• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-41
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study was to lay the groundwork for understanding the details and scope of the legal definition of medicinal products, following the changes in the relevant laws and regulations. This will let readers properly understand the origins of the ongoing conflicts on herbal drugs and new drugs from natural products that are present in the medical field and the medical industry. Possible solutions are proposed in the end. Method : I analyzed the changes in definition of medicinal products since 1945 that have been used in relevant laws and regulations(i.e. Pharmaceutical Affairs Act) and drug approval process(i.e. New Drug Application and Investigational New Drug Application). Results : Legal definition of medicinal products has changed in accordance with the changes in the pharmaceutical industry, such as the establishment of dualistic medical and pharmaceutical System and the introduction of the substance patent. Due to those changes, boundaries of Western medicinal products and health food expanded, while those of herbal medicine products relatively downscaled. Conclusion : Legal definition of medicinal products-i.e. Herbal Drugs, Crude Drugs, and New Drugs from Natural Products-should be reestablished according to academic legitimacy and dualistic medical and pharmaceutical System.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.181-198
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was to analyze definitions of herbal medicinal preparations, crude drug preparations, and new drugs from natural products in the relevant laws and regulations, understand the related problems, and propose directions for improvement. Methods : I analyzed the legal definitions in respect of herbal medicinal preparations, crude drug preparations, and new drugs from natural products in relevant laws and regulations since 1945, explained the problems, and suggested the solution-considering the academic stance of Traditional Korean Medicine and the dualistic medical and pharmaceutical system. Results : Regarding the current laws and regulations that are relevant to herbal medicinal preparations, we should 1) clarify the boundaries between the duty of physicians and that of pharmacists, 2) limit the principles of Korean Medicine as well as the contents of the related textbooks, 3) find a way to protect the intellectual property rights for herbal medicinal preparations, and 4) establish a separate standard for drug classification regarding herbal medicinal preparations. In case of crude drug preparations, we should 1) clarify the meaning and limitations of the phrase, "the point of view of Western medicine," and 2) establish a classification standard for drugs that are used in Korean Medicine and clarify the boundaries between herbal drug preparations and crude drug preparations. Furthermore, laws and regulations apropos of new drugs from natural products do not actually fit the concept of "new drug," and due to subordinate laws, a supplement to a new drug submission is contradictorily misclassified as a new drug from natural products. Conclusions : The problems of legal definitions of herbal medicinal preparations, crude drug preparations, and new drugs from natural products have emerged in the process of giving approval to drugs that are made of herbs and natural products under the dualistic medical and pharmaceutical System. Laws and regulations that differentiate the process of approving herbs that are used in Korean Medicine and the others should be established.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.37-51
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to apply informations related to herbal medicines to IDMP (Identification of Medicinal Products), an ISO standards related to medicinal products substances, for systematic collection of data through the integration of informations on distribution, manufacturing, and management of herbal medicines. Methods : By analyzing ISO 11238 and ISO/TS 19844, elements that can be used in the information model of herbal medicine were derived from the identification of medicinal products information model on substances. The labeling specified in the safety and quality control regulations for herbal medicines was mapped to the IDMP information model, and ginseng was applied as an example. Results : Herbal medicine corresponded to substance in IDMP. Among the five types of substances specified by IDMP, herbal medicines were expressed as structurally diverse. Scientific name was used as an invariant property of herbal medicine, and the substance level included information about source material and modification, and specifically included information about the scientific name, medicinal part, fraction, and processing. In addition, the specified substance level had information on the constituents, characteristic attributes, manufacturing, and grade of the herbal medicine. Conclusions : It is necessary to establish a code system for identifying herbal medicines. In order to apply the IDMP standards, research on the development of standard terms is required to express the characteristics of herbal medicines. In addition, information for identification of herbal medicines is also required, and information from production to consumption should be systematically accumulated and managed for actual application.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.90-108
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to learn what should be considered in the Guidelines of Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) by analyzing the existing guidelines and clinical trials.Methods: The development committee searched the existing guidelines for herbal medicinal products or GERD. Then, clinical trials related to GERD using herbal medicine were selected. The chosen trials were analyzed in terms of their inclusion and exclusion of participants, intervention, comparators, outcome, and trial design. Then, we compared the results of the analysis according to the regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to suggest the issues that we will have to consider when developing the Guidelines of Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).Results: As a result, few guidelines for GERD and clinical trials with herbal medicinal products were located in the national institution homepage. In addition, 8 articles were found using the following combination of search terms: “Gastroesophageal reflux disease”, “GERD”, “herbal medicine”, “herbal therapy”, “Korean Medicine”, “Traditional Chinese Medicine”, and “TCM”. Even though all trials had their own unique research questions, all studies were performed using a randomization method. Most trials included participants with reflux esophagitis, but two trials targeted proton pump inhibitor-refractory GERD. The type of intervention varied, such as decoction, granules, and capsules. Additionally, individualized herbal medicines were used in two studies. Comparators were diverse, such as placebo, Western medicine, and electro-acupuncture. The most frequently used outcome for efficacy was the effectiveness rate. In addition, the outcome for evaluating quality of life, esophageal mucosa and pressure, esophageal acid reflux, and recurrence rates were used. Safety was investigated by recording adverse events and carrying out laboratory tests.Conclusions: We identified some issues by reviewing the existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials for GERD and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized for developing the Guidelines of Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.89-116
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain what should be considered in the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Liver Cancer," by analyzing existing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods: Committee for the development of a guideline, consisting of 6 Korean medicine doctors, reviewed guidelines and clinical trials on using herbal medicine for treating liver cancer. The trials were analyzed in terms of inclusion and exclusion of participants, intervention, comparators, outcomes, and trial design. We then compared the results of our analysis with the guidelines to identify issues we must to consider when following the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Liver Cancer." Several guidelines for antitumor agents and clinical trials on herbal medicine were obtained from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety homepage, etc. The search terms were as follows: "liver neoplasms"; "herbal medicine"; "medicine, Korean traditional"; and "medicine, Chinese Traditional.". Results: Ten articles were obtained from pubmed and Embase. There was no guideline for clinical trials on using herbal medicine for treating liver cancer. All the participants in the reviewed articles had primary liver cancer, and the type of intervention varied (e.g., decoction, patches, and capsules. The comparators included placebos and conventional treatments such as chemotherapy. The outcome assessment methods were tumor response, quality of life, survival, and liver function tests. Adverse events occuring during the trial were also evaluated. Conclusion: Findings were derived by reviewing existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials on liver cancer and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized in the development of the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Liver Cancer."

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.124-152
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to ascertain what should be considered in the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Colorectal Cancer" by analyzing the existing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods: The development committee searched guidelines for herbal medicinal products for colorectal cancer that have already been developed. Then, clinical trials for colorectal cancer using herbal medicine were searched. The searched trials were analyzed in terms of inclusion and exclusion of participants, intervention, comparator, outcomes and trial design. Then, we compared the results of our analysis with the regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in order to identify the issues we will have to consider when making the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Colorectal Cancer". Several guidelines for anti-tumor agents and clinical trials with herbal medicinal products were searched on the national institution homepage. In addition, 12 articles were searched using a combination of the following search terms: 'colorectal neoplasms', 'herbal medicine', 'Medicine, Korean traditional', 'Medicine, Chinese Traditional', 'medicine, East Asian medicine', 'medicine, Kampo', etc. Results: The characteristics of participants were various, such as people with medical histories of surgeries or recurrent cancers or who complained of chemotherapy-induced side effects. The types of interventions were also various and included decoctions, powders, intravenous fluids, intraperitoneal injections and gargles. Comparators used included placebos and conventional treatments. The outcome measurements used in the studies were quality of life, symptom score, tumor response, and survival duration, etc. Safety was evaluated by recording adverse events. Conclusions: Findings were made by reviewing existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials for colorectal cancer and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized in the development of the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Colorectal Cancer".

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.11-37
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze and identify the problems of the changes in regulations that are relevant to approval, notification, and review of herbal medicinal preparations and crude drug preparations. Methods : I collected the regulations of approval, notification, and review of medicinal products mostly from official gazettes, analyzed enactment and amendments regarding herbal medicinal preparations and crude drug preparations, and studied it from the view point of Korean medicine field. Results : Regulations in regards to approval, notification, and review of herbal medicinal preparations and crude drug preparations were first established in 1978. Herbal drugs started to be categorized as crude drug preparations in 1981 and the regulatory outlines were completed in 1999. From 2008 to 2012, the regulatory standards that let crude drug preparations be new drugs from natural products were established. Through those procedures, the followings became crude drug preparations: 1) wholly new prescriptions that are not recorded in Korean Medical Classics, 2) prescriptions that are recorded in Korean Medical classics but prepared with new standard, composition and efficacy, 3) prescriptions that are recorded in Korean Medical classics but prepared with new formulation, and 4) herbal drugs. In case of herbal medicinal preparations, however, only regulations that are related to 1) drugs prepared with new compositions that are not recorded in Korean Medical Classics, 2) drugs with same prescription and same formulation, and 3) drugs with new formulation were arranged. Conclusions : Actual circumstances on crude drug-oriented regulations regarding approval, notification and review and future forms of prescription and drug administration in Korean Medical Institutions can be expected due to expansion in range of herbal medicinal preparations and shrink in that of on-site preparations. Reasonable improvement in efficient usage of modernized herbal medicinal preparations in Korean medical institutions and prospective cooperation from related pharmaceutical industry are needed.

• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.4
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• 2016

Consumption of herbal products from the medicinal plants contaminated with heavy metals can cause serious consequences on human health. This is a major concern for traditional and herbal medicine. The present study was carried out to analyze and quantify the levels of six potentially toxic heavy metals namely arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and nickel in ten important Indian medicinal herbs. The air dried raw herbs were processed by microwave assisted wet digestion and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with graphite tube atomizer. Except the chromium content in three plants, all the levels of six heavy metals analyzed were found to be quite below the permissible limits in all the ten raw medicinal herbs analyzed. The present work implies that, regular and systematic screening of raw medicinal herbs is necessary to check the levels of the heavy metal contaminants before using them for consumption or preparation of herbal formulations so that the possible contamination cannot cumulate up to the finished products.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.152-165
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• 2005

Background: The use of herbal preparations as remedies for various medical conditions has continuously increased in Korea Large proportions of Korean patients use herbal medicinal products, folk remedies, and food supplements. However, studies on the safety of herbal products arc conducted on a less than sufficient basis even in the countries like Korea where herbal medicine is being used extensively. Some of the reports on the safety of herbs were done by the doctors of western medicine but lack of knowledge and misclassification led to misunderstandings. Objecitves: This study aims to review the recent evidences on hepatotoxic events associated with the use of herbal medicinal products, folk remedy, and food supplements. In the process, this review will grasp trends in this field of studies and will direct further researches into the right direction. Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed on MedRic and MEDLIS in Korea. Screening and selection of the articles and the extraction of data were performed independently by two of authors. There were no restrictions regarding the published date. In order to avoid bias, the articles written by medical doctors, not by oriental doctors were selected. 43 journals were chosen for the review. Results: Analyzing the number of journals, studies on the drug-induced liver injury were increased after the year 2000. The proportion of herbal and folk remedy associated hepatotoxic injuries in all drug-induced liver injury was $21.0\%-30.0\%$. But criterion for herbal medicine is rather vague and limited objective data hindered objectiveness. Few of single medicinal herbs and combination preparations were associated with hepatotoxic injuries. But because of lack of objectivity, further researches must be conducted to yield more concrete results. Conclusions: yield more concrete results. Incidence figures are largely unknown, and in most cases a causal attribution is not established. The challenge for the future is to systematically research this area, educate all parties involved, and minimize patient risks.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.218-222
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• 2008

This study was carried out to establish standard analytical methods for Ginkgo biloba leaf extract. Ginkgo flavonoids, terpene lactones, ginkgolic acids were employed as reference compounds for analytical method. Analytical method of US Pharmacopoeia was adopted for flavonoids and terpene lactones, and a new method was developed for ginkgolic acids. Analytical methods established in this study could be applied to a reasonable and unified quality control of G. biloba leaf extract.