title: Yukmijihwang-tang derivatives enhance cognitive processing in normal young adults: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eunhye
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Moonkyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jung-Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Myungsuk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Changbeom
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chongwoon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Changsook
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sangeun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Youngheuk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hongyeoul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seonggyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Minkyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seongkyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun-Taek
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Moochang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010919:Placebos