title: Effects of Gastrodiae rhizoma on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Gastrodiae rhizoma, a dried root of Gastrodia elata Blume, on proliferation and differentiation of human NSCs derived from embryonic stem cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 70% ethanol extract of Gastrodiae rhizoma (EEGR) was estimated with 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol as a representative constituent by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTT assay showed that the treatment with EEGR increased the viability of NSCs in growth media. Compared to control, EEGR increased the number of dendrites and denritic spines extended from a differentiated NSC. Whereas EEGR decreased the mRNA expression of Nestin, it increased that of Tuj1 and MAP2 in NSCs grown in differentiation media. Immunocytochemical analysis using confocal microscopy also revealed the increased expression of MAP2 in dendrites of EEGR-treated NSCs. Furthermore, EEGR decreased mRNA expression of Sox2 in NSCs grown even in growth media.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our study demonstrates for the first time that EEGR induced proliferation and neuronal differentiation of NSCs, suggesting its potential benefits on NSC-based therapies and neuroregeneration in various neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries.
authors.affiliation: From the BK21 Plus Team, South Korea; Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Hanbang Body-Fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Samrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baral
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Hanbang Body-Fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pariyar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Standardized Material Bank for New Botanical Drugs, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chi-Su
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Standardized Material Bank for New Botanical Drugs, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Cheol
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seok O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Hanbang Body-Fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Standardized Material Bank for New Botanical Drugs, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuncheol
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: From the BK21 Plus Team, South Korea; Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Hanbang Body-Fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Standardized Material Bank for New Botanical Drugs, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: From the BK21 Plus Team, South Korea; Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea; Hanbang Body-Fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, South Korea. Electronic address: jwseo@wku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jungwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
keywords: Dendrite; Gastrodiae rhizoma; MAP2; Neural stem cells; Neuronal differentiation; Proliferation