Mineral Oriental Drugs in Korea

한국(韓國)의 광물성(鑛物性) 한약(漢藥) (I)

Modern pharmaceutical scientists and medicinal chemists have shown only sporadic interest in mineral drugs of oriental medicine, although the use of minerals in medicine dates from early ancient cultures. The mineral, until recently, has been relatively neglected by the natural product and medicinal chemists. At this moment in time it is appropriate to review briefly the status of mineral oriental drugs in Korea, and eighty items of mineral drugs were listed in this review. This review is also concerned with those references, classic or current, pertaining to application, origin, and constituent of those mineral drugs. It is the aim of this review to facilitate presentation of useful informations in an attempt to entice the natural product and medicinal chemists to seek rediscovery and further application of mineral oriental drugs in Korea.