• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.81-85
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• 1999

Diazinon, an organophosphate pesticide, is relatively highly toxic to fish and causes vertebral malformation and behavioral change of fish at relatively low concentrations. To elucidate biochemical mechanism of the behavioral change of Oryzias latipes (killifish) caused by diazinon, the effect of the insecticide on acetylcholine esterase activities and the levels of some neurotransmitters were evaluated. Acetylcholine esterase activities in both head and body were significantly lowered at the concentration of 10 ppb of diazinon and acetylcholine contents in head tended to be upregulated with increasing concentration of diazinon. Exposure of killifish to 5000 ppb diazinon resulted in gradual decrease in acetylcholine content in body part with exposure time. Norepinephrine and serotonin concentrations in killifish head and body were highest at 1000 ppb of diazinon while neurotransmitter were relatively low in fish unexposed or exposed to lower dose of the pesticide, suggesting that increased norepinephrine and serotonin can partially account for diazinon-induced behavioral abnormality.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.334-339
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• 2022

Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) is a bifunctional protein with both glutathione peroxidase and calcium-independent phospholipase activity. Recently, we reported that PRDX6 plays an important role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. However, the relationship between PRDX6 function and emotional behavior remains elusive. In the present study, we examined depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in PRDX6-overexpressing transgenic (PRDX6-Tg) mice using the forced swim test, tail suspension test, open field paradigm, and elevated plus-maze. PRDX6-Tg mice exhibited depression-like behaviors and low anxiety. In particular, female PRDX6-Tg mice exhibited anxiolytic behavior in the open field test. Furthermore, the serotonin content in the cortex and 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced head twitch response were both reduced in PRDX6-Tg mice. Interestingly, levels of dopa decarboxylase expression in the cortex were decreased in male PRDX6-Tg mice but not in female mice. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of PRDX6 in 5-HT synthesis and suggest that PRDX6 overexpression can induce depression-like behaviors via downregulation of the serotonergic neuronal system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1039-1045
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• 2003

Functional healthy drinks were processed with freeze dried powders of ethanol extract from of defatted safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) seed cake and some useful components of the drinks were investigated. Yield of freeze dried powder was the highest as 8.42% when it extracted with 60% ethanol (60% EFDP). Each drink contained 0.02% of freeze dried powder and ranged 10.6∼13.8% of soluble solid, 2.90∼3.68 of pH, 0.10∼0.83% of titratable acidity. ‘L’ value of drink-I (DSD-I) was the highest as 94.82$\pm$2.45, ‘b’ and ‘a’ value of drink-V (DSD-V) was highest as 27.15-2.65 and 28.67$\pm$2.69, respectively. Major free sugars of drink were 6015.3∼7918.2 mg% of glucose and 1511.4∼2091.0 mg% of sucrose. The content of citric acid was the highest as 179.2∼981.3 mg%. The content of total phenol in 60% EFDP was 99.17 mg% and that of drink-II(DSD-II) and DSD-V was 307.84 mg% and 224.06 mg%, respectively. Total flavonoid was contained as 50.29 mg% in 80% ethanol extract (80% EFDP) and 125.20 mg% in DSD-V. N-[2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl) ethyl] ferulamide (serotonin-I) was determined as high as 18.81 ppm in 80% EFDP and ranged 2.42∼2.89 ppm in drinks. N-[2-(5-hydroxy-lH-indol-3yl)ethyl]-p-coumaramide (serotonin-II) was determined as 30.17 ppm in 80% EFDP and ranged 3.79∼4.59 ppm in drinks. Acacetin, flavonoid compound were 9.83 ppm in amyloglucosidase hydrosis + 60% ethanol extract (A + 60% EFDP) and ranged 0.98∼1.26 ppm in drinks. Electron donating ability (EDA, %) was measured and compared with 100 ppm BHA as chemical antioxidant. EDA was 93.97$\pm$2.21% in A+60% EFDP, 94.79$\pm$2.26% in DSD-I, 94.69$\pm$1.37% in DSD-II, and 93.83$\pm$1.49% in BHA. DSD-II added with hot water extract solution from Korean ginseng and safflower yellow pigment recorded the highest sensory score.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1990

We established an in vitro system of central serotonergic neurons by culturing dissociated rat embryonic (El4) brainstem cells to 14 days in vitro and monitored the serotonergic neuronal growth by measuring 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) contents in the cells with hish performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC). We studied also tile effects of various drugs on the contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, confirming in vivo reports. The 5-HT content (13 ng/mg protein) and 5-HT turnover rate (17 pmol/mg protein/h) at 14 days in vitro were in good agreement with those reported in the adult rat brain. The 5-HT content was more easily depleted with p-chlorophenylalanine, a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor than with NSD 1015 (3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine), an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) inhibitor. Incubation of the cultures with tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan increased the rate of serotonin formation implying that neither tryptophan hydroxylase nor AADC is saturated with its amino acid substrate in this in vitro system . The 5-HT content was depleted by reserpine. The 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents were increased and decreased, respectively, by monoamine oxidase inhibitors. All the above results indicate that the biochemical properties of the central serotonergic neurons in this culture system reflect reliably those of central serotonergic neurons in vivo. We suggest that measuring 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents in the primary cultured dissociated brainstem-cells with HPLC-EC is useful in the study of pharmacology as well as toxicolgy of the central serotonergic neurons.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.766-772
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• 2023

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an effective anti-stress treatment. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential effects of KRG on relieving stress in a general population using transcriptome analysis. Methods: We conducted an 8-week clinical pilot study on 90 healthy men who reported stress. The study was completed by 43 participants in the KRG group and 44 participants in the placebo group. Participants were randomized 1:1 to the KRG and placebo groups. We evaluated the stress by stress response inventory (SRI) at baseline and 8 weeks. The main outcomes were changes in the levels of neurotransmitters (NTs) and NT-related gene expression. NTs were analyzed using automated (GC) content, and levels of gene expression were measured by reads per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (RPKM). Results: The KRG group showed significantly preserved epinephrine decrease compared with placebo group at 8 weeks (changes in epinephrine, KRG vs. placebo; -1623.2 ± 46101.5 vs. -35116.3 ± 86288.2, p = 0012). Among subjects who higher SRI score, meaning stress increased compared to baseline, the KRG group showed a smaller decrease in serotonin than the placebo group (changes in serotonin, KRG vs. placebo; -2627.5 ± 5859.1 vs, -8087.4 ± 7162.4, p = 0.005) and a smaller increase in cortisol than the placebo group (changes in cortisol, KRG vs. placebo; 1912.7 ± 10097.75 vs. 8046.2 ± 8050.6 , p = 0.019) in subgroup analysis. Transcriptome findings indicated that KRG intake affects gene expression related with metabolism of choline, adrenalin, and monoamine. Conclusion: These findings suggest that KRG has beneficial effects on the amelioration of stress response in NTs, and this effect is more prominent in stressful situations. Further clinical studies are required to confirm the anti-stress effect of KRG.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2017

Objectives: The study aims were to evaluate the Anti-stress and Sleep-inductive effects of Yunjogyosim-tang (YJGS) in rats induced by Chronic Mild Stress (CMS). Methods: 25 healthy Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups; Normal, CMS (Control), YJGS 50, YJGS 100, and YJGS 200. All rats except the normal group were exposed to random stress conditions like water deprivation, empty bottles, forced runs on the treadmill, etc. according to the timetable of CSM for 3 weeks. After a week starting the experiment, Rats in YJGS 50, YJGS 100, and YJGS 200 groups were fed orally once a day for 2 weeks. Blood samples were taken afterward from each rat for analysis of Complete blood count, AST, ALT, and glucose levels. Corticosterone, serotonin, and melatonin were measured by ELISA kit. BDNF and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by RT-PCT. Results: 1. Corticosterone levels were lower in YJGS 50, and YJGS 200 groups compared to the control group. 2. Serotonin levels were lower in the YJGS 100 and YJGS 200 groups compared to the control group. 3. Melatonin levels were higher in the YJGS 50 group compared to the control group. 4. Activity levels were higher in the BDNF, and YJGS 50 groups compared to the control group. 5. In the Activity of $TNF-{\alpha}$, YJGS 50 group showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. 6. In the Glucose content, YJGS 50, YJGS 100, and YJGS 200 groups showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. 7. When analyzing leukocytes, monocytes were found to be increased in YJGS 100 and YJGS 200 groups compared to the control group. 8. When analyzing red blood cells, more changes occurred to erythrocytes and thrombocytes in the YJGS 50 and YJGS 200 groups than in the control group. Hemoglobin was significantly increased in the YJGS 100 group and platelet levels were significantly increased in all experimental groups compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that Yunjogyosim-tang has anti-stress and sleep-inductive effects on rats induced by CMS.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1 s.34
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• pp.33-39
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• 1984

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the chracteristics in behavioral changes of chronic doses of methamphetamine on open-field activity in rats. On the other hand, the nucleus accumbens septi(NAB), one of the major areas containing mesolimbic dopaminergic terminals, has been considered to be an important site of action for dopaminergic agonists. Therefore, it also designed to investigated influence of NAB lesions. on behavioral effects of chronic-methamphetamine. Caudal and rostral areas of NAB(cr-NAB) were lesioned by applying DC of 3.0 mA for 15 sec., simultaneously. The results were as follows: 1) The rats exhibited hyperactivity after chronic administration of methamphetamine 2) The cr-NAB-lesioned rats showed a significant increase in locomotor activity only at 2 days after NAB lesions 3) Methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity was significantly decreased in the NAB-lesioned rats, and stereotyped behavior was induced instead by the drug. 4) Dopamine content of striatum was significantly decreased and serotonin content of olfactory bulb was significantly increased in NAB-lesioned rats. These results suggest that NAB plays an important role in locomotor activity and methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.423-432
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• 2019

In order to select potential plant resources as functional materials and natural antioxidants, we evaluated antioxidant activity and serotonin derivatives of safflower germplasm collected from five countries. N-(p-Coumaroyl) serotonin (CS) and N-feruloylserotonin (FS) were analyzed by using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Total polyphenol content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activities were estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Reducing power (RP) assays. The TPC showed a range of 28.25 to $90.53{\mu}g$ gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg dried extract (DE). DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and RP assay were in the range of 18.76 to 93.98, 48.91 to 163.73, 3.80 to 132.29 and 26.32 to $80.08{\mu}g$ ascorbic acid equivalent (ASCE)/mg DE, respectively. Among the five countries, safflower seed collected from Iran had the highest levels of serotonin derivatives and antioxidant activities than other countries (p<0.05). CS showed high correlation with TPC, ABTS and DPPH (r=0.673,0.727,0.820), and FS showed high correlation with DPPH (r=0.740). Accessions IT321214 and IT321215 could be useful for development of new functional materials and could be used as a source of valuable natural antioxidant materials.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2001

To elucidate the preventive effect of oriental medicine Gami-Ondamtang(GO) on stress, we investigated the physiological change of rats which were applied immobilization stress. For immobilization stress, rats were placed in restrainer for 12 hours a day for 3 days. During application of stress, body weight of rats was measured. After sacrifice, 8 organs were taken for measurement of organ weight. Brain was sectioned into 4 parts that are Frontal Cortex, Corpus Striatum, Hypothalamus and Hippocampus. Each part was homogenated and its catecholamine and serotonin contents were measured with HPLC. In our study, stress mainly induced increase of concentration of neurotransmitters in brain without other significant physical change of rats. GO inhibited stress induced changes of neurotransmitter content in brain.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 1999

To elucidate the preventive effect of oriental medicine Gungchi -hwadamsun (GH) on stress, we investigated the physiological change of rats which were applied immobilization stress. For immobilization stress, rats were placed in restrainer for 12 hours a day for 3 days. During application of stress, body weight of rats was measured. After sacrifice, 8 organs were taken for measurement of organ weight. Brain was sectioned into 4 parts that are Frontal Cortex, Corpus Striatum, Hypothalamus and Hippocampus. Each part was homogenated and its catecholamine and serotonin contents were measured with HPLC. In our study, stress mainly induced increase of concentration of neurotransmitters in brain, but had mild effect on other physical function of rats. GH inhibited stress induced changes of neurotransmitter content in brain.