• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.399-402
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• 2012

Bufalin is a traditional oriental medicines which induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. It constitutes the major digoxin-like immunoreactive component of Chan Su, obtained from the skin and parotid venom glands of toads. Bufalin is cardioactive C-24 steroids that exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as cardiotonic, anaesthetic, blood pressure stimulatory, respiratory and antineoplastic effects. In terms of its anti-tumor activity, bufalin has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of tumors, such as endometrial and ovarian cancers. This commentary introduces biologic and therapeutic effects of bufalin in treating some cancers. The compound is able to mediate inhibition of cell growth, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and expression of genes related to the malignant phenotype in human cancer cells.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this research was to provide basic data for developing the collaborating care of Korean traditional medicine and western medicines by analyzing the perceptions of residents visiting local health centers on the collaborating care. Method : To this end, a self-administrated questionnaire was surveyed to 417 participants from March 10 to March 19, 2005. The questionnaires were regarding medical preferences, effectiveness, co-operative treatment types, and the demographic characteristics of the study population. The main statistical methods employed for analysis were frequency chi-square test analysis, using SPSS system 12.0 software for Windows. Result : First, the perceptions of collaborating care, such as preference and effectiveness, were better for residents who had experienced Korean traditional medicine(p < 0.05). Second, the most favorable collaborating care type was the neuromuscular disease and rehabilitation, and in particular, the preference of the patient who had experienced Korean traditional medicine was much higher than those who had not experienced it(p < 0.05). Third, as for recognizing the future of collaborating care, respondents insisted that collaboration care has to be conducted under evidence-based research. The reasons why collaborating care has not been active were reported as "difference in solving disease problems between oriental medicine and western medicine." The most important role of the Korean traditional medicines in the public sector was to provide specialized service for the elderly and low income households. Conclusion : Most respondents expected the positive effects of the collaborating care and wanted it to develop, particularly for neuromuscular diseases. As for the health promotion program in health centers, it was more popular than the home visiting program for the elderly and preventive rehabilitation for stroke. Now we must plan to balance between the need of the community and the medical provider on collaborating care.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 2008

"濟衆立效方" is the oldest Koryo dynasty medical document known to date. Despite its historical importance, due to the absence of its original copy, its true characters could not be understood. Through comparison of the many documents that cited 濟衆立效方, it could be found that 濟衆立效方 can be classified into two parts based on its contents and form. In Chinese medical texts, neither the name 交效散 nor any similar prescription is mentioned. 濟衆立效方 was the first in suggesting the usage of pine needles and salt for fomentation and not for internal use. Thus 交效散 can be thought of as the oldest indigenous prescription preserved in Korean history. 濟衆立效方 conveys records of the combination of the ancient origin pine needle fomentation and the creative addition of salt.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.67-74
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• 2015

Objectives : TheHaedokgumhwa-sanwater extract (HDKHS) is used in Korea, Japan and China as a traditional therapeutic agent to cure an infectious disease. But its study is not enough. Therefore, the present study focused on the elucidation of HDKHS to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and to established the possible mechanisms involved in its action on LPS-stimulated immune response in murine macrophages.Methods : Inflammatory status was induced by LPS and measured by increasement of inflammatory mediators. LPS induced secretions of NO and PGE₂in RAW 264.7 cells were measured using griess reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit respectively. production of IL-6 was examined using ELISA kit and expression of IL-6 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR method. To investigate the effects of HDKHS on inflammatory mediators, such as iNOS, COX-2 and MAPKs, western blot and RT-PCR were performed.Results : HDKHS significantly reduced production of NO and PGE2 which were induced by LPS. Also, activation of IL-6 was reduced both protein and mRNA levels. The expressions of inflammatory mediator include iNOS and COX-2 were decreased by pretreatment with HDKHS. futhermore The result showed HDKHS down-regulate the LPS induced phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, one of the MAPK family, which is considered as a main regulator of transmission from pathogens to nucleus of immune cells.Conclusions : Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of HDKHS may stem from the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators via suppression of initiation of inflammatory response by inhibiting MAPKs signaling pathways.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2022

As a result of comparing the phenolic components of cinnamon medicines, the total phenolic component content of Cinnamomi Cortex in China was about 2.65 times higher than that of Cinnamomi Cortex in Vietnam. In addition, the total phenolic component content of Vietnamese Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus was about 1.80 times higher than that of Chinese Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus. Meanwhile, Vietnamese Cinnamomi Ramulus showed a content about 3.29 times higher than that of Chinese Cinnamomi Ramulus. Cinnamaldehyde, the main component of cinnamon medicines, showed the same tendency as the total phenolic component content. In terms of the average content of the total phenolic components, Cinnamomi Cortex showed the highest content at 23964 ㎍/g, followed by Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus at 17489 ㎍/g and Cinnamomi Ramulus at 5435.8 ㎍/g. These results showed that Cinnamomi Cortex and Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus with stem bark as usage sites had about 3.22 to 4.41 times higher content of phenolic components than Cinnamomi Ramulus with young branches as usage sites.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2012

Human skin is the first line of defense for the protection of the internal organs of the body from different stimuli. Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induces skin damage and inflammation through the secretion of various cytokines, which are immune regulators produced by cells. To prevent the initiation of skin inflammation, keratinocytes that have been irreversibly damaged by radiation must be removed through the apoptotic mechanism. Ixeris dentata (family: Asteraceae) is a perennial medicinal herb indigenous to Korea. It has been used in Korea, China, and Japan to treat in digestion, pneumonia, diabetes, hepatitis, and tumors. To gain insight into the anti-inflammatory effects of I. dentata, we examined its influence on UVB-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), by observing cells that were stimulated with UVB in the presence or absence of I. dentata. In the present study, pro-inflammatory cytokine production was determined by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis to measure the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs). I. dentata inhibited UVBinduced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 in a dose-dependent manner. Further, I. dentata inhibited the UVB-induced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Furthermore, I. dentata inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 MAPKs, suggesting that it inhibits the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, and COX-2 expression, by blocking MAPK phosphorylation. These results suggest that I. dentate can potentially protect against UVB-induced skin inflammation.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.4 s.131
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• pp.305-307
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• 2002

Evodiae Fructus and Astragali Radix were processed according to Chinese pharmacopoeia and traditional literatures. The content of formononetin in processed Astragali Radix was significantly decreased (p<0.05) than that of unprocessed one.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.104-113
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• 2008

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of five herbal medicines on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 drug-metabolizing enzymes in human liver microsomes. Methods: By using of human liver microsomes, we extracted Cnidium officinale Makino, Rhus verniciflua Stokes, Prunus persica Batsch, Corydalis remota Fisch, Carthamus tinctorius Linne, which are called Hwalhyulgeoouhyak(活血祛瘀藥). Then they were incubated and measured for relative enzyme activity under incubation conditions compared to ketoconazole, which is known as a representative inhibitor of CYP 3A4. Results: We showed that all of five traditional herbal medicines had no inhibition effect of CYP 3A4 at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ doses in human liver microsomes, although Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) showed a little inhibition as about 95% enzyme activity of control. However, this result was not enough to prove that RVS has a CYP 3A4 inhibition effect. Moreover, we can't confirm that those rates have significant induction effect on CYP 3A4. Conclusions: The result of this study could support that those herbal medicines are more reliable than chemical drugs, even if this is a basic step to prove that result.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2013

This study aims to summarize and makes a reference of anti-inflammatory activities of herbal medicines. In this process, this review collated papers of anti-inflammation-focused studies using herbal medicines in Oriental medical journals since 2003. Finally 221 papers were included and the type of materials, the type and effective classification of herbal medicines, the type of cells used in the experiments and the action and mechanisms of herbal medicine were analysed. The herbal medicines having the effects of decreasing fire and tonifying and nourishment were used the most. Most herbal medicines in this study can decrease proinflammatory cytokines, NO and prostaglandin 2 (PGE 2) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by regulating of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and/or mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs).