Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the effects of Hwangryunhaedoktang decoction & Hwangryunhaedoktang Pharmacopuncture at BL10 of dementia induced by scopolamine in mouse model.

Methods : 50 ICR-mice were divided into 6 groups :　Normal group (n=5), Control group (n=9), Positive control group for pharmacopuncture group (n=9, Donepezil 0.75㎎/㎏), Positive control group for oral administration group (n=9, Donepezil 5㎎/㎏), Pharmacopuncture group (n=9, Hwangryunhaedoktang Pharmacopuncture undiluted solution 10 ㎖/㎏ BW), Oral administration group (n=9, Hwangryunhaedoktang 200㎎/㎏). In order to impair cognition & memory, 1 ㎎/㎏ scopolamine was administered to ICR-mice. Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture was performed on BL10 for 4 weeks at intervals of 2 days. Hwangryunhaedoktang decoction was given orally for 4 weeks each day. Morris water maze test & passive avoidance test were conducted on the assigned groups. Thereafter acetylcholine concentration, acetylcholinesterase activity, amount of BDNF & p-CREB were measured in the brain.


Results : The results were as follows.

1. In the Morris water maze test, the time spent staying around the platform was significantly increased in the Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 group & Hwangryunhaedoktang oral administration group than in the control group treated with scopolamine only.

2. In the passive avoidance test, the time spent in the bright room was significantly increased in the Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 group & Hwangryunhaedoktang oral administration group than in the control group treated with scopolamine only.

3. The level of acetylcholine in brains were increased in the Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 group & Hwangryunhaedoktang oral administration group than in the control group. Also, activity of acetylcholinesterase were decrease in the Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 group & Hwangryunhaedoktang oral administration group than in the control group.

4. The expression of BDNF and p-CREB was decreased in the control group but increased in the in the Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 group & Hwangryunhaedoktang oral administration group. However, significance was only in the Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 group.

Conclusions : These results suggest that Hwangryunhaedoktang decoction & Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture at BL10 may have cognition & memory enhancing effect in scopolamine treated dementia induced ICR mouse model via controlling the content of acetylcholine & the activity of acetylcholinesterase, activating of BDNF & p-CREB.