• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.261-267
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• 2018

In the present study, we assessed the effecs of fruit and vegetable bark resources rich in beneficial substances on the learning ability and memory improvement. It functions to inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase in brain tissue and improve cognitive functions in a simulation model of cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine. Hence, it can promote memory and learning ability. The formulation of the fruit and vegetable bark uses the extract of fruit and vegetable peels, which has long been used without causing toxicity in a wide range of food applications. Therefore, it can be used safely without a risk of side effects, even in the case of a long-term administration for the preventive purpose. Furthermore, the present study is a very beneficial study in the environment-friendly aspect in association with recycling of resources as it is based on the novel efficacies of fruit and vegetable barks which have been conventionally disposed as a refuse of fruits due to their poor sensory qualities despite the content of beneficial substances.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.173-193
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most representative neurodegenerative disease mainly caused by the excessive production of amyloid beta (Aβ). Several studies on the antioxidant activity and protective effects of Populus tomentiglandulosa (PT) against cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal damage have been reported. Based on this background, the present study investigated the protective effects of PT against cognitive impairment in AD. MATERIALS/METHODS: We orally administered PT (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 14 days in an Aβ_25-35-induced mouse model and conducted behavioral experiments to test cognitive ability. In addition, we evaluated the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and measured the production of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissues. RESULTS: PT treatment improved the space perceptive ability in the T-maze test, object cognitive ability in the novel object recognition test, and spatial learning/long-term memory in the Morris water-maze test. Moreover, the levels of AST and ALT were not significantly different among the groups, indicating that PT did not show liver toxicity. Furthermore, administration of PT significantly inhibited the production of lipid peroxide, NO, and ROS in the brain, liver, and kidney, suggesting that PT protected against oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that administration of PT improved Aβ_25-35-induced cognitive impairment by regulating oxidative stress. Therefore, we propose that PT could be used as a natural agent for AD improvement.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1067-1073
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• 2003

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a non-toxic, hydrophilic bile acid in widespread clinical use mainly for acute and chronic liver disease. Recently, treatment with UDCA in hepatic graft-versus-host disease has been given in immunosuppressive therapy for improvement of the biochemical markers of cholestasis. Moreover, it has been reported that UDCA possesses immunomodulatory effects by the suppression of cytokine production. In the present study, we hypothesized that UDCA may inhibit the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1$\beta$, and nitric oxide (NO) in microglia. In the study, we found that 100 $\mu$ g/mL UDCA effectively inhibited these two pro-inflammatory factors at 24 hand 48 h, compared to the $A\beta$42-pretreated groups. These results were compared with the LPS+UDCA group to confirm the UDCA effect. As microglia can be activated by several stimulants, such as $A\beta$42, in Alzheimers brain and can release those inflammatory factors, the ability to inhibit or at least decrease the production of IL-1$\beta$ and NO in Alzheimers disease (AD) is essential. Using RT-PCR, ELISA and the Griess Reagent System, we therefore found that UDCA in $A\beta$42 pre-treated cultures played a significant role in suppressing the expression or the production of IL-1$\beta$ and NO. Similarly, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not activate microglia in the presence of UDCA. Moreover, we found that UDCA exhibits a prolonged effect on microglial cells (up to 48 h), which suggests that UDCA may play an important role in chronic cell damage due to this long effect. These results further imply that UDCA could be an important cue in suppressing the microglial activation stimulated by massive AD peptides in the AD progressing brain.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.463-468
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• 2007

Chong Myung Tang is consisted of three medicinal herbs (Acori Graminei Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix and Hoelen cum Radix). It has been used as a medicine for the purpose of learning and memory improvement. In this paper, Chong Myung Tang was screened the biological activities for Alzheimer's disease. The extract (70% ethanol) of Acari Graminei Rhizoma (1 mg/ml) showed that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) peptide aggregation inhibitory potency are 43.1% and 76.5%, respectively. The extract of Polygalae Radix showed inhibitory activity against $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ peptide aggregation (51.5%). To predict the drug-likeness, oral absorption ability; blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetraion rate, mutagenecity and carcinogenicity; in silico screening was performed against 16 compounds in the three medicinal herbs. According to the results, all compounds have appropriate chemical structures as medicines. The six compounds in Acori Graminei Rhizoma and the five compounds in Hoelen cum Radix showed excellent oral absorption rate and BBB penetration rate. The four compounds in Polygalae Radix showed excellent oral absorption rate, but their BBB penetration was presented low rate. And, the extract of Hoelen cum Radix didn't show AChE and $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ peptide aggregation inhibitory activities in vitro. Therefore, their activity in brain may be other mechanism. According to all of the results, in silico prediction technology is convenient and effective to determine biological active compounds in medicinal herbs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2018

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Neuroinflammation plays critical role in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the effect of three licorice varieties, Glycyrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and Shinwongam (SW) on a mouse model of inflammation-induced memory and cognitive deficit. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and orally administrated G. uralensis, G. glabra, and SW extract (150 mg/kg/day). SW, a new species of licorice in Korea, was combined with G. uralensis and G. glabra. Behavioral tests, including the T-maze, novel object recognition and Morris water maze, were carried out to assess learning and memory. In addition, the expressions of inflammation-related proteins in brain tissue were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in spatial and objective recognition memory in LPS-induced cognitive impairment group, as measured by the T-maze and novel object recognition test; however, the administration of licorice ameliorated these deficits. In addition, licorice-treated groups exhibited improved learning and memory ability in the Morris water maze. Furthermore, LPS-injected mice had up-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, via activation of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$) pathways in the brain. However, these were attenuated by following administration of the three licorice varieties. Interestingly, the SW-administered group showed greater inhibition of iNOS and TLR4 when compared with the other licorice varieties. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of LPS-induced cognitively impaired mice that were administered licorice, with the greatest effect following SW treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The three licorice varieties ameliorated the inflammation-induced cognitive dysfunction by down-regulating inflammatory proteins and up-regulating BDNF. These results suggest that licorice, in particular SW, could be potential therapeutic agents against cognitive impairment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.284-285
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• 2016

In this paper, reflecting the index of concentration and real-time EEG measurement, implementation of the game-type content that can be centralized power of training. Implemented content, for more effective training, based on the brain wave difference in each user, by reflecting an indication of concentration, it is possible by level training. In order to evaluate the usefulness of the implemented content, to target the five subjects, is underway to improve training of concentration, through a comparative analysis of the changes in the index of ability to concentrate, to confirm the improvement of the concentration of the user it could be.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.161-164
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• 2003

본 연구는 집중력, 기억력 및 학습 능력의 뇌기능 증진을 위한 의식적인 손 운동에 관련된 연구이다. 우선 효과적인 재활을 위한 손가락 운동 패턴을 연구하였다. 단순한 손가락 운동(Simple Finger Movement ; SFM) 패턴과 의식적인 손가락 운동(Intentional Finger Movement ; IFM)패턴을 비교하였다. 다음으로 각각 두 패턴 운동을 시켜 피험자의 집중력과 학습 능력의 증진을 검증하고자 한다. SFM 패턴과 IFM 패턴의 비교와 집중력과 학습 능력의 증진의 검증은 뇌파(mid $\alpha$파)를 이용하였다. 실험은 먼저 SFM 패턴의 운동을 시키고 다음에 IFM 패턴의 운동을 시키는 실험을 하였다. 결과적으로 IFM 패턴에서 mid $\alpha$ 파의 증가가 이루어졌음을 측정함으로써, IFM 패턴이 뇌의 집중력과 학습 능력을 증진시킨다는 결과를 얻었다.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Objectives: Literature Study of clinical cases with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as reference for Korean medicine based treatment of juvenile patients with Down's syndrome. Methods: 4 TCM journals with the highest impact factors were searched and selected among the journals listed in www.cnki.net. The search keywords were "蒙古症", "唐氏症(産生唐氏症)", "唐氏症候群", "先天愚型", "伸舌樣痴呆", "21三体綜合徵", "三染色体症", "Down's syndrome", and "Mongolism". Accordingly, searched papers were analyzed. Results: Total 6 studies were selected: RCT(5), case report(1). Among the RCT related studies, 2 studies tested the effect of Electroacupuncture (電鍼), 1 study tested the effect of Electroacupuncture and Pharmacopuncture (藥鍼) treatment together, and 2 studies tested the effect of Electroacupuncture and Herbal Medicines (藥物) co-treatment. In all the studies, the study groups showed significantly improved intelligence quotient (IQ) in comparison with the control groups. The case report showed improvement of cognitive ability and other clinical parameters as a result of Acupuncture (鍼) and Herbal Medicines co-treatment in juvenile patients with Down's syndrome. Conclusions: Clinical studies testing the effect of TCM for the treatment of Down's syndrome have been conducted in small scales, and all the studies showed a certain level of brain function improvement of the patients in the study groups. These results implicate that the methods in Korean medicine can be highly potential treatment options for the treatment of Down's syndrome. Conduction of accurate and well-controlled studies in large scale would be required to prove the effect of Korean medicine for the treatment of patients with Down's syndrome.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.14
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• pp.16.1-16.14
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• 2023

Objective: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopment disorder attributed to an insult or injury to the developing brain with abnormalities in muscular tone, movement and motor skill. Improvement in quality of life and ameliorating symptoms can be achieved. Therefore, this case report details a distinctive approach to treating a 5-year-old male child with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy utilizing Unani treatment modalities. Methods: The treatment regimen commenced with 'Habb Ayarij for constipation followed by Sharbat Ustukhuddus administered orally. Notably, Sharbat Ustukhuddus was combined with Melia Azedarach L. leaves vapour bath. Subsequently, Roghan Babunna douche was performed followed by Dalk Layyin andcontinued until symptomatic improvement was observed. Majun Falasfa, Khamira Marwareed and Khameera Gauzaban were administered for 30 days. The therapeutic outcome included anthropometrical measurements, developmental milestones, spasm/reflex scale, and muscle power grading. Results and conclusion: Over the course of a 2-year follow-up, several clinical findings emerged. These included notable improvements in anthropometric measurements, developmental milestones such as improved head control and sitting ability, and a reduction in spasticity of the upper limbs, along with decreased muscle spasms. The therapeutic outcome of this individualized and holistic approach is potentially due to the multifaceted properties of medicinal plants (Musakkin wa Muharrik wa Muqawwi-i- A'sab wa Dimāgh, Munawwim, Dafi-i-Tashannuj, Muqawwi-i-Qalb-i-Ruh). Furthermore, the use of Dalk and Naṭūl was instrumental in providing nourishment to musculoskeletal cells and initiating intracellular signaling cascades. While these findings are encouraging, further research in the form of case series andrandomized controlled trials is warranted to validate the efficacy of this unique holistic approach.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.990-998
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• 2019

Introduction: Stroke refers to a sudden brain disease that results in disorders in the anatomy of the brain. The cause is a sudden circulatory disorder of the cerebrovascular system that creates a consciousness disorder and hemiplegia. Despite aggressive treatment after the onset, stroke is a social problem because the patient has difficulty in recovering from sequelae that can include limb movement disorders, language disorders, and emotional disorders. In this study, we describe the effect of traditional Korean medicine treatment on the sequelae in a subacute cerebral infarction patient admitted to a Korean medical hospital. Case presentation: A 67-year-old male patient was diagnosed with cerebral infarction circa 2005, and his condition had not improved. Around March 15, 2018, he experienced the sudden onset of a cerebral infarction in his daily life. This was confirmed by a brain MRI, and he was hospitalized at other hospitals, but he showed no improvement. We conducted a manual muscle test (MMT) to evaluate the patient's exercise and strength. His gait level was measured to evaluate his degree of walking. He was treated with Bojungikgi-tang and acupuncture twice a day. After 34 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's exercise strength improved from Grade 2+~Grade 3 to Grade 3+ determined by the MMT, and his walking ability improved from Gait Level 3 to Gait Level 4. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment can help treat patients with hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction.