• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2021

Objectives: To review and analyze clinical and preclinical evidence of effectiveness, safety, and underlying mechanisms of yokukansan (YKS), a herbal medicine, in alleviating aggression. Methods: Classical records on YKS were searched in the Korean Traditional Medicine Knowledge Database (KTMKD). By searching five electronic databases, prospective clinical studies and preclinical studies of YKS for alleviating aggression/agitation published up to March 30, 2021 were included. Results: Only two classical records on YKS were found from the KTMKD. A total of 11 clinical studies and 15 preclinical studies were found from the five electronic databases. Among 11 clinical studies, seven enrolled patients with dementia and four enrolled patients with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Most clinical studies reported significant improvement in one or more outcomes related to aggression in the YKS group after treatment. Among 15 preclinical studies, all studies except two reported a significant decrease in aggression/agitation-related behavior of YKS or yokukansankachimpihange. Suggested underlying mechanisms of YKS or yokukansankachimpihange for aggression/agitation in these studies included regulation of serotonin receptor, amelioration of abnormal glucocorticoid level related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, regulation of orexin secretion, amelioration of degeneration in brain cells including glia cells, and suppression of excessive glutamatergic or dopaminergic activity. Conclusions: There were some clinical and preclinical evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of YKS for alleviating aggression. Given that aggression is the most frequent and destructive symptoms of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, applicability of YKS as a herbal medicine should be further investigated in future high-quality research.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2014

Planaria were recently reported to be a simple and sensitive model to investigate the mechanistic aspect of seizure and to screen potential anticonvulsants. Using planarian model, we analyzed the pharmacological effect of ukgansan (UGS), an oriental herbal medicine containing seven medicinal herbs, on the planarian locomotor velocity (pLMV) and glutamate-induced seizure-like activity (pSLA). To test whether D. japonica is suitable for studying anti-seizure agents, we investigated the effect of glutamate on pLMV and pSLA in D. japonica. In the present study we first confirmed that pSLA in D. japonica was induced by L-glutamate. Glutamate significantly produced pSLA in a dose dependent manner, but did not affect pLMV. These glutamate-induced paroxysms were decreased by antiepileptic drug, topiramate. A similar inhibitory effect on glutamate-induced pSLA was observed after the treatment of UGS. The present results suggest that UGS and its active constituents possess useful substance inhibiting seizure in planarian and that D. japonica provides a convenient model to search active herbs containing anti-seizure activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Objectives: Ukgan-san does not appear in Traditional Korean Medicine classics. However, it has been used in research and clinical applications in Korea. In this paper, we are aiming to examine the records concerned with Ukgan-san to the present, and announce the present usage state in Korea. Methods: We searched and summarized the contents of previous medical books about Ukgan-san. In order to investigate the current status of utilization of Ukgan-san in Korea, a bibliographic database of Korea, a database of clinical researches, and a database of pharmaceuticals of the Korea Food and Drug Administration were searched. Results: As a result of searching Ukgan-san related documents, Ukgan-san has been developed in China (Ming dynasty). However, its clinical application has been expanded by modern Japanese kampo medicine doctors. In Korea, cases of Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders, and psychiatric disorders have been reported, and randomized controlled trials had been done and planned. In addition, some extracts which are consisted of Ukgan-san are also available. Conclusions: In Korea, Ukgan-san has been influenced by Japan and has been used for clinical and research purposes. The utilization rate in Korea is still small, but the utilization rate will increase according to the results of clinical studies.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2019

■ Objectives This case study is to report the two cases of Ukgansan-gami on sleep-related behavior disorder after stroke. ■ Methods Two patients who had sleep-related behavior disorder after stroke were treated by Ukgansan-gami about a month. We evaluated these patients with the frequency and severity of symptoms. ■ Results During treatment period, decreases in both frequency and severity of symptoms were observed in two cases. ■ Conclusion Two patients who were suffered from sleep-related behavior disorder due to sequelae of stroke showed significant improvement of their symptom after taking Ukgansan-gami.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.20-28
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• 2013

Objectives: This study examined the effects of 8 types of herbal prescriptions prescribed to alleviate dementia symptoms in a rat model of arterial thrombosis induced by ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$). Methods: Thirty minutes before 35% $FeCl_3$ treatment, SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with the 8 types of herbal prescriptions, respectively. We tested the effects of the herbal prescriptions on time to occlusion (TTO) in an arterial thrombosis model using a laser Doppler flow meter. In addition, thrombus weight (TW) and collagen fiber damages were evaluated in the same condition. Results: Herbal prescriptions showed the following rank-order based on their TTO: Chong-myung-tang (CMT) > modified Jangwonhan 02 (LMK02) > Toki-shakuyaku-san (TSS) ${\geq}$ Oren-gedoku-to (OGT) ${\geq}$ Yokukansan (YKS). In particular, CMT (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and LMK02 (100 mg/kg, i.p.) delayed the TTO the most ($14.83{\pm}0.98$ and $13.67{\pm}1.03$ min, respectively) compared with the vehicle group ($7.95{\pm}0.78$ min, P<0.001). In addition, CMT, LMK02, and OGT treatment ($0.63{\pm}0.01$, $0.66{\pm}0.02$ and $0.67{\pm}0.01$ mg/mm, respectively) significantly reduced thrombus weight compared with the vehicle treatment ($0.78{\pm}0.03$, P<0.001) and also alleviated collagen fiber damage (CMT; $28.40{\pm}2.22$%, LMK02; $30.79 {\pm} 4.07$%, OGT; $26.20{\pm}1.48$%) in the vessels injured by $FeCl_3$. Therefore, CMT and LMK02 showed the greatest preventive activity in rat model of arterial thrombosis induced by $FeCl_3$. Conclusions: These results provide experimental evidence for traditional use of herbal prescriptions, suggesting that CMT and LMK02 extracts could be used to prevent vascular injury and thrombosis in the early stages of dementia.