• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.509-526
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• 2017

Background and objectives : Soeumin Bojungykgi-tang (seBYTE) has been used to supplement qi in Korean medicine. It has been demonstrated to possess various biological functions such as anti-cancer, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study evaluated the protective roles of seBYTE in hepatotoxic in vitro and in vivo model. Methods : To investigate cytoprotective effect of seBYTE, HepG2 cells were pretreated with seBYTE and then subsequently exposed to $10{\mu}m$ AA for 12 h, followed by $5{\mu}m$ iron. Cell viability was examined by MTT assay, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins was evaluated by immunoblot analysis. For responsible molecular mechanisms, ROS production, GSH contents, and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. In addition, hepatoprotective effect of seBYTE in vivo was assessed in $CCl_4$-induced animal model. Results : seBYTE prevented AA + iron-induced cytotoxicity in concentration dependent manner. In addition, ROS production, GSH depletion, and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA + iron were significantly reduced by seBYTE pretreatment. Furthermore, seBYTE recovered expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins such as PARP and pro-caspase-3. In animal experiment, plasma ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated in $CCl_4$ treatment, but seBYTE significantly decreased the ALT and AST levels. Moreover, seBYTE alleviated the numbers of histological activity index, percentages of degenerative regions, degenerated hepatocytes, infiltrated inflammatory cells, nitrotyrosine- and 4-hydroxynonenal-positive cells in liver. Conclusions : These results showed that hepatoprotective effect of seBYTE against on $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damages is partly due to antioxidative and anti-apoptotic process.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.483-497
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• 2017

Background : Behavioral stress has been suggested as one of the significant factors that is able to disrupt physiological systems and cause depression as well as changes in various body systems. The stressful events can alter cognition, learning, memory and emotional responses, resulting in mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Results : We used a restraint stress model to evaluate the alteration of behavior and stress-related blood parameter. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of five animals each group. Furthermore, we assessed the change of body weight to evaluate the locomotor activity as well as status of emotional and anxiety in mice. After 7 days of restraint stress, the body weight had significantly decreased in the restraint stress group compared with the control group. We also observed stress-associated behavioral alterations, as there was a significant decrease in open field and forced swim test, whereas the immobilization time was significantly increased in the stress group compared to the control group. We observed the morphological changes of neuronal death and microglia by immunohistochemistry and western blot. In our study restraint stress did not cause change in neuronal cell density in the frontal cortex and CA1 hippocampus region, but there was a trend for an increased COX-2 and iNOS protein expression and microglia (CD11b) in brain, which is restraint stress. Conclusion : Our study, there were significant alterations observed in the behavioral studies. We found that mice undergoing restraint stress changed behavior, confirming the increased expression of inflammatory factors in the brain.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Yong-dam-sa-gan-tang (YST) on apoptosis in HepG2 cells, First of all. to study the cytotoxic effect of methanol extract of YST on HepG2 cells, the cells were treated with various concentrations of YST and then cell viability was determined by XTT reduction method and trypan blue exclusion assay. YST reduced proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To confirm the induction of apoptosis, HepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of YST. The cleavage of poly AD P-ribose polymerase (P ARP), a substrate for caspase-3 and a typical sign of apoptosis, and the activation of caspase-3, procaspase-8 and procaspase-8 were examined by western blot analysis. YST decreased procaspase-3, procaspase-8 and procaspase-9 levels in a dose-dependent manner and induced the clevage of PARP. YST triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling by increasing the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol. Furthermore, YST also downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and upregulated the pro-apoptotic-Bax. Therefore, this result suggest that YST induced HepG2 cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. Sustained activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in cells results in a cell cycle arrest and has been implicated in the differentiation of certain cell types, in many cases acting to promote differentiation. YST decreased the activation of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that YST is potentially useful as a chemo-therapeutic agent in HepG2.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2007

Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Antagonism currently belong to pharmaceutical incompatibility and some of them cannot be used in a same prescription: if they are used in a prescription, the treatment effect is rather reduced or toxic response may be produced. Therefore. inthisstudy, it was intended to look about how Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Antagonism were defined through survey of literatures and to review the meaning and clinical potential. According to "Sinnongbonchogyeong," "Medicaments contain the substance that suppress toxins and the toxins may be removed with use of mutual restraint or mutual detoxication substances" and they have been used in terms of this concept. Since Tang and Song era, mutual restraint and mutual inhibition were confused and were difficult to be distinguished. In terms of pharmaceutical incompatibility, the original meaning of mutual restraint was deteriorated in "Sinnongbonchogyeong". That is. mutual restraint has been used as the concept of mutual inhibition or incompatibility. When various literatures were reviewed. it could be found that Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Antagonism were firstly included in the phrases of songs and then in "seven emotion." It could be supposed that Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Antagonism was created based on the clinical experiences of the author and the influence of doctors. Such supposition means indicates that the interactions among medicaments could effectively be applied and mutual restraint did not belong to pharmaceutical incompatibility. However. many doctors used mutual restraint and mutual inhibition in clinical practice with no distinguishment since Song era and. especially, it is supposed that. when medicaments were used with mixing. the pharmaceutical incompatibility of "Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Antagonism" or "Eighteen Incompatible Medicaments" were emphasized and influenced on the efficacy of pharmaceutical preparations or acted as an obstacle in treating diseases. That is. an error was transferred: mutual restraint and mutual inhibition were not distinguished and were discretionally added or deleted through common people or professionals with no specific verification. The pharmaceutical preparations that belong to Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Antagonism belong to pharmaceutical incompatibility but. when reviewed various literatures and clinical reports. they are not thought to be the ones that can never be used. Therefore. systematic literature review and experimental research should be performed.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-42
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• 2010

This report describes 90 prescriptions related to the use of Platycodi Radix main blended from Dongeuibogam. The following conclusions were reached through investigations on the prescriptions that use Platycodi Radix as a key component. Prescriptions that Platycodi Radix was taken as a monarch drug are utilized for 30 therapeutic purposes, for example, cough disease, throat disease, abscess and pus, and wind disease. In particular, 12.1% of prescriptions appear in the chapter of cough, and 9.9% of those appear in the chapter of throat, and each 8.8% of those appear in the chapter of abscess and of wind disease. Prescriptions that utilize Platycodi Radix as the main ingredient are used in the treatment of cough disease, throat disease and abscess, and they are also used for treating 74 different types of disease. The prescriptions are compounded with Platycodi Radix as a monarch drug are related to exogenous agents such as wind-cold pathogen, wind-heat pathogen, epidemic diseases, and endogenous agents such as seven emotions, and non-endo-exopathogenic factors like excessive labor, deficiency of Qi and blood, phlegm-mass, phlegm-fire, ect. The dosage of Platycodi Radix is 2pun(about 0.75g) to 1nyang(about 37.5g), however 1don (about 3.75g) has been taken the most for clinical application. We can find out that according to herbs or prescriptions blended with it self, Platycodi Radix makes a variety of functions to penetrate lung stagnancy and remove phlegm, relieve throat pain and get rid of pus, and regulate Qi flow. And Gamgiltang is the most useful base prescription which used the Platycodi Radix as the main component.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.181-189
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• 2010

Objectives : In order to confirm a remedial effect and related influence of the clinic treatment by prescribing Samchuljojung-tang(蔘朮調中湯), Bojungikqi-tang(補中益氣湯) and Samso-um(蔘蘇飮) to patients who suffering from a chronic cough and rhinorrhea. Methods : 1. In a clinical observation and analysis method, we have selected the 23 patients who have visited National Oriental Medical Center, date from 2007.8.21 to 2008.7.31 and suffering from a chronic cough and rhinorrhea caused by the common cold sequelae. 2. Separated them into three types(I: cough type, II: rhinorrhea type, III: cough & rhinorrhea type). 3. Observed thoroughly the level of symptom and recorded it for each type with questionnaire survey at the beginning set 4. Prescribed Samchuljojung-tang, Bojungikqi-tang and Samso-um for type I, II, III respectively. 5. Observed the level of symptom and treatment afterwards affect, and recorded movements of intensity level for 3 types with same questionnaires. Results : 1. Type I : The survey turned out to be from 9 patients, initial level recorded 31.89 at the entry diagnosis, and next level that means changing of symptoms, recorded to 12.67 after prescribing herb medication. 2. Type II : From 11 patients, initial level was 32.82 and next level was 13.45. 3. Type III : From 3 patients, initial level was 37.67 and next one was 16.00. Conclusions : It is concluded that there is a significant remedial effect and related influence of the clinic treatment for each type of patients who suffering from a chronic cough and rhinorrhea caused by the common cold sequelae.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-77
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• 2010

Objective : This study reviews the recent trend of oriental medical prescription research. The data examined are the articles published in the Korean Journal of Oriental Medical Prescription from 1990 to 2009. Method : The data are retrieved through the internet database Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and the collection of the Korean Journal of Oriental Medical Prescription. The number of articles examined is 385, published in 25 volumes of the journal. This study examines the nature of the articles, research methods, subjects, and author information. Research subjects are sorted out by the OASIS key words for the articles published before 1999, and by key word indexes cited in the abstracts for the articles published sinceafter. Results : Among the 385 articles collected, 206 are research articles, 143 philological articles, 35 case studies, and 1 special contribution. A majority of research articles are experimental studies (199 articles or 96.6%), while clinical reports (5 articles or 2.43%), and others studies (2 articles) occupy a small portion. Most of experimental studies (183 articles or 91%) examine the effectiveness of certain prescriptions or treatments. Among the effectiveness studies, 114 articles (62.3%) employ in vivo experiment design, 52 articles (28.42%) in vitro experiments, and 17 articles (9.29%) both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In terms of research subject, the most frequently indexed key words are hepatotoxicity among diseases (9 articles), Bojungikgitang (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang) among prescriptions (10 articles), Buja (Acontii Tuber) among meteria medica (4 articles), immunity and anti-oxidation among efficacy terminology (6 articles each), and Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑) among references in the key words (25 articles). Universities are the main affiliation of authors (76.42%), followed by university hospitals (6.71%), non-academic research institutes (5.55%), local clinics (4.67), academic research institutes (2.81%), hospitals (2.38%), and others (1.44%). The most affiliated institute of the first and correspondent authors is Wonkwang University. In terms of authorship, co-authorship outnumbers sole-authorship by 82.08% to 17.92%. The proportion of authors of a single article is 63.54% which is near the author productivity distribution described by Lotka's law.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.325-336
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out herb-pair prototype composed of Aconiti Radix(烏頭) or Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix(附子) written in ancient chinese medical classics. Methods : To search usages of Aconiti Radix and/or Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix, we have investigated the classics of herb and prescription such as "Fifty-two kinds of Diseases"("五十二病方"),"WuWeiHanDaiYiJian" ("武威漢代醫簡"),"Treatise on Febrile Caused by Cold"("傷寒論"),"Synopsis of Prescriptions of The Golden Chamber"("金匱要略"). Results : There were three herb pairs of Aconiti Radix and/or Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix in "Fifty-two kinds of Diseases", four herb pairs of it in "WuWeiHanDaiYiJian", eight herb pairs of it in "Treatise on Febrile Caused by Cold", and five herb pairs of it in "Synopsis of Prescriptions of The Golden Chamber". Conclusions : 1. Aconiti Radix herb-pairs written in ancient chinese medical classics are as follows ; Cinnamomi Cortex(桂), Arsenopyritum(礜) and Veratri Nigri Rhizoma et Radix(藜蘆). Zanthoxyli Fructus(蜀椒), Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix(附子), honey(蜜) and Asari Radix(細辛). 2. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix(附子) herb-pairs written in ancient chinese medical classics are as follows ; Zanthoxyli Fructus(蜀椒), Paeonia Radx(芍藥), Ephedrae Herba(麻黃), Zingiberis Rhizoma(乾薑), Zingiberis Rhizoma(乾薑)-Allii Radix(葱白), Cinnamomi Cortex(桂), Atractylodis Rhizoma White(白朮), Poria(茯苓), Atractylodis Rhizoma White(白朮)-Poria(茯苓) and Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix(秦艽), Coisis semen(薏苡仁), Pinelliae Rhizoma(半夏). 3. In "Fifty-two kinds of Diseases"only Aconiti Radix was used and in "Treatise on Febrile Caused by Cold"only Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix was used, but in "WuWeiHanDaiYiJian"and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of The Golden Chamber"both herbs were used. 4. Method for reducing toxicity of Aconiti Radix and Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix was found in "Treatise on Febrile Caused by Cold"and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of The Golden Chamber".

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2017

Objectives : This trial aimed to determine if Wasong (Orostachys japonicus) extract can enhance immune system and is safe enough to be approved as a health functional food. Methods : Total 62 people, aged 45 and older, will be recruited to participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. This study will compare Wasong extract and placebo. Wasong group will take 1g of Wasong extract, once a day, for 8 weeks. Placebo group will take 1g of crystalline cellulose as placebo, once a day, for 8 weeks. Outcomes will be measured at the baseline, the end of 4th week, and 8th week. Primary outcomes are the ratio of NK cells/total lymphocytes and the ratio of T-helper cells/T-suppressor cells. Secondary outcomes are total white blood cell count, the ratio of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes in total leukocytes, the ratio of total T cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, and B cells to lymphocytes, the amount of blood IgM, IgG, IgA, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG, and blood metabolite target &global analysis. Results : This trial was approved by institutional review board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital (registry number: 2016006), and registered in Clinical Research information Service, one of WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (registry number: PRE20161006-002). Recruitment opened in February 2017 and is supposed to be completed by August 2017. The result is expected to be published by June 2018. Conclusion : This trial will provide clinical information to determine the efficacy and safety of Wasong in enhancing immune system of middle-aged and older people.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.223-251
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• 2017

Objectives : A lot of experiment results of Yugmijihwangtang(YM) are reported in various kinds of journals. Many of them report on the new effects that are not recorded in the traditional medical texts. So it is necessary to take it into consideration that newly reported effects could be of help to clinical practice, because this process of comparison of Donguibogam and scientific experiment results will have basis to lead into the evidence based medicine. Methods : We compared the effects of in Donguibogam and the experiment results of YM. Results : The effects of YM in Donguibogam are to replenish essence and marrow, and to treat red wen, fatigue, treat hypouresis, urinary sediment, urinary urgency, hematuria, hydrocephalus, speech and movement retardation, yin-deficiency, diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver, melanoma, disability to see near and far sight, tinnitus, hearing loss, alopecia, angiogenesis, cough, cough at night, trachyphonia, and, infantile convulsion. The experiment results of YM since 2000 in both Korea and China are to inhibit atopic dermatitis, renal interstitial fibrosis, anti-oxidant, emphysema, stress, glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, hemorrhage, plantar sweating, dermal aging, kidney aging, bone loss, breast cancer, pathological myocardial cell, primary liver cancer, thrombosis, osteoporosis, intrauterine growth retardation, chronic renal failure, IgA nepropathy, slow cerebral development, and hippocampal tissue lesions on the one hand, and to help bone formation, renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system, cerebral recovery, cognitive function and expression, osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, learning and memory, cold-tolerance and oxygen deficit-tolerance and anti-fatigue, endometrial formation, humoral and cell-mediated immunity, immune regulation effect, Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary Axis, and spermatogenesis, on the other hand. Conclusion : When we compared the effects of YM with the experiment results of YM, there existed a considerable gap between them. So, from now on, it is expected that a great effort and consideration are needed to solve these gaps from an academic and clinical point of view.