• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.60-69
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• 2014

Background: Herbal formulas are generally served as a type of decoction. However, there is no scientific evidence for determining preservation and circulation period of herbal medicine decoctions. Thus, we investigated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of the Gwakhyangjeonggi-san decoction according to its preservation period. Methods: Gwakhyangjeonggi-san decoction was stored for 0, 1, 2 or 3 months at room temperature. To evaluate anti-inflammatory effects, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) assay were conducted using the culture supernatant from RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The antioxidant activities were studied by measuring free radical scavenging activities on ABTS and DPPH. Results: Gwakhyangjeonggi-san decoction maintained the inhibitory effects on TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and NO productions after up to 2 months of storage in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. No inflammatory response was observed in 3 months of storage. In addition, the scavenging activities on ABTS and DPPH of Gwakhyangjeonggi-san decoction were reduced time-dependently and showed less than 50% inhibition after 3 months of storage. Conclusions: Our results suggest that preservation period of Gwakhyangjeonggi-san decoction is recommended within 2 months after storage.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Background : Integrative cancer treatment is a holistic approach embracing body, mind, and spirit incorporating conventional treatments of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and personalized complementary treatments. Wheel Balance Therapy (WBT) of East-West Cancer Center(EWCC), Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University was developed to balance out all factors involved in cancer care based on the traditional theories of oriental medicine. Objective : This work aims to analytically review literatures on WBT and its related components. Methods : Literatures published from January 1st, 1990 to April 30th, 2011 were reviewed focusing on 4 main components of WBT; herbal medicine, immune activation, anti-cancer diet, and breathing/meditation. Data were retrieved from medical search engines and electronic data bases including Pubmed, Research Information sharing Service (RISS), Korean-studies Information Service System (KISS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Korea's National Digital Library (KNDL). Results : In this review, EWCC's most commonly prescribed formulas are explored. The composition of the formulas, their use in clinical settings as well as the background studies and other therapeutic efficacies are explained. Information on incorporating anti-cancer dietary support and breathing and meditation techniques, other therapies practiced as part of the center's integrative cancer care are also covered. Conclusion : WBT based on holistic theories of oriental medicine embracing body, mind, and spirit is expected to further contribute in promotion of cancer patients' quality of life and prolonged survival time.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2002

We have examined the purgative effect of three Jechun-jun formulas in sprague dawley(SD) rat. Three jechun-jun formulas were Jechun-jun(Sample I ) and augmented Jechun-jun(Sample II) and augmented Jechun-jun add rhubarb(sample III ). We examined the amount and the humidity of feces in rat. The experimental animals were devided into four groups. as control group and three Jechun-jun (sample I, II, III). We administerd the water extract of sample I, II, III to rat per oral for 8days long. After every 24hours measured the amount of wet feces from rats in metabolic cage. Humidity rate of feces from rat was at first measure wet feces for 24hours (W) and measure dried feces (W1) and then we consider W-W1 as humidity. High humidity rate means constipation changes into moistening stool. The amount of wet feces and humidity rate of feces in rats were increased in sample I, II, III. Sample I has highest humidity rate of feces. so showed strong moistening effect. Sample II has mild effect in treating constipation. sample III has most amount of wet feces. in conclusion Jechun-jun has an effect of moistening stool. and augmented Jechun-jun add rhubarb has strong purgative effect.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.203-206
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• 2018

Objectives: There is an increasing number of complex diseases that are progressively more difficult to be controlled using the conventional "single compound, single target" approach as demonstrated in our current modern drug development. TCM might be the new cornerstone of treatment alternative when the current treatment option is no longer as effective or that we have exhausted it as an option. Orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group study is one of the most frequently employed formulas to produce optimal herbal combination for treatment of multi-syndromic diseases. This approach could solve the relatively low efficacy single drug therapy usage and chronic adverse effects caused by long terms administration of drugs that has been reported in the field of pharmacology and medicine Methods: The present review was based on the Science Direct database search for those related to the TCM and the development of antihypertensive TCM herbal combination using orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group studies approach. Results: Recent studies have demonstrated that the orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group study approach was most frequently used to formulate TCM herbal combination based on the TCM principles upon the selection of herbs, and the resulting formulated TCM formula exhibited desired outcomes in treating one of global concerned complex multi-syndromic diseases, the hypertension. These promising therapeutic effects were claimed to have been attributed by the holistic signaling mechanism pathways employed by the crude combination of herbs. Conclusion: The present review could serve as a guide and prove the feasibility of TCM principles to be used for future pharmacological drug research development.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.65-82
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is 1) to explore the general tendency of the herbs or herbal formula for acne treatment in clinical practice 2) and to provide a basis for explaining the principles of acne treatment in Korean Medicine in order to make patients understand more easily based on pharmacological mechanism by analyzing the herbs or herbal formula using for acne treatment in clinical practice. Methods : In the domestic databases (Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System-OASIS, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal-KTKP, National Discovery for Science Leader-NDSL, Research Information Sharing Service-RISS), we selected among the papers published using search terms related to "acne". Reports related to sasang constitutional medicine were excluded and a total of 23 papers were finally selected. Results : 29 prescriptions were retrieved from 23 papers. Chungan-tang (淸顔湯) notified formulas ranked first by Cheongsangbangpung- tang (淸上防風湯), Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (黃連解毒湯), Dangguijakyaksan (當歸芍藥散) and Bipachungpe-eum (枇杷淸肺飮). Commonly used herbs are Forsythiae Fructus (連翹), Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Gardeniae Fructus (梔子), Ligustici Rhizoma (川芎), and Angelicae Gigantis Radix (當歸). In most patients with inflammatory lesions or excessive flushing, exterior-releasing medicinal (解表藥) and heat-clearing medicinal (淸熱藥) were mainly prescribed for acne treatment, while in patients with acne accompanied hyperkeratinization, Excess sebum secretion, Dysmenorrhea or indigestion, qi-tonifying medicinal (補氣藥) or blood-tonifying medicinal (補血藥) were mainly used. KAGS (Korean Acne Grading System) was the most commonly used method for acne severity assessment. Conclusions : These findings suggest that the herbs or herbal formula for acne treatment in Korean Medicine is prescribed differently according to the cause and symptoms of acne in a unique way for control the whole body balance. Also, our findings could provide a basis for explaining the principles of acne treatment in Korean Medicine in order to make patients understand more easily based on pharmacological mechanism in clinical practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.169-171
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• 2017

Background: Many stroke patients receive traditional medical care in Korea and China. Stroke patients comprise the largest proportion of inpatients in traditional Korean medicine and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. The purpose of this study is to identify the types and effects of Chinese medicine widely used in China and Korea, and to apply them to future studies of stroke. Methods: Nine Korean and Chinese databases will be surveyed for clinical studies of herbal medicines for stroke, published between the inception of the database and August 2017. Clinical studies of decoctions or modified decoctions will be included without restriction on study type. The frequencies and patterns of formulas or single herb usage and the any type of herbal medicine utilization will be analyzed. Dissemination: The results of the systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated electronically and in print. Updates of the review will be conducted to inform and guide healthcare practices.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.460-467
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• 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the word. Although radiation and chemotherapy are generally effective, there are various side effects that greatly limit the effectiveness of these treatments. Therefore, traditional herbs may have potential as important resources for the discovery of liver cancer therapeutics. In this study, we selected three Korean herbal medicine formulas from the Donguibogam, namely Bigihwan (BGH), Daechilgithang (DCGT), and Mokwhyangbinranghwan (MHBRH), and evaluated their anti-cancer effects on HCC cells. According to our results of three ethanol extracts, BGH was more effective at suppressing HCC growth than DCGT or MHBRH. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that inhibition of HCC proliferation by the three extracts was associated with the induction of apoptosis and autophagy. In particular, BGH significantly increased mitochondrial impairment and showed the possibility of inducing mitophagy in comparison with the other two extracts. BGH prominently upregulated the levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 without altering the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax. In addition, the levels of PTEN-induced kinase 1 were also markedly increased in BGH-treated HCC cells. Moreover, autophagy blocking improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis after the three treatments, indicating that autophagy by these extracts enhances HCC cells against cytotoxicity. In conclusion, our findings show that BGH demonstrates the highest anti-cancer activity among the three formulas and inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells through autophagy induction.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.145-156
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to select candidate herbal medicines to be used in preclinical studies of cerebral infarction using the network pharmacology research method. Methods : Oral bioavailability (OB), drug likeness (DL), Caco-2, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability were employed in this study's network pharmacology analysis method to choose compounds with potential efficacy. The following formulas were utilized for the values of each variable used in this study: OB ≥ 20%, DL ≥ 0.18, Caco-2 ≥ 0, and BBB ≥ -0.3. The relationships between target proteins and diseases that are assumed to be involved in the chosen bioavailable chemicals were built in a network manner using the aforementioned factors, and proteins thought to play a significant role were identified. Results : Sudan III was obtained as a result of selecting compounds related to ischemic stroke in consideration of pharmacokinetic characteristics such as digestion and absorption and practicality using the TCMSP database. Medicinal herbs Gardeniae Fructus (GF) contains sudan III, and it was confirmed that compounds in GF were highly related to brain diseases, and the mechanism involved through the KEGG pathway was confirmed. GF, which has sudan III related to ischemic stroke and is also involved in other neurological diseases, is expected to be used for ischemic stroke treatment. Conclusions : GF has been predicted to have potential for ischemic stroke treatment, and can be used for future preclinical studies.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2022

Objective : This study aims to analyze the current use of body part terminology in Korean medicine formula data by comparing with ICD-11 body part terminology as a criteria. Methods : Body part terminology was extracted from the main treatment data within the Korean Medicine formula ontology and was analyzed in comparison with the ICD-11 body part terminology. Results : Out of 113 body part terminologies in Korean medicine, 92 were corresponded with ICD in a one-to-one, one-to-multi, or multi-to-one relation. Also, most body part terminologies were corresponded to superordinate concepts of ICD while 21 terminologies were not able to be corresponded to ICD. Conclusion : A majority of body part terminology in formula data could be corresponded to ICD but mostly refered to superordinate concepts. Results showed various types of corresponding relation which requires further study for precise and detailed correspondence. Also, study showed some terminologies were not applicable for correspondence which were mostly a unique body part concept of Korean medicine which requires further study to present Korean Medicine knowledge accurately in the language of ICD.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.17-38
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aims to provide the fundamental information for future researches on combined medications of the oriental-western medicines or development of new Oriental medicine for hypertension. Methods : Every article related to hypertension was initially searched at journal web site, 'OASIS' and we finally analyzed 118 papers according to study types, kinds of herbal medicine, frequencies of herbal medicine, and results of researches. Results : Most studies were experiment researches which were composed of in vivo or in vitro. The formulas divided into 41 single and 99 complex prescriptions and total 218 medicinal materials were used in complex ones. The major effects of single prescriptions were decrease of the control of ACE activity and ANP concentration, while the effects of complex ones were various such as decrease of aldosteron concentration, decrease of epinephrine concentration, decrease of the heart rate, and decrease of dopamine concentration. Conclusions : More clinical studies based on scientific evidences should be done and the outcomes of this pilot study will contribute to development of Oriental medicines as substitute or combination for the western-hypertension remedies.