Central administration of afzelin extracted from Ribes fasciculatum improves cognitive and memory function in a mouse model of dementia.

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the decline of cognitive function and the progressive loss of memory. The dysfunctions of the cognitive and memory system are closely related to the decreases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signalings. Ribes fasciculatum, a medicinal plant grown in diverse countries, has been reported to pharmacological effects for autoimmune diseases and aging recently. Here we found that afzelin is a major compound in Ribes fasciculatum. To further examine its neuroprotective effect, the afzelin (100 ng/µl, three times a week) was administered into the third ventricle of the hypothalamus of C57BL/6 mice for one month and scopolamine was injected (i.p.) to these mice to impair cognition and memory before each behavior experiment. The electrophysiology to measure long-term potentiation and behavior tests for cognitive and memory functions were performed followed by investigating related molecular signaling pathways. Chronic administration of afzelin into the brain ameliorated synaptic plasticity and cognitive/memory behaviors in mice given scopolamine. Studies of mice's hippocampi revealed that the response of afzelin was accountable for the restoration of the cholinergic systems and molecular signal transduction via CREB-BDNF pathways. In conclusion, the central administration of afzelin leads to improved neurocognitive and neuroprotective effects on synaptic plasticity and behaviors partly through the increase in CREB-BDNF signaling.

Anti-obese effects of two Lactobacilli and two Bifidobacteria on ICR mice fed on a high fat diet.

Previous researchers have documented that probiotic bacteria can have anti-obesity effects on mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) and improve metabolic syndrome. The beneficial effects of the probiotic bacteria are suggested to be strain dependent. In this study, two candidate lactobacteria strains, Lactobacillus casei IBS041, Lactobacillus acidophilus AD031 and two bifidobacteria strains, Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 and Bifidobacterium longum BORI, were individually administered to HFD-fed mice for 8 weeks. B. longum BORI significantly suppressed mouse weight gain without affecting food intake. L. acidophilus and B. bifidum BGN4 significantly decreased triglyceride levels in mouse liver while B. longum BORI significantly lowered total cholesterol levels in liver. L. acidophilus and B. bifidum BGN4 significantly inhibited serum activities of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase. Diet supplementation with L. acidophilus, B. bifidum BGN4 and B. longum BORI efficiently improved hepatocyte hydropic degeneration and hepatic steatosis. Of the four probiotic candidates, the bifidobacteria B. longum BORI and B. bifidum BGN4, developed in our laboratory, and L. acidophilus AD031showed excellent anti-obesity effects and suppressed lipid deposition in liver.

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng as an adjuvant treatment for women with residual symptoms of major depression.

INTRODUCTION: Around 20% of patients with major depression experience residual symptoms. Ginseng has shown potential antidepressant effects in some animal studies and in patients with stress-related somatic symptoms. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of Korean Red Ginseng adjuvant treatment in patients with residual symptoms of major depression. METHODS: In this eight-week prospective study, 35 female outpatients aging from 18 to 65 years (45.1 ± 9.5), who were remitted from major depression with residual symptoms, were given Korean Red Ginseng at doses of 3 g/day. The Depression Residual Symptom Scale (DRSS) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were administrated to evaluate depressive symptoms. The general severity of symptoms was assessed by a clinician using the Clinical Global Impressions Scale for Severity (CGI-S). The Depression and Somatic Symptom Scale (DSSS) was also used to evaluate somatic symptoms in the subjects. This trial is registered at Clinical.gov, number NCT01496248. RESULTS: Subjects reported significant decrease in depressive symptoms on the DRSS (P < 0.05) and MADRS (P < 0.01) decreased significantly over the eight-week period. The scores on the CGI-S, an objective measurement of symptoms, showed significant improvement in the severity of illness (P < 0.001). Somatic symptoms on the DSSS also attenuated significantly during the study period (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: These results suggest that Korean Red Ginseng is efficacious as an adjuvant treatment for patients experiencing residual symptoms of major depression. Future placebo-controlled research is required to confirm our results.

Lactococcus lactis BFE920 activates the innate immune system of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), resulting in protection against Streptococcus iniae infection and enhancing feed efficiency and weight gain in large-scale field studies.

The protective effect of a food-grade lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis BFE920 against disease of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) cultivated on a large scale was studied. Initially, antimicrobial activity of L. lactis against several fish pathogens was evaluated in vitro; the probiotic showed strong antibacterial activity against Streptococcus iniae, Streptococcus parauberis and Enterococcus viikkiensis, and moderate activity against Lactococcus garviae. When olive flounders were fed for two weeks with experimental diets containing varying concentrations of L. lactis (1 × 10(6), 5 × 10(6), 2.5 × 10(7) and 1.25 × 10(8) CFU/g feed), all the experimental feed groups showed 68-77% survival upon challenge with S. iniae. A field-scale feeding trial with L. lactis dietary supplement was conducted in a local fish farm (n = 12,000) for three months, and disease resistance, innate immune parameters and growth performance were evaluated. The average weight gain and feed efficiency were increased up to 6.8% and 8.5%, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, the olive flounders were challenged with S. iniae. The L. lactis-fed group was protected from S. iniae challenge with a 66% survival rate. This disease protection is due to the flounder's innate immunity activated by the L. lactis administration: increased lysosomal activities and production of IL-12 and IFN-γ. These data clearly indicated that L. lactis BFE920 may be developed as a functional feed additive for protection against diseases, and for enhancement of feed efficiency and weight gain in olive flounder farming.