정지환(定志丸)이 뇌조직(腦組織)의 생화학적(生化學的) 변화(變化)와 신경세포(神經細胞)의 손상(損傷)에 미치는 실험적(實驗的) 연구(硏究)

The present experiment was designed to examine the effects of Jeongjihwan on carecholamines, serotonin, amino acids, lipid peroxide, free radical scavenging activity, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase activity in senile brain. It was performed by administering Jeongjihwan extracts of a variety of concentration to senile rats to experimentally determine effects of Jeongjihwan on biochemical changes in senile brain and examine protective effects against neurotoxin. To examine survival rate, the rat's spinal cord sensory ganglion cell pretreated in Jeongjihwan extracts was cultured in oxygen free radical. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Jeongjihwan significantly increased noradrenaline in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the brain tissue of senile rats, and even though Jeongjihwan increased noradrenaline also in other brain tissue, there was no significance. 2. Jeongjihwan had no effects on dopamine changes in all brain tissue of senile rats. 3. Jeongjihwan significantly increased serotonin, but decreased in other brain tissue. 4. Jeongjihwan increased amino acid in the brain tissue of senile rats. 5. Jeongjihwan significantly decreased lipid peroxide and free radical in the brain tissue of senile rats. 6. Jeongjihwan significantly increased survival rate of nerve cell exposed to oxygen free radical. According to the above results, Jeongjihwan is assumed to improve brain function by reacting on biochemical changes of the senile brain and carries effects of protecting against neurocytotoxicity, and that Jeongjihwan can be used to treat regressive brain disease carrying symptoms of psychoactive disorders.