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat a variety of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of M. officinalis ethanol extract on stress-induced alterations in learning and cognitive function using a passive avoidance test (PAT) and also on anxiety-related behavior using the elevated plus-maze test (EPM) in female rats . The degree of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the region of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the locus coeruleus (LC) was measured using an immunohistochemical method. Corticosterone concentrations in serum were also measured. The ethanol extract from Magnolia officinalis was orally administered to female rats 30 minutes before evaluating their immobilization stress and anxiety-related behavior using an elevated plus-maze test and a passive avoidance test. Time spent in the open arms of the EPM increased in the M. officinalis-treated group compared with that of the saline-treated control group. In the passive avoidance test, the memory and cognitive function improved in the M. officinalis extract-treated group. M. officinalis extracts reduced elevated corticosterone concentrations in serum. Also, stress-induced TH increases were suppressed in the M. officinalis extract-treated group in the LC and the VTA region. These results suggest that M. officinalis might prove to be an effective anxiolytic anti-stress agent.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2009

Anxiety disorders are one of the serious problems which need proper therapy devoid of side effects of presently available medicines. The present study evaluates the anxiolytic and sedative activity of leaf galls of Piper nigrum Linn. in Swiss Albino mice. The pet. ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of leaf galls of Piper nigrum Linn were obtained by continuous soxhlet extraction. The prepared extracts were found to be safe up to 2000 mg/kg body weight of mice in the acute toxicity study. Each extract was assessed for anxiolytic activity in Swiss Albino mice by elevated plus Maze, open field test, rota rod test and phenobarbitone induced sleeping time test. In the Elevated Plus Maze test, the pet.ether extract and chloroform extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. orally, significantly (P < 0.01) increased the number of entries and time spent in open arm comparable with standard diazepam at the dose of 10 mg/kg. b.w. p.o. In the open field test, pet. ether extract (50 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) showed significant increase (P < 0.01) in ambulation and activity in the center. Chloroform extract (50 mg/kg b.w p.o.) was significant (P < 0.05) for both ambulation and center activity. Pet. ether extract (50 mg/kg b.w. p.o) also showed significant activity (P < 0.01) in rota rod test. All the results are comparable with standard diazepam at the dose of 1 mg /kg b.w, p.o. Moreover all the extracts showed significant (P < 0.01) increase in the phenobarbitone induced sleeping time among which pet.ether showed more prominent activity (36%) comparable with control. The results revealed that, the active pet.ether extract and chloroform extract of leaf galls of Piper nigrum Linn is worthwhile to develop the bioactive principle for anxiolytic activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the memory enhancing effect of Poria cocos Wolf (Hoelen cum radix) against scopolamine-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. To induce amnesia, scopolamine (0.75 mg/kg) was intraperitonically injected into SD rats 30 min before starting behavior tests. We have conducted Morris water-maze and Y-maze tests to monitor learning and memory functions. Poria cocos effectively reversed scopolamine-induced memory impairment in SD rats which was represented by an improvement of mean escape latency in water-maze test and spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test. To elucidate possible molecule mechanism, we have measured mRNA as well as protein expression of acetylcholine esterase (AchE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Poria cocos increased mRNA levels of ChAT and mAchR in rat hippocampus compared with those in the scopolamine-injected amnesic group. In addition, protein expression of ChAT and BDNF was also elevated by Poria cocos intake. Furthermore, as an upstrem regulator, the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In this immunohistochemical analysis, the phosphorylation of CREB (p-CREB) was reduced by scopolamine injection, which was restored back to control levels by administration of Poria cocos. These results suggest that Poria cocos may improve memory and cognitive deficit in amnesia and have therapeutic potentials through up-regulation of ChAT, mAchR, and BDNF, which seemed to be mediated by activation of CREB.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.373-379
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the anti-amnesic effect of perilla oil against trimethyltin (TMT)-induced learning and memory impairment in ICR mice. Perilla oil (2.5 mL/kg of body weight) and soybean oil (2.5 mL/kg of body weight) were administered orally to mice for 3 weeks, and at the end of the experimental period, cognitive behavior was examined by Y-maze and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Behavioral tests showed that the mice treated with perilla oil had improved cognitive function compared to that in mice administered soybean oil. Analysis of brain tissue showed that perilla oil significantly lowered acetylcholinesterase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Oxidized glutathione (GSH)-to-total GSH ratio also decreased from 10.4% to 5.3% in perilla oil-treated mice, but superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased from 11.7 to 14.2 U/mg protein. Therefore, these results suggest that the perilla oil could be a potential functional substance for improving cognitive function.

• 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.