• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.218-224
• /
• 2014

Objectives : Zizyphus jujuba fruits(ZJF), a traditional Korean medicine has various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuro-protective effects. However, it is still unclear whether ZJF has any biological effect on anti-aging. In this study, we examined the effect of ZJF on lifespan and thermal stress in C. elegans. Methods and Results : ZJF water extracts were fermented for 7 days(F7-ZJF) and 14 days(F14-ZJF) by Laetiporus sulphureus to increase secondary metabolites such as aglycone of flavonoids and terpenoids. In the lifespan assay, ZJF water extracts and fermented ZJF were treated on the agar medium plate with age synchronized egg stage of C. elegans. Treatment of F7-ZJF-$200{\mu}g/mL$ with OP-50 E. coli and F14-ZJF-$200{\mu}g/mL$ with OP-50 E. coli significantly increased life span of C. elegans(N2) at thermal stress condition of $25^{\circ}C$. Moreover mRNA levels of lifespan associated HSP 16.1, HSP 70, and HSF-1 were increased at thermal stress condition of $25^{\circ}C$. However, in the equilibration temperature of $20^{\circ}C$ after stress condition of $35^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr, F-14-ZJF-$200{\mu}g/mL$ treatment decreased the levels of heat shock protein in hsp16.2/GFP C. elegans. Conclusions : Our study indicates that prolong role of fermented-ZJF in C. elegans is mediated by control HSPs production.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.74-91
• /
• 2015

Background and Objective : Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease at the mucosa and is associated with excess production of Th2 cytokine and eosinophil accumulation in lung.Gamchomahwang-tangextract(GME) is one of the well known prescription used in oriental medicine for treating asthma. This study was designed to compare the anti-asthmatic effect of GME according to the ratio of 2 compounds.Methods : To examine the effects of GME on asthma, mice were sensitized with 100 ㎍ of OVA and 1 ㎎ of aluminum potassium sulfate(Alum; Sigma) intraperitoneally on day 1 and 15. From day 22, mice were challenged on 3 consecutive days with 5% OVA. The anti-asthmatic effects of GME were evaluated by enhanced pause(Penh), bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), inflammatory cytokine production and genes expression, serum IgE production. and histological change in lung tissue. GMEⅠ consists of ES and GU in the proportion 2:1(300 ㎎/㎏ group), GMEⅡ consist of ES and GU in the proprtion 4:1(300 ㎎/㎏ group).Results : GMEⅠ,Ⅱ generally inhibited lung inflammation, inflammatory cells infiltration and cytokine production and gene expression such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF and serum IgE level. GMEⅡ significantly reduced the cytokine production and gene expression such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF and GMEⅠ decreased cytokine production of IL-4, IL-13 in BALF and gene expression of IL-4, IL-5 in Lung. GMEⅡ potently inhibited the development of Penh and also reduced the number of eosinophil during OVA-induced AHR(airway hyper-reactivity). Overall the results show that GMEⅡ has more effect on inhibiting production, gene expression of cytokine, serum IgE level and development of Penh than GMEⅠ. Consequently, GMEⅡ might be more effective than GMEⅠ at inhibiting allergic asthma on the OVA-induced mice model.Conclusion : These results indicate that GME has a deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice model of asthma and that suppression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 expression and decrease of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 production in BALF might contribute this effect. Hence, the results indicate that GME might be useful herbal medicine of allergic asthma. As a result, GMEⅡ mght be superior to GMEⅠ in the aspect of anti-asthmatic effect on the OVA-induced mice model.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.147-157
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to research domestic and foreign trend of pharmacopuncture treatment on obesity during recent 10 years. Methods: 5 Databases (Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Scopus, PubMed) were searched with keywords of ('pharmacopuncture', 'herbal acupuncture', 'aquapuncture', 'obesity') from 2012 to 2022. Results: 25 Articles were selected and analyzed. 15 articles (60%) were animal experimentations, 8 articles (32%) were case reports, 1 article (4%) was cell experimentation, and 1 article (4%) was clinical trial. In this study, 25 articles were analyzed by subject, acupoints, injections, metrics and results. Pharmacopuncture treatment for obesity is continuously being studied, and the anti-inflammatory effect as well as the effect of reducing obesity factors has been revealed. Conclusions: This study suggests the efficacy and future development of pharmacopuncture for obesity. The studies of the past decade have been concentrated on animal experiments, so many clinical trials and various studies on new complex pharmacopuncture for obesity are expected.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.69-75
• /
• 2015

Objectives : To investigate the clinical features of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and traditional Korean medicine (TKM) -based management. Methods : A female patient diagnosed with DILI caused by Western drugs had been treated with Oriental therapies, then the subjective clinical outcome and biochemical parameters were monitored. Results : A 73-year-old female had taken Western drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and skeletal muscle relaxants) for about 3 months, and complained of severe abdominal discomfort and tiredness. Her RUCAM score was 9, which met the criteria for DILI (AST 90 IU/L, ALT 100 IU/L, ALP 191 IU/L, and GGT 614 IU/L). She was treated with herbal drugs, moxibustion, and acupuncture, and her symptoms completely resolved, with normalized hepatic enzymes within two weeks. Conclusions : This case report provides a clinical characteristic for a typical DILI caused by Western medicine, and shows an example of a TKM-based application.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2015

Objectives : This study is to investigate the effects of Rhizoma drynariae aqueous extract(RDA) on cell cytotoxicity, Nitric Oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ production and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl ghdrazyl(DPPH) free radical scavenging capability. Methods : Cell cytotoxicity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. The production of NO was measured by Griess assay. The production of $PGE_2$ was measured by immunoassay. And, the anti-oxidant activity was measured by the DPPH method. Results : Cell cytotoxicity in 50, 100, 200 and $400{\mu}g/ml$ RDA did not increase significantly compared to the RDA untreated group. RDA($200{\mu}g/ml$ and $400{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited NO and $PGE_2$ production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. RDA had high DPPH free radical scavenging capability. Conclusions : This study indicates that RDA inhibits NO and $PGE_2$ production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and improve DPPH free radical scavenging capability. RDA may have an anti-inflammation effect and an anti-oxidant activity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.132-140
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This research study aimed to determine the effect of Korean medicine treatments on a patient with lumbar disc herniation accompanying polycystic kidney disease. Methods: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, spine decompression therapy, Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment (MSAT), and Chuna were preceded for treatment. We checked the patient's Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), numeric rating scale (NRS), and straight leg raise test (SLRT) on admission and discharge; we also used the NRS and SLRT to evaluate the patient's symptoms on every third day during the hospital stay. Because it is important to manage blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and blood pressure during the early stage of polycystic kidney disease, BUN and serum creatinine levels were checked weekly while blood pressure was checked every morning. Results: Twelve days after admission, the NRS for lower back pain and right leg pain decreased from 7 to 3 and from 7 to 2, respectively. The ODI value also decreased from 56 to 20 while the SLRT value increased from 30/70 to 60/70. The BUN and serum creatinine levels and the blood pressure readings were all within normal range every time they were checked. Conclusions: The use of Korean medicine treatments resulted in improvements in NRS, ODI, and SLRT on a patient with a herniated lumbar disc herniated who had a past history of polycystic kidney disease; thus, the patient was able to maintaining kidney functioning. Herbal medicine, an alternative method of analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs that has been evaluated as relatively safe on liver and kidney function, could be suggested on a patient with a past history of polycystic kidney disease to maintain kidney function when renal function and blood pressure are monitored.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.93-111
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is to make evidence-based data for developing a traditional Korean medicine clinical practice guideline for acute bronchitis. Methods: We searched 3 international databases(PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL) and 7 domestic databases (KoreaMed, Kmbase, NDSL, KISS, KISTI, OASIS, KoreaTK) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acute bronchitis using medicine in recent 10 years. The chosen trials were analyzed by their study design, age range, intervention group, control group, primary and second outcome measure, inclusion and exclusion of participants and adverse events. Results: 15 RCTs are finally included in this study and most of their medications are herbal medicine. For diagnosis and outcome measure of acute bronchitis, Bronchitis Severity Score(BSS) was mostly used. Other measurements eligible are coughing fits, quality of life scale, sputum viscosity, change of individual symptoms and patient's satisfaction. Test duration was for average 7days and safety assessment was held by recording adverse events. Except for anti-inflammatory and antibiotic trials, all medications are found to be effective and well-tolerated. General risk of bias of chosen trials is evaluated low. Conclusions: A well designed clinical trials for traditional Korean medicine of acute bronchitis is needed and this study is expected to make it available.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.1268-1277
• /
• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of functional dyspepsia in a fibromyalgia patient with a history of long-term NSAIDs use. Methods: The patient was diagnosed as a Soeumin, one of the four constitution types in Korean medicine, and treated with herbal medicines such as Seungyangikgibuja-tang and Pyeongjinsunjeom-san. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment were also performed. The severity of symptoms was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of epigastric pain, daily oral intake changes, the Korean Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (KGSRS), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Score (GIS), and the Functional Dyspepsia-Quality of Life (FD-QOL) score. Results: After treatment for 48 days, the severity of epigastric pain decreased from NRS 8 to NRS 0, and daily oral intake was increased. The KGSRS score decreased from 55 to 43, the GIS score was reduced from 18 to 10, and the FD-QOL score also decreased from 69 to 55. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medical treatment could be an effective option for treating functional dyspepsia in fibromyalgia patients with a history of long-term NSAIDs use.