Yukmijihwang-tang derivatives enhance cognitive processing in normal young adults: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ), also known as Luweidihuang-tang in China, has been widely used as a general herbal tonic for hundreds of years in many Asian countries. This study examines whether YMJ derivatives (YMJd) enhance cognitive ability in normal human subjects and discusses its potential as treatment for dementia patients with deficient cognitive ability. Subjects were divided into two groups, the placebo-treated group (n = 15) and the YMJd-treated group (n = 20). K-WAIS tests, a Korean version of an individual intelligence quotient (IQ) test, and a P300 latency assessment of event-related potential (ERP) were conducted in order to measure changes in cognitive ability before and after 6 weeks of YMJd treatment. The K-WAIS mean scores of the group treated with YMJd were significantly higher than those of the placebo group (p < 0.05), and their mean P300 latency was substantially shorter (p < 0.005). These results suggest that YMJd treatment accelerates the speed of information processing and enhances cognitive ability. YMJd treatment may help dementia patients or the elderly recover from cognition deficiencies or degeneration in clinic.
Park
Eunhye
E
Department of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Moonkyu
M
Oh
Jung-Wan
JW
Jung
Myungsuk
M
Park
Changbeom
C
Cho
Chongwoon
C
Kim
Changsook
C
Ji
Sangeun
S
Lee
Youngheuk
Y
Choi
Hyun
H
Kim
Hongyeoul
H
Ko
Seonggyu
S
Shin
Minkyu
M
Park
Seongkyu
S
Kim
Hyun-Taek
HT
Hong
Moochang
M
Bae
Hyunsu
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D029768:Cornus; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010919:Placebos; D032267:Rehmannia
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010919:Placebos