• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2008

Aldose reductase (AR), the principal enzyme of the polyol pathway, has been shown to play an important role in the diabetic complications, including diabetic cataract. The inhibitors of AR, therefore, would be potential agents for prevention of diabetic complications. As part of our ongoing project directed toward the discovery of preventive and/or treatment for diabetic complications, 48 Korean herbal medicines have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using aldose reductase inhibitory activities. Of these, 12 herbal medicines exhibited a significant inhibitory activity against aldose reductase. Particularly, seven herbal medicines, i.e., Eurya japonica, Chrysanthemum indicum, Akebia quinata, Saururus chinensis, Catalpa bignonioides, Lonicera japonica, Vitex rotundifolia showed two times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control 3.3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG). In addition, Catalpa bignonioides showed the retardation of cataract-opacification of the lens of the eye under diabetic condition by xylose. Therefore, this result may provide a potential therapeutic approach for preventing and treating diabetic cataracts.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.167-183
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• 2012

Objective : Average, lowest, highest concentration and exceeding value of legal allowance of As, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr in frequently using 16 oriental herbal medicines in korea(Astragali Radix, Ginseng, Citri Unshii Pericarpium, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus, Zizyphi Fructus, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Hoelen, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Corni Fructus, Schisandrae Fructus, Lycii Fructus) was evaluated according to their origines (korea, china) and property was also discussed according to the medicinally active part and individuals regardless origines. Method : Korean and Chinese herbal medicines were evenly sampled from corresponding country nationwide. Pre-treatment was executed according to the KFDA(Korea Food and Drug Administration) regulation and analysis was performed according to the Korean Environmental Analysis QA/QC. Result : Not much difference was observed according to their origines. However, lowest, highest and percent exceeding value of legal allowance was showed some consistent differences according to the medicinally active part and individuals. Co and Cr was can not be evaluated since their legal regulation was not established yet. Conclusion : The average concentration of As, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr in frequently using 16 oriental herbal medicines in korea showed no noticeable difference according to their origines. Regardless the origin, some consistent differences were observed according to the individuals and medicinally active parts.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.113-126
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• 2009

Objective : This research aimed to investigate and analyze the opinions of Oriental Medical Doctors (O.M.D.) on covering herbal medicines into National Health Insurance scheme. Methods : Structured questionnaires were e-mailed to the O.M.D.s listed on member's DB of the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine. Collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 program. Results : The insurance coverage for herbal decoctions was supported by 80.8% of the responders, the median reasonable price for daily herbal decoctions was \9,517, the minimum price median of daily herbal decoctions considering its costs was \8,080, and the daily technical fee median was \4,379. On health insurance coverage for herbal decoctions, O.M.D.s were specially considering the standardization of herbal medicines. Conclusion : In this study, majority of O.M.D.s assented to health insurance coverage for herbal decoctions, but considered standardization of herbal medicines and optional prescription fee. It needs to prepare plan for insurance coverage of herbal decoctions that reflect the character of oriental medicine and oriental medical institutions.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.47-69
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to inspect trends of the papers of osteoporosis in the field of herbal medicines and to establish the future direction for evaluation and development of natural medicines. Methods : We reviewed 80 oriental medicine papers in Korean journals published between 1994 and 2008. Results : There were 6 review, 2 clinical paper, 72 experimental papers and we confirmed that the drugs used in the experiments are almost yang-invigorating drugs which are good for kidney deficiency pattern Conclusions : We found out some of the herbal extracts are very efficacious for osteoporosis. More studies of oriental medicinal herbs are needed for developing anti-osteoporosis drugs with these basic data.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.222-227
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• 2002

Although there are a few reports concerning the side effects and toxicity of herbal medicines, there has not yet been any report concerning their causes, mechanisms or prevention. We investigated the internal reports concerning the side effects and toxicity of herbal medicines. In the findings, liver disorder (hepatic injury) was found in 7 cases, kidney disorders (nephropathy) were found in 12 cases, heart disorders were found in 4 cases and mineral-caused diseases were found in 2 cases. Besides, we found the major cause of the side effects and toxicity was drug abuse, such as over-dosage and long term medication. So, we hope this report brings more attention to the safety and toxicity of herbal medicines.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1098-1101
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the solubility of the ingredients of the kidney stone in the solution of the traditional oriental medicines. Calcium hydroxide, apatite and uric acid were chosen as the ingredients of the kidney stone. Plantaginis Semen, Lysimachiae Herba, Saururi Herba seu Rhizoma, Imperatae Rhizoma, Allium tuberosum Rottler were studied as the oriental medicines for the kidney stone. Calcium hydroxide had showed the very good solubility in the solution of Imperatae Rhizoma, the apatite had showed the good solubility in the solutions of Saururi Herba seu Rhizoma and Allium tuberosum Rottler. Uric acid had showed the mild solubility in the solution of Lysimachiae Herba and Saururi Herba seu Rhizoma.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1213-1217
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• 2004

Many ischemic disease patients have been taking herbal medicine and there are some papers that prescription of herbal medicine to ischemic disease patients are useful. Mechanism of herbal medicines on ischmeic disease have been investigated in many ways, but anticougulation or anti platelet effect of herbal medicines is not known obviously. And recently patients receiving anticougulation therapy are discouraged from taking herbal medicines. In this study, we investigate PT, INR, platelet of patients receiving herbal medicine therapy to study whether herbal medicines effect coagulation system of ischemic patients. In PT, INR, platelet values obtained from the patients, before and after administering herbal medicine, there were no significant changes.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2012

Objective : Huatuoxuanmenneizhaotu(華陀玄門內照圖) is a Huatuo's book in two volumes, The second volume classifies poisonous and nonpoisonous medicines with explaining processing of medicinals. We, authors have concern on processing of medicinals in Huatuoxuanmenneizhaotu. Methods : Through Huatuoxuanmenneizhaotu text translation, we will try to categorize four ways : classifying 1) poisonous and nonpoisonous medicines, 2) methods of making medicines, 3) processing of medicinals using weter and fire and 4) methods of supplements in processing of medicinals. Result : There are some miss-matching in poisonous and nonpoisonous medicines category in Huatuoxuanmenneizhaotu comparing with Bencaogangmu. There are several methods in making medicines, processing of medicinals and supplements in processing of medicinals. Conclusion : These results explain that processing of medicinals in Huatuoxuanmenneizhaotu were really diverse and various.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2013

Aldose reductase (AR) has been shown to play an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. To discover novel treatments for diabetic complications from natural sources, 59 Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, 10 herbal medicines, Catalpa fargesii (stem and leaf), Saussurea Laniceps(whole plant), Alnus nepalensis(stem and leaf), Swertia macrosperma (whole plant), Woodfordia fruticosa (stem and leaf), Elsholtzia bodinieri (whole plant), Elsholtzia fruticosa (whole plant), Rosa multiflora (fruit), Nardostachys chinensis (whole plant), Eurya groffii (stem and leaf) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity compared with 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG) as positive control. Particularly, 4 herbal medicines, C. fargesii (stem and leaf), S. Laniceps (whole plant), A. nepalensis (stem and leaf), S. macrosperma (whole plant) showed two times more potent inhibitory activity than TMG ($5.37{\mu}g/ml$).

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2015

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been postulated to play a central role in the development of diabetic complications. A variety of different agents that inhibit AGEs have been under investigation. In this study, 111 herbal medicines from China have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Of these, 9 herbal medicines (IC₅₀: <5 μg/ml) were found to have significant AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Particularly, herbal medicines Barleria cristata (leaves), Calotropis gigantea (stems), Ardisia virens (leaves), Dalbergia yunnanensis (leaves) Pittosporum runcatum (leaves), Ardisia japonica (leaves), Rhododendron racemosum (twigs), Oxyria sinensiss (aerial parts), Pyrrosia calvata (whole plants), showed more potent inhibitory activity (approximately 15-40 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine (IC₅₀: 76.47 μg/ml).