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To investigate the effect of pine needle extract (PNE) on membrane fluidirt and neurotransmiter-related enzymes in brain of Spragu-Dawley(SD), male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group), and experimantal diets (PNE group)with 0.5% and 0.1% fo PNE for 6 weeks. pine (pinus tabulaeformis C$_{ARR}$ is one of the popular plant drugs which has used as a medicine in Asia. Cholesterol levels in brain mitochondria of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNDE groups were significantly decreased in 15% and 25%, respectively, compared with control group, but cholesterol levels in brain microsomes of these PNE groups howed almost no change compared with control group. Lipofuscin accumulations in brain membranes of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNE groups were sgnificantly inhibited in 18% and 21%, respectively, compared with control group. Brain memberance fluidity was also activated in 50% and 100% by the administration of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNE. higher acetylcholinesterase(15% and25%) and lower monoamine oxidase B (25% and 15%0 activities were effectively modulated by the administration of 0.5%-PNE and 0.1%-PNDE. These results suggest that more beneficial effects such as inhibition of cholesterol and lipofuscin, increase of membrane fluidity, higher acetylcholinesterase and lower monoamone oxidase activities in brain membranes of SD rats may be effectively modulated by administration of pine needle extract (PNE).
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