• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.417-428
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• 2022

Herbal medicine, a multi-component treatment, has been extensively practiced for treating various symptoms and diseases. However, its molecular mechanism of action on the human body is unknown, which impedes the development and application of herbal medicine. To address this, recent studies are increasingly adopting systems pharmacology, which interprets pharmacological effects of drugs from consequences of the interaction networks that drugs might have. Most conventional network-based approaches collect associations of herb-compound, compound-target, and target-disease from individual databases, respectively, and construct an integrated network of herb-compound-target-disease to study the complex mechanisms underlying herbal treatment. More recently, rapid advances in high-throughput omics technology have led numerous studies to exploring gene expression profiles induced by herbal treatments to elicit information on direct associations between herbs and genes at the genome-wide scale. In this review, we summarize key databases and computational methods utilized in systems pharmacology for studying herbal medicine. We also highlight recent studies that identify modes of action or novel indications of herbal medicine by harnessing drug-induced transcriptome data.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.94-105
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• 2019

Objectives: The correlation between medicinal herbal formulas and a risk of cardiotoxicity has been controversial. Thus, this study investigated cardiac safety assessment of 52 most commonly used medicinal herbal formulas. Methods: We evaluated the in vitro effects of medicinal herbal formulas on recombinant human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell line expressing human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel. Results and Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that all of 52 medicinal herbal formulas did not show inhibition of hERG current in hERG-HEK 293 recombinant cells. In conclusion, these safety data suggest that 52 medicinal herbal formulas were not associated with an increased risk of cardiotoxicity in hERG-HEK 293 recombinant cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.323-337
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this research is to investigate Chinese clinical studies of the treatment of hiccup after stroke with herbal medicine. Methods: We used the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database to search for clinical studies about using herbal medicine to treat hiccup after stroke. Results: Nineteen clinical articles Until August 31, 2017 were analyzed. The most commonly used herbal prescription was Xuanfudaizhe-tang (旋覆代?湯). According to analysis, the most commonly used medical herbs were Haematitum (代?石), Inulae Flos (旋覆花), and Pinelliae Tuber (半夏). Clinical symptoms, total incidence rate of adverse reaction, recurrence rate, symptom improvement time, patient satisfaction comparison, and dietary status improvement were used to evaluate the treatments. The effective rate of the treatment group was 86.0-97.8%, significantly higher than control group in all papers. Side effects occurred much less frequently in the treatment group than in the western medicine control group. Conclusion: The treatment of hiccup after stroke with herbal medicine was shown to be highly effective in 19 studies. Additional well-designed clinical trials are needed; this study can be used as a basis for further research regarding the treatment of hiccup after stroke.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.294-303
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• 2010

We determined arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium concentrations in Chinese herbal medicines sold in the United States by medical use parts. 54 kinds of herbal products including 9 medical use parts (radix, rhizoma, cortex, pericarpium, fructus, lignum, semen, folium, and herba) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for arsenic, lead and cadmium, and using mercury analyzer for mercury. Arsenic (median concentration, 0.25 mg/g), mercury (0.20 mg/g), lead (3.78 mg/g) and cadmium (0.39 mg/g) were detected in 71%, 54%, 35%, and 18% of 143 herbal medicine samples, respectively. A total of 27% and 12% of 143 products analyzed contained mercury and cadmium above the regulatory standards. Herba and folium (leaves of herbal plants) were the most contaminated parts from metals, whereas pericarpium, lignum and semen (outer layers and seeds) were less contaminated. This study suggests that metal contamination is different by medical use parts. Our findings provide further evidence that efforts to protect people using traditional remedies from metal intoxication should be made to enforce the regulatory standards.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2009

Objectives : To establish the fundaments for EBM of Traditional Korean Medicine, the papers on Guibi-tang(Guipitang) which were frequently used in medical institutions of Traditional Korean Medicine were analyzed through researching domestic and international literatures. Methods : The papers were classified by the year of publishment, by experimental methods, by laboratory animals used in biological experiment and by the kinds of studies on biological efficacy. Results : Of total 39 papers were registered in domestic journals. Since 1980, publishments of papers have continuously increased. The papers on biological studies were 34 volumes, clinical studies were 5 volumes. Biological studies mainly showed the effects of anti-stress, anti-oxidant, hemostasis, anti-osteoporosis, gastroprotection, reproductive ability, brain cell activity, radioprotection. And clinical studies showed improvements of fearful throbbing, memory and orientation, insomnia, vericose vein, schizophrenia. Conclusions : Guibi-tang(Guipitang) could be used to fortify the spleen, nourish the heart and then control the blood. However biological studies need to be conducted in accordance with clinical study and further clinical studies on randomized controlled trials should be proceeded.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.70-105
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• 2023

This study was conducted to examine the current status of traditional korean medicine studies on gastroesophageal reflux disease in Korea, identify deficiencies, and suggest the direction of future medicine research methods to lay the foundation for traditional korean medicine treatment. All domestic papers on the korean traditional treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease were selected among the literature published until August 2022 in six domestic databases. A total of 52 selected research data were classified into experimental research papers, clinical research papers, and review papers. In experimental papers, to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, improvement of esophageal mucosal lesions, anti-inflammatory mechanisms, antioxidant mechanisms, esophageal mucosal protection mechanisms, gastric peristalsis control, and gastric acid secretion inhibition mechanisms were used as evaluation measures. In the clinical research paper, the basis for diagnosis of cases was clinical symptoms through medical history listening and diagnosis through visits to hospitals in the past. The average treatment period was 40.7 days, and the duration of treatment was not significantly affected by the duration of the disease. The most widely used Korean medicine treatment intervention was herbal medicine. There were 3 literature review studies, 3 systematic literature review and meta-analysis studies, 1 comparative review study for clinical trial guideline development, all using Chinese papers. This study included all domestic papers on gastroesophageal reflux disease to identify the research trend of the Korean oriental medicine community, and based on this, it is meaningful to confirm areas that need to be supplemented in future research plans.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.44-68
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the trend in the research on breast cancer using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) and establish the direction for further study. Methods: Breast cancer studies using Korean medicine were searched using the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS). The search term was 'breast' and there was no restriction in year. The searched studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: 1. 83 studies were searched. The types and numbers of study were as follows: 42 were in vitro studies, 5 were in vivo studies, 12 were studies for review, and 27 were clinical research including case reports. 2. Various cell lines such as MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SKBR3, and MCF-10A were used for in vitro studies. The studies reported a decrease in cell viability, induction of apoptosis, and change of expression in cancer-related genes. In vivo studies also reported induction of apoptosis, and anti-proliferative activity of herbal medicine against the cancer cells. 3. Among the clinical research, 8 were cross-sectional studies, 3 were controlled-trial, and 15 were case reports. The baseline characteristics of breast cancer patients were analyzed in the cross-sectional studies. Interventions such as pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, massage, Qi gong, acupuncture, electroacupuncture and moxibustion were used in clinical research. 4. Research on the review of breast cancer covered various subjects as follows: herbal medicine, acupuncture, pattern identification of breast cancer in traditional Korean medicine, analysis of previous experimental studies, and clinical trials. Conclusion: We have found the applicability of TKM for treatment of breast cancer through this review. It is necessary to conduct further studies, such as well-designed clinical trials based on the results from experimental research.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.295-311
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• 2019

Objectives: This research aimed to investigate Chinese clinical studies on the treatment of central post-stroke pain (CPSP) and thalamic syndrome after stroke with traditional herbal medicine (THM). Methods: Randomized controlled trials verifying the effects of herbal medicine on treating CPSP and thalamic syndrome after stroke were included in the study. Electrical and hand search were conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), National Discovery for Science Leaders (NDSL), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (Oasis) for CPSP and thalamic syndrome after stroke. A literature search was performed in the Chinese and Korean databases for papers published from January 1, 2010 to October 1, 2018. The selected literature was assessed by Cochrane's risk of bias. Results: Twelve reports on randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria from the 227 identified reports. Effective rate, comparison of visual analogy scale, present pain intensity, pain grading index, recurrence rate, follow-up, and a 36-item short form survey instrument were used to evaluate the treatments. The effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group in all papers. Side effects occurred less frequently in the treatment group than in the western medicine control group. Conclusions: The treatment of CPSP and thalamic syndrome after stroke with THM was shown to be highly effective. Additional well-designed clinical trials are needed. This study can be used as a basis for further research on the treatment of CPSP and thalamic syndrome after stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.176-180
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• 2007

Background : Advanced-stage endometrial cancer patients show a poor prognosis because of limited success from surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Recently, the uses of complimentary and alternative medicines have gained popularity for these patients. Cases : The first case is a 46-year-old patient with FIGO stage IVb endometrial cancer who had distant metastasis on her supraclavicular LNs area; the second, a 72-year-old stage Ib patient who could not be treated with surgery or chemotherapy because of chronic heart disease and her refusal of radiation therapy due to her advanced age. They remain alive and in stable condition under a strict traditional herbal medicine regiment 41 and 52 months, respectively, after diagnosis. Conclusion : We present two cases of endometrial cancer patients who desire to be treated by traditional herbal medication with no further development.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.373-388
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to provide basic data for research by investigating non-clinical experimental studies on herbal medicines and its compounds for precocious puberty. Methods : A search was conducted for all literature until October 2023 using combinations of keywords such as precocious puberty, puberty, and chinese medicine in three databases (Pubmed, OASIS, and ScienceON). Results : 1. In animal experiments, studies were mainly conducted using a model that induced precocious puberty by subcutaneously administering danazol to SD rats on the 5th day after birth, and in cell experiments, precocious puberty was induced by treating GT1-7 cells with kisspeptin 10 or estradiol. 2. Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, and Prunellae Spica were mainly used as herbal medicine to evaluate their efficacy on precocious puberty in non-clinical experiments. 3. Macroscopic observation, hematological analysis, histological analysis, and genetic analysis were performed as methods to analyze the experimental results. Conclusions : In this study, the effects of herbal medicine on precocious puberty and non-clinical research methods were confirmed. Based on the results of this study, it is expected that non-clinical effectiveness and mechanism research on materials that are clinically effective in Traditional Korean Medicine will be revitalized.