• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.269-278
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• 2020

Objectives: Yukmijihwang-won (Liuweidihuang-wan in Chinese) is a frequently used medicinal herbal formula. It is used as Yin tonic in Korea and China to recover patients from Yin deficiency. However, the scientific evidence on this drug has not revealed the beneficial effect or mechanism of its effects on the neurological disorder. We designed this study to examine the antidepressive and analgesic effects of Yukmijihwang-won (YJ-01) and the minor modification of YJ-01, YJ-06 on the reserpine-induced pain-depression dyad mice model. Methods: Reserpine (1 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously once a day for three consecutive days to induce pain and depression-like behavior. The oral administration of YJ-01 and YJ-06 (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg) was performed once daily from three days after the reserpine injection. Results: Repeated administration of the YJs significantly reduced the immobility time in a forced swimming test and increased the moved distance and number of crossings in the open field test. In the von-Frey filament test, the oral administration of YJs remarkably suppressed the increase in paw withdrawal frequency. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that YJ-01 and 06 may be good candidates to treat the pain-depression dyad.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1778-1788
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• 2024

The disturbance of brain biochemical substances serves as a primary cause and aggravating factor of depression. This study aimed to investigate the principal components of Picea mariana and its effect on reserpine-induced depression mice,w ith its relationship with brain central transmitters and related proteins. The main constituents of P. mariana essential oil (PMEO) were analyzed by GC-MS spectrometry. The quiescent time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST), along with the weight change of the mice was detected. The number of normal neurons was quantified through Nissl staining. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the levels of 5HT-_1A and 5HT-_2A in the brain. Western blotting was utilized to detect 5HT-_2A, CRF and TrkB protein levels. RTqPCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of 5HT-_1A, 5HT-_2A, TrkB, CRF, and BDNF. The main active ingredients of PMEOs were (-) -bornyl acetate (44.95%), γ-Terpinene (14.17%), and β-Pinene (10.12%). PMEOs effectively improved the retardation and weight loss due to anorexia in depression-like mice. This improvement was associated with an increase in the number of normal neurons. After administering different doses of PMEOs, the levels of 5HT-_1A, 5HT-_2A, CRF, and TrkB were found to be increased in brain tissue. RT-qPCR revealed that the mRNA levels of CRF, 5HT-_1A, and 5HT-_2A were generally upregulated, whereas TrkB and BDNF were downregulated. PMEO can effectively alleviate depression induced by reserpine, which may be attributed to its regulation of 5HT-_1A, 5HT-_2A, CRF and TrkB protein expression, thus reducing brain nerve injury.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2023

Objectives This study aims to develop valid experimental models for depression through chronic reserpine exposure to zebrafish (Danio rerio). Methods The effect of chronic reserpine on zebrafish behavior in the novel tank was examined. Changes of gene expression on telencephalon were also investigated. Results Chronic reserpine (40 mg/L, 7 days) induced overt behavioral effects, but markedly reduced activity, resembling motor retardation in depression. In telencephalon of zebrafish, gene expression associated with monoamine oxidase and norepinephrine transporter was decreased. Expression of serotonin transporter gene was increased. Conclusions Our results show that the pharmacological model of depression in zebrafish can induce not only behavioral changes, but also monoamine changes in the homology of human mood regulation centers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-247
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• 1993

This study was designed to confirm the effect of dietary protein level and oral administration of tryptophan on brain serotonin metabolism. Two animal experiments were conducted. The objectives and results of research were as follows : In the first experiment, it was investigated whether administration of reserpine to Sprague-Dawley rats fed 6% or 20% casein diet induced decrease in serum tryptophan and large neutral amino acid(LNAA) concentrations, tryptophan/LNAA concentration ratio, brain tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) contents. Brain serotonin content of 6% casein diet group was lower than those of 20% casein diet group. Both 6% and 20% casein diet groups administered with reserpine to induce the analogous depression, showed the notable decrease in brain serotonin content when they were compared with 20% casein diet group not administered with reserpine. Serum tryptophan/LNAA ration and brain 5-HIAA content showed a tendency similar to the change of serotonin content, but the mean difference among all groups was not significant. From these results, it could be said that when the dietary protein level was low, brain serotonin content was decrease. The second experimnt was to see the change in serum tryptophan concentration and tryptophan/LNAA ratio and brain tryptophan, serotonin and 5-HIAA content when tryptophan was administered orally to the animals treated with reserpine. Serum tryptophan concentration tended to increase in both reserpine-treated 6% and 20% casein diet groups administered with tryptophan, especially in the 6% casein diet group. Serum tryptophan/LNAA concentration ratio tended to incrase in reserpine-tteated 6% casein diet group, while decrease in reserpine-treated 20% casein diet group. Brain tryptophan content was increased in both reserpine-treated 6% and 20% casein diet groups. However, brain serotonin content of reserpine-treated 6% casein diet group showed a tendency to decrease, while that of reserpine-treated 20% casein group increase. Consequently, the effect of tryptophan administration on increase of brain tryptophan and serotonin content in animals treated with reserpine was far more excellent in 20% casein diet groups. It was concluded that dietary protein intake and tryptophan administration increase brain serotonin level. Accordingly, it was possible to confirm that brain function, particularly in aspect of behavior related to the serotonin, was changed with manipulation of dietary composition.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.171-183
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• 2005

Objective : The Korean famous medicinal prescription of Subi-jeon was investigated for their antidepressant effects by tail suspension test, hot plate test, reserpine-induced hypothermia test. In addition, the monoamine oxidase activity was determined in vivo. Methods : The methanol extract reduced dose-dependently the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test, by 31.4 and 34%(p<0.05) at doses of 500mg/kg and 1g/kg, respectively, compared with control group. In comparison with this, the effect of the water extract was very weak. Results : 1. In the hot plate test, the methanol extract potently increased the jump latency time(p<0.05) compared to the control group, exhibiting the inhibition rate of 197% and 256% at doses of 500mg/kg and 1g/kg(per os), respectively, which is more effective than the water extract. 2. Both extracts suppressed the fall of body temperature induced by reserpine(reserpine-induced hypothermia) in a dose-dependent manner, showing the less effect at lower doses and better effect at higher doses compared to the water extract. 3. Both extracts inhibited the brain monoamine oxidase activity in an in vivo assay compared to the control group, the activity of water extract was better than that of the methanol extract. Conclusion : The prescription of Subi-jeon can be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.49-64
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• 2009

Objectives : The water and methanol extracts of Aconitum carmichaeli(Aconiti Tuber Preparat) were investigated for their anti-depressant effects. Methods : In this study, reserpine-induced hypothermia test, tail suspension test and hot plate test. Additionally, the brain monoamine oxidase activity was determined in vivo. Results: In the reserpine-induced hypothermia test, both extracts suppressed the fall of body temperature compared to the control group in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the inhibition on hypothermia. In the tail suspension test, the methanol extract dose-dependently reduced the duration of immobility by 28.4% at a dose of 1 g/kg compared to control group, which is more effective than the water extract. In the hot plate test, the water extract and methanol extract increased the jump latency time compared to the control group, showing the inhibition rate of 198% and 182%, respectively, at a dose of 1 g/kg. Methanol extracts potently inhibited the brain monoamine oxidase activity in an in vivo assay compared to the control group, showing 84.6% inhibition, but the water extract revealed very weak activity. Conclusions : Above results suggested that the extract of Aconitum carmichaeli can be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.101-119
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• 2004

Ginseng Radix Alba and Cyperi Rhizoma were investigated for their anti-depressant effects. For this purpose, forced-swimming test, tail suspension test, hot plate test, reserpine-induced hypothermia, aggressive behavior test were performed. In addition, the brain content of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(a metabolite of serotonin), the monoamine oxidase activity, anticonvulsant effect, sleep enhancement effect were determined. The results are as follows: In the forced swimming test, Ginseng Radix diminished the duration of immobility by 45.5% compared to the control group, while Cyperi Rhizoma showed weaker effect (12.4% reduction) at 2g/kg. In the tail suspension test, the effect of Ginseng Radix(43.7% reduction) are also better than that of Cyperi Rhizoma(15.6% reduction) at 2g/kg. In the hot plate test, Ginseng Radix showed no difference as compared to control, while Cyperi Rhizoma increased the jump latency time by about 25% after administration for 10 days. In the reserpine-induced hypothermia test, both drugs slowly dropped the body temperature compared to the control group, especially the rate of hypothermia of Ginseng Radix was 24.0% at 1g/kg. In the aggressive behavior test, both drugs delayed the onset time, decreased the duration and frequency, of which effects were better in Cyperi Rhizoma. The content of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in mice brain was slightly increased in Ginseng Radix, while Cyperi Rhizoma increased its level almost to the control group. Both drugs inhibited the monoamine oxidase activity in a dose-dependent manner, but the effect(51.2%) of Cyperi Rhizoma was more potent than the effect(11.8%) of Ginseng Radix. In the pentobarbital-induced sleep test, Cyperi Rhizoma exhibited no significant difference against the control group, while Ginseng Radix showed about two-fold enhancement at 2g/kg. The anticonvulsant effect of both drugs delayed the onset time, shortened the duration of convulsion and diminished the lethality, but Ginseng Radix were better than Cyperi Rhizoma.