• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

Ginseng is a popular medicinal plant highly valued throughout the world. Asian ginseng is one of the most common species of ginseng. It has long occupied a significant position in oriental medicine and has been justified its name as the 'king herb'. As a nutritional supplement, ginseng is an extremely common and popular herbal medicine in the United States and Canada in recent decades. The multiple constituents of ginseng possess equally multifaceted pharmacological actions as demonstrated by numerous studies. Ginseng root and its constituents influenced the central nervous system, endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal system, sexual, renal organ and immune system, etc. One important action is its anti-hyperglycemic effect. Previous studies on ginseng demonstrate that only the root of ginseng has been used in the treatment of diabetes, while the other parts of ginseng plant were always neglected. Recently, we analyzed the constituents of ginseng berry, leaf and discovered that ginseng berry, leaf extracts and its total ginsenosides have the ability to reduce hyperglycemia and body weight and increase the peripheral glucose utilization in obese or diabetic ob/ob or db/db mice. Our data suggest that all parts of ginseng plant, including root, berry, leaf and stem exhibit potent anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects and may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agents.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2003

This research was concentrated to Investigate the effects of Insumon as a newly developed dietary supplement in patients with type 2 diabetes. The average glycated hemoglobin level was dropped from 7.0${\pm}$1.1％ to 6.7${\pm}$0.9％ after 8 weeks with statistic significance (p＝0.0202). For patients of HbA1c over 7％, the average HbA1c significantly decreased from 8.1${\pm}$0.8％ to 7.5${\pm}$0.8％ (p＝0.0171). The average fasting blood glucose level was decreased significantly from 9.5${\pm}$1.2 mmol/L (171.6${\pm}$22.3 mg/dL) to 8.5${\pm}$1.5 mmol/L (152.3${\pm}$26.3 mg/dL) (p=0.0262) after 4 weeks and to 8.8${\pm}$1.5 mmol/L (158.3${\pm}$24.1 mg/dL) (p=0.0445) after 8 weeks in the group of patients of FBG of over 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL). The average HDL cholesterol level was increased significantly after 8 weeks from 1.2${\pm}$0.2 mmol/L (46.5${\pm}$8.6 mg/dL) to 1.3${\pm}$0.3 mmol/L (51.6${\pm}$10.9 mg/dL) (p=0.0007). Thus, these results suggested that patients with type 2 diabetes might benefit by Insumon as a herbal dietary supplement without any serious side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2002

In this study, we found a new food additive as an natural herbal extracts against lipid digestion enzymes for the regulation of fatty acid absorption and weight control. The Water extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum and Solanum melongena. inhibited lipase activity and decresed serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in mouse fed lipid emulsion. Twenty three volunteers were subjected to the intake of the herbal extracts plus the egg yolk IgY that inhibit carbohydrate digestion enzymes in gut for 50 days. In average, the treated subjects appeared to lose 1.96 kg of body weight and 3.4 kg of body fat mass during the treated period. Furthermore, Panniculus adiposus and breech size were significantly decreased during the experimental period. Above results suggested that the administration of the dietary additives composed of natural herbal extract and egg yolk IgY improve the obesity by the decrement of body weight and body fat mass.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.998-1003
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• 2007

The green marine algae, Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) is a food supplement cultivated in south coast of Southern Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of CF-induced hypopigmentation. The present study was designed to determine the effect of CF extracton melanogenesis in B16 cells, particularly its specific effects on tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2). We measured melanin contents and analyzed melanosome associated protein levels using Western blot and Reverse transcription-polymerase chian reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. CF extract markedly inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. In addition, cellular dendricity was slightly decreased by CF extract. In further experiments, CF extract significantly reduced the protein levels of tyrosinase and TRP-2 in B16 cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that tyrosinase and TRP-2 mRNA levels were unaffected by CF treatment. Therefore, these results suggest that hypopigmentary effect of CF was due to post-translational degradationof tyrosinase and TRP-2.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Objective : As more and more people are interested in appearance in modern society, the increasing number of hair loss population can have an important impact on psychological and social problems such as depression and inappropriate interpersonal symptoms. Therefore, much research is being done on treatments for alopecia using herbal extracts with relatively few side effects. This study was investigated about the effect of Achyranthis Radix (AR) extract with ethanol solvent on hair growth. Methods : We determined the promoting efficacy of AR-ethanol extract compared with minoxidil (MNXD) on the growth of human hair dermal papilla cells (HDPCs). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and cell proliferation was confirmed by cell cycle analysis from flow cytometry in HDPCs. Also, we monitored the safe concentration range through MTT assay. And protein expression of hair growth-related genes (insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Wnt3a, Protein kinase B (Akt), Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)) was monitored by western blot. Results : On cell cycle analysis, the G2/M phase was higher than that of the DW group in AR ethanol extract group at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/㎖. All protein expression levels of HDPCs were increased in AR ethanol extract groups and the MNXD group, compared to the DW group, respectively. Conclusion : As mentioned above, AR extract increased cell proliferation and the protein expression of IGF-1, Wnt3a, Akt, Erk in HDPCs. These results suggest that AR ethanol extract has promoted hair growth and it might be potential hair growth supplement.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.40-48
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• 2010

Objectives The purpose of this study is to get the basic information about the actual amount of consumption of the Health supplements and Herbal Medicines. Also, we investigated the consumption differences according to the regions. Methods 500 questionnaires were handed out to parents of elementary students in O O, Gyeonggi-do province, and 331 questionnaires were collected and evaluated for this study. Results Among the 331 students, 58.4% were female, and 41.6% were male. The percentages of the subjects consuming health supplements and herbal medicines were 67.4% and 59.2% respectively. The maximum period of taking the health supplements were from 1 month to 6 month (49.5%), and the maximum period of taking the herbal medicine was within one month (55.6%). The total cost of the health supplements was less than 100,000won (43.7%), which was the most common while herbal medicine cost was between 100,000won and 200,000won (40.6%). The most common age of consuming the health supplements and herbal medicine for the first time was six to ten years old (47.3%); the case of herbal medicine was one to six years old (64.0%). Most of people purchased health supplements from pharmacy (48.0%), and purchased the herbal medicine from the oriental medical clinic (61.8%). Among those people who purchased health supplements, they bought nutritional supplements (82.8%), red ginseng or ginseng products (43.4%), plum extract products (10.9%), and chlorella products (6.8%). The reason for consuming health supplements was to be healthier even though there is no ongoing illness (47.1%), which was the most common reason. The reason for consuming herbal medicine was to cure weakness (39.3%). For the responses about effectiveness after taking medications, people thought herbal medicine seemed to be more effective compare to health supplements (72.3%, 63% respectively). Only 1.4% of the subjects consuming the health supplements showed adverse effects while herbal medicine showed 4.6%. The most common adverse effects were 'general reaction' caused by the health supplements and dermatologic problems caused by the herbal medications. Conclusions Among 331 subjects, the percentage of consuming the health supplements (67.4%) was higher than the Herbal Medicine (59.2%). The total consuming cost of the herbal medications was higher than general health supplements. Also, the maximum period of consuming the health supplements was longer than herbal medications. Therefore, it is shown that herbal medications have no price competitiveness compare to health supplements. The age of using the herbal medicine for the first time was younger than the health supplements. Even though many people can purchase both health supplements and herbal medication from pharmacies and local oriental medical clinic, it is also shown that some people thought that the health supplements should be purchased from oriental medical hospital (13.9%). The most commonly taken forms of the health supplement was nutrition-supplying products, and the second common health supplements were ginseng and red ginseng. The health supplements were commonly consumed for preventing illness and for maintaining healthy life rather than for cure diseases. On the other hand, the herbal medicine was more commonly consumed to be taller or to treat diseases. More than half of the entire people replied as 'satisfied' for their purchase. Some adverse effects and general reaction were common with the subjects consuming health supplements while dermatological adverse reaction was common with the subjects consuming herbal medications.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of an anti-inflammatory and analgesic action of the glucosamine HCl (Glucosamine) and SH-1 (Glucosamine + Oriental herbal composition combined group). Male sprague-Dawley rats $(200{\sim}250g)$ and ICR mice $(20{\sim}30g)$ were randomized and these experimental groups were divided into 4 groups. Two control group were given as negative control (saline) and positive control (Ibuprofen, 100 mg/kg) and two groups given as oral administration of Glucosamine (320 m/kg) and SH-1. Carrageenan induced paw edema test, hot plate method, croton oil induced granuloma, capillary permeability test and acetic acid writhing syndrome were also shown to be comparable in the SH-1 group to anti-inflammatory drug group such as positive control group (Ibuprofen). Although further studies should be performed to confirm the effects of SH-1, present results suggest that the combined administration of SH-1 have potential action in anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. It could be applicable for the improvement of arthritic symptoms as a new diet-supplement.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the trends in foreign clinical trials for pediatric asthma in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods : We reviewed 31 randomized controlled trials (RCT) for pediatric asthma treatment in CAM published from 2005 to 2015 in PubMed and analyzed their treatments, compounds of herbal medicines, acupoints, methods of assessment, and treatment results. Results : The treatments used in the studies were herbal medicines, acupuncture, acupoint application, breathing training, supplement, normocaloric diet, yoga, massage therapy, and art therapy. The frequently used herbs were Asari Herba Cum Radix (細辛). Ephedrae Herba (麻黃), Astragali Radix. The most common acupoints were Feishu (肺兪, BL13). The methods of assessment in pediatric asthma were symptom scale, questionnaire of Quality of Life, lung function test, laboratory studies, and medication usage. In 28 out of 31 studies, treatment group gets better than non-treated group. Conclusions : This study shows that CAM is effective in treating pediatric asthma. More clinical studies using objective outcome measures are needed to prove its efficacy clearly.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Gamsaengwha -tang with Deer antler on three postpartum women with anemia. Methods: The three postpartum women with severe anemia among postpartum women who admitted our hospital were treated by oriental treatments such as herbal medicine(Gamisaengwha-tang with Deer antler). Results: After treatment, the measurements of hemoglobin was increased and Anemia was improved. Conclusion: After delivery, many postpartum women have tendency to become anemic. Saengwha-tang and Deer antler became known to be good for anemia in oriental medicine. So the three postpartum women with severe anemia among postpartum women who admitted our hospital were treated by Gamisaengwha-tang with Deer antler. After treatment, the measurements of hemoglobin were increased comparative quickly, and anemia was improved. This case report shows that the Gamisaengwha-tang with Deer antler is effect for treatng anemia. Anemia will improve not only treating by Saengwha-tang except Deer antler but also treating by iron supplement, so we need more comparative study and observation and need more practical use of herbal medicine with Deer antler for anemia and disease of postpartum women.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.319-324
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• 2002

In a previous study, we developed a new food additive as an egg yolk antibody (IgY) against carbohydrate digestion enzymer for the regulation of blood glucose level and weight control. The IgY delayed and decreased the increment if blood glucose level after administration of sucrose in human being by 30% in 20∼30 min. We also developed a lipase inhibitor as a water extract of two kinds of herb, Platycodon grandiflorum and Solanum Melongena, Twenty three volunteers were subjected to the intake of the egg yolk IgY Plus the herbal extracts for 50 days. In average, the treated subjects appeared to lose 1.96 kg of body weight and 3.4 kg of body fat mass during the treated period. Furthermore, Panniculus adiposus and breech size were significantly decreased during the experimental period. Above results suggested that the administration of the dietary additives composed of egg yolk IgY and natural herbal extract improve the obesity by the decrement of body weight and body fat mass.