A Korean herbal complex protects against memory decline in postmenopausal women

Dangguijakyak-san (DJS) is a much-beloved Korean multi-herbal medicine that is widely used to treat various gynecologic disorders, particularly those related to estrogen synthesis. The mechanics of the formulation, however, have not been extensively studied. Thus, its role in alleviating symptoms of associated conditions related to a deficiency in estrogen – such as menopause – is not particularly understood. It is with this in mind that a team of researchers sought to clinically validate DJS in attenuating memory impairment in postmenopausal women.

Results of the study were published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• Cell cultures were prepared from the hippocampi of 18-day-old embryos of Sprague-Dawley rats.
• These hippocampi were dissected, collected, and dissociated in 60 mm dishes.
• Cells were treated with DJS for 48 hours and analyzed for their estrogen levels.
• Female mice, who were roughly eight weeks old, were also housed for one week and given an ovariectomy.
• After two more weeks of recovery, the mice were administered with DJS or a synthetic estrogen once daily for 21 days.
• Memory behavioral tests, western blots, and immunohistochemical analyses were used to measure brain function.
• Results showed that DJS treatment promoted estrogen synthesis in the appropriate hippocampal cells linked to memory and cognitive function.

It is hypothesized that DJS protects against memory impairment in postmenopausal women by stabilizing estrogen levels in the body, in turn preventing potential brain dysfunction or abnormalities.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

More articles regarding women’s health can be found at WomensHealth.news.

Journal reference

Hwang, D., Kim, N., Choi, J., Kim, H., Kim, H., Oh, M. DANGGUIJAKYAK-SAN AMELIORATES MEMORY DEFICITS IN OVARIECTOMIZED MICE BY UPREGULATING HIPPOCAMPAL ESTROGEN SYNTHESIS; BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine; 2017, 17:501; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-2015-6