• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

Objectives : The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Deakumeumja herb-acupuncture on c-Fos expression in each area of the hippocampus of Alcohol intoxicated rats. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into five groups ; normal group, the alcohol-treated (control) group, the alcohol- 1 mg/kg Daekumeumja treated (sample A) group, the alcohol- 5 mg/kg Daekumeumja treated (sample B) group, the alcohol- 10 mg/kg Daekumeumja treated (sample C) group (n = 6 for each group). Rats of normal group were injected intraperitoneally with saline once a day for 5 consecutive days, while animals of the alcohol-treated (control) group were injected once a day with 2 g/kg of alcohol for the same duration of time. Animals of the alcohol and Daekumeumja-treated (sample A, B, C) groups were acupunctured at Chung-wan$(CV_{12})$ with 2 g/kg of alcohol and the appropriate amount of Daekumeumja extract once a day for 5 days. Each groups was evaluated by the changes of c-fos-positive neurons in each area of the hippocampus by using an image analyzer and microscope. Results: 1. In the CAI region of the hippocampus, the number of Fos-positive cells in the sample B, C groups were significantly increased compared with the control group. 2. In the CA2-3 regions of the hippocampus, the number of Fos-positive cells of the sample B, C groups were significantly increased compared with the control group. 3. In the Dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus, the number of Fos-positive cells of the sample C group was significantly increased compared with the control group. Conclusion : c-fos expression in each area of the hippocampus was reduced in alcohol-intoxicated groups. Treatment of Daekumeumja increased this reduction. In conclusion, it can be suggested that Daedumeumja possesses protective effects of the amnesia and learning disability in alcoholism.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 1998

To analyze scientifically the polyprescription principle of Daekumeumja(對金飮子), which has been used for alcoholic damage, and Pyungwesan(平胃散), which has been used for indigestion, the transforming rate of hesperidin of these polyprescriptions to hesperetin was investigated. The transforming rate of the former was higher 3 times than that of the latter. The transforming rate of hesperidin of Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium was inhibited by Magnoliae Cortex, but was activated by Glycyrrhizae Radix. The activity of trypsin was inhibited by Glycyrrhizae Radix and Daekumeuja. However, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Magnoliae Cortex and Pyungwesan did not inhibited it. When human intestinal microflora were cultured with the media containing Daekumeumja, Pyungwesan and herbal medicines consisting of them, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium and Magnoliae Cortex inhibited the activity of ${\beta}$-glucosidase. These results suggests that the therapeutic effect of Daekumeumja may be better than that of Pyungwesan on alcoholic damage and the therapeutic effect of Pyungwesan may be better than that of Daekumeumja on indigestion, although these prescriptions are consisted of the same herbal medicines.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2016

Chronic alcoholic myopathy is one of the most common skeletal muscle disorders. It is characterized by a reduction in the entire skeletal musculature, skeletal muscle weakness, and difficulties in gait. Patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis have severe muscle loss that contributes to worsening outcome. Although the myopathy selectively affects Type II (fast twitch, glycolytic, anaerobic) skeletal muscle fibers, total skeletal musculature is reduced. The severity of the muscle atrophy is proportional to the duration and amount of alcohol consumed and leads to decreased muscle strength. The mechanisms for the myopathy are generally unknown but it is not due to overt nutritional deficiency, nor due to either neuropathy or severe liver disease. Skeletal muscle mass and protein content are maintained by a balance between protein synthesis and breakdown and in vivo animal models studies have shown that ethanol inhibits skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Daekumeumja is a traditional Korean medicine that is widely employed to treat various alcohol-induced diseases. Muscle diseases are often related to liver diseases and conditions. The main objective of this study was to assess that Daekumeumja extract could have protective effect against alcoholic myopathy in a Sprague-Dawley rat model. Rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5ml/kg, body weight) for 8 weeks. After 30 minutes, rats were administrated with Daekumeumja extract. Controls were similarly administrated with the vehicle alone. The weights of gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles were assessed and the morphologic changes of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were also assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In results, The muscles from ethanol treated rats displayed a significant reduction in muscle weight and average cross section area compared to Normal group. Daekumeumja extract treated group showed increased muscle weight and muscle fiber compared to the ethanol treated group. It was concluded that Daekumeumja extract showed ameliorating effects on chronic alcohol myopathy in skeletal muscle.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.187-198
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture on neural cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) expression in hippocampus of ethanol-intoxicated Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. Methods : SD rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups ; the normal group, the alcohol-treated(control) group, the alcohol- and 1 mg/kg Daekumeumja- treated(sample A) group, the alcohol- and 5mg/kg Daekumeumja-treated (sample B) group, the alcohol- and 10 mg/kg Daekumeumja-treated (sample C) group(n = 6 in each group). Normal group were received with Saline, while control group were injected intraperitoneally with alcohol(2 g/kg) once per day for 5 days. Sample groups were treated Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture on Chungwan(CV12) for 5 consecutive days. Bromo-deoxyuridine(BrdU) was injected into all animals once per day for 5 days. For the detection of BrdU-positive cells and NADPH-d- positive cells in hippocampus, immunohistochemistry was performed. Results : 1. In the dentate gyrus area, the number of BrdU-positive cells in the sample $B(278.08{\pm}6.46)$, $C(331.33{\pm}16.68)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 2. In the dentate gyrus area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $C(86.50{\pm}10.02)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 3. In the CAI area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $A(63.90{\pm}2.69)$, $B(75.70{\pm}3.01)$, $C(97.70{\pm}4.06)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 4. In the CA 2-3 area, the number of NADPH-d-positive cells in the sample $B(30.20{\pm}1.89)$, $C(62.70{\pm}2.08)$ groups was significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. Conclusion : These results indicate that, neural cell proliferation and NOS expression in hippocampus was reduced in ethanol-intoxicated group. Treatment of Daekumeumja herb-acupuncture increased this diminution. Daekumeumja could be able to effect on the prevention of the amnesia and learning disability in alcoholism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1161-1165
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• 2009

Daekumeumja is a herb-medication which has been used for alcoholic damage. This is a report about the effect of Daekumeumja on Ascites in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The study of abdominal CT and ultrasonography were performed to evaluate the volume change of ascites. And blood tests were done to measure the liver's and kidney's functions. Reduction of ascites is proved by abdominal CT & ultrasonography. And lab findings of liver functions showed improvement. This study suggests that Daekumeumja is probably effective in the treatment of ascites in alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2010

Objective : The present study has been undertaken to investigate the preventive effects of Daekumeumja on fatty degeneration of liver and immunosuppression induced by alcohol in rats. Method : Except for the normal group, we fed rat on 25% alcohol for 55 days. And Daekumeumja(DK) extract was administrated for the same period. We measured the serum component in rat's blood, weight of internal organs, liver triglyceride contents, histomorphometry and histopathological observation of internal organs. Results : 1. In the change measurement of serum components, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed significant decrease of AST, ALT, albumin, ALP and triglyceride in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. 2. In the change measurement of internal organ's weight, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed significant increase of relative body weights of liver, thymus and spleen in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. 3. DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed significant decrease of hepatic triglyceride contents in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. 4. In histomorphometrical changes of liver, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed significant decrease of numbers of hepatocytes occupied by over 10% lipid droplets, percentages of regions occupied by lipid droplets and mean diameters of hepatocytes in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. In histomorphometrical changes of thymus, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed significant increase of lobular thickness and cortex thickness in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. In histomorphometrical changes of spleen, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed significant increase of splenic thicknesses, numbers of white pulps and mean diameters of white pulps in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. 5. In histopathological changes of liver, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed effective inhibition of severe fatty changes in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. In histopathological changes of thymus and spleen, DK group(50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) showed effective inhibition of atrophic changes in comparison with those of the alcohol control group. Conclusions : Reviewing these experimental results, it appears that Daekumeumja have pharmaceutical preventive efficacy on fatty degeneration of liver and immunosuppression induced by alcohol in rats.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.391-398
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• 2007

Objectives and Methods : Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammative disease characterized by both persistent and irreversible progression of pancreatic lesions that accompanies complications and pain which hinders everyday life activities. As the alcohol consuming population increases, chronic pancreatitis is increasing consequently. We retrospectively analyzed the medical record of a chronic pancreatitis patient who had been treated with oriental herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion for 40 days. He complained of anorexia, fatigue, indigestion, weight loss, constipation, abdominal discomfort and pain. We prescribed him Daekumeumja, Bojungikgi-tang and other oriental herbal medicines in order to cure these symptoms. Results and Conclusion : For 40 days he was treated with oriental medicine and the symptoms mostly disappeared. When it comes to the therapeutic effects, it could be suggested that oriental medicine has significant effects on improving symptoms and qualities of lives.