• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2012

Acne, also known as Acne vulgaris, is a common disorder of human skin involving the sebaceous gland and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether anti-acne herbal complex (AAHC), a functional extract from herbal complex can be used for acne treatment as a natural product. We first demonstrated anti-acne activity of AAHC in mouse acne model. Acne was induced by injecting P. acnes on the backside $2{\times}10^7$ CFUs in ICR mice and then the mice were treated with AAHC by dermal application once daily. ACFREE$^{(R)}$ (clindamicin phosphate) was used as a positive control. Treatment with AAHC decreased the P. acnes-induced skin swelling and inflammation. AAHC treatment significantly decreased serum DHT concentration in acne-induced mice. Especially, treatment of 20% AACH in mice was more effected than 40%. We next evaluated the antimicrobial property of AAHC against P. acnes, Staphylcococcus aureus (S.aureus), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Incubation of P. acnes, S. aureus, and E. coli with AAHC showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against the bacterial growth lower. Alamar blue method was also carried for the antibacterial activity. It was effectively MIC level at 6.25% of P. acnes. AAHC effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli at 0.097% on MIC level, respectively. Our results showed the potential of using AAHC as an alternative treatment for antibiotic therapy of acne and the application of AAHC as a herbal medicine for acne treatment.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.103-103
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• 2022

Ganghwaljetongyeum (GHJTY) is a complex herbal decoction comprising 18 plants; it is used to treat arthritis. In order to develop a new anti-arthritic herbal medication, we selected 5 out of 18 GHJTY plants by using bioinformatics analysis. The new medication, called ChondroT, comprised water extracts of Osterici Radix, Lonicerae Folium, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Clematidis Radix, and Phellodendri Cortex. This study was designed to investigate its chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects to develop an anti-arthritic herb medicine. ChondroT was validated using a convenient and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography. photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) detection method for simultaneous determination of its seven reference components. The concentrations of the seven marker constituents were in the range of 0.81-5.46 mg/g. The chondroprotective effects were evaluated based on SW1353 chondrocytes and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) expression. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of ChondroT were studied by Western blotting of pro-inflammatory enzymes and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. ChondroT enhanced the growth of SW1353 chondrocytes and also significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced MMP-1 expression. However, ChondroT did not show any effects on the growth of HeLa and RAW264.7 cells. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, which was significantly decreased by pre-treatment with ChondroT. In addition, ChondroT reduced the activation of NF-κB and production of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2, and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. These results show that ChondroT exerted a chondroprotective effect and demonstrated multi-target mechanisms related to inflammation and arthritis. In addition, the suppressive effect was greater than that exhibited by GHJTY, suggesting that ChondroT, a new complex herbal medication, has therapeutic potential for the treatment of arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.54-76
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the research trends of herbal medicine for obesity in animal experiments over the past 5 years. Methods: 5 Databases (Science on, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Research Information Sharing Service, PubMed, Cochrane) were searched from 2017 to 2021. Results: A total of 50 studies were selected and analyzed. 21 single herbs and 25 complex formula were used in the studies. The most commonly used herbal material was Poria cocos. As a result, there were significant improvements in the indicators related to obesity or metabolic abnormalities accompanied by obesity in all studies. Conclusions: These results suggest the efficacy and mechanism of herbal medicine for obesity treatment in animal models. Also, there should be more clinical trials in the future, based on this study.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2008

The interaction of cadmium (II) ion with protocatechuic acid ($H_3PA$) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were investigated in aqueous solution at different pH. The protocatechuic acid and EDTA/cadmium stochiometries for cadmium (II) binding have been determined by UV-vis spectrophotometric method. The complexation of Cd (II) ion with protocatechuic acid was formed in solution. Among the two potential sites of chelation present in the protocatechuic acid structure, the carboxylic function presents higher complexation power toward Cd (II). 1 : 1 Cd (II)-complex had a maximum absorbance and showed the bathochromic shift of the long-wavelength band of the UV-vis spectra in the alkaline pH when interacted with protocatechuic acid in 0.2 M $NH_3$ - 0.2 M ${NH_4}Cl$ (pH 8.0) buffer. These results suggest that Cd $({H_2}PA)^+$ complex has the optimal condition of chelation in buffer solution at 64.22 ${\mu}M$ protocatechuic acid (A=1.01455).

• Biodesign
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.96-99
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• 2018

The gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of abscesses, sinusitis and food poisoning. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has caused significant clinical issues worldwide. The HslU-HslV complex was first identified as a prokaryotic homolog of eukaryotic proteasomes. HslU is an unfoldase that mediates the unfolding of the substrate proteins, and it works with the protease HslV in the complex. To date, the protein complex has been mostly studied in gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we report the purification and crystallization of the full-length HslU from S. aureus. The crystal diffracted X-rays to a $3.5{\AA}$ resolution, revealing that the crystals belong to space group $P2_1$, with unit cell parameters of a = 166.5, b = 189.6, $c=226.6{\AA}$, and ${\beta}=108.1^{\circ}$. We solved the phage problem by molecular replacement using the structure of HslU from Haemophilus influenzae as a search model. The cell content analysis with this molecular replacement solution revealed that 24 molecules are contained in the asymmetric unit. This structure provides insight into the structural and mechanistic difference of the HslUV complex of gram-positive bacteria.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.408-413
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• 2023

The incidence of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a prominent geriatric disease, is increasing because of the extended lifespan of companion animals. Various complementary therapies have been proposed for the management of CCDS. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of the Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ in dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Fifteen dogs with CDS were included, and four to five drops of Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ, composed of herbal extracts, were applied around the dorsal neck of all dogs twice daily for 1-3 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the CCDS scale, and serum β-amyloid oligomer concentrations were measured before and after administration of the extract. The CCDS scale score significantly decreased after administration in dogs with CDS (p = 0.0313), compared to pre-administration levels. Although the serum β-amyloid oligomer concentration decreased after administration, the change was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A notable decrease was observed between pre- and post-administration in dogs with β-amyloid levels >300 pg/mL (p = 0.0313). The laboratory results showed no remarkable adverse effects of the extract. This study suggests that Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ extract could be an adjunctive treatment for dogs with CDS.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.3 s.21
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• pp.79-88
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• 2006

Objectives : This systematic review summarizes the existing evidence on anti-tumor herbal acupuncture in South Korea. Methods : Literature searches were conducted in four databases. All studies of anti-tumor herbal acupuncture which has been published in South Korea until May, 2006 were included. Data were extracted according to pre-defined criteria by two independent reviewers. Results : We found 73 papers related to anti-tumor herbal acupuncture in South Korea. Seventy of seventy-three papers are trial research and only three papers are clinical research. Herb materials which were used in those papers are Bee-venom, Wild-ginseng, Ginseng, Houttuynia cordata Thunb, Lonicerae Flos, Carthami Tinctorii Juglans sinensis, Euphorbiae Radix, Ecliptae Herba, Crotonis Semen, Juglans sinensis, Armeniaceae Amarum, so on. From those papers, Anti-tumor herbal acupunctures are effective to tumor cell line and tumor in vivo. Clinical research papers reported that Anti-tumor herbal acupunctures are useful to improve cancer related symptoms and quality of life(QOL) of cancer patients. Conclusions : From the above results, we make sure of that anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is useful therapeutics for cancer patients. If we conceive complex-herb materials and carry out more advanced research, Anti-tumor Herbal Acupuncture is one of those major therapeutics to improve clinical symptoms and quality of life(QOL) of cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.13-32
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• 2017

Objectives This study is to review the effect of herbal medicines on obesity in animal models reported in Korean domestic journals after 2010. Methods The Databases (Koreantk, KISS, NDSL) are searched with terms as obesity, and animal study reports on obesity with herbal medicines after 2010 were reviewed. Animal model, intervention, and obesity indicator were extracted. Results 69 articles were reviewed. 57 studies used high fat diet to induce obesity. 56 studies used complex herbal medicines. Most used herbal material for anti-obesity effect is Ephedrae Herba. Each study shows significant changes of obesity indicators. Conclusions These results suggest that herbal medicine is effective treatment to obesity. But we need continuously agonize and research more effective and safe herbal medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.949-960
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• 2016

Objectives: This study reviewed experimental studies on the effects of herbal medicines in treating hyperthyroidism. Methods: We analyzed the experimental studies of herbal medicines done in Korea to treat hyperthyroidism that have been reported since 2000 by searching 4 Korean databases with the keyword "hyperthyroidism". Results: Two single herbal medicines and 15 complex herbal medicines were used in 15 experimental studies. There was 1 clinical study and 14 nonclinical studies, among them, 2 in vitro experiments and 12 in vivo experiments. It was confirmed that the herbal medicines used have improving effects on hyperthyroidism by inhibiting the oversupplied thyroid hormones and hypermetabolic symptoms. Conclusions: There should be further studies on the antioxidative effects and acting mechanisms of herbal medicines and more clinical studies on hyperthyroidism.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.275-297
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• 2009

Herbal medicines have been used worldwide, particularly in the Far East countries, for thousands of years. Herbal medicines comprise complex mixtures of different phytochemical substances, and their nature may vary substantially depending on many factors related to the cultivation condition, area and harvest time. The processing of the herbal medicines significantly affects their pharmacological and toxicological properties. In this paper, we discuss current research that deals with the techniques for processing Chinese herbal medicines. These results will provide a scientific basis for developing new techniques for the processing of herbal medicines.