• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.359-371
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the effect of oral administration of herbal medicines on the improvement of memory in Alzheimer's disease animal model reported in Korean domestic journals. Methods: The Korean databases (Koreantk, KISS) were searched with memory as a popular search term. During the searches, only animal study reports were reviewed. Data of animal models, intervention, observation methods of measuring indicators were extracted from the databases. Results: Typically, 36 articles were reviewed. Twenty-two studies used scopolamine to induce Alzheimer's disease, 24 studies used complex herbal medicines, and 12 studies used simple herbal medicines. Polygalae Radix and Acori Rhizoma were the most frequently used herbal medicines to improve memory in Alzheimer model. To evaluate the effect of herbal medicines, 36 studies used macroscopy, 16 studies used molecular biological analysis, 21 studies used biochemical analysis, 15 studies used histological analysis, and 11 studies used hematological analysis. Each study showed significant improvement with respect to memory indicators. Conclusions: Overall, the results suggest that treatment employing herbal medicines is an effective option to treat memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2020

Salvianolic acid B (SAB) is an active phytocomponent of a popular Chinese herb called Radix Salvia militiorrhiza with numerous biological properties. The anti-psoriasis activity of SAB was examined by evaluating various psoriasis inflammatory and keratin markers against imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis on BALB/c mice. Totally 50 healthy BALB/c mice were evenly divided into 5 groups including control, drug control (SAB; 40 mg/kg), IMQ-induced psoriasis (5%), IMQ exposure and treated with SAB (40 mg/kg), or standard methotrexate (MTX; 1 mg/kg). Mice supplemented with either SAB or MTX significantly lowered the values of psoriasis area severity index (PASI), erythema, scaling, skin thickness, inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-22/23/17A/1β/6) and lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde). Also, IMQ exposed BALB/c mice treated with SAB or MTX display lesser histopathological changes with enhanced antioxidant activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase). Moreover, the protein expression of keratin markers (K16 and K17) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling proteins (pAkt/Akt and pPI3K/PI3K) were significantly downregulated after administration with SAB and MTX as compared with IMQ induced mice. Taking together, SAB and MTX significantly ameliorate psoriatic changes by inhibiting psoriatic inflammatory and keratin markers through abolishing PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. However, further studies (clinical trials) are needed to confirm the anti-psoriatic property of SAB before recommending to psoriasis patients.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.191-202
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• 2020

We evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of phytosterol on the growth, feed utilization, immunity, digestibility, wound healing ability and disease resistance of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. We conducted two consecutive feeding trials at different growth stages of the fish: EXP-1 (68.9 g) and EXP-2 (16.5 g). The experimental diets were supplemented with graded levels of phytosterol (1% ecdysteroid extracted from Achyranthis radix) at 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% (designated as Con, PHY0.025, PHY0.05, PHY0.1, PHY0.2 and PHY0.4, respectively). Dietary phytosterol did not significantly affect growth and cholesterol concentration. Feed utilization was higher in fish fed phytosterol-supplemented diets than in fish fed the control diet. Dietary phytosterol increased innate immunity and digestibility of protein and dry matter. Wound healing ability was also increased by the phytosterol supplementation. The survival against Edwardsiella tarda challenge was higher in fish fed low-phytosterol diets than in fish fed the control diet. The optimum dietary level of phytosterol seems to be approximately 0.05%. The results in this study indicate that the phytosterol could be used as a functional supplement in diets to improve feed utilization, immunity, digestibility and wound healing ability of olive flounder.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the residual contents of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) in commercial medicinal herbs in Korea in 2012. Among a total of 136 samples of 16 different kinds of herbs, 86 samples (15 Kinds) were domestic, and 50 samples (14 Kinds) were imported. Sulfur dioxide in the samples was measured by a modified Monier-Williams method. Of the 136 samples, 17 samples (12.5%, 6 Kinds) failed to meet the regulations for sulfur dioxide residues of KFDA in medicinal herbs. Among 17 unsuitable samples, 7 samples (8.1%, 3 Kinds) were domestic, and 10 samples (20.0%, 6 Kinds) were imported. The highest amount of sulfur dioxide residues was 3,167.94 mg/kg (Lycii Fructus) in the domestic samples. The detection frequency of sulfur dioxide by medicinal herb parts used, Rhizoma 25.7%, Flos 20.0%. Cortex 12.5%, Radix 15.3%, Fructus 7.6%, p-value 0.011. This results will be used as a basic data for the future legislation on the quality estimation and safety of medicinal herbs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2004

The effects of herbal medicine on type 2 diabetic animal model were investigated. Herbal medicine were composed with the addition of Coicis Semen into Okchun-san (OCS). Commelinae Herba into Gangsim-tang (GST). Scrophulariae Radix into Hyunsamsunki-san (HSK). and Erythrinae Cortex into Yukmijihuang-hwan (YMH). We evaluated anti-hyperglycemic and body weight reduction activity in diabetic db/db mice. The experimental animals were divided into six groups. as control group and five sample groups. Each 200mg/kg/day of OCS, GST, HSK and YMH was administered with orally for 14days long. 5mg/kg/day of acarbose was administered with orally for 14days long. On day 14, OCS-treated db/db mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to control group(296±25.9 versus 593±16.4mg/dl. p<0.001). During the 2 h intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), all the sample groups were improved compared to control group but insignificantly. After 14days of extract treatment. body weight in control. YMH and acarbose groups were increased. but OCS. GST and HSK groups reduced. However. it did not significantly lower hemoglobin Alc(HbAlc) in blood of db/db mice. These result suggest that OCS could be effective on insulin-independent type 2 diabetes.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.51-56
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• 1980

Phytolaccae Radix (PR), Brunella Herba (BH), Akebiae Lignum (AL) and Atractylis Rhizoma (AR) are some of the diuretic agents used in Chinese medicine and folk remedy. Water or methanol extracts of them (100mg/kg) were intravenously injected to rabbits in order to re-evaluate the effects on renal function. PR water extract elicited moderate diuresis while water extracts of BH, AL and methanol extract of AR had antidiuretic effects. Influence of PR on renal hemodynamics and $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in rabbit kidney were observed in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: 1) Clearances of inulin and p-aminohippuric acid increased significantly after 15 minutes following the administration of PR water extract, but Na+ reabsorption rate was not changed. 2) The increase of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal cortex, outer and inner medulla was observed at 15 minutes after PR water fraction was given intravenously, and the change was most prominent in cortical area. 3) More than 50% of decrease in $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal tissues was observed with PR water fraction $(10^{-2}g/ml)$ in vitro experiments. However, the inhibition of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity was reversed with lower concentrations $(10^{-4}g/ml,\;10^{-6}g/ml)$ of PR water fraction in outer and inner medullary zone. These results suggest the diuretic effect of PR is due to improved renal hemodynamics, and contradictory reults concerning $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity require further investigation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.162-179
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• 1998

In the literatual studies on the yupung(油風), the results were as follows. 1. Yupung(油風) was called 'Quijidu(鬼지頭)', 'Quichedu(鬼剃頭)', 'Ballak(髮落)' etc. It was a localized loss of hair in round or oval ares without any subjective symptom 2. The etiology and pathogenesis of Yupung were disorder of vital energy& blood circulation caused by deficiency of blood and wind-dryness syndrome, energy-stagnation and blood stasis, impairment of the liver & kidney. The treatments of Yupung were invigorating the liver & kidney, clearing away heat-evil and cooling blood, nourishing the liver & kidney, activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis etc, 3. In the frequency of prescription, the most numerous prescription is Shineuingyangjindan(神應養眞丹) and the next are Tonggyuhwalhyultang(通竅活血湯) & Chilbomiyumdan(七寶美髥丹), 4. In the frequency of medicine, the most numerous medicine is Radix Angelicae Sinensis(當歸) and the next are Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparatae(熟地黃) & Rhizoma Ligusiici Chuanxiong(川芎). 5. In classification of drug action, medicines of clearing away wind-heat evil and invigorating yin used to be very busy. 6. In classification of four characters, the most parts are warm medicine. 7. In classification of five tastes, the most numerous tastes are sweet and bitter tastes. 8. In classification of toxicity, the most is non-toxic medicines. 9. In classification of the channel distribution, the most is the medicine that belongs to liver channel. 10. In acupuncture theraphy, it was used 'GV20(百會)', 'G20(風池)', 'GV16(風府)', 'GV14(大椎)', 'LI4(合谷)' etc. in body acupuncture, was used 'S25(天樞)', 'GV14(大椎)', 'B13(肺兪)', 'LI11(曲池)' etc. in moxibustion.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 2002

The water extract from the root bark of Cortex Mori (CM, Morus alba L.: Sangbaikpi), a mulberry tree, has been known in Chinese traditional medicine to have antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity of CM against tumor cells and its mechanism was examined . CM exhibited cytotoxic activity on K-562, B38O human leukemia cells and B16 mouse melanoma cells at concentrations of > 1 mg/ml. A DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and nuclear condensation assay showed that those cells exposed to CM underwent apoptosis. The water extract of Scutellarie Radix (SR) was used as a negative control and showed no cytotoxicity in those cells. The flow cytometric profiles of the CM-treated cells were also indicative of apoptosis. However, they did not appear to exert the G1 arrest, which is observed in other tubulin inhibitor agents such as vincristine, taxol. The protein-binding test using Biacore and a microtubule assembly-disassembly assay provided evidence showing that CM bound to the tubulins resulting in 3 markets inhibition of the assembly, but not the disassembly of microtubules. The possible nonspecific effect of the CM extract could be excluded due to the results using SR, which did not affect the assembly process. Overall, the water extract of CM induces apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting microtubule assembly.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2019

This paper confirmed the effect of Baekho-tang(白虎湯) on psoriasis patient diagnosed with Yangmyung-Yeoljeung(陽明熱證). We treated patients with psoriasis classified as Yangmyung-Yeoljeung(陽明熱證) according to Shanghanlun(傷寒論) with Baekho-tang(白虎湯). Two patients was treated with Baekho-tang(白虎湯) for 18 days and 75 days, respectively. Baekho-tang(白虎湯) used in the treatment consisted of Gypsum Fibrosum 16g, Oryza semen 12.5g, Anemarrhena Rhizoma 6g and Glycyrrhizae Radix 2g. The severity of psoriasis was evaluated by PASI(psoriasis area severity index) and pictures. Also we checked the change in Pruritus by VAS(visual analogue scale). After the Baekho-tang(白虎湯) treatment, the PASI of 2 patients decreased from 13 to 2.8 and from 10.8 to 0.8 respectively. In addition, VAS of 2 patients diminished from 10 to 3 and from 8 to 1 respectively. Moreover, no side effects were observed. We received effective results by giving Baekho-tang to Psoriasis patients with sweaty, dry mouth, and heating sensation. Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic effects and immunomodulatory functions of Baekho-tang(白虎湯) could lead to improvement of psoriasis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine treatment for acute pharyngitis. Methods : 2 databases(Wangfang Med Online, CNKI) were used to search Randomized Controlled Trials(RCTs) that used herbal medicine treatment for acute pharyngitis, which were published from January 2007 until April 2024. Results : 9 RCTs were selected in this study, and all studies compared herbal medicine alone treatment with western medicine alone treatment. The most frequently used medicine was Toxin-removing medicinal(淸熱解毒藥). Platycodonis Radix(桔梗) was the most frequently used herb. Meta-analysis of nine studies showed that the Total Effective Rate(TER) of treatment group was statistically higher than that of control group(RR:1.12, 95% CI:1.06 to 1.19, p<0.00001, I²=22%). Meta-analysis of 3 studies showed that the total symptom score of treatment group statistically improved than that of control group(MD: -1.00, 95% CI: -1.30 to -0.71, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Mild adverse events such as anorexia were identified in 4 RCTs, but no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion : Using herbal medicine alone can be more effective and safe in improving acute pharyngitis than using western medicine. But further well-designed studies are needed because heterogeneity between studies existed and the quality of the reports needs to be improved.