• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2013

Increasing concern for the health, well-being, and income of the people has expectedly brought continuous increase in the industrial value of medicinal plants in recent years as these are also used in foods and cosmetics. However, Korea's increased import of these products from China due to the FTA contract causes negative effects on its industrial value. In this regard, various measures for medicinal crop seed development and production, organization and expansion of circulation and forest land use deregulation are needed to promote the agricultural food industry including medicinal plants. As a measure, first, a database of medicinal plants should be built that can help to promote the national medicinal industry and the seed management system. Second, agricultural productivity should be enhanced via the development and supply of varieties of high quality medicinal plants. Third, there should be a good practice of the system maintenance for the production and supply of medicinal crop seeds. Fourth, production and distribution system of medicinal plants should be established by standardization of high quality seeds. Nowadays, the consumption pattern of medicinal crops is changing from direct ingestion to cosmetics, drugs, and food and this is expected to increase continuously. Consequently, the increased production of medicinal crops will support the development policy and the institutional improvement in response to this trend of the positive change of industrialization.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.641-649
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• 2017

Objective: Our aim was to report a case of hematoma in the lower extremity induced by anti-platelet agents (Astrix, Plavix). Methods: The patient was prescribed anti-platelet agents and a hematoma occurred three times in the lower extremity. Before admission, the hematoma had occurred in the lateral compartment area of left lower extremity ($2{\times}2cm$). We detected a spontaneous hematoma in the lateral compartment area of right lower extremity ($8{\times}4cm$) and we stopped the Astrix medication. We also used herbal medicine (大黃左經湯加味方 (Daehwangjwagyeong-tang-gami)), external therapy of 大黃梔子 (Dae-hwang-Chi-ja) powder, and wet cupping therapy. We then detected a spontaneous hematoma in the posterior compartment area of the left lower extremity ($5{\times}5cm$) and we stopped the Plavix medication. We also used herbal medicine and external therapy. Results: After cessation of the anti-platelet agents (Astrix, Plavix), no recurrence of hematoma was observed in lower extremity and there was no recurrence of cerebral infarction. Conclusions: When anti-platelet agents are administered, attention should be paid to the patient's age and adverse events of the drugs. Bleeding symptoms and adverse effects should be continuously monitored.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-74
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• 2005

Objective : Frutus gardeniae, seed of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is one of the crude drugs used for the treatment of inflammatory condition in oriental medicine. Methodes : The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect and anti-inflammatory effect of Frutus gardeniae extract (FGE) on a rat model of ankle sprain pain, and the relations between FGE-induced effect and endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord. As a chronic pain model, ankle sprain pain model was used to test the effect of FCE injection applied to acupuncture point. After the induction of ankle sprain, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for at least the next 4 days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee. FGE dissolved in normal saline was injected several acupoints. Results : After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 8 hours. FGE produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the ankle sprain lasting at least 4 hours. FGE produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FGE injection showed inhibitory effect on the paw edema induced by ankle sprain. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by ankle sprain were suppressed by FGE. FGE on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the ankle sprain than either FGE or EA did. The present study suggest that FGE produces a potent analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model of the rat and that FGE-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.667-692
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• 2015

The study examined the Korean medicine industry from the perspective of the innovation system theory of each business, while it concentrated on the conflict between traditional Korean medicine and Western medicine, which have a major influence on the innovation system of Korean medicine industry, rather than the innovation system itself. The Korean healthcare system is a dual system of Western and Korean medicine, yet the definitions of Western medical practices and Korean medical practices are ambiguous. Thus the distinction of dual system depends on judicial precedents, and the innovation of Korean medicine has been inhibited due to the excessive emphasis placed on the Western medical practice in both healthcare system and pharmaceutical system. First of all, the usage of most medical devices derived from the development of modern medical engineering is not permitted in the Korean medicine industry, on the basis that most of the medical devices were originated from the Western medicine field. Secondly, new drugs using natural substances, once approved by the drug administration, cannot be prescribed by the Korean medicine industry although they are developed based on Korean medicine. Thirdly, the major safety issues on herbal medicine are about hazardous materials in medicinal herbs and liver toxicity of prescribed herbal medicine. The problem of hazardous materials can be solved by appropriate quality and safety tests in the cultivation and importation process. Whereas the Korean medicine circles points out that the liver toxicity issue is only a unilateral condemnation by the Western medicine circles.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.127-145
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Daeganghwal-tang on knee cartilage in monosodium iodoacetate(MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rats. Methods : Forty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=8/group): normal group was SD rats group injected with normal saline at left knee joint and administrated orally distilled water, control group was MIA-induced osteoarthritis SD rats group administrated orally distilled water, Indomethacin group was MIA-induced osteoarthritis SD rats group administrated orally indomethacin 2 mg/kg, DGHT(L) group was MIA-induced osteoarthritis SD rats group administrated orally 1280 mg/kg of Daeganghwal-tang, and DGHT(H) group was MIA-induced osteoarthritis SD rats group administrated orally 2560 mg/kg of Daeganghwal-tang. After orally administration of drugs for 4 weeks, gross appearance and histological analysis were used to evaluate the degree of knee cartilage damage. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokines, bone degrade factor and bone defence factors were analyzed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and cartilage protection effects of Daeganghwal-tang. Also, hematological test, biochemical test, and liver and kidney tissue were analyzed to determine the safety of Daeganghwal-tang. Results : Daeganghwal-tang inhibited the damage of the knee cartilage, and significantly prevented the reduction in cartilage thickness. In addition, the pro-inflammatory cytokines and the bone degrade factor significantly decreased, and the bone defence factors significantly increased. In the safety assessment of Daeganghwal-tang, there were no significant differences among the experimental groups and no abnormal findings were observed. Conclusions : Daeganghwal-tang has anti-inflammatory effect, inhibits cartilage damage, and protects cartilage in MIA-induced osteoarthritis rats.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Objectives : Anti-obesity drugs that have been developed so far have limited efficacies and considerable adverse effects affecting tolerability and safety. Therefore, most anti-obesity durgs have been withdrawn. We tried to develop anti-obesity agent by combinations from herbs that are used in food ingredients as well as in traditional medicines. Methods : The 80% (v/v) ethanol extracts from Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescence) leaf (BL) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) and their 1:1 combination (BLSB) was evaluated on high fat diet induced obese mice compared to Omega-3 as a positive control. The mice were divided into six groups (n=5), one group fed a normal diet (ND), and the others fed a high fat diets for eight weeks. Two weeks after starting feeding the diets, the high fat diet groups were orally administered vehicle and Omega-3, BL, SB, and BLSB at dosage of 200 mg/kg/day for six weeks. All groups were assayed for body weights, food efficiency ratio, blood biochemistry parameters, and organic tissue weights. Results : BLSB group showed significant reductions in body weight gain and fat weights of liver and epididymal adipose tissue compared to BL or SB alone as well as control. Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels significantly decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased. In liver tissue, macrovesicular steaotisis was remarkably improved and its fat cell size was also significantly decreased. Conclusions : These results suggested that a combination preparation of bamboo leaf and S. baicalensis has anti-obesity effect and have synergistic effect compared to bamboo leaf or S. baicalesis.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2013

Objective : Eucommiae Cortex is bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, a deciduous tree native to China. Today, teas or herbal drugs made from E. ulmoides leaves are widely consumed as a healthy food especially in Eastern Asia including Japan, China and Korea. This study was aimed to verify the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from Eucommiae Cortex depending on characteristics of decoction water. Method : Six types of decoction water with various origin were prepared and the contents of minerals in water were analyzed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The contents of extracted bioactive compounds were analyzed by HPLC and the relationship between mineral contents and extracted bioactive compounds in the decoction water were analysed by multiple factor analysis. The decoction waters could be classified in three groups by hierarchical cluster analysis. Result : Extracted amounts of compounds in Eucommiae Cortex showed a positive relationship with Na, Si, K concentration in decoction water, while a negative relationship with Ca, Mg concentration. Conclusion : The study proved that the minerals in water influenced the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from Eucommiae Cortex.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by variable airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and reduction of respiratory function. Its prevalence and incidence are increasing because of the effect of various environmental and lifestyle risk factors. Steroid inhalation, long-acting agonists, and other synthetic drugs are used for the treatment of this disease. However, they have some side effects and show unsatisfied result and response after treatment. Therefore, many researchers have focused on the development of natural product-related treatment for asthma to suppress the side effects and unsatisfied results. Seaweeds contain various bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-oxidant activities. Thus, we investigated the asthma treatment-related literature using marine algae via the Google scholar search engine. Consequently, the literature is rarely investigated, but is increasing steadily. The literature was performed as a comparison study with an ovalbumin-induced group or drug-treated group, and investigated the antiasthma activity of algae ethanol extract. Although many researchers have studied marine algae-derived therapeutic agents for asthma, the amount of literature is rare compared with those of herbal medicine-derived therapeutic agents. Conclusively, we suggest that many researchers should investigate and develop algae-derived therapeutic agents for asthma treatment.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.98-104
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• 2017

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-known health functional food used as a traditional herbal drug in Asian countries owing to its diverse pharmacological effects. Herb-drug interactions may cause unexpected side effects of co-administered drugs by the alteration of pharmacokinetics through effects on cytochrome P450 activity. In this study, we investigated the herb-drug interactions between Korean red ginseng extract (KRG) and five CYP-specific probes in mice. The pharmacokinetics of KRG extract induced-drug interactions were studied by cassette dosing of five CYP substrates for CYP1A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 3A and the LC-MS/MS analysis of the blood concentration of metabolites of each of the five probes. The linearity, precision, and accuracy of the quantification method of the five metabolites were successfully confirmed. The plasma concentrations of five metabolites after co-administration of different doses of the KRG extract (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg) were quantified by LC-MS/MS and dose-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the five metabolites were not significantly altered by the dose of the KRG extract. In conclusion, the single co-administration of KRG extract up to 2 g/kg in vivo did not cause any significant herb-drug interactions linked to the modulation of CYP activity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2017

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the distributions of faecal bacteria in commercial oriental medicine herb products. Methods and Results: A survey was conducted on the microbial contamination levels and antimicrobial specificity of Bacillus cereus and other microbes using 106 oriental medicine herb products on sale in Seoul. Pouring and isolation methods such as standard plate counts were used to identify the bacteria. The isolated bacterias included coliforms, Bacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Listeria spp.were identified by using gram staining and an API (analytical profile index) kit. Antimicrobial drugs discs were determined by CLSI (clinical and laboratory standards institute). Conclusions: The bacterial isolates present in the herbal medicines included 98 coliforms, 45 Bacillus spp., 29 Enterococcus spp., and 2 Listeria spp. Among these, there were nine Bacillus cereus strains, one Enterococcus faecium strain, and one Enterococcus faecalis strain present. The 9 Bacillus cereus strains were tested for susceptibility to 36 types of antibiotics products by the disc diffusion method. The strains showed resistance to 13 of these antibiotic products and semi-resistance to 5 antibiotic products. On the basis of these results, any oriental medicine herb product can be assumed to be contain resistant or semi-resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, we suggest prescribing guidelines and special management for the use of antibiotics in farms producing oriental medicine herb products.