• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2020

Objectives: Ephedra sinica and Wolbigachul-tang which contains Ephedra sinica are used to treat obesity in Korean medicine. The aim of this study was to analyze the quantities of ephedrine alkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography. Methods: The analysis was performed using a YMC-Triat C18 column with operating at 25℃, and UV detection at 210 nm. The mobile phase used a gradient flow with 0.1% H3PO4 in water and acetonitrile. Specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were measured for validation anaylsis. This method was applied to analyze the quantities of ephedrine alkaloids in Ephedra sinica and Wolbigachul-tang. Results: The concentration per Ephedra sinica (gram) of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra sinica decoction are 4.74±0.22 mg and 2.19±0.10 mg, respectively and in Wolbigachul-tang decoction are 6.39±0.34 mg and 2.97±0.21 mg, respectively. The retention time of ephedrine was 23.6 min and that of pseudoephedrine was 25.8 min, and norephedrine and methylephedrine were not detected. Conclusions: In conclusion, analyzed the concentration of ephedrine alkaloids in Ephedra sinica and Wolbigachul-tang by the developed validation method.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study is to find out the proper dosage of Ma-huang for clinical use of Shanghanlun(傷寒論) Methods : To achive the purpose of this study, web-databases(pubmed, naver, google) were searched with the keywords including 'dose of Ma-huang Ephedra Ephedrine','dosage of Ma-huang Ephedra Ephedrine', and 'water extract of Ma-huang Ephedra'. The searched 30 papers and articles were reviewed. Results & Conclusions : 1. Proper dosage of Ma-huang 1) Adult: up to 9-12g/day 2) Adolescent: up to 6g/day 3) Hypertension disorder patient: up to 6g/day 4) lactating women: up to 6g/day 5) child: <2 years 0.7-2.5g/day, $${\geq_-}2$$ years 2.6-6g/day (Different from body weight) Although administration of Ma-huang to hypertension disorder patient, lactating women, child is safe on the paper, It is not recommended to these people because Ma-huang is one of toxic herbs. 2. Dosage form of Ma-huang There's no safety paper about pill or powdered Ma-huang(麻黃). There's not pill or powdered prescription of Ma-hunag in Shanghanlun(傷寒論), either. So it is recommended to administrate water exetract of Ma-huang.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the case of nocturnal enuresis in two children treated by using hypothesis that awareness during sleep may improves symptoms. Methods Enuresis children usually are not even aware of nocturnal urea due to excessive sleep. During the sleep cycle, enuresis children do not tend to have sleep-wake transition period compared to normal children. Ephedrine, the main ingredient of Ephedra sinica (麻黃), has a wakening effect. Two pediatric patients, who were suffering from nocturnal enuresis, were administered by Tosatang-gamibang (菟絲湯加味方) added Ephedra sinica (麻黃) or Boatang-gamibang (補兒湯加味方) added Ephedra sinica (麻黃) while correcting unhealthy voiding habit. Results As a result of the treatment, two pediatric patients were recovered without relapse. Conclusions In this report, we have proven that Tosatang-gamibang (菟絲湯加味方) added Ephedra sinica (麻黃) or Boatang-gamibang (補兒湯加味方) added Ephedra sinica (麻黃) and correcting voiding habit can considerably be effective in recovering nocturnal enuresis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.579-590
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Ephedra sinica pharmacopuncture on the weight and lipid metabolism of obese mice.Methods: Obesity was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by a 60% fat diet. The animals were divided into three groups (n=5) fed a normal diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet with Ephedra sinica pharmacopuncture. After 13 wk, fasting blood sugar levels were measured in each group, and oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted. After 15 wk, body weight, epididymal fat pad weight, subcutaneous fat pad weight, and serum lipid and gene expression of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), perilipin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ were measured in each group.Results: In the Ephedra group, body weight, fasting blood sugar, and oral glucose tolerance were significantly decreased. In addition, in the Ephedra group, the gene expression of HSL was significantly increased, whereas that of perilipin was significantly decreased.Conclusions: These results provide evidence that E. sinicapharmacopuncture affects obesity and obesity-induced metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, by activating lipolysis via the HSL pathway in adipose tissue.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.249-262
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• 2005

Backgrounds : As obesity prevails as an epidemic. diet programs including low-calorie diets are developed continuously. It is generally believed that a low-calorie diet is commonly followed by resting metabolic rate decrease and ultimate weight regain. Ephedra and Evodia are known to have sympathomimetic and anti-obesity effect. Objectives : This study was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized md placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of Ephedra sinica and Evodia rutaecarpa on resting metabolic rate (RMR), weight, body composition, and short-term safety in obese women on low-calorie diet. Methods : 125 otherwise healthy obese women (body mass Index ${\geq}\;25kg/m^2$) were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: Ephedra group (n=41), Evodia group (n =45), and placebo group (n=39). Subjects were administered Ephedra extract in capsules (pseudo-ephedrine 31.52mg) or Evodia extract in capsules (evodiamine 6.75mg, rutaecarpine 0.66mg) or placebo capsules as well as participating in a low-calorie diet for 8 weeks, Resting metabolic rate and body composition were measured at baseline,4 and 8 weeks. Basic serum exams were performed to evaluate the short-term safety of the herbs and changes of lipid variables. Results : All three groups showed significant BMI decreases probably due to low-calorie diet. Among them, the Ephedra group manifested most prominent BMI-reducing effect and towered total cholesterol and triglycerides significantly. The RMR was not changed during the 8-week diet in all groups. No significant difference among the groups was found in RMR, either. Stbject with higher RMR than the mean at the baseline showed a tendency to keep their RMR more stable during the diet program. Conclusions : Ephedra with a low-calorie diet was effective in reducing BMI. RMR change was not compensated by herbal medicines. RMR change seemed to be affected rather by constitution and body composition than medicine. Ephedra and Evodia were proven to be safe for sort-term use in herbal form. Especially, Ephedra was effective in lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides during the 8 weeks.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.346-353
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• 2007

Background : Over a thousand years of clinical preparation of Ephedrain traditional Korean medicine has confirmed effectiveness and security. Recently. Ephedra-containing herbal preparations to treat obesity are common. The aim of this study is to identify effects of Ephedra on psychological anxiety. Objectives : To determine effects of Ephedraon psychoactivity and autonomic nervous system. Methods : The study design was a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The subjects of this study were healthy adults. They were allocated to either the Ephedragroup (N =66) or the placebo group (N =32), Ephedra(8 g) or a placebo in similar opaque capsules was given twice a day for 2 weeks. Anxiety score was estimated with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before first and after last medication. 36 of the Ephedragroup and 24 of the placebo group finished the trial and were analyzed. Paired samples T-test and independent samples T-test were applied to statistical analysis. Results : The following result was obtained: After taking Ephedra. state anxiety increased significantly. In the placebo group. both state and trait anxiety increased although significance was not reached. Conclusions : It is concluded that the intake of Ephedraplays a significant role in the increase of anxiety in healthy adults. It is suggested that anxiety level change should be considered when using Ephedra in clinics.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.48-50
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• 1994

Three p-coumaroylamino acids (p-CAAs) were isolated from the yeast-elicited Ephedra distachya cultures by consecutive purification using XAD_2, silicagel and RP-HPLC. Retention times on HPLC as well as their UV, IR, NMR and MS spectral data indicated that the yeast-induced p-CAAs wre p-coumaroyl--D-valine, p-coumaroyl-D-serine and p-coumarouyl-D-threonine, respectively. The structures of p-CAAs were confirmed by the comparison of their physico-chemical properties 3with those of synthetic ones. They were isolated and identified for the first time from natural products and supposed to be accumulated as phytoalexins of Ephedra.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.816-821
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• 1999

Cholesterol esterase(pCEH, pancreas cholesterol ester hydrolase, E.C.3.1.1.13) which is secreted from pancreas has been known as an important lipase for cholesterol uptake. cholesteryl acyl esters from a diet must be hydrolyzed to free cholesterol and fatty acid by cholesterol esterase before the absorption in small intestine. For the development of inhibitory substances from natural source, we screened many extracts of oriental herbs for the inhibition of cholesterol esterase in vitro. The ethanol extract of Ephedra herba showed strong inhibitory activity. Solvent fractionation and silica gel column chromatography with the extract lead to the purification of the inhibitory principle in Ephedra herba. Crystallized inhibitor was identified as ( ) ephedrine by using UV, FT IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GC/Mass. These results suggest that ( ) ephedrine can be used as a potential lead compound for the development of inhibitor for cholesterol uptake by cholesterol esterase inhibition.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.27-37
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• 2007

Background Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patients on healthcare decisions. They provide recommendations for the average patient, which should take into account individual clinical judgment and the patient's values and expectations. Ephedra has sympathomimetic effect and has been used for weight loss worldwide. However, its safety is controversial especially in autonomic and cardiovascular systems. Therefore, the need of appropriate CPG for ephedra prescription in obesity was advocated in Korean Traditional Medicine. Methods The committee comprised of specialists of obesity, oriental herbology, oriental cardiology, constitutional medicine. The committee collected all relevant references about adverse effect and safety of ephedra in the forms of meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, case-control study and observational study from international and domestic databases and paper journals. 11 English- and 5 Korean-language references were gathered and categorized by PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) method. We could not complete strength of recommendation which should be clarified according to the evidence grade estimation. Result The first version of CPG for ephedra prescription in obesity was issued by Korean Oriental Association for Study of Obesity. It includes topics of introduction, pharmacokinetics, side effects and adverse events, constitutional aspect and recommendations for dose, indication and contraindication. Conclusion There should be periodic upgrade of this CPG from now on. Although there are some drawbacks in this version of CPG, it has significance as the first CPG in Korean Traditional Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2004

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the effect of herbal acupuncture(Ephedra sinica and Green tea) at Umnungchon(SP9) and Pungnyung(ST40) on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid on rats fed high fat diet for 5weeks. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into normal group(Sham), high fat diet group(Con), high fat diet and Ephedra sinica-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 treated group(ES), high fat diet and Green tea-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 treated group (GT), high fat diet and Ephedra sinica+Green tea-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 treated group(ES+GT). Herbal acupuncture was bilaterally treated at the level of 19.125mg/ml per 2 days during 5 weeks. Results : Body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio were decreased in Sham, ES, ES+GT, compared with control group. The level of serum HDL-cholesterol was increased in sham, tender to increase in ES, ES+GT. The change on that of serum triglyceride was decreased in sham, ES, ES+GT and free fatty acid was decrease in sham, ES+GT. Conclusions : Ephedra sinica with Green tea-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 can control the Body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid.