• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2020

This study reports the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine in treating tetraplegia and respiratory symptoms (including dyspnea) after traumatic cervical spinal cord injury surgery. The patient was treated with complex Korean medical treatment including electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. The manual muscle test (expanded Medical Research Council system) was used to measure the patient's muscle strength. The Korean version of the modified Barthel index and the functional independent measure were used to evaluate the patient's independence in performing daily activities. Following 2 hospitalizations and treatments, the patient's muscle strength improved > 4+ score for all joints, and the Korean version of the modified Barthel index and functional independent measure scores increased from 26 to 79 and 56 to 95, respectively. Symptoms of dyspnea, coughing, and sputum gradually improved and finally disappeared during hospitalization. This study suggests complex Korean medicine treatment may be effective in the rehabilitation of post-surgical cervical spinal cord injury patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.895-903
• /
• 2018

Objectives: This study reports on the efficacy of using integrative Korean medical treatments for Type 1 complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Methods: A 48-year-old female patient with Type 1 R/O CRPS was treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture for 38 days. The chief complaints were severe burning pain, general weakness, sleep disorder, and aggressive and depressed mood. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain, improvement of the quality of sleep, and change in mood status. Results: After the hospital treatment, the patient's pain was controlled and the NRS score was decreased. Sleep and mood disorder also improved. Conclusions: The integrative Korean medical treatments appeared to be effective in reducing Type 1 CRPS symptoms. Further clinical research of patients with CRPS is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.50-55
• /
• 2015

Infants with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) have a higher chance of experiencing seizures before the age of 1 year; in particular, they commonly accompany infantile spasms. In cases where infantile spasms resulting from TSC are drug-resistant, more severe neuro-developmental and cognitive impairments occur. This particular case dealt with an infant with TSC who continued to experience partial seizures and infantile spasms despite using two different kinds of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). His spasms ceased on the seventh day of taking modified Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ), at which point he stopped the use of all AEDs. He became seizure-free after a month of the treatment and modified hypsarrythmia was found to have been resolved in the electroencephalogram test. Until now, the infant has been taking YMJ for 16 months and is maintaining the seizure-free state without side effects. Moreover, his developmental status is continually improving, with a significant progress in language and cognitive-adaptive abilities. Such results suggest that YMJ can serve as an alternative treatment option for refractory epilepsy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2010

The interaction of cadmium (II) ion with quercetin, qurecitrin and (+)-catechin was investigated in aqueous solution at various pH. The flavonoid/cadmium stochiometries for cadmium (II) binding to flavonoid have been determined by UV-visible spectroscopy. 1:1 Cd(II)-Flavonoid complex had a maximum absorbance and showed the bathochromic shift of the long-wavelength band of the UV-vis spectra in the alkaline pH, that occurs upon complexation, is due to a ligand-tometal charge transfer. The optimal concentration of Cd(II)-flavonoid complexes showed that complexation reaction could be classified in the following way: 55.27 ${\mu}M$ catechin > 54.72 ${\mu}M$ quercetin > 53.52 ${\mu}M$ quercitrin at the chelating site level. These results suggest that Cd(II)-flavonoid complex has the optimal condition of chelation in 0.2 M $NH_3$ - 0.2 M $NH_4Cl$ (pH 8.0) solution.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to determine if YJ-1, a novel herbal complex from a mixture of six oriental herbs (Hydnocarpi Semen, Sesami Semen, Dictamni Radicis Cortex, Momordicae Semen, Xanthii Fructus, and Sophorae Radix), has therapeutic properties for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Using AD like symptom-induced NC/Nga mice by 1-chloro 2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB), the effectiveness of YJ-1 on AD was evaluated. Elidel cream$^{(R)}$ (1% pimecrolimus) was used as a control. Dermal application of YJ-1 reduced major clinical signs of AD such as erythema, pruritus, lichenification, edema/escoriations, and dryness. Interestingly, YJ-1 more improved AD-related symptoms including decrease of spleen weight, IL-4, and IgE level in the serum as well as reduction of scratching counts and clinical skin severity in the NC/Nga AD mouse model. Especially, treatment of YJ-1 at 20% in NC/Nga mice more effected than Elidel cream. These results suggest that the ointment of YJ-1 may enhance the process of AD healing by alleviating allergic reaction and has potential for therapeutic reagent for the treatment of AD.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2019

Sepsis, an infectious disease, is a life-threatening condition that arises when the response to infection causes injury to tissues and organs. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether ABHC-1 and ABHC-2, two functional extracts from herbal complex, have an anti-bacterial effect against Escherchia coli in vivo, in vitro experimental model. ABHC-1 and ABHC-2 showed the antibacterial activity against the bacteria by paper disc method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured using alamar blue reagent. The MIC was shown at $60{\mu}g/ml$ from ABHC-1 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ from ABHC-2 against E. coli. We next examined the effect of ABHCs on the production of inflammatory cytokine, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), which is related to the induction of inflammation, in RAW 264.7 cell. ABHC-1 and ABHC-2 increased $TNF-{\alpha}$ production of RAW 264.7 cell in a dose-dependent manner while two extract decreased $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell in a dose-dependent manner. At a dose of $1{\times}10^8$ E. coli. i.p., non-treated mice were succumbed, while most of mice treated with ABHC-1 were survived. Therefore, our results suggest that ABHC-1 has anti-bacterial activity and can be a novel therapeutic agent against infectious diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.106-114
• /
• 2014

Objective : UV irradiatiion causes skin-aging involving coarse wrinkles, thickning, dyspigmentation, and rough skin surface. This study was aimed to elucidate the anti-winkle activity of complex diet of Korean red ginseng (RG) and fish oil (FO) on UV-induced Photoaging. Methods : To investigated photo-protective effects of Korean red ginseng and fish oil on UV-induced damaged skins, SKH hairless female mice were randomly divided into six groups [control, UV, UV/RG, UV/FO, UV/RG/FO(low), UV/RG/FO(high)]and orally administered three times a week respectively. UV radiation was applied to the backs of the mice three times a week for 8 weeks. Expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-13 and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in skin were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Results : In this study, UVB-induced epidermal hypertropy was diminished by RG group or FO group or complex group of RG and FO. Expression levels of MMP-3 and MMP-13 were reduced and expression level of TIMP-1 was increased by RG group or FO group or complex group of RG and FO. Especially MMP-3 and MMP-13 were markedly reduced by diet of FO and complex diet of RG and FO compared with untreated group. Conclusions : This results suggest that complex diet of RG and FO have a anti-wrinkle activity on UV-induced photo-aging and intrinsic aging.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 1997

Precipitation was formed during the preparation of decoction from a mixture of Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma. Baicalin and berberine were identified in this coprecipitated product (CPP) and these components were the active ingredients of two herbal medicine. We extracted respectively crude baicalin and berberine in Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma and prepared coprecipitate of crude baicalin-berberine. To increase the stability and bioavailability of coprecipitate of crude baicalin-berberine(CBB), which is slightly soluble drug, its inclusion complex was prepared and studied in this experiment. Inclusion complex of CBB with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin(CBB-{\beta}-CD)$ was prepared by freeze drying method and its characteristics were ascertained by means of solubility test, differential thermal analysis(DTA) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The type of $CBB-{\beta}-CD$ is classified as $A_L-type$ on phase solubility diagram, and the stoichiometric ratio of CBB(baicalin in CBB) : ${\beta}-CD$ complex is 1:1 and formation constant is 151 $M^-1$. The solubility, dissolution, in situ absorption and serum concentration of $CBB-{\beta}-CD$ were significantly increased when compared to CBB. Therefore enhanced bioavailability of CBB by inclusion complexation with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ might be useful for dosage form design of active ingredients of two herbal medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.327-335
• /
• 2017

Objective: The goal of this preclinical study was to compare the dyslipidemic effect of pravastatin with that of herbal medicine in rats. Methods: In total, 40 rats were divided into 4 groups: Normal (10 rats), Control (10 rats), Statin alone (10 rats), and the MO-PM-S group (10 rats), which was given the powder of the cortex of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils., the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, and pravastatin. The Control group, the Statin alone group, and the MO-PM-S group were all given a high-fat (45%) diet that made them obese. After 2 weeks of drug administration, the dyslipidemic effect of pravastatin was compared with that of herbal medicine in rats by analyzing the lipid profiles, measuring the body weights, and taking biopsies (liver, aorta). Results: The herbal medicine and the statin complex group got a much lower TG level and a slightly higher HDL-cholesterol level than the other groups. However, it got a higher total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level than the other groups. In biopsies, 30% of the Statin alone group and 10% of the MO-PM-S group showed mild histopathologic findings in the liver. Conclusion: The cortex of the Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. and the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb have dyslipidemic effects from the perspective of a TG level and HDL-cholesterol. However, the herbal mixture has a raising effect on both the LDL-cholesterol and the total cholesterol levels. Therefore, we cannot conclude that the herbal mixture helps to prevent dyslipidemia. In liver biopsies, the group administered with both the herbal mixture and the statin showed less histopathologic findings than the group administered with statin alone. This means that the herbal mixture helps to prevent fatty degeneration of the liver.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.70-79
• /
• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of using herbal medicine for the management of psoriasis focusing on lipid metabolism. Methods : We reviewed studies about pathophysiology, and medical treatment of psoriasis, the relationship between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome and lipid metabolism, and herbal medicine on Pubmed and Google scholar. Results : Psoriasis is a chronic multi-organ inflammatory disease not limited to skin, and steroids, immuno-suppressants, and biological agents are used. It is known that psoriasis and metabolic syndrome act as mutual risk factors, and lipid metabolism are involved in psoriasis. The effects of various single herbal preparations and complex herbal extract, decoction on improving lipid metabolism have been consistently reported, and there was an improvement of psoriatic skin lesions and improvement of blood lipid levels through herbal medicine. Conclusions : Herbal medicine research in psoriasis has focused on the anti-inflammatory effect and the suppression effect of certain immune mediators. However, considering that psoriasis is affected by lipid metabolism and side effects of Western medicines, the use of herbal medicines for the purpose of controlling lipid metabolism in psoriasis is useful in aspects of reducing side effects of concurrent Western medicine, improving the severity of psoriasis, and managing metabolic risk factors.