• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the heavy metal contents in commercial herbal medicines in Korea. Methods: Monitoring of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury was carried out on 116 samples of eleven types of herbal medicines. Among the total samples, 71 samples were domestic and 45 were imported. The samples were digested using the microwave method. The heavy metal contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and a mercury analyzer. ICP-AES was used to analyze lead, arsenic cadmium. Mercury was analyzed by the amalgamation method. Results: The mean values of the heavy metal contents in the herbal medicines were Pb 0.64mg/kg, As 0.26mg/kg, Cd 0.07mg/kg and Hg 0.004mg/kg. Of the total samples, one violated the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) regulatory guidance on heavy metals in herbal medicines. Lead was detected at more than 5mg/kg in one sample. The measured values of arsenic, cadmium and mercury in the herbal medicines showed levels lower than the recommended levels for herbal medicines in MFDS regulatory guidance. In the comparison of domestic samples with imported herbal medicines, it was found that one domestic sample surpassed the maximum residue limits for lead. Conclusion: These results will be used to establish the regulation and control of heavy metal contents in herbal medicines. In addition, continuous monitoring is needed to ensure confidence in and the safety of these herbal medicines.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2008

Although the theory of Sasang Consititution is widely used in oriental clinic, there is only conceptual definition about the constitution not technical definition which is consented by every experts. In the present, the effect and different responses of constitutional medicines is the most widely accepted criteria among technical definitions. However, these medicines consist of several herbs which are included specific constitution. So, it is hard to define the characters about the Sasang Constitution through analysis of the medicines. In this paper, we collected the various information about the constitutional herbs, and constructed database and web application for accessing this information. It is useful and can be basis for finding the characteristics of constitutional medicines.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2012

The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Houttuynia cordata was assessed in poloxamer-407 induced hyperlipidemic mice model. The butanol fraction and its isolated compound, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, significantly reduced the blood triglyceride and total-cholesterol level and increased the blood HDL-cholesterol level. They also showed the significant reductive effect on the blood AST and ALT level, rising in proportion to the liver damage, in hyperlipidemic mice.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-28
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• 2008

The concept of health has existed through the history of mankind; the recognition and adaptation of such concept has transformed over time with the development of culture throughout the age of humans. These concept wasn't absent in the content East Asian Medicines, which is represented by Huangdi's Internal Classic. However, due to imperialism and colonial polocies in the past, biomedical concepts of health has been accepted with force. The concept of "health" in pathological medicines of biomedicine refers to the of anatomical and biological completeness of the body system. In East Asia, Korean especially, a number of concepts regarding these subjects has been informed by Japanese physicians, such as Hukujawa Yukichi. Understanding the idea of body in the angle of philosophy, history, and medicine in the cultural area of East Asia is necessary.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2011

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.09a
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• pp.92-93
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• 2011

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.09a
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• pp.356-357
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• 2011

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.24-36
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• 2022

Objectives: Excessive melanin production leads to skin pigmentation, which causes various cosmetic and health problems. Citrus unshiu Markovich peel (CS) and Cimicifuga dahurica (CD) have long been widely used as a oriental medicinal plant because of their pharmacological properties including anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of CS, CD extracts or CS:CD=1:2 mixture on melanogenesis according to the various extraction methods. CS and CD extracted were prepared by ethanol extraction (EE), ultrasonification extraction (USE), Supercritical extraction (SCE), reflux extraction (RE), respectively. Results: DPPH radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of CD extracts or CS:CD=1:2 mixture were increased in dose-dependent manners. In addition, we evaluated the effect of CS, CD extracts or CS:CD=1:2 mixture on tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced B16-F10 melanoma cells. CS, CD extracts or CS:CD=1:2 mixture significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis at 10-200 ㎍/mL. Conclusions: Therefore, our study suggests that CS and CD extracts have potential as a safe treatment for excessive pigmentation or as a natural ingredient in cosmetics.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2004

This thesis aims to provide an analytical basis for existing or new prescriptions based on the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines. To this end, prescriptions presented in the Various Changes in the Dominations of the Six Energies and their Relations with the Diseases of Plain Questions were analyzed based on the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines in Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine. This thesis focused on symptoms and prescriptions based on the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines, which were described in the Various Changes in the Dominations of the Six Energies and their Relations with the Diseases of Plain Questions with regard to the year when Taeyang is affecting the earth energy and the cold energy is partially over-abundant. Those symptoms and prescriptions originate from the theory of the five elements and six climates. The symptoms were analyzed from the perspective of physiology. The prescriptions were first analyzed based on the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines in Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine. Then, a mix formula of oriental medicines pursuant to those prescriptions was studied. Lastly, established prescriptions, which were in conformity with the above prescriptions, were selected. From the physiological point of view, symptoms with regard to the year when Taeyang is affecting the earth energy and the cold energy is partially over-abundant can be, based on the theory of the five elements and six climates, diagnosed as the symptoms from impaired heart due to excessive cold energy. Established prescriptions pursuant to prescriptions based on the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines can be broken down into the following: Cassia Twig, White Peony and Anemarrhena Decoction (Gyejijakyakjimotang); Rhemannia Bolus with Eight Herbs (Palmijihoanghoan); Back to the Left Pill (Joaguihoan); Bone-Strengthening Pill (Hojamhoan); Major Eum-Replenishing Pill (Daeboeumhoan). Therefore, symptoms of six kinds of weather presented in the Various Changes in the Dominations of the Six Energies and their Relations with the Diseases of Plain Questions can be analyzed from the physiological point of view. As a result, in addition to the methodology that analyzes existing prescriptions within the boundary of the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines in Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine, it is expected that a theoretical basis for new prescriptions can be provided by analyzing established prescriptions based on prescriptions from the theory for properties and tastes of Korean oriental herbal medicines.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

While herbal medicine including mineral herbal medicine mostly provides microelements to the human body thanks to abundant metallic elements, its harmfulness has been raised due to elements of heavy metals. Harmfulness of mineral herbal medicine needs to be analyzed quantitatively as well as qualitatively so that specificity of herbal medicine including mineral herbal medicine can be reflected. Consequently, the following aims should be set up to mineral herbal medicine, REALGAR, standard processing of REALGAR and the standards of processed drugs should be secured. On the basis of the results of this study, the reasonable measures to develop the processing method and the test method for heavy metals were presented. Such measures are expected to give the following results. First, consumers may take food and medicine without anxiety, and food and medicine may be effectively managed, and the national service may be improved, and also safety against heavy metals may be publicized. Second, as the principal ingredients and microelements of mineral herbal medicine are qualitatively analyzed, such results are expected to contribute to the advance of national analytics for herbal medicine.