• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Hovenia dulcis extract on acute and chronic liver injuries induced by alcohol and $CCl_4$ in mice and rats. Methods : In acute alcohol-induced liver injury, mice were administered Hovenia dulcis extracts (60 and 200 mg/kg) orally before and after alcohol administration. In chronic alcohol-induced liver injury, mice were administered alcohol containing liquid diet for 4 weeks. The mice were administered H. dulcis extracts (60 and 200 mg/kg) mixed with the liquid diet. In acute $CCl_4$-induced liver injury, rats received a single dose of $CCl_4$ (2 mL/kg in olive oil, intraperitoneally). Rats were administered H. dulcis extracts (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) before and after $CCl_4$ administrations. After the ends of the administrations, the serum levels of AST and ALT were measured using chemical analyzer, and ${\gamma}$-GTP levels were measured using spectrophotometer. Results : In acute alcohol-induced liver injury, H. dulcis extracts treated group showed significant reduction in ALT levels compared to those of control group. In chronic alcohol-induced liver injury, it inhibited weight-loss compared to normal group and showed significant reduction in AST, ALT and ${\gamma}$-GTP levels compared to control group. In acute $CCl_4$-induced liver injury, it also showed significant reduction in AST, ALT levels compared to control group. Conclusions : The results show that H. dulcis extract has hepatoprotective effect in acute and chronic alcohol-induced liver injury and acute $CCl_4$-induced liver injury. These findings suggest that H. dulcis could be a potent hepatoprotective agent.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.119-133
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of formulas in "Key to Therapeutics of Children's Diseases" by analysis of crude drugs that constitute formulas. Methods : To analyze the formulas, We classified the formulas to presenting symptom classification. And within that categories, the crude drugs in formulas were diagrammatized. Results : After those analyses, we brought a conclusion as like these. 1. The formulas classified into some categories that include chronic consumption disease, parasitization, digestive system disease, febricity, infectious disease, respiratory disease, skin disease, infirmity and etc. 2. We analyzed the characteristic of formulas by categorization of crude drug combination. In this way, we recognized that Qian Yi(錢乙) frequently used cold crude drugs unlike the trend of S$\grave{o}$ng(宋) dynasty doctors. 3. The prescription that described in "Key to Therapeutics of Children's Diseases" can be found in "Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine(東醫寶鑑)" and the other books on posterity. Conclusions : Through these researches, we verified that Qian Yi affect cold herbal and mineral drugs. This tendency of Qian Yi have an effect on the Nourish yin school. And several decades of formulas of "Key to Therapeutics of Children's Diseases" contain in part of pediatrics on "Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine". We reconfirmed that Qian Yi affected profound influence on the development of pediatrics and Nourish yin school.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether NMED-01 or NMED-02 improves laboratory test results in participants with liver function disorder. Methods : This is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which participants, treating physicians and data management staff were blinded to treatment group. The study was conducted at Semyung university oriental medicine hospital in Jecheon where participants with high level of serum ${\gamma}$-GTP (60-350 U/L) were enrolled. The intervention consisted of three times daily ingestion of either two capsules of placebo, NMED-01 (NeuMed. co. ltd., Seoul), or NMED-02 (NeuMed. co. ltd., Seoul) for twelve weeks. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of NMED-01 and NMED-02, we primarily evaluated the degree of decrement of serum ${\gamma}$-GPT level among three groups. Secondarily the decrement of serum ALT, AST, and triglyceride level in each group were also evaluated. Adverse effects were monitored during the twelve weeks treatment. Results : The change of ${\gamma}$-GTP level of NMED-01 group was lower than that of placebo group at the end of 12-week administration ($28.1{\pm}38.7U/L$ vs. $9.3{\pm}27.0U/L$, p=0.046). Other variables including AST, ALT, and triglyceride level were not significantly reduced. The decrement of ${\gamma}$-GPT, AST, ALT, and triglyceride level of NMED-02 group was not significant. There were no significant adverse effects or toxicities during treatment period. Conclusions : Participants receiving NMED-01 had improvement in laboratory test results. Despite a modest sample size, our results suggest that NMED-01 are safe and may be potentially effective in improving liver function. However, NMED-02 have lack of a detectable effect in this study.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.277-297
• /
• 2005

As a result of analyzing HyangYakJ ipSeongBang, by focusing on folk medicinal plants, the writer has christened the phrase 'Folk Medical Study' because the medical system of HyangYakJ ipSeongBang was quite different from the usual Korean Medicine or Eastern Medicine. Folk Medicine Study is medical study that emphasizes accessibility of drugs and facility of treatment. Folk Medicine Study is medical study that contains only contents that have been time-tested in our country. Folk Medicine Study is medical study that compiled all herbal knowledge and expertise of prescription of the herbal medicine produced on our land.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Pueraria lobata extract on focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery using the intraluminal filament model. ICR male mice underwent 90 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Mice were administered Pueraria lobata extract orally at the dose of 300mg/kg just prior to reperfusion. Rotarod test and balance beam test were practiced to assess sensory-motor function 23 hours after MCAo. In rotarod test, the latency to fall on the accelerating rotarod was recorded for 5 min. In balance beam test, the score was graded according to number of slips and latency to cross. The infarct volume was measured 24 hours after MCAo using 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Results : Pueraria lobata extract treated group showed significant reduction in infarct volume by 27.3% compared to control group (p<0.05). In rotatod test, it also showed significant extension of latency time compared to control group ($67.82{\pm}15.08$ vs. $5.62{\pm}1.06$, p<0.001). In contrast to performance in rotarod test, that in balance beam test did not improve with Pueraria lobata extract treatment. Conclusions : We conclude that Pueraria lobata extract has a significant neuroprotective effect and reduces damage of sensory-motor function in MCAo model. These findings suggest that Pueraria lobata could be a potent neuroprotective agent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HT008 on pain relief and functional improvement in participants with mild knee osteoarthritis (OA) in comparison with that of glucosamine sulfate. Methods : This randomized double-blind trial was conducted at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in Seoul where participants with knee pain for more than 6 months and degenerative osteoarthritis were enrolled. The 100 participants were received either HT008 or glucosamine sulfate 750 mg twice daily for 8 weeks and evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment. We primarily evaluated the differences between two groups with respect to changes in the visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score from baseline to week 8. Secondarily the difference between and within two groups with respect to changes in WOMAC stiffness and physical function score, and Lequesne Functional Severity Index (LFI) were also evaluated. Results : At week 8, treatment with HT008 resulted in a significant reduction of the VAS for pain and WOMAC pain scores compared to the glucosamine sulfate (both p=0.003). Patients receiving HT008 experienced statistically significantly greater improvements in WOMAC physical function scores and LFI (p = 0.014 and p=0.016, respectively) than glucosamine sulfate-treated group. The within-group change in WOMAC physical function and stiffness, and LFI during the 8-week intervention revealed significant improvements in HT008-treated group. Conclusions : HT008 treatment allows significant pain reduction and functional improvement compared with glucosamine sulfate. These data confirm HT008 as an effective and safe symptomatic drug for knee OA.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.121-129
• /
• 2006

BACKGROUND : Socheongryong-Tang(小靑龍湯, SCRT), a herbal medicine, has been widely used for the control of respiratory disease in Eastern countries. Recent years SCRT was known as anti-allergic agent. However, its therapeutic mechanisms, especially an inhibitory effect on inflammatory cell infiltration and airway remodeling in allergic asthma are unclear. METHODS : We investigated the effects of SCRT on levels of IL-4, and IFN-g using flow cytometric analysis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) using cytospin methods in allergen-induced asthma. RESULTS : SCRT decreased levels of IL-4, a Th2-driven cytokine. But INF-g, a Th1-driven cytokine, was not changed. With SCRT treatment, infiltration of inflammatory cells showed reduced tendency. CONCLUSION : In conclusion, we demonstrated that regulation of Th1/Th2 imbalance may be one of mechanism contributed to reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.259-263
• /
• 2016

Lung cancer has a high mortality rate and is often diagnosed at the metastatic stage. Gefitinib is a targeted molecular therapeutic drug used to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Korean herbal medicines may also have therapeutic efficacy against lung cancer, reduce the side effects associated with chemotherapy, and improve patient quality of life (QOL). This case report describes the effects of a Korean herbal medicine regimen combined with gefitinib in a patient with NSCLC and bone metastasis. The Korean herbal medicine regimen included woohwanggeosa-dan, hwanggibujeong-dan and geonchilgyebok-jeong. The computed tomography (CT) findings showed that following combination treatment, the size of the tumor was markedly decreased without serious adverse events. Moreover, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was improved and cancer-related pain was decreased. These results suggest that a combination of Korean herbal medicines and gefitinib may be an effective therapeutic option for patients with advanced NSCLC and bone metastasis. Further studies are needed to examine the mechanism and the clinical efficacy of Korean herbal medicines against NSCLC.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.165-174
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Donguibogam has helped progress of Eastern medicine across Asia and almost all of Korean medicine doctors still use the book as a classic reference. In this study, the prescriptions used in the treatment of stroke in Donguibogam are analyzed and the results are to be used for our subsequent studies. Methods: The frequency of use of prescriptions and the frequency of combination of medicines were analyzed from 89 prescriptions used in the Stroke chapter of Donguibogam, and it was intended to derive a combination prescription and a monosyllabic medicine that can be effectively used in the treatment of stroke for preclinical studies. Results: Ganghwalyupung-tang (羌活愈風湯) was the most mentioned prescription among 89 prescriptions, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, among 165 species of medicines used in the 89 prescriptions, mixed in 55 prescriptions. However, considering the ratio of frequently used medicines, Sagunja-tang (四君子湯) was the highest in terms of composition ratio. Conclusions: Through this study, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Sagunja-tang were selected as materials for our subsequent studies.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.49-64
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This paper is written to identify the origin of the nature of medicinals in Rhymes(藥性歌) in Korean medical books and to analyze their creativity. Methods : We analysed the nature of medicinals in Rhymes contained Chinese and Korean medical books. Results : The Korean medical book New Edition on Universal Relife(濟衆新編), published by Chosun government, recorded the nature of medicinals in Rhymes Recovery from All Ailments(萬病回春) mostly untouched. It can be evaluated the early model of Chosun's nature of medicinals in Rhymes. New Edition on Universal Relife, Gains and Losses of Medical Orthodoxy(醫宗損益) added new rhymes using familiar herbs and vegetables got easily, most new rhymes founded medicinal part of Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine (東醫寶鑑). Conclusions : The nature of medicinals in Rhymes is an approach to simplify and improve access on herbal medicine, and is quoted in various forms throughout medical books of Chosun. The entitling it as 'scientific research of herbal medicine based on the nature of medicinals in Rhymes' can clearly be seen as description about superficial result, to persist the decadence of Chosun medicine.