• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2023

Licorice is a perennial herb belonging to the legume family that mainly grows in northeastern China, Mongolia, Siberia, and other regions. It is used in traditional medicine in the form of dried roots in the East and the West. The main active component of licorice, glycyrrhizin, is known to produce mineralocorticoid effects when consumed chronically, which can lead to apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome. Herein, we present the case of a 72-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency room with severe generalized weakness and difficulty keeping her neck upright, which had developed after daily consumption of licorice-infused water for the past 2 months. Blood tests revealed metabolic alkalosis and severe hypokalemia, and an electrocardiogram showed ventricular bigeminy. The patient was treated with daily potassium and spironolactone supplements, leading to a significant improvement in muscle strength after a week. One week later, the patient was discharged, showing rare ventricular premature contractions on electrocardiography, but with no specific complaints. Chronic licorice ingestion leading to hypokalemia and muscle weakness can be life-threatening, necessitating the discontinuation of the causative agent, close monitoring, and cautious supplementation of potassium and spironolactone as treatment.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2009

This study is to specify the criteria and testing methods of WHW extract which has a potency as a therapeutic agent for chronic renal failure. The determination of specifications of WHW extract is mostly important because of the quality assurance. Three batches of WHW extract were obtained by the extraction at $98^{\circ}$C for 3 hr using water from mixture of 15 herbal medicines including Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix, Salviae Radix, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma, Evodiae Fructus, Epimedii Herba, Rhei Rhizoma, Perillae Herba, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Artemixiae capillaris Herba, Alimatis Rhizoma, Hoelen, Atractylodies Rhizoma alba, Polyporus and Cinnamomi Ramulus, subsequently, vaccum-dried for 15 hr. The yield of WHW extracts was 24.53% on the average. The identification of each herbal medicine of WHW extract was performed by modification of Korean Pharmacopeia IX (KP IX). The assay of WHW extract was performed using standard such as berberine, icariin, glycyrrhizin, and cinnamic acid of indicative herbal medicines by modification of KP IX, too. As well as, paticle size classification test was carried out to indicate the boundary of particle size of WHW extract and the particle size of WHW extract more than 50% showed the 140 ${\mu}$m. Taken together, WHW extract could be prepared reproducibly and assurable if follows the presented extraction and drying steps and its specifications were satisfied with the indicated criteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2015

Bangpungtongseong-san(BPTSS, Fangfengtongsheng-san in Chineses) is a traditional herbal formula comprising 18 medicinal herbs. In the present study, we performed the simultaneous analysis for four compounds of BPTSS and examined anti-allergic effects in human keratinocytes and mouse splenocytes. The column for separation of four compounds was used Luna C18 column and maintained at 40℃. The mobile phase for gradient elution consisted of two solvent systems. The analysis was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with PDA detection at 254 and 280 nm. To evaluate production and expression of Th2 chemokines, ELISA and RT-PCR were conducted in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells with or without BPTSS or silymarin, a positive control for skin inflammation. To measure Th2 cytokines, primary mouse splenocytes were treated with BPTSS and performed ELISA for interleukin (IL)-4, 5, 13. Calibration curves were acquired with r2>0.9999. The contents of geniposide, liquiritin, baicalin, and glycyrrhizin in BPTSS were 5.06 ㎎/g, 7.33 ㎎/g, 27.56 ㎎/g, and 7.81 ㎎/g, respectively. BPTSS reduced TARC and RANTES production and mRNA expression in TNF-α and IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells. BPTSS inhibited IL-4, 5, and 13 production in mouse splenocytes. Our data will be a helpful information to upgrade quality control and anti-allergic effects of BPTSS.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish the simultaneous analysis for six compounds in Gumiganghwal-tang (GMGHT, Jiuweiqianghuo-tang) and to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic effects of GMGHT in vitro. Methods : The column for separation of six compounds was used Luna $C_{18}$ column and maintained at $40^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase for gradient elution consisted of two solvent systems, 1.0% acetic acid in water and 1.0% acetic acid in acetonitrile. The analysis was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with pothodiode array (PDA) detection at 254, 280, and 320 nm. The injection volume was 10 ${\mu}L$. The antioxidant activities of GMGHT were evaluated by measuring free radical scavenging activities on 2,2'-Azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The inhibitory effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation were evaluated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid relative substances (TBARS), relative electrophoretic mobility (REM), and fragmentation of apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-100. Results : Calibration curves were acquired with $r^2{\geq}0.9998$. The contents of liquiritin, ferulic acid, baicalin, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, and wogonin in GMGHT were 1.784, 1.693, 37.899, 0.258, 1.869, and 0.034 mg/g, respectively. The GMGHT showed the radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration required for 50% reduction ($RC_{50}$) against ABTS and DPPH radicals were 72.51 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 128.49 ${\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, GMGHT reduced the oxidation properties of LDL induced by $CuSO_4$. Conclusion : HPLC-PDA is considered as an available and convenient method for quality control and standardization of GMGH and GMGHT has potentials on anti-atherosclerosis by anti-oxidative effect and suppressive effect on LDL oxidation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2012

Licorice is a very useful herbal medicine frequently prescribed, but glycyrrhizin, one of its components, can cause pseudoaldosteronism presenting hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and hypertension as a result of prolonging a biological half-life of systemic steroid by strongly inhibiting the enzyme $11{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. The risk factors for this side effect are still unclear. Here, 479 hospitalized patients taking herbal medicines including licorice for more than five days were recruited to analyze their serum potassium levels, under following parameters ; age and gender of patient, dose and period of licorice, disease state such as hypertension and with or without diuretics. They were divided into the non-occurrence group (over 3.5 mEq/L) and the occurrence group (under 3.5 mEq/L) of hypokalemia based on serum potassium levels during hospitalization. The average ages of the non-occurrence group and the occurrence group were $52.6{\pm}17.8$ and $68{\pm}10.5$, respectively (p < 0.001). But there were no noticeable differences in the daily dose of licorice, days of taking, and total dose between groups. Regression analysis showed that odd ratio of age (>60) and taking diuretics inducing hypokalemia was 3.5 (95%CI 1.5-8.1), 4.6 (95%CI 2.0-10.9) that indicates significant correlation with hypokalemia. Based upon this analysis, it is imperative to monitor regularly the risk of pseudoaldosteronism or hypokalemia not only when administered licorice of high dose for long period but also when combined it with diuretics causing hypokalemia to the elderly patients over 60 year old.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2010

Guibi-tang, a traditional herbal medicine, is used for anti-oxidant, anti-osteoporosis, hemostasis and gastroprotection. To develop an analysis method of simultaneous determination of six compounds, swertisin, decursinol, glycyrrhizin, 6-gingerol, costunolide and decursin in Guibi-tang, a high performance liquid chromatography was used with diode array detector. Six bioactive components were separated on a SHISEIDO $C_{18}$ column ($5\;{\mu}m$, 4.6 mm I.D.${\times}$250 mm) with column temperature $30^{\circ}C$. The gradient elution was composed of water with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and acetonitrile. UV wavelength was set at 230 nm, 254 nm and 330 nm, respectively. Calibration curve showed good linear regression ($R^2$ > 0.9999). The limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged in 0.03 - 0.23 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 0.08 - $0.70\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The RSD values of intra- and inter-day test were in the range of 0.03 ~ 0.96% and 0.01 ~ 1.46%, respectively. The evaluated results of accuracy test were varied from 92.28% ~ 105.14% with RSD < 1.60%. In conclusion, this developed simultaneous determination method was accuracy and sensitive to the quality evaluation of Guibi-tang.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.381-388
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• 2016

Hyangso-san is a traditional herbal medicine that consists of the seven herbal medicines, Cyperi Rhizoma, Perillae Folium, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus, and Allii Fistulosi Bulbus. Hyangso-san has long been clinically used to treat the influenza, including headache, ferver, chills, and pantalgia. In this study, we were performed the simultaneous analysis of the 15 marker compounds (liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, ferulic acid, naringin, hesperidin, rosmarinic acid, liquiritigenin, kaempferol, glycyrrhizin, nobiletin, 6-gingerol, elemicin, atractylenolide III, nootkatone, and atractylenolide I) in Hyangso-san using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Column for the separation of the 15 ingredients was used a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH $C_{18}$ analytical column ($2.1{\times}100mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$) at $45^{\circ}C$ by using a mobile phase of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water and acetonitrile with gradient condition. Identifications of all analytes were performed using a Waters ACQUITY TQD LC-MS/MS system. The flow rate and injection volume were 0.3 mL/min and $2.0{\mu}L$, respectively. Correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was ${\geq}0.9958$. The values of limits of detection and quantification of the 15 components were 0.002-4.29 and 0.01-12.88 ng/mL, respectively. The result of an analysis using the established LC-MS/MS method, kaempferol and atractylenolide I were not detected, while other 13 compounds were 0.08-56.87 mg/g in lyophilized Hyangso-san sample.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2016

Gumiganghwal-tang has been used for the treatment of common cold for a long-time. We developed an accurate and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of ferulic acid, baicalin, bergapten, methyl eugenol, glycyrrhizin, oxypeucedanin, wogonin, nodakenin, atractylenolide III, imperatorin, and atractylenolide I in Gumiganghwal-tang samples. The analytes were separated on a Shiseido C18 column ($5{\mu}m$, $4.6mm\;I.D.{\times}250mm$) with gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Eleven compounds were quantitatively determined by HPLC-DAD and identified by LC-MS data. We also validated this method. The calibration curves of all the compounds showed good linear regression. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification ranged from 0.04 to 0.63 and from 0.12 to $1.92{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The relative standard deviation values of intra- and inter-days of this method represented less than 2.9%. The recoveries were found to be in the range of 90.06 - 107.66%. The developed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of Gumiganghwaltang samples. The established HPLC method could be used to quality control of Gumiganghwal-tang.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2013

Objectives : Yijin-tang has been used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, and gastric ulcer. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established for simultaneous analysis of six compounds, liquiritin, glycyrrhizin, hesperidin, 6-gingerol, homogentisic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde in Yijin-tang, a traditional Korean herbal medicinal preparation. Methods : A Gemini C18 column was used for the separation of six constituents at $40^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase using gradient elution consist of two solvent systems, 1.0% acetic acid in water (A) and 1.0% acetic acid in acetonitrile (B). The flow-rate was 1.0 mL/min and injection volume was $10{\mu}g$. The detector was a photodiode array (PDA) detector set at 254 nm and 280 nm. Results : The calibration curves of six compounds showed good linearity in various concentration ranges ($R^2{\geq}0.9997$). The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.028-$0.192{\mu}g/mL$ and 0.093-$0.540{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The RSD (%) of the intra and inter day validations were 0.03-0.84% and 0.05 -1.00%, respectively. Recovery was 96.14-01.90% and RSD (%) was less than 1.5%. Conclusions : The established simultaneous analysis methods will help management to improve the quality of Yijin-tang.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.177-185
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• 2013

Objectives : Leejung-tang (Lizhong-tang) has been used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in Korea. In this study, we performed quantification analysis of five marker components, liquiritin, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, glycyrrhizin, and 6-gingerol in Leejung-tang using a ultra performance liquid chromatography- electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer (UPLC-ESI-MS). In addition, we evaluated antioxidant activity of Leejung- tang. Methods : The column for separation of five constituents used a UPLC BEH C18 ($100{\times}2.1mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$) maintained at $45^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase consisted of two solvent systems, 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in H2O (A) and CH3CN (B) by gradient flow. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min with detection at mass spectrometer. The antioxidative activities conduct an experiment on 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of Leejung-tang. Results : Calibration curves of five marker compounds were acquired with r2 values > 0.99. The amount of the five compounds in Leejung-tang were 0.07 - 0.84 mg/g. The concentration required for 50% reduction (RC50) against ABTS radical was 119.02 ug/mL. In addition, the scavenging against DPPH radical of Leejung-tang was 11.4%, 14.5%, 19.8%, 29.6%, and 49.2% at 25 ug/mL, $50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, $200{\mu}g/mL$, and $400{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Conclusions : The established LC-MS/MS method will be helpful to improve quality control of Leejung-tang. In addition, Leejung-tang is a potential antioxidant therapeutic agent.