title: The memory-enhancing effects of Kami-ondam-tang in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kami-ondam-tang (KOT), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat mental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including dementia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of KOT on cognition and the mechanisms underlying these effects in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the passive avoidance task, we investigated the effect of sub-chronic administration of KOT on the cognition of mice. We also examined the expressions of protein kinase B (Akt), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and doublecortin (DCX) in the hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus regions using immunohistochemistry and western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The administration of KOT (50mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 14 days significantly increased step-through latency in the passive avoidance task compared with vehicle-treated controls. Furthermore, KOT administration (50mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly increased the expressions of phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated CREB and BDNF in the hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus. In addition, KOT administration resulted in a significant increase in the number of DCX-immunopositive cells in the dentate gyrus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that KOT enhances cognitive performance through the upregulation of Akt-CREB-BDNF signaling and neurogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdaemoon-Ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Gyu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mudan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiaotong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chang Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D011930:Reaction Time; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C492004:Creb1 protein, mouse; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018697:Nootropic Agents; C421404:kami-untan-to; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt