• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to highlight recent gut-microbiota studies and to encourage gut-microbiota-related researches in Pediatric science of Korean Medicine. Methods We searched gut microbiota related studies and patents via the PubMed database of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the PatentScope database of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to see current trends of gut microbiota studies. Results All searched research and review articles in gut-microbiota studies were analyzed and presented as two charts, showing the recent trends of gut microbiota research. We summarized and discussed the significance of the selected fifty-six articles. Also, we listed reported gut-microbiota-derived small metabolites, impacting on human health and diseases. Conclusions This study emphasizes the critical roles of gut-microbiota and their-derived small metabolites in the human physiology and pathology. We know and agree that many natural compounds in Korean Medicine could be converted into small metabolites by gut microbiota in our body. Thus, it is important to encourage physicians and researchers of gut microbiota in the arena of Pediatric Korean Medicine. We believe that researchers will find a lot of unknown metabolites produced by gut microbiota from natural compounds in Korean Medicine.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2014

Background: Gut microbiota is regarded as one of the major factors involved in the control of body weight. The antiobesity effects of ginseng and its main constituents have been demonstrated, but the effects on gut microbiota are still unknown. Methods: To investigate the effect of ginseng on gut microbiota, 10 obese middle-aged Korean women took Panax ginseng extracts for 8 wk and assessment of body composition parameters, metabolic biomarkers, and gut microbiota composition was performed using 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing at baseline and at 8 wk. Significant changes were observed in body weight and body mass index; however, slight changes were observed in gut microbiota. We divided the participants into two groups, the effective and the ineffective weight loss groups, depending on weight loss effect, in order to determine whether the antiobesity effect was influenced by the composition of gut microbiota, and the composition of gut microbiota was compared between the two groups. Results: Prior to ginseng intake, significant differences of gut microbiota were observed between both at phyla and genera and the gut microbiota of the effective and ineffective weight loss groups was segregated on a principal coordinate analysis plot. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that ginseng exerted a weight loss effect and slight effects on gut microbiota in all participants. In addition, its antiobesity effects differed depending on the composition of gut microbiota prior to ginseng intake.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.131-145
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• 2020

The microbiota-gut-brain axis, which refers to the bidirectional communication pathway between gut bacteria and the central nervous system, has a profound effect on important brain processes, from the synthesis of neurotransmitters to the modulation of complex behaviors such as sociability and anxiety. Previous studies have revealed that the gut microbiota is potentially related to not only gastrointestinal disturbances, but also social impairment and repetitive behavior-core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although studies have been conducted to characterize the microbial composition in patients with ASD, the results are heterogeneous. Nevertheless, it is clear that there is a difference in the composition of the gut microbiota between ASD and typically developed individuals, and animal studies have repeatedly suggested that the gut microbiota plays an important role in ASD pathophysiology. This possibility is supported by abnormalities in metabolites produced by the gut microbiota and the association between altered immune responses and the gut microbiota observed in ASD patients. Based on these findings, various attempts have been made to use the microbiota in ASD treatment. The results reported to date suggest that microbiota-based therapies may be effective for ASD, but largescale, well-designed studies are needed to confirm this.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2024

Stunting, a condition characterized by impaired growth and development in children, remains a major public health concern worldwide. Over the past decade, emerging evidence has shed light on the potential role of gut microbiota modulation in stunting. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to impaired nutrient absorption, chronic inflammation, altered short-chain fatty acid production, and perturbed hormonal and signaling pathways, all of which may hinder optimal growth in children. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing research exploring the bidirectional relationship between stunting and the gut microbiota. Although stunting can alter the gut microbial community, microbiota dysbiosis may exacerbate it, forming a vicious cycle that sustains the condition. The need for effective preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota to combat stunting is also discussed. Nutritional interventions, probiotics, and prebiotics are among the most promising approaches to modulate the gut microbiota and potentially ameliorate stunting outcomes. Ultimately, a better understanding of the gut microbiota-stunting nexus is vital for guiding evidence-based interventions that can improve the growth and development trajectory of children worldwide, making substantial strides toward reducing the burden of stunting in vulnerable populations.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1607-1613
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• 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is regarded as one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer. Gut microbiota is vital to retain and promote several functions of intestinal. Although previous researches have shown that some gut microbiota have the abilities to inhibit tumorigenesis and prevent cancer from progressing, they have not yet clearly identified associative mechanisms. This review not only concentrates on the antitumor effects of metabolites produced by gut microbiota, for example, SCFA, ferrichrome, urolithins, equol and conjugated linoleic acids, but also the molecules which constituted the bacterial cell wall have the antitumor effect in the host, including lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, β-glucans and peptidoglycan. The aim of our review is to develop a possible therapeutic method, which use the products of gut microbiota metabolism or gut microbiota constituents to help treat or prevent colorectal cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2013

The gut mucosal barrier plays an important role in maintaining a delicate immune homeostasis. The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered to involve a defective mucosal immunity along with a genetic predisposition. Recent views have suggested an excessive response to components of the gut microbiota in IBD. A condition of "dysbiosis", with alterations of the gut microbial composition, has been observed in patients with IBD. In this article, the author review recent studies of gut microbiota in IBD, particularly the importance of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of pediatric IBD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.747-756
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• 2024

Chronic gut inflammation promotes the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity. There is growing evidence which suggests that dysbiosis in gut microbiota and metabolites disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier and significantly impact the level of inflammation in various tissues, including the liver and adipose tissues. Moreover, dietary sources are connected to the development of leaky gut syndrome through their interaction with the gut microbiota. This review examines the effects of these factors on intestinal microorganisms and the communication pathways between the gut-liver and gut-brain axis. The consumption of diets rich in fats and carbohydrates has been found to weaken the adherence of tight junction proteins in the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, this allows endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharides produced by detrimental bacteria, to permeate through portal veins, leading to metabolic endotoxemia and alterations in the gut microbiome composition with reduced production of metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids. However, the precise correlation between gut microbiota and alternative sweeteners remains uncertain, necessitating further investigation. This study highlights the significance of exploring the impact of diet on gut microbiota and the underlying mechanisms in the gut-liver and gut-brain axis. Nevertheless, limited research on the gut-liver axis poses challenges in comprehending the intricate connections between diet and the gut-brain axis. This underscores the need for comprehensive studies to elucidate the intricate gut-brain mechanisms underlying intestinal health and microbiota.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1111-1118
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• 2023

As a long-term condition that affects the airways and lungs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation, emphysema, breathlessness, chronic cough, and sputum production. Currently, the bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed for COPD are mostly off-target, warranting new disease management strategies. Accumulating research has revealed the gut-lung axis to be a bidirectional communication system. Cigarette smoke, a major exacerbating factor in COPD and lung inflammation, affects gut microbiota composition and diversity, causing gut microbiota dysbiosis, a condition that has recently been described in COPD patients and animal models. For this review, we focused on the gut-lung axis, which is influenced by gut microbial metabolites, bacterial translocation, and immune cell modulation. Further, we have summarized the findings of preclinical and clinical studies on the association between gut microbiota and COPD to provide a basis for using gut microbiota in therapeutic strategies against COPD. Our review also proposes that further research on probiotics, prebiotics, short-chain fatty acids, and fecal microbiota transplantation could assist therapeutic approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate COPD.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.275-305
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to review clinical and experimental studies using Korean traditional herbal medicine for dementia on the improvement of cognitive function and changes in gut microbiota. Methods: We searched 12 databases for clinical and experimental studies on the effect of Korean traditional herbal medicine treatment for dementia on changes in gut microbiota. Sample sizes, dementia types, diagnosis criteria, interventions, outcomes, and results, including changes in gut microbiota, were extracted from the included clinical studies and analyzed. Subjects, interventions, outcomes, and results, including gut microbiota changes, were extracted from the included experimental studies and analyzed. Results: A total of 22 studies were selected, and most of them were experimental studies. Improvement in cognitive function and changes in gut microbiota were reported in all studies. The most frequently used herbal material was Poria cocos, and the most frequently used prescription was Danggwijagyak-san and Chilseong-hwan. Lactobacillus, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were frequently assessed gut microbiota. Conclusions: These results suggest the treatment potential of Korean traditional herbal medicine for dementia by regulating gut microbiota. However, there were discrepancies related to changes in gut microbiota among studies. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify the effect and mechanism of Korean traditional herbal medicine for dementia on gut microbiota.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2018

Orally administered ginsengs come in contact with the gut microbiota, and their hydrophilic constituents, such as ginsenosides, are metabolized to hydrophobic compounds by gastric juice and gut microbiota: protopanxadiol-type ginsenosides are mainly transformed into compound K and ginsenoside Rh2; protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides to ginsenoside Rh1 and protopanaxatriol, and ocotillol-type ginsenosides to ocotillol. Although this metabolizing activity varies between individuals, the metabolism of ginsenosides to compound K by gut microbiota in individuals treated with ginseng is proportional to the area under the blood concentration curve for compound K in their blood samples. These metabolites such as compound K exhibit potent pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiallergic, and neuroprotective effects compared with the parent ginsenosides, such as Rb1, Rb2, and Re. Therefore, to monitor the potent pharmacological effects of ginseng, a novel probiotic fermentation technology has been developed to produce absorbable and bioactive metabolites. Based on these findings, it is concluded that gut microbiota play an important role in the pharmacological action of orally administered ginseng, and probiotics that can replace gut microbiota can be used in the development of beneficial and bioactive ginsengs.