Neuroprotective effects of a traditional herbal prescription on transient cerebral global ischemia in gerbils.
OBJECTIVE
Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), a traditional herbal prescription composed of Rehmannia glutinosa var. purpurae, Panax ginseng, Poria cocos, Lycium chinense, Aquillaria agallocha and honey, has been used to treat age-related symptoms, such as amnesia or dementia, and has been shown to ameliorate scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. However, the effects of KOK on transient cerebral global ischemia-induced brain damage are unclear.


METHODS
Transient cerebral global ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid artery for 5 min followed by reperfusion for 7 days. KOK (0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 g/kg) was administered orally immediately after reperfusion and once a day over the next 7 days. Y-maze or novel object recognition tasks were to analyze learning and memory capabilities at 4 or 5 days after reperfusion, respectively. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used for evaluation of the effect of KOK on neuronal degeneration.


RESULTS
Histochemical studies showed that KOK increased the number of viable cells detected by Nissl staining and decreased the number of degenerated neuronal cells detected by Fluoro-Jade B staining in the hippocampal CA1 region. In the immunohistochemical study, the sub-chronic KOK administration attenuated the ischemia-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes and the increase of cytokine IL-1β (P<0.05). In addition, KOK administration significantly attenuated the ischemia-induced cognitive impairments observed in the Y-maze and novel object recognition tasks (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of KOK may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory activities, resulting in the attenuation of memory impairment.
Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Mudan
M
Cai
Bum Young
BY
Shin
Dong Hyun
DH
Kim
Jong Min
JM
Kim
Se Jin
SJ
Park
Chan Sung
CS
Park
Do Hee
do H
Won
Nam Doo
ND
Hong
Dong Hyo
DH
Kang
Yamamoto
Y
Yutaka
Jong Hoon
JH
Ryu
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D005849:Gerbillinae; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts